“Relax,” he lifts his hands, “I promised the bride I’d behave.”
No one believes him.
His speech opens with a story about Julian attempting to serenade Marisol outside the law school library with a borrowed guitar and exactly three chords.
Julian groans. Everyone else, including Marisol, roars with laughter. By the time Irving finishes, half the folks have tears in their eyes from laughing so hard.
Then Zach stands. The change in the atmosphere is immediate.
He doesn’t rush to the center. He moves with the calm confidence he carries everywhere. He’s always been the kind of man people listen to before he’s even spoken.
He raises his glass. “Tradition says the best man should embarrass the groom,” he begins.
“I see where this is going.” Julian sighs loudly.
“Relax. I narrowed it down to three stories.” Zach grins faintly. “Unfortunately none of them are appropriate for a room containing Marisol’s mother.”
Lupe lifts her glass in approval.
“So instead I’ll tell you about the first time Julian told me he was in love with her.”
Julian freezes. “Oh, jeez. You think you can trust your best friend...”
“We were twenty-two.” Zach ignores him completely. “First year of law school. Julian came back from a study group in a daze. He sat across from me in the cafeteria and said—and I quote—‘I think I just met the woman I’m going to marry.’”
Marisol covers her mouth. Julian groans again.
“And I said, ‘You met her fifteen minutes ago.’”
Zach lifts one shoulder. “Turns out he was just seventeen years early.”
Julian shakes his head while smiling helplessly.
“But here’s the truth about these two,” Zach continues once the laughter settles. “They built something most couples spend their lives trying to find.”
He gestures at the twins. “They raised a family.”
Toward the crowd. “They built friendships and a community stretching across continents.”
Then back at Julian and Marisol. “Through every version of life. Law school. Careers. Kids. Everyday chaos. They never stop choosing each other.”
A hush falls over the room.
“Most people stand here and promise a future.” Zach holds up one hand. “Julian and Marisol are already living theirs. Today just makes it official.” He lifts his glass. “To the bride and groom. May the next seventeen years be even better than the first.”
Applause thunders, but Zach isn’t finished.
He pauses.
Then his gaze lifts and finds mine across the crowd.
“One more thing,” he adds.
My stomach drops.
“This wedding reminded me of something important.”
Julian watches him carefully now.
