Rory groaned, dragging me towards the door. ‘Come on, I’ve got a speech to give. And a very important bet to win.’
I let him lead me, unable to hide my smile. This, finally being honest with the man I’d been building a foundation with for years, was much, much better than hiding.
42
It came as a surprise to no one that Rory’s speech was hilarious. What did come as a surprise, however, was the PowerPoint presentation.
Joe was wiping tears from under his eyes when Rory got back to the table, a smug smile on his face. ‘Mate, that was hysterical. I didn’t even know we had video evidence of Isla falling into that lake.’
His speech had lasted about ten minutes, taking us through a journey of Joe and Isla’s most embarrassing moments, both separately and as a couple. Matt had stood at the back, filming it and everyone’s reactions. For a man who’d consumed a serious amount of alcohol over the course of the day, Rory had really reined it back, putting on a killer performance. I did not have a good feeling about my odds. He walked back to the table, not breaking eye contact with me and mouthing ‘pay up’. My skin flushed; I knew exactly what he meant, and I intended on paying in full.
‘You are welcome.’ He bowed to the table. ‘Isla, what did you think?’
She was feigning annoyance, crossing her arms over her chest and narrowing her eyes. ‘I’m going to get you back for that. I don’t know when, and I don’t know how, but I will.’
Rory smiled at her, turning on the charm and dropping into his seat. He casually rested his arm on the back of my chair. ‘Then my work here is done.’
From across the table, Maeve shot me a look and mouthed ‘oh my God’.
Isla also clocked the movement. ‘Maybe that opportunity will come sooner than originally thought. Payback is a bitch, Ror.’
He ignored her, pinching the back of my neck with one hand and passing me the mic with the other. ‘You’re up.’
Wiping my clammy palms on my thighs under the table, I took the mic. I had been running high on adrenaline all day, and this was the final hurdle.
‘You’ve got this.’ Rory whispered it in my ear, making the soft skin underneath my earlobe tickle. ‘I’m rooting for you.’
Like always. I shot him a smile, getting up from my seat and facing the rest of the room.
‘Here goes nothing,’ I joked into the mic, making a few people laugh. Joe flashed me a thumbs up.
For all the weeks I’d spent planning for this moment, I still had absolutely nothing to show for it. My piece of paper was as blank as it had been when I’d started. Our public speaking events for Level had been stressful in the past, but we’d always had cue cards and carefully planned presentations locked and ready to go. This time, I was completely on my own. I swallowed, wincing when the microphone picked up the sound.
‘I’ve known Joe my whole life’ – I was completely winging it – ‘I know, awful.’
Mum snorted from the table to my left. And looking at her, watching me so intently and willing me to succeed, then down at the people on my table who were so integral to my life, it suddenly came to me. What I wanted to say.
‘When Isla asked me to be her maid of honour a few months ago, my first thought was “shit, I’ve got to make a speech”.’ I paused to gather my thoughts, letting a few sniggers carry the silence. ‘And then I thought, “why on earth would they ask me to write a speech about love?” I have no idea what love is. I’ve never been in it. I didn’t even think I wanted to be in it.’
I looked down at Rory, who was watching me with a small smile on his face.
‘I’ve spent my whole career trying to figure out the algorithm for love. How to trap it, and turn it into something tangible so that I could understand it, or at least help other people to understand it. But if there’s anything that Isla and Joe have taught me, it’s that sometimes love doesn’t follow a formula.’
From across the room, Dad was beaming, Linda at his side. Level might not be the answer to a perfect match, but it could give you a chance. And maybe sometimes that was all you needed. I folded up the blank piece of paper that I’d been clutching in my hands.
‘The girl who cuts rose stems and the boy who cuts people open might never have been matched by an algorithm, and we’ll never know. But they’re also the best example of love, trust, and partnership that I’ve ever seen. From the moment Isla burst into our lives, this eternally optimistic, sunshiney gem of a person’ – I glanced at her, hands clasped to her chest – ‘I knew that she was the right person for my brother. Who needs someone to remind him of the good in the world.’
I took a breath, trying not to get choked up.
‘There is literally no other person on this planet who could put up with my big brother and make him packed lunches every day. Or run around the house having NERF gun battles with him just because it makes him happy. And no offence, Isla, but there is no one else on the planet who would put up with how badly you sing in the shower.’
She tried to protest.
‘Nope, sorry. We heard you singing ABBA on your hen do. That shit is horrendous. But Joe puts up with it and you put up with him. Because to you two, putting up with each other has never felt like putting up with each other at all. I’ve feared falling in love my whole life, but not any more. Because you two make it seem like the easiest thing in the world. So, let’s raise a glass to Joe and Isla – who are the real deal.’
Around the room, everyone raised a glass. ‘To Joe and Isla.’
I was shaking when I sat back down. Isla grabbed my hand. ‘Penny.’
There were tears in her eyes, and I was surprised to find that mine were prickling too.
Everyone settled into relaxed chatter as coffee was served – yet another element of weddings that I didn’t understand. By this point, most people were on their way to being hammered. No one needed to add another stimulant to the mix.
‘What are you thinking about?’ Rory said innocently as he stirred a sugar cube into my mug with one hand, the other on my knee crawling dangerously higher.
‘Well, I was thinking about how ridiculous coffee at a wedding is.’ I shivered. ‘But now I’m thinking about whatever it is you’re doing under there.’
He passed me the cup. ‘Just giving you a preview.’
Without even thinking about it, I leaned in to kiss him.
‘Wow, no soft launch with you two, is there?’ Joe’s eyebrows were sky high.
I pulled back, blushing.
‘I’m happy for you.’ Joe held my eye contact. ‘I’m proud of you. And I knew the penny would drop eventually.’
I rolled my eyes. ‘Hilarious, and as always, completely original.’
