Chapter 21 #2
“I’d like to say a few words,” Alex said, clearing his throat as he stood up.
“For some time now, each of you has shaped my life in big or small ways. The crazy college nights with Luke, my dream job with Logan, and Ethan. Summer and Norah—the best people who call me out on my shit like good sisters would. And Hazel—it’s not downplaying when I say that there have been some rough mornings at work when your sharp jokes about Logan have brightened my day.
I have a feeling we’ll be seeing you more often in our lives. ”
My heart clenched at Hazel’s inability to hide her happiness. Then Alex turned to Ava, and his eyes softened.
“But Ava—you...” He exhaled shakily. “Once, I heard someone describe you as too much. I remember the way you laughed it off, but I saw it in your eyes. It hurt. At first, I wanted to punch the guy, but then I thought to myself—yeah, you are a bit too much.”
Has he thought this speech through? I knew I should’ve checked it beforehand.
“...like an extra nugget you find in your box or a curly fry in your French fries.“ Ava laughed, unable to look away from him.
“Are all these food-related?!” Logan muttered. Norah kicked him under the table.
“...or like dazzling Christmas lights on your neighbor’s roof that you can’t take your eyes off. You’re a little bit too much in the most wonderful way. And I’m in love with you. A little bit too much, too.”
Okay. He nailed it after all.
“You’re the best part of me. You’re my light and my fire. You make me want to wake up every morning and strive to be the best possible man I can be. Not just for you, but for myself, too.” Alex pulled a small box from his pocket, and the room stilled around us.
“You probably expected something dramatic and extravagant since you know me so well—” Ava’s eyes widened. “—but I know you wanted to be among people who love us. So I chose something in between.”
The restaurant had grown quiet, all eyes drifting toward our table.
“All I want is to make you as happy as you make me every day.” Suddenly, Hazel gasped softly and, without realizing it, grabbed my hand, squeezing it tight.
“Ava, darling, I love you so much.” Alex dropped to one knee. “So marry me.”
The way he looked at Ava made my heart ache in the best possible way. Witnessing their love, you couldn’t help but feel only joy.
Ava grinned, drawing out the suspense. But we all knew.
“About the damn time,” she exclaimed.
“Is that a yes?” Alex grinned.
“Hell, yeah, it’s a yes.” She jumped into his arms, and the restaurant erupted in applause.
The waiter arrived with the champagne just in time. Hazel glanced at me, her eyes narrowing slightly as she pieced the puzzle together. I whispered shh, and she smiled. I was so eager to chase her smiles, it drove me fucking crazy.
We sat down, still dazed from the rush and exhilaration, as Alex slipped the ring on Ava’s hand.
“Oh, we had no idea you were planning this,” Summer said.
“No one did,” Norah added, hugging Ava.
“Well, someone did,” Alex smirked, looking at me.
“WHO?” I feigned innocence, hiding my grin. I actually felt immense pride that he trusted me with this.
“Subtle,” Hazel muttered, smirking and rolling her eyes. “I wish I had a gift or something for you, guys,” she laughed. “But the good wines here are too expensive, and my piano skills are probably too rusty to count as a gift of any kind.”
“Oh wow, do you play?” Norah asked.
“I used to.” Her gaze drifted toward the piano in the corner.
“Of course she plays, she’s Anne Ridley’s daughter,” Summer said, and the words hit me. The daughter.
Hazel smiled, but the light in her eyes dimmed slightly. I saw it now.
“Yeah...” she replied, and I caught her gaze in silent understanding. Without thinking, I found her hand under the table and laced our fingers.
I’m here.
Hazel squeezed back but kept her focus on the conversation.
“Play something for us,” Ava chimed in sweetly.
Hazel’s head snapped up. “I... no, I can’t. I haven’t played in ages.”
“C’mon, Hazel,” everybody encouraged, trying to convince her.
“No, this is your night. I can’t steal your thunder,” she tried to weasel out.
“You’re not stealing anything. You’re actually giving. As a gift to us... please,” Ava tried to appeal to Hazel’s kind heart. I didn’t want to push her, but I wanted to see her play, too. Hazel turned to me as a last resort, but I gave her a small nudge.
“Technically, that would be considered a very nice gift from you. Nicer even than the very expensive wines,” I said, stating pure facts. She pursed her lips, hiding a smile, then sighed in defeat.
