“Good. Let them.”
We take our seats at the head table. Garrett’s been strategically placed at the far end, as far from us as possible.
“Thank you,” Owen says quietly, leaning over. “For earlier. Garrett needed someone to finally tell him off.”
“Pretty sure I did more than tell him off.”
“Yeah, but he deserved it.” Owen glances down the table. “He’s been my best friend since we were kids, but the way he treated Jules was shit. And the way he’s been acting this week, like he has any right to her attention...”
“He won’t be bothering her again.”
“I know. That’s why I’m thanking you.” He raises his beer slightly. “Welcome to the family, man. Officially.”
We clink glasses just as the first course arrives.
Olivia leans across Juliette to address me. “Rodriguez, I need you to know that changing the lineup was the best decision I made today. After marrying Owen, obviously.”
“Obviously.”
“The coordinator had a minor stroke, but it was worth it to seeGarrett’s face.” She grins wickedly. “Plus now I get the photos I actually want - my sister with someone who adores her.”
“Olivia,” Juliette protests, her cheeks going pink.
“What?” Olivia turns to me. “You do adore her, right?”
“Completely,” I say without hesitation.
“Good answer.” She sits back. “Also your face looks terrible but in a romantic way. Like you defended her honor.”
“I did defend her honor.”
“Exactly. Very romantic. I’m thinking about commissioning an oil painting.”
“Please don’t,” Juliette says.
During a quiet moment, I lean over to Juliette. “Earlier, when you walked into our room in your dress with your hair down...”
“Yeah?”
“I forgot how to breathe for a second.”
She looks at me, surprised. “Really?”
“You wore it down for me. Because I mentioned at the rehearsal that I’d want to see it that way.” I reach over and tuck a strand behind her ear. “That might be the nicest thing anyone’s ever done for me.”
“It’s just hair, Romeo.”
The speeches start before I can respond and eventually it’s Juliette’s turn.
She stands, champagne glass in hand, and the room quiets.
“I’m not great at speeches,” she starts, voice slightly shaky. “But my little sister is getting married, so I’m going to try.”
She talks about growing up with Olivia. About how different they are - Olivia outgoing and fearless, Juliette careful and controlled. About how Olivia taught her to be brave.
“When Olivia told me she was engaged, my first thought was that she was too young. Too impulsive. Moving too fast.” Juliette glances at me briefly. “But watching her with Owen this week, I realized something. When you know, you know. And time doesn’t matter when you’ve found your person.”
She’s staring right at me as she says it and I can’t keep the grinoff my face hearing my own words from our first night in Toronto used back at me.
