Page 129 of Rush

Lust For Life

The song drifts to an end as applause fills the room. I quickly wipe my cheek and straighten up. Yasmin finds me in the crowd.

“Elena,” she says softly. “You’re up.”

Riley gives me one last squeeze before pulling back, her eyes soft but sharp. “Kill it, queen.”

“Thanks, babe,” I exhale, stealing myself as I step toward the front of the room. Across the dance floor, Broderick’s gaze catches mine—a quiet, steady look that says without words:You’ve got this.

And I hope—for Philippa, and for me—that I do.

Jack throws me a firm double thumbs-up, and something about it makes me smile. He looks great in the tux Philippa couriered overnight.

The mic feels familiar in my hand. I’m used to this. I switch it on, summoning that false confidence I bottle up for the stage—or moments like this.

“Good evening, everyone,” I begin, my voice steady as I glance around the room.

“It’s that time of night where the Maid of Dishonor—” I pause, throwing Philippa a playful wink. “Silly me, I meanhonor—graces you all with my presence.”

A ripple of laughter moves through the room, and even Philippa smiles, shaking her head like she should’ve known better.

“When Philippa asked me to be her maid of honor, I thought she’d finally cracked. Years of being perfect and poised, andthatwas the moment she broke.”

More laughter. Philippa rolls her eyes, but her smile widens.

“In truth, though, it’s been an honor. I could stand here and tell you all how beautiful, successful, and put-together she is…but, let’s be honest, you already know that.”

A soft murmur of agreement and chuckles hum around the room.

“So instead, I want to take a moment to talk about my Pip, myAte, my big sister. Because unless you’ve had a sister, you’ll never truly understand what it’s like to grow up with a built-in best friend. Oceans apart couldn’t dull that connection—from sneaking wombats into Mom’s kitchen—” laughter bursts around the room, Philippa covering her mouth to stifle it—”To corrupting you with your first taste of sweet, sweet liquor.”

Philippa shakes her head, cheeks flushed, giggling along with everyone else.

“Endless nights of hair braiding, talking about boys…You’ve always been the best big sister, Pip. And even after all these years, you welcomed me back like no time had passed—like we’d never missed a beat. You are the glue that keeps us together.”

Philippa dabs at her eyes, chuckling through her emotions.

I take a breath, turning my attention to Andrew, smirking.

“Andrew…I never had a brother, and honestly? After meeting you, I’m glad I didn’t.”

The room erupts in laughter, and somewhere, Broderick’s deep, infectious cheer rises above the rest—hollering like a frat boy during Greek week.

“All jokes aside, Andrew, you bring out a side of Pip most people never get to see, and I can say, truly, I’m so happy she’s found her person in you.”

I raise my glass high, glancing between them.

“To the happy couple—may you have a lifetime of love, laughter, and…lots of babies, because I would love to be an auntie.”

I wink. The room laughs again, raising their glasses with me.

“To the new Mr. and Mrs. Sinclair!”

As everyone echoes the toast, Philippa wipes the last of her tears. Andrew is already moving toward me, pulling me into a huge bear hug that lifts me right off my feet.

When he sets me down, Philippa is waiting. She throws her arms around me, squeezing so tight it almost undoes me. It’s the kind of embrace you feel in your soul.

“Thank you,” she whispers in my ear. And it feels good to have done this for her—not as polite acquaintances, but as a sister who showed up and did her best. Hopefully, Mom would be proud of me for taking the right step toward fulfilling my promise to her.