“I’m not exactly an open book when it comes to them, but yeah, the family business has been passed down for generations. I’m next in line to learn, but not before I clean my act up.” Dom smiles as he glances at me.

“Is that so?”

“I’ve gotta please mommy and daddy if I want my inheritance. I have an entire trip planned next summer to prove how good of an employee—I mean, son—I am.”

That was totally on purpose. “I bet you’ll prove a lot of people wrong, Dom. To be fair, I’m glad you’re here in place of them. It’s always good to see you.”

The two of us break off in separate directions. Connie pulls me to the side an hour later, her phone in one hand and her clipboard in the other. “Are you ready for your speech? You’ve got around three minutes.”

“I’m ready.”

Connie looks around at me, her eyes almost bugging out of her head. “D-did you not write anything down? Where are your note cards?”

“I don't have any. I’m speaking from the heart, Con. It’ll