When Stars Collide (Second Chance Romance #2) - Sara Furlong-Burr Page 0,142
story altogether. As my newly acquired sister, I wanted nothing more than to help Elle overcome the hand she’d been dealt before our paths crossed. I wanted to see her escape from the shackles that confined her to her own insecurities brought on by the abuse she suffered at the hands of the people who told her they loved her. I wanted to see her reach the goals she set for herself; to succeed and overcome where the odds had been stacked against her. But most of all, I wanted to see her happy.
“Enter Luke Hutchins.
“Now, I’d like to take the credit for these two crazy kids hooking up, as I more or less set up their first date, and, actually, I will. Because had I left it up to them, they would still be in that coffee shop parking lot, making awkward small talk, all while stealing lustful glances at each other. So, I guess what I’m saying is, you’re welcome, you two.”
I winked at Elle and Luke, who both seemed only slightly less nervous than they had when I’d first began speaking.
“After their first date, Luke and Elle became inseparable—like annoyingly so. Elle would come back to our dorm late at night, forcing me to have no choice but to converse with others for social interaction. Sometimes she would wake me up in the wee hours of the morning, which was a pretty risky move on her part. She doesn’t know this, but I was going to let her have it one night when she came in late. But no sooner had I opened my mouth, than I saw the smile on her face and I just couldn’t be angry with her anymore. For what was probably the first time in her life, Elle was truly happy.
“Luke healed something in Elle. He made her see herself for the incredible person that she is. He gave her the confidence she never had and the unconditional love she should have had from the beginning. Just seeing them together, I knew without a doubt they were made for each other. Then life happened and they were torn apart. Even Elle and I lost touch for a few months. When we reconnected again, I saw how much she had regressed without Luke and it broke my own heart. She tried to hide it, putting on a show to mask her pain, but I knew that as hard as she tried to move on, she never actually would. And I suspect neither did Luke.
“Then fate stepped in, setting forth the chain of events that have led us here today. When Luke and Elle found their way back to one another and reclaimed their love, I felt like my family had been reunited, for that is what they both mean to me. They’re my family. Luke and Elle have a love story like no other. Seriously, someone should write a book about it.”
I raised my glass, waiting a moment for everyone else in the tent to join me.
“So, without further ado, a toast to Elle and Luke. May your romance continue to flourish, showing us all the meaning of true love. May your patience be unlimited and your dreams attainable. May you continue to defy the odds, no matter how insurmountable. May your children be ridiculously tall, good-looking, poet-doctor hybrid kids with incredible heads of hair. And, last but not least, may your marriage play out more like an episode of The Waltons than an episode of Snapped.”
A chorus of, “Hear, hears!” rang out around the tent as I put the glass to my lips and took a sip of the sweet champagne.
I leaned down and wrapped an arm around Elle, whispering in her ear, “See, that wasn’t so bad.”
“Thank you,” she whispered back, rubbing her eyes.
“I love you.” I glanced up at Luke. “You’re all right, too, Hutchins.”
I sat back down just as the DJ’s voice came back over the speakers. “Okay, now it’s time for the best man to give his speech. Peter Monroe, when you’re ready, the floor is yours.”
Right then, I realized the microphone I used was sitting in front of me. Grabbing it, I passed it to Elle for Luke to hand off to Peter. The thing about Peter was, among the people he knew well, he was as introverted as the day was long. But get him in the middle of a crowd of people he barely knew, and his nerves really started to kick in. It was