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Some secrets needed to stay secrets forever. But Ian deserved to be brought into the light.
“I want to tell you all,” Brendan said, smiling at the full tables, “about an amazing person. My brother. I could roast him with incriminating stories from now until midnight” —Do it,Hunter shouted from his table — “but everyone knows those stories already. So I’m going to talk about the Ian who’s the best damn brother anyone could ask for. I’m a better person because of him.”
Ian’s face looked a little red. He shrugged off his tux jacket, tossing it over the back of his chair. “Okay, bro.” He picked up his champagne. “I think you’ve said enough. Let’s drink.”
Brendan held up a hand. “I’m just getting started.”
Ian rolled his eyes, but when his gaze cut to Brendan, he looked eager. Hopeful.
“When we were kids, we shared a pair of bunk beds. I talked to Ian every night, about every little thing that was on my mind.” Brendan surveyed the guests. “And he listened. You know how that feels, to really be listened to? He never checked out. Never said,Shut up, B, I need to go to sleep.”His eyes flicked to Sonia. She was watching him with a look so much like Ian’s, intent and hopeful, that it almost threw him off his game. “When we got older, and got our own rooms, most nights I still ended up in Ian’s room. Lying on the floor in a sleeping bag, talking his ear off. He accepted me. He was there for me. I think that’s one of the biggest gifts you can give someone. I’ve tried to do the same for him. I don’t know that I’ve always done the best job. But if I’ve ever fallen short, it’s partly because he set the bar so high.”
Brendan paused to read the room. Many people were smiling. Diana picked up a napkin and dabbed at her wet eyes, clearly trying to avoid smearing her makeup. Ian shook his head as a grin sneaked across his face.
But some of the guests looked confused.
“A ‘high bar?’” Keith called out, chuckling. “Yeah, tell ‘em about the time Ian crashed your Jeep into a lamp post.”
“Or the one about his GPA being so low Coach Hudson had to call in a favor more than a few times,” Hunter shouted.
Brendan spread his hands. “I’m talking about my brother. The IanIknow, the Ian Diana knows.”
As he continued, Diana gave up trying to preserve her makeup. Brendan felt Sonia’s eyes on him, like something beyond words or understanding depended on this entire speech.
“Being a twin — there’s nothing else like it in the world. When Ian and I were growing up, I thought we were two halves of a whole. Which was true, but it also isn’t. Ian is one hundred per cent his own person.” Brendan took a deep breath. “I have grappled with that for years. Ignored it, resented it, tried to sweep it under the rug. Because he felt like half of me.” He glanced at Sonia. “But as soon as Ian and Di got engaged, I knew I’d have to find a way to just be me without my brother, to let Di take my place as his other half.” Di grabbed a napkin and pressed it to a tear running down her cheek. “Ian asked me to be his best man. It’s a huge honor. But between you and me, my brother is the best man I know. Definitely the better of the two of us.
“And Diana — his blushing bride — watch out for her. She’s a force to be reckoned with.” He winked at the guests, and everyone laughed. Diana turned pink and hastily took a drink of wine.
Lifting his champagne, he led everyone in a toast. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Sonia raising her glass of water. She flashed her gorgeous smile at him, eager and open, like a shade rolling up to let the sunlight in. When the toast ended, she stood up, pulled him in by the back of his head, and kissed him.
Damn. It was such a public move. So unlike Sonia. The kiss set off a round of applause, and her body went taut as he took her face in his hands and pressed his lips to hers. Then the music started again, and little by little, she relaxed in his arms.
“There’s one thing I didn’t agree with in your speech,” she murmured.
“What is it?”
“That Ian’s the better man.” Sonia reached up to kiss him again. He pulled her close, and she twined her arms around his neck.
Before Brendan could respond, his brother’s voice broke in. “Come on, lovebirds. Dance with us.”
Ian put an arm around Brendan, and Diana snatched Sonia’s hand, leading them out onto the dance floor. The four of them danced together, twisting and turning.
But when the music changed and Brendan had Sonia alone, she leaned in. “What do you want most right now?”
“For you to be here tomorrow morning.”
Color bloomed on her cheeks. “I will be, I promise. But what do you want tonight? What turns a best man on? What naughty little fantasy will drive you the most crazy? Anything.”
He caressed her neck. “Right now? Being here, with you, dancing at Ian and Di’s wedding. That’s my fantasy.”
As she pulled free, laughing, and her body circled his, he wondered how it was possible to be this happy.
32
Sunday
10:47 p.m.
The walk to Sonia’s hotel room took forever.
