Page 111 of Game Changer

I cross to Mari and hug her, and she hugs me back before pulling away to take Harlan’s arm.

Before they can descend the steps from the altar, a choir stands at the back and starts to sing.

My sister freezes as the words to "Home” stream out in a dozen voices.

Mari gasps, pressing her arm holding her bouquet to her face.

I swallow hard. Clay meets my eyes.

By the second verse, Mari and Harlan descend the steps. She’s smiling and crying, her lips trembling as she leans on her new husband.

Clay gives me that nod.

That "secret smile" nod.

That “I did the only thing in the world that could have made this day better” nod.

My heart starts up, and I don’t know how long it had been stopped for.

* * *

The photographer comes and sweeps us off immediately after the ceremony. I manage to sneak out my phone while we’re on our way to where we’ll shoot pictures.

Grumpy Baller: You look beautiful.

The message comes through in between poses.

Nova: You don’t look so bad yourself. If you’re lucky, I’ll save you a dance.

In the gardens, we pose in small and large groups with the happy couple. After what feels like hundreds of pictures, my phone goes off again.

Grumpy Baller: I’m taking all of them.

* * *

By the time we get back from photos, the reception is bursting with guests. Every surface is covered in flowers with soft lights strung up in the vaulted ceiling of the hallway. The wedding party and the newlyweds are announced and seated at the head table.

The MC, Harlan’s best man, runs through opening comments plus a few jokes about him that have everyone cracking up before he introduces Chloe.

She rises and goes to the front. With a smile as genuine as it is easy, she talks about how they met and bonded. We’re all drawn in. Not a person in the crowd isn’t captivated, including the players. Jay’s leaning in, elbows on the table and brows pulled together as if you couldn’t pry him away for anything.

“And I hope we’ll have so many adventures and stories. For someone who already has those, I want to turn it over to Mari’s sister, Nova.”

My throat swells.

I rise from my seat and head to the podium.

“Sorry to put you on the spot,” she whispers. “Mari thought you wouldn’t mind.”

I stare out at the crowd and at my sister. Mari’s smiling my way, and my chest expands.

“I honestly wasn’t expecting to do this. It’s like winning an Oscar and not having planned your speech.”

There are a few chuckles.

Clay catches my eye and nods.

“Siblings are people who have to love us no matter what. There were a few times over the years I would’ve walked away if we weren’t blood.” A few more chuckles sound through the audience. “But Mari never did. I always wanted to be like my big sister, and now I see I can’t be like her. But I can be there for her. I can only hope that one day we’re all as lucky as you both are.”

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