“But only because of you two,” she pointed her index finger at Ava and Alex. “But if they throw us out of the restaurant because of my inadequate playing, that’s on you.”
Ava blew her a kiss, victorious. Hazel approached the string quartet returning from their break, exchanged a few words, then made her way to the piano. She cleared her throat before speaking into the mic.
“Boa noite! Good evening, everyone. My name is Hazel, and I’d be honored to play for you tonight.
You see my lovely friends, Ava and Alex, over there?
” She gestured toward them. “They just got engaged. They have that kind of love—the kind you spot from a mile away, the kind you see in movies and secretly wish for yourself. That disgustingly beautiful kind.” Her tone was soft, nostalgic.
“So, even if you don’t believe in love...” Her eyes locked onto mine, and I froze in my seat. Because no matter how many people were in that room... I knew. She was talking to me.
“...I hope one day you find the kind that sees all your mess and still chooses you. The kind that feels less like fireworks and more like coming home.” Her dimples deepened as her smile grew bigger.
And if I were capable of feeling this way, I’d say that I’d have fallen in love with her right then and there.
“This is for you, guys.”
The air was thick with anticipation. Hazel settled into the seat, her gorgeous dress cascading over the bench.
Her fingers trembled slightly. She pushed out a small breath, steadying herself, and began to play.
Soft notes floated through the air. The melody started gently, then gained momentum, filling the space with a sound so alive it seemed to breathe between us.
I think I’ve heard this song somewhere. Yes, it was Ludovico’s “Experience”.
The moment she touched the keys, she became someone else. Her fingers moving as if they had a life of their own. Like it was her heart and soul dancing in the air. I felt like I was in a private concert. I looked over at Ava and Alex, who were in awe, just like the rest of us.
The string quartet joined in, the violin swelling beautifully.
I saw Summer drumming her fingers on the table, following along on her imaginary piano.
Hazel’s hair moved with her, catching the light as the intensity grew.
Her face, her body, everything was lost in the music.
I closed my eyes, torn between letting the sound consume me and watching her.
Hazel wasn’t just playing. She was feeling. I don’t think I’d ever seen anything like this.
The emotions she poured into her music were transcendent, revealing things she could never put into words. It was as if she let me see life through her eyes, feel the emotions she carried in her heart—the ones I lacked.
I could almost feel the chemicals in my brain rearranging. It wasn’t just music anymore. It was a memory. Love. Grief. Every quiet longing she held inside. Everything I’d never let myself experience fully.
Her fingers moved as if they knew exactly where the pain lived and how to soothe it. And for a few moments, I wasn’t afraid of feeling. I just let it happen, let her fill the spaces in me I’d left empty for too long.
She reminded me that softness wasn’t weakness, that ache could be beautiful, and that some people don’t just play music—they become it.
The sounds effortlessly soared through the room, taking everyone along for the journey.
And just as the last note faded, applause erupted.
Hazel hid her face in her palms, trying to suppress her smile.
Still shy. Probably still thinking she didn’t deserve it.
But how could she not believe it when strangers who had never even met her celebrated her for the performance she just gave?
For the beautiful emotions she made them experience.
She finally returned to our table, her cheeks ablaze. Ava and Alex hugged her so tightly she had to fight for breath. “Thank you. So much. It was incredible. You’re incredible.”
Hazel sat down in her seat next to me. There were a couple of sweat drops on her forehead, some on her clavicle, breath still uneven.
“Damn,” was the best I could say. A pitiful and unworthy word for what I’d just witnessed.
“Stop. I’m just glad I remembered the notes,” she said, turning to the happy couple as they shared a kiss.
“Let’s toast,” I said, then got up and cleared my throat.
“People say falling in love is easy. Just some passion, a little bit of attraction. Someone who likes all your good parts. Love is something else. It’s not an emotion.
It’s bravery. Vulnerability. It’s a choice and a compromise.
Not giving up when things are tough. It’s being there for each other when it matters the most. It’s rare,” I paused, doing everything in my power not to steal a glance at her, but I felt her eyes on me.
Mesmerized. Funny, when I was the one being dazzled by her.
“Or so I’ve been told.” Everybody chuckled.
“It’s hard work. And God knows you’ve worked hard to get to this. I’ve been a witness. You deserve everything you have worked for. I love you both to death. So let’s raise our glasses.” Everybody joined in. “To choice. To hard work.” I paused. “To Ava and Alex.”