Page 144 of Glitched Play

She smiles warmly. "For finally looking at a person the way you've always looked at your dreams."

The words land somewhere deeper than I expect.

Before I can decide how to respond, another familiar voice joins us.

"What's everybody staring at?" J.D. slips his hands into the pockets of his sport coat while Birdie loops her arm through his.

Parker grins. "Witt."

J.D. studies me for approximately three seconds before looking toward Maci.

Then back at me. "Huh."

"Huh?" Parker repeats.

"I honestly didn't think we'd live long enough to see this."

“I can hear you.”

J.D. is eighteen years older than me, but I would say the most like me, disciplined to a fault, determined to a fault and only speaks when it’s important, except to Greyson they’re two years apart and have always been the dynamic duo.

He simply counters, "I intended for you to."

The others laugh, not Birdie. She watches me quietly for a moment before looking across the pavilion.

Maci is kneeling beside one of the younger volunteers again, adjusting the headset on his oversized headphones before sending him toward the stage with a reassuring smile.

Birdie's eyes soften. "You know what I love most?"

No one answers.

"He isn't looking at her because she's beautiful."

Everyone grows quiet.

"He's looking at her because she's happy."

She smiles to herself.

"And somewhere along the way..." Birdie’s eyes connect with mine. “Her happiness became more important to him than his own."

Nobody jokes.

Nobody interrupts.

For one rare moment, even Parker stays silent.

I don't know what to say.

Fortunately, Greyson arrives carrying Witley on one hip. She has pink cotton candy stuck to one cheek and points excitedly toward the giant scoreboard.

"Dillos!"

"They are," Greyson agrees before noticing the unusual silence surrounding our family.

"What'd I miss?"

Parker points at me. "Witt's in love."