Chapter 12
At the reception, the wedding party sits at the head table. When it comes time for Danny’s toast, Julian and Gigi both shoot him thumbs-ups. It’s all somewhat embarrassing; he loves them so much.
He stands, and all the cameras pan toward him. Chloe has made it abundantly clear that this moment will be commemorated on the company Instagram feed for all eternity.
Danny rolls his shoulders under the weight of all those gleaming lenses.
“So Julian and I were roommates in college,” Danny says.
“And we got along so well, we started saying it was destiny of the great housing gods—so that was cute of us. Julian could bring anyone out of their shell, which was exactly what I needed. He always had these schemes for how we should spend our spare time—like sneaking onto the roof of the history building during the prospective students’ weekend and making ghost noises.
And I think I was what Julian needed, too, because I said practical things like, ‘Hey, you seem to have broken your ankle, we should probably stop making ghost noises and get off this roof.’ I met Julian eight years before he started dating Gigi, and so I thought I knew him pretty well.
For example, I never thought he’d come home from a first date and tell me he just met the woman he was going to marry.
But that’s exactly what he did when he met Gigi.
“For those of you who don’t know,” Danny says, “Gigi speaks four languages. She is weirdly well-read in the field of neurobiology. She’s also one of the most curious people I know.
Since Julian fell in love with Gigi, I’ve seen him become even kinder, more sure of himself, more willing to ask hard questions.
But I’ve also seen Gigi and Julian bring out a silliness and lightness in each other I didn’t expect.
“In my very limited experience, sometimes you meet people who don’t get you.
Sometimes, you meet people who do get you.
And sometimes, you meet people who get who you want to become.
And those people are the people who grow you up.
They’re the people who will stay beside you through everything.
When I look at Julian and Gigi, I see two smart, funny, driven, empathetic people—great people on their own who have managed to make each other even greater.
And I can’t wait to see all the ways they grow together for all the years to come.
” Danny raises his glass. “Cheers,” he says, “to the happy couple.”
Everyone claps. Danny sits. Eve kisses his cheek.
The buzz of adrenaline only lasts until Eve and Julian’s dad stands.
He clears his throat and everyone falls abruptly silent.
Julian agonized over the order of speakers.
It was eventually decided that just Danny and Phillip should go before dinner—Danny, because Danny wanted to get it over with, and Phillip, because Julian wanted to get it over with.
“I remember when the kids were young,” Phillip says.
“In middle school. There was a dance, and Julian was working up the courage to ask the girl he liked. Eve, meanwhile—Eve’s in sixth grade and three boys have already asked her.
Of course, me, Mr. Dad, I want to know if she likes any of these boys, and she just rolls her eyes at me and says, ‘Daddy, they all bore me.’ ”
Eve presses the bone in Danny’s knee to convey that she has never once called her father Daddy.
“So we always knew Eve would have boys wrapped around her finger. But Julian! He was our sensitive one. And you know what? He asked that girl he liked to that dance. And she said no.”
Julian gives a forced laugh—a “ha, ha” with both syllables clearly defined, which makes the rest of the reception follow suit. Ha! Ha! We’re having such fun!
“And now we’re here, against all odds—” hold for more laughter “—watching Julian tie the knot with the most gorgeous, accomplished girl. Just to echo what Julian’s cofounder, Daniel Aagaard, said, it’s true that some people really bring out your potential.
And not every relationship will do that.
Some will just hold you back. But with Gigi, in this past year especially, we’ve seen Julian blossom into his full potential.
It’s a real joy, as a parent, to see your child achieve. ”
When Danny thinks of Eve and Julian, he doesn’t think of sibling rivalry. But as he listens to Phillip, he wonders if this is despite, rather than because of, circumstance. Eve lifts her glass; sips slowly.
“So thank you, Gigi,” Phillip says. “For being just who Julian needed.” He raises his glass. “Cheers.” Do his eyes meet Danny’s? Just for a second? “To the happiest couple.”