Chapter 18
Jordan
My attention is set on the man at the podium in the reception hall. The only man I feel I’ve looked at today. I know my concentration should be on Nate and Savanna, given it’s their wedding day, and while I’ve definitely enjoyed that aspect, I’ve enjoyed seeing Liam in this element far more.
Who could blame me?
The man is fine as hell in his suit. I’ve never seen Liam in a tux, but I’m definitely putting it on the list of looks I’d like to see again. If that weren’t enough, the way he’s been doting on Nate has been heart meltingly sweet.
Before the wedding, he delivered the letter. During the ceremony when Nate teared up as Savanna came down the aisle, Liam pulled a freaking handkerchief from inside his suit jacket and handed it to him. He pulled a second one from his sleeve when Nate got emotional reading his vows.
I also found out that when Nate got the rings from him during the ceremony, he slipped him a breath mint for the big kiss, which had us all laughing when we found out during photos after the ceremony. And the way he hyped everyone up for pictures had us all smiling and laughing.
He has truly helped make this day as easy and special for Nate as he possibly could have, and as he stands at the podium, commanding everyone’s attention with just his presence, I can’t help but be in awe of him.
“For those of you who don’t know me, which I think may only be a handful of you,” Liam starts out, “I’m Liam. King at work, which I’m sure chaps Nate’s ass to say over the radio because that’s what I’m called in the bedroom too.”
While a round of laughter erupts through the small ballroom, I glance at Nate to find him grimacing as I expected. Sitting at the head table as a bridesmaid, I need to look past him and Savanna to look at Liam, whose confidence has definitely taken a boost with the laughter.
“I’m one half of Nate’s best men. Poor guy is surrounded by great ones so he couldn’t pick just one of us—even if I think the decision should’ve been easy.
” He directs his thumb to himself with a wink to the crowd, then leans closer to the mic and whispers conspiratorially, “Between you and me, he probably should have solely picked Brody on account that the speech alone would be more behaved.”
After more laughter dies down, he continues.
“I’ve known Nate for over ten years now.
Our relationship has evolved greatly over that time.
Friend. Brother. Boss,” he pauses for a moment, wiggling his eyebrows.
“Task master. Not,” he punctuates the “not” with a finger in the air, “to be confused with a Dom Master. That’s a Savanna only thing. ”
The room erupts in laughs and groans as Liam looks back to Nate. “You knew you should’ve picked Brody. It wouldn’t be a me speech without a few sex jokes.”
Savanna is reddening in the cheeks, but being good natured, she’s laughing along with everyone else.
Nate, meanwhile, has a hand over his eyes, looking like he wants to die a little.
Given that Savanna’s dad and brothers are in attendance I can understand why, but anyone who knows these two knows their sex life is alive and healthy.
Me better than anyone, given that I live in the same damn house as they do, and the walls aren’t nearly as thick as I’d like.
“What can I say about the two of you that anyone in this room doesn’t already know?
” he asks, looking over at the bride and groom before turning his attention back to the crowd.
“I mean, we all know that they’re perfect for each other, right?
They balance each other out. She loves that he’s got no game and a great ass. He loves…well, everything.”
“Seriously, while Nate has been a work horse since the day I met him, I’ve never seen him in the state he’s been in since he met Savanna. The term love-sick fool comes to mind.” He chuckles. “Then again, this is coming from a guy who, until recently, had never been on a date.”
Liam pauses, cocking his head to the side as he looks up, contemplating for a moment before looking at Nate and Savanna. “What were you guys thinking, asking the love-averse guy to do this speech?”
The room breaks out into another round of laughter, and while it’s happening, Liam catches my eye and winks, sending my stomach into a fit of butterflies.
It’s for show, I know it is, but just like last night, it feels so damn real, and my heart and my head are having a really hard time differentiating between the two.
“The change in Nate was immediate when he first met Savanna. This was a guy who, at the time, could have multiple women throwing themselves at him and he wouldn’t blink an eye.
Wasn’t interested. Didn’t care. His sole focus was firefighting and the bar.
He lived and breathed work, and wouldn’t make room for anything else.
