Mark clears his throat, waits for everyone to quiet down.
“Most of you know I’m not good with words. I’m better with my hands, building things, fixing things. But Tessa makes me want to try.”
He looks at her, and I can see why she said yes. The way he looks at her like she’s the best thing that ever happened to him chokes me up.
“Two years ago, I thought I had my life figured out. Good job, decent apartment, family I loved. Then I met this womanwho had a terrific kid, a smart mouth, and no patience for my bullshit. And I realized I hadn’t been living at all.”
Happy tears stream down Tessa’s face.
“She taught me that love isn’t just about finding someone you can live with. It’s about finding someone you can’t live without.” Mark’s voice cracks a little. “Someone who makes you want to be better than you are.”
He raises his beer. “To Tessa. For saying yes to a guy who doesn’t deserve her but is going to spend the rest of his life trying to.”
Everyone drinks. Everyone cheers. Zane squeezes my hand and gives me a nudge.
“Your turn,” Tessa calls out, pointing at me. “Speech from the little brother!”
“Absolutely not.”
“Come on, Tate! You’re the one with the words in the family!”
“I don’t do speeches.”
But Zane pushes me toward the stage, and suddenly I’m standing on wobbly milk crates looking at a backyard full of people who love me for exactly who I am.
“I’m not good at this kind of thing, either,” I start.
“You’re fine,” Mom calls out. “Just talk.”
“Okay. Um.” I look between Mark and Tessa. “I’ve watched my brother my whole life. Watched him work harder than anyone I know, watched him take care of everyone around him, watched him put other people first even when it cost him.”
Mark smiles, hugging Tessa close.
“But I’ve never seen him as happy as he’s been since he met Tessa. And I’ve never seen him as silly and playful as he is with Ethan.” I look at the kid, who’s grinning up at me. “You guys aren’t just getting married. You’re becoming a family. And that’s... ” I stop, swallowing past the growing lump in my throat. “That’s everything.”
I raise my beer. “To Mark and Tessa. For showing the rest of us what it looks like when you get it right.”
More cheering, more drinking. I hop down from the stage, and Zane’s waiting for me.
“Good speech.”
I roll my eyes. “Please. It was terrible.”
“It was perfect.”
The party moves inside as it gets darker. People spread through the house, and I stand in the kitchen with Logan and Cam.
“You know, the league needs more guys like you,” Logan says.
“Guys like me?”
“Guys who are willing to be honest about who they are. You coming out made a difference. More players are talking about it now. With so many of us out, it makes others feel more comfortable opening up.”
“It wasn’t about making a statement.”
“The best statements never are,” Cam says. “They’re just about being real.”
We talk for a little while longer and then Cam and Logan leave. I wander outside and find Mark sitting at one of the picnic tables.
