“I knew it was going to happen,” Henry added smugly. “And I’ll let you all in on a little secret. Even you two.” He lifted his hand, drink still in it, pointing at us. “I knew this was going to be big from the moment they met.”
His gaze softened as it landed on me. “And I would know. You see, Ash isn’t just my big brother.” He swallowed hard, clearly trying to hold it together. “He was a parent when I needed one. My protector. My comfort. My teacher. He’s been a lot of things that are making me dangerously emotional right now—but the biggest one is friend.”
My heart clenched tightly as my eyes prickled.
“I’ve got a couple of those.” His eyes flicked briefly to Oliver. Then to Ethan. “But Ash was the first person who really wanted that role. He taught me how to be myself, how to be proud of it, and he’s been beside me every step of the way, making sure I got everything I wanted out of life.”
The room was silent, hushed around his words.
“You might see him as this important man. Charming when he wants to be. Serious when the moment demands it. But I see the real him—even when he’s fighting tooth and nail not to show it. There’s a softness under all those layers of armor. And that softness came to life the day he saw Ethan for the first time.
“He tried to deny it. Tried to fight it.” Henry paused, smirking. “Tried to pretend it was something else, even though it was painfully fucking obvious to the rest of us.”
More laughter.
“But what he didn’t realize yet was that Ethan wasn’t just another conquest. He was his match.”
Ethan’s hand found mine and held it tight.
Henry lifted his glass slightly, eyes bright. “I’m here on double best-man duty tonight because it wasn’t just my brother who got married today. I know Ethan well enough to tell you this with complete certainty.” He looked straight at my husband. “Ash never stood a chance. Because once E decided this was it… it was it. And today is proof.”
The room went quiet.
“The thing about Ethan is that he loves like that in everything. Fully. Without bargaining. Without an exit plan.” Henry smiled. “He walks into a room and makes it feel like home. He shows up when it matters. He stays when things get hard. And he has this stubborn way of believing in you until you start believing in yourself.” He glanced at me. “That’s why my brother loves him.” Then back to Ethan. “And that’s why I do too. Not just as Ash’s husband, but as my best friend.”
Ethan sniffled beside me, his free hand coming up to his face. His shoulders shook once, like he tried to stop it and couldn’t. I tightened my grip on his hand, threading our fingers more securely together, my thumb pressing slow circles into his skin. He leaned into the touch without looking at me.
“Watching this love story unfold has been absolute fucking chaos,” Henry said with a soft laugh. “It’s been anxiety-inducing, hilarious, and heartbreaking. But it’s also been beautiful. Because from the very first day, you could see them changing. Like something deep inside each of them was calling to the other. They fought. They broke. They rebuilt. They became thebest versions of themselves so they could fit together. So they could stand together at the top.”
His words landed deep, and I felt every part of them.
I looked at Ethan beside me—really looked at him—at the way his fingers clung to mine, like he was holding himself together inside this moment the same way I was. His eyes shone, glassy with everything Henry’s words had stirred loose: relief, disbelief, and the quiet astonishment of being seen and loved so openly.
I thought about every version of us that hadn’t worked. Every fight. Every mistake. Every time we’d hurt each other because we hadn’t known yet how to love without fear.
And somehow—against all the odds, against our own worst instincts—we’d made it here anyway.
To this.
To each other.
I brushed my lips softly against his temple, and he squeezed my hand tighter.
Henry exhaled, shaking his head in disbelief. He glanced around the room, like he needed witnesses for what he was about to say. “I don’t know if this is how love is supposed to work—but it’s howtheywork. And the only thing I can think of when I see them together is fireworks. Fire. Explosions. And somehow… perfect control.”
A few people laughed softly. Others wiped at their eyes.
“This day is very special to me. But it should be special to everyone in this room. Because this isn’t just my brother and my best friend getting married.”
His eyes went back to us. “This is power colliding with power. Fantasy blending into reality. Resistance pushing back against rules and time. And I honestly can’t wait to see what you two unleash on the world.”
He lifted his glass high.
“Because it never saw you coming—and it better be fucking ready. Let’s make some noise for the newlyweds.”
The room erupted into applause—cheers, whistles, the pop of bottles, and the clink of glasses crashing together. But I barely registered any of it. All I could feel was Ethan’s hand in mine as I pulled him with me toward Henry.
I let go of Ethan just long enough to wrap my arms around my brother. He folded me into him without hesitation.