It didn’t matter how many of us bugged him that he needed to get laid, or was wasting the best years of his life away, all he wanted to do was work. ”
“Then one day I walk into the bar, and he tells me this story about a woman on an elevator who called men disgusting, filthy pigs,” Liam says, getting a few chuckles out of the crowd, probably from those who actually know the story.
“She’d left such an impression on him that he’d actually told me about her, and I knew right then this woman had to be a damn unicorn. ”
“But of course, despite my best efforts over the years to teach him, my dude has zero game, so he didn’t even get her number.” Liam shakes his head, sighing loudly before he lights up, throwing a finger in the air. “Thank god for fate.”
“Now, most of you probably know the story, and those that don’t can ask them later because I don’t want to bore you with the details of their love story, but let me tell you, since the day fate intervened, Nate has been different.”
Liam angles himself to look at the couple at the center of the head table.
His eyes land on Savanna, and he smiles at her.
“You. You, Savanna, are the reason he’s different.
I’ve watched my best friend become a whole new version of himself because of you.
These days he doesn’t work himself to death.
He takes time for himself, for his family, his friends, and especially for you. ”
“Because of you he’s rediscovered his love of hiking, and his love of kicking my ass at pool,” Liam pauses to chuckle.
“He’s learned to slow down and spend days doing nothing but enjoying you.
While he was always calm at work, these days he’s also less task driver—probably in thanks to some pile driver—and more relaxed. ”
“I may not be the guy who believes in fairytales and happily ever after, but I do believe that you and Nate are meant to be. A year ago Brody and I told you that you were one of us, and that’s truer today than it was back then.”
Liam takes his drink from where he has it on the podium and begins to lift it into the air.
“So I want to raise my glass to you, specifically, Savanna, and say thank you. Thank you for coming into my best friend’s life and enriching it.
Thank you for making him the best version of himself. Thank you for being you.”
He pauses to look out over the crowd, lifting his glass an inch higher. “Please join me by raising your glass to celebrate both Savanna and Nate.”
Raising my glass along with everyone else in the room, we all take a sip before applause begins while Liam goes to hug them both.
As he’s letting go of Savanna and holding her seat out for her, he shoots me a wink before taking his place at the other end of the table for the remainder of the speeches.
Like the rest of the day, they go by fast. It’s crazy to me that we’re already through dinner and nearly all the speeches. Which means the best part of the evening is almost upon us. Dancing.
That part could slow down. I’d like to savor the dance party I know is going to happen. The whole day has been nothing short of magical, from the ceremony to the reception, and I’d really love if we could all hold the magic in for a little longer.
Plus, the longer it goes on, the further away a goodbye with Liam is.
Our time is running out. The thought has plagued me all day, creeping into my mind at the most inopportune times. With it comes the same feeling every time. Like someone has dropped a thousand pound weight on my chest, making it impossible to breathe.
I don’t want it to be over. I don’t want to give him up.
This was all part of the deal, though. From the moment this began, we both knew it had an end.
The other day I had a choice to make—keep going, or give him up early, knowing full well the aftermath I could be left with.
I made my choice, and I’d make the same one over and over again, but those consequences are already hitting me.
Tomorrow my heart is going to break.
“Hi beautiful.”
Liam’s voice in my ear gives me a start.
I don’t know when he snuck around to me, but he’s leaning over my shoulder with his mouth near my ear.
One hand is on the back of my chair, the other rests on the table, and with Maddie on my other side, I’m effectively caged in.
Not that I mind. In fact, I release a deep breath, relaxing in my seat.
“Hi.”
Nate and Savanna just finished their first spin around the dance floor as husband and wife, and are about to have the mother-son, father-daughter dance.
Savanna looks enchanting and magical in a lace gown that looks like it was made for her alone.
Nate is equally as dashing in his tux. The two were made for each other, and good lord I want it. I want a love like theirs that is mine.
And damn it, I want it with Liam.
“What’s going on in that pretty head?” Liam whispers.
I can only tell him half the truth. “Just thinking how perfect Nate and Sav are together. How perfect today has been.”
And how I don’t know how I’m going to face tomorrow.