“I don’t want to embarrass you,” I shot back, a little anxious now.
Everybody was looking at us.
Everybody.
It was becoming clear she was asking me to do it, and that I didn’t want to. Funnily enough, I didn’t mind being the bad guy anymore.
“You’ll never embarrass me.” She handed me the microphone, her eyebrows shooting up to her hairline. “Please.”
I snatched the mic from her hand, standing up with a low growl. I was going to make her pay for it. A round of applause came from our audience as everyone took me in.
I put the microphone to my mouth, sighing. “Don’t be so happy, you still haven’t heard what I’m about to say.”
A roll of nervous laughter swept over the open-spaced room. People clapped again. I looked around the room, drawing a breath. I felt Bear’s fist curling around the hem of my dress, tugging.
I looked down.
He smiled and mouthed, “You’ve got this.”
I looked at the familiar faces, realizing that they all blurred together in my vision.
“First of all, I was tasked with giving this speech exactly two seconds ago, so my guess as to what’s about to leave my mouth is as good as yours, but knowing me, I suspect it will at the very least be entertaining.”
More laughter.
I stole an anxious look at Cruz. He sat back like he was made out of stone, taking a long sip from his beer, checking his phone.
The jackgass.
“Trinity and Wyatt. Wyatt and Trinity.”
I played with one of my earrings, buying time. Saying their names in different variations wasn’t going to do me much good. It wasn’t an essay I was trying to fill with words to hit a word count.
“Who would’ve thought, huh? Not me, that’s for sure. I always thought she had a huge crush on Justin Kent.” I winced. “Sorry, Justin, who is here. And his wife, who is also here…it worked out fine for everyone. Other than Wyatt, obviously.”
This really made people laugh.
Everyone, including Trinity herself and Wyatt, who leaned into her and gave her a quick kiss on the cheek. As far as I was aware, this was the first time he’d shown her any type of warmth in public since they’d started dating.
My chest swelled with pride.
I held onto the microphone a little tighter.
“I mean it, though. Trinity’s always been the golden one. The one with the straight A’s. She helped me so much when Bear was born. Even gave up all of her savings to help me pay for his ear surgery. She’s the best sister anyone could ask for.” I turned to look at her, my eyes crinkling. “Which is why she became a nurse. I don’t know any other woman in the world who could charm her way into a toddler’s good graces even though they know she’s about to stick a needle in them.”
More laughter.
I wasn’t doing badly at all.
“I think that’s the trouble with living in the shadow of a hero, though. You don’t know just how much you have until you drift apart. I almost lost…I mean, I did lose a hero like that, I guess.”
I snuck another look at Cruz.
His jaw was stiff, his eyes narrow and darkened, but at least he was no longer focused on his phone.
Now his entire attention was on me.
“I just…” I shook my head. “I’m glad my sister bagged the man she wants. The man of her dreams. Because it’s not to be taken for granted. Sometimes the good ones slip between the cracks, and you can’t reach and pull them back to you.”