Page 64 of BounBound By Scars

Zarek covered his face with his fist. Probably to stop himself from snapping the mic in half.

Logan grinned. “But look where we are now. You got the girl. She didn’t file a restraining order. So yeah—my brother married my sister. Which doesn’t soundthatweird if you say it super fast.”

He paced a step, spinning the mic in his hand. “And let’s talk about the tattoo. Yep! Zarek got inked, folks. This man, who once claimed tattoos were a distraction and ‘not tactical’ now has a tattoo inked over his chest.”

Seb chuckled from across the room. Dylan smirked. Leora threw her head back laughing while Zarek slowly shook his head, mouthingWhy me?

“What does it say, Zar? I keep forgetting!”

Leora laughed again, wiping at her eyes. Zarek was muttering something to her under his breath.

The crowd laughed, but I wasn’t looking at them.

I was watching Amelia.

She was biting the inside of her cheek, trying not to smile. But her eyes? They weren’t light. They were heavy. Worried. Distant.

Her fingers tapped against her glass in a rhythm I recognized too well.

She was next.

And she was nervous.

And I couldn’t fucking help her.

Onstage, Logan’s voice dropped.

“But in all seriousness,” he said, turning toward Zarek and Leora, “I’m glad I’m here. Not just haunting the back of your minds or name-dropped in a toast. Really here. Glad that I got a lecture to not object at the wedding, instead of those words being immortalized in a freaking note I never gave a second thought to.”

His smile softened. “I joke a lot—mostly to avoid talking about things that aren’t funny. But this?” He looked at Leora. “This is something I’ll never joke about.”

He raised his glass. “To twenty-one saves. And to the one that finally saved him.”

The toast echoed across the room.

He took a few steps off the stage before quickly running back, his gaze landing on his girl. “Oh and Kaylan! I love you, baby,” he then looked right at Zarek and Leora. “What? She ordered me to mention her during the speech if I wanted a reward, so…”

“Logan!” Kaylan hissed but I could see she was trying hard not to laugh.

Logan was grinning as he stepped down, handed the mic off, and walked straight to Amelia.

He leaned in, kissed her cheek, and mouthed, “You’ve got this.”

Amelia’s eyes glistened.

And mine burned.

She walked up slowly.

Too slowly.

Her napkin dropped to the floor, and she didn’t even notice. She was clutching the mic like it might bite her, like it held every answer she didn’t have.

Why was shethisnervous?

It was just a speech.

I didn’t realize I’d stopped breathing until she glanced my way.

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