“I can’t wait to repay the favor." I narrow my gaze on my uncle.
Tristan chuckles. "I don’t plan on getting married anytime soon. You’re going to have a long wait."
"Don’t challenge the fates," Phe calls out from next to Ember.
"I live to prove everyone wrong. But today is not about me. It’s about James and Harper." Tristan holds up his champagne glass.
When Harper edges her fingers toward Phe’s glass, I smirk. “Don’t even think about it.”
She glowers at me.
I raise my flute to her.
So does everyone around the table.
Tristan toasts us. "To Harper and James. May your marriage last longer than James’ good mood during dinner service."
Laughter ripples around the table.
Gideon follows my uncle’s lead. "May your vibe be like James' kitchen: perfectly controlled on the surface, absolute chaos underneath, and somehow, it all works out in the end. And may you Harper"—he nods at my wife—"have the patience of a saint, because God knows you'll need it being married to the Ice Commander."
There are more laughs.
Then Beckett rises and raises his flute in our direction. "May your love be as enduring as James' obsession with perfect knife cuts, andJames"—he turns to me, with a wicked look on his face—"may Harper forgive you when you treat your relationship like a Michelin inspection."
Harper snorts. Fuck, she’s cute.
Gotta admit, that was funny. Even with the shred of truth running through it.
Phe’s next, raising her glass. "James, may you finally admit what I’ve known since that night you first met. Harper Richie has owned your heart from the moment you met her. And Harper"—she turns to her, tears shining in her eyes—"may you never let him forget he's the luckiest man alive."
That I am.
Then it’s Briar’s turn. "I've known Harper her entire life. She's stubborn, competitive, and has never backed down from a challenge in her life." Briar looks at me. "So naturally, she married the one man in London more stubborn than she is."
Laughter ripples through the room.
"To Harper and James—may you spend the rest of your lives trying to out-stubborn each other. And may you both lose gracefully."
More laughs around the table.
“Oh, and James? If you hurt her, I’ll kill you.”
Message received. And I’d never hurt her. I’d die for her. As I think the words, I know they’re true. And for some reason, that doesn’t alarm me either.
Harper blows Briar a kiss. I notice that Beckett is watching her closely.
I rise to my feet, glass in hand. Speeches are not my forte. But given the occasion, and the outpouring of love from our family, it feels only right that I say something.
“I’ll keep this short.”
Silence descends. I look at Harper.
"To my wife. For her courage. And her steadiness. And for walking into this with clarity.”
I lock my gaze with hers, hoping she’ll understand what I’m trying to communicate. “And to marriage…working best when both people show up.”
I can’t do this without her. It had to be her. Real or not.
