Her brother should have been utterly insufferable and arrogant. And, at times, Sophie had to admit Zach was pretty darn close to being the dictionary definition of both those words. Still, despite his endless teasing, she couldn’t help but love him.
“Let this be a lesson to all of you who aren’t keeping up with your auto maintenance,” Zach said to the group. “Flat tires and totaled cars can lead straight to something truly shocking.” He paused for effect, then lowered his voice and said, “Marriage.”
The guests all laughed, but even though Sophie was on the verge of laughing, too, she made herself shoot her brother a hard look. He grinned unrepentantly at her before turning to the bride and groom.
“But seriously, this is a great day and I couldn’t have picked a better girl for my brother. To Chloe, for being brave enough to take the plunge with a Sullivan.” He raised his glass and everyone followed.
Gabe pretended to tackle Zach as he pulled the microphone from his hand, but he instantly sobered as he turned to Chase and Chloe. “All my life I’ve looked up to you, Chase. But never more than today, when you had the courage to make vows of forever with Chloe.”
Trust Gabe to get right to the heart of it. Her firefighter brother had always lived a life of risk and bravery. Just a few months ago he’d finally found his own true love in Megan and her daughter, Summer, two hearts and souls that were just as brave as her brother’s.
“Just as you’ve always been there for me, I want you both to know that I’m here for you. Anything you need, any time, don’t hesitate to ask. Because I’ll move heaven and earth to make sure that it’s yours.”
Chloe blew Gabe a kiss as everyone applauded. Sophie felt bad for the men in the audience whose wives were now looking at them with new—higher—expectations after hearing from the firefighter.
Sophie had been trying to prepare herself for the moment when Jake took the microphone to make his toast. She told herself not to stare at him for too long, but not to look away too many times, either. She needed to behave like everyone else in the audience...rather than like someone who was hopelessly, irrevocably, in love with the man standing before them.
“I was ten years old when I met Chase Sullivan. I was in his backyard and I didn’t want to be there any more than I thought anyone else wanted me around.”
Sophie forgot all about acting normal. What was Jake doing? Sure, everyone else was pulling out the stops, but that was what brothers did for each other. Jake had always held his cards much closer to his chest than the rest of them, even Zach. Sophie fell even more in love with Jake as she watched him unexpectedly open up in front of hundreds of strangers.
“I still remember watching the football come sailing from out of nowhere straight toward my puny little head.”
One look at the large man standing before them and it was absolutely clear to everyone that nothing about Jake had ever been puny. Sophie shivered as she remembered how big, how strong, his muscular body had felt pressed into hers while he’d been holding her.
“Somehow I managed to catch it a before it nailed me right between the eyes.” Grins turned to laughter as Jake turned to Chase. “Your aim has always been dead on, buddy. After witnessing firsthand the way you—and the rest of this motley crew—took in a scared kid more than twenty years ago, Chloe, you’ll be pleased to know that you’ve chosen to spend the rest of your life with one of the best men I’ve ever had the honor of knowing. There’s a saying in Ireland that seems pretty appropriate for today:
If you must lie, lie in the arms of the one you love.
If you must steal, steal away from bad company.
And if you must drink, drink in the moments that take your breath away.”
Sophie couldn’t pull her gaze from Jake’s chiseled face as he raised the glass of specially brewed McCann beer that, she was surprised to suddenly realize, had just been delivered to all the guests’ place settings during the other toasts. That he’d planned such a beautiful toast for her brother and his new wife simply stunned her with its poignancy, as did his final words on lifted glass: “To one of those moments.”
Lori gave the crowd a saucy grin as she stood up. Putting her hand on her hip as if she were mad about something, she said, “I’ll have all of you know that I always figured I’d be the first Sullivan to get married.” She pouted into the laughter, somehow managing to look beautiful even as she pushed out her lower lip. “And if anyone had told me that my big brother was going to up and steal my thunder, I would have reminded him that little sisters know how to exact our revenge.” She winked in Chase’s direction.
Sophie had to admit that her twin knew how to work a crowd. It was why she was such a great choreographer. Lori understood what people wanted, and she was talented enough to give it to them. After the deep emotions from her brothers and Jake, Lori’s seductive playfulness was just what the doctor ordered.
“Good thing my love for you, Chase, is only surpassed by my thrill at calling Chloe sister.” She raised her glass to the bride. “Welcome to the family, sis. We’re thrilled you’re officially one of us now.”
Sophie’s heart started pounding an out-of-control beat as Lori sashayed across the reception area to give her the microphone. She wasn’t comfortable speaking in front of people, had always been able to rely on a crowd of charismatic Sullivans to disappear behind.
Her twin pulled her to her feet and shoved the mic at her, leaving Sophie no choice but to grab it before it fell to the floor. Sophie knew she must look like a deer caught in the headlights, with all of those people staring at her, waiting for her to say something beautiful and moving like every one of those who had spoken before her.