Chapter 50 Liam
Liam
Istand up from the table and tap my fork against my champagne glass. The dining area of the restaurant where Aidan and Micah are having their wedding reception falls quiet. Everyone looks at me.
Phone in hand, I pull up the notes I made for my best man speech tonight. I take a breath and smile at the crowd.
“Good evening, everyone. I’m Liam. I’m Aidan’s brother and his best man.”
I glance at the small table in front of the restaurant that the two of them are sharing at their reception.
“Aidan and Micah, I just want to say congratulations to you both. I’m so happy for you.”
They beam at me. Everyone claps. I glance down at my notes.
I’ve practiced my speech a few times in preparation for Aidan and Micah’s wedding, but nerves are still going off inside of me.
I look up and spot Kendall, sitting with her aunt.
She flashes a gorgeous smile. “You got this,” she mouths to me.
The nerves start to fade.
I look back over at Micah and Aidan. “Micah, you make my brother happier than I’ve ever seen him. Thank you for giving him the love and joy he deserves.”
Everyone goes, “aww.”
“Aidan, your wife is beautiful, smart, and she makes a lot of money. Don’t screw this up.”
The entire restaurant bursts out laughing.
“I’ll do my best,” Aidan says, then kisses Micah.
I clear my throat. “I know a lot of best man speeches feature embarrassing stories about the groom. I’m not gonna do that. Aidan, you’re welcome.”
The crowd chuckles as my brother flashes a thumbs up and hollers, “Thanks!”
“I’m also not going to give relationship advice, like in some best man speeches. Because let’s be honest, I’m the last person in the world who should be doing that, given my less-than-stellar track record when it comes to dating.”
Everyone laughs. I laugh along too.
“I mean, I know the obvious stuff that you should do. Apologize when you mess up. Always make time for each other, even when you get busy. Tell each other how crazy you are about each other all the time. Go all out for birthdays and anniversaries and Valentine’s Day.
Standard stuff, we all know that,” I say.
“So instead, I did something a little different. You two are both romance writers, so I wrote a love poem.”
Everyone makes another “aww” noise.
“That’s probably pretty surprising to most of you. I’m a hockey player, not a poet.” I glance at Aidan and Micah, who look stunned.
“I did a lot of research though. I read tons of love poems and novels written by the greatest writers in history. And I had the help of an incredible friend who is now more than a friend.”
Soft murmurs echo through the crowd. I look over at Kendall, who’s beaming at me with love and pride in her eyes. My heart swells in my chest.
“This isn’t going to be as good as anything you two have written,” I say to Aidan and Micah. “But it’s pretty good for a hockey player who’s recently become a big romance fan. And I hope that years down the line, you’ll think of this poem and remember how beautiful your love is.”
I take a breath and skim the lines I’ve practiced over the last few weeks.
“My heart throbs when I think of you.
It’s more than a beat, more than a pulse.
More like an ache.
Like the ache I feel when you’re not there.
Like the ache I feel when you look at me.
Like the ache I feel when I touch your skin and kiss your mouth.
Like the ache I feel when you say you love me.
Without you, my soul shatters.
Without you, the sky fades, the sun dims, the birds cease to sing.
I count the minutes, the seconds, the hours you’re not with me.
But when you’re here, I feel complete.
I feel the joy in my soul; it’s neverending.
When I can hold your hand
When I can kiss your mouth
When you say you love me
I feel it in my heart, my soul, my body, my being.
My joy is you.”
When I look up at Micah and Aidan, they’re both displaying wobbly smiles, dabbing their eyes with their napkins. I glance around the room. Half the guests are tearing up too.
Wow. That went better than I thought it would.
I raise my glass to Aidan and Micah. “I wish you two all the joy in the world. Congratulations.”
The room explodes in cheers and applause. I walk over to Aidan and Micah, and they hug me.
“Dude, that was…” Aidan shakes his head and laughs. “That was incredible.”
“It really was.” Micah sniffles. “So sweet and so romantic. If you ever get sick of hockey, you should think about becoming a poet.”
I chuckle. A few minutes later, guests crowd the dance floor.
Dad walks up to me and pats my shoulder. “Son, that poem was so moving. Well done.”
“You think so?”
“Oh, yeah.” He beams at me. “My boy is a poet and a hockey player. I’m so proud of you.”
I smile, heartened at his words.
He looks over at Aidan, smiling. “I’m proud of both of my sons.” He turns back to me. “You have so many talents. And you both are good people to the core. Couldn’t ask for anything more.”
Pride sparks in my chest. I always thought he only ever cared to see me as a hockey player, nothing more. But to know he sees me as more than that means everything.
“Thanks, Dad.”
He walks off, and I visit with some relatives before I spot Kendall dishing up a slice of wedding cake for her aunt. I walk over and say hello.
“Christina, you look lovely.” She’s wearing a pretty red long-sleeve cocktail dress.
She smiles. “You’re so sweet, thank you, Liam. Goodness, what a beautiful poem that was. You’re such a gifted writer.”
My cheeks heat. “I don’t know about that.”
She pats my hand. “Don’t talk yourself down. You are so talented. That was one of the most beautiful things I’ve ever heard.”
“She’s right.” Kendall smiles at me. “Your poem blew me away.”
I can’t help but smile. “Thank you.”
The song on the speaker system ends. A slow, romantic tune starts.
Christina looks at us. “I think you two should dance.”
I chuckle. “If you insist.”
I take Kendall’s hand and lead her to the dance floor. I hold her close as we sway to the song.
For a second, all I can do is stare at her. She’s so beautiful, I’m having a hard time breathing.
“You keep staring at me,” she says through an amused smile.
“Can’t help it. You look insanely hot in that dress.”
I grip her hip and rake my gaze along the long black silk that hugs her body.
She chuckles. “I was hoping you’d like it.”
“You could wear a garbage bag and I’d like it.” I lean down and capture her mouth in a kiss.
I groan, wishing I could keep kissing and touching her, but we’re in public and we need to keep this PG.
“You really surprised Aidan and Micah with that poem,” Kendall says as we dance.
I chuckle. “I’ll remember that look on my brother’s face forever.” I drop another kiss to her mouth. “I couldn’t have done it without you.”
She smiles. “All those love poems and books we read together really inspired you, didn’t they?”
“Yeah. And falling in love with you.”
Recognition flashes in her eyes. “You wrote that poem about me?”
I nod. I’m grinning so wide, my cheeks hurt.
“Is this what I have to look forward to now that we’re together? Incredibly romantic poems that make me weak in the knees?” she asks.
“Definitely. And sex. Lots of filthy sex.”
Her head falls back as she laughs. She slides her palm over my chest, where my heart is.
Her stare is bright as she looks at me. “Your heart is pounding.”
I hold her gaze. “More like aching. I feel you in my heart, my soul, my body, my being.”
Her eyes shine with emotion as she beams at me. “I still can’t get over how you wrote a love poem for me.”
“Of course I did. My joy is you, firecracker.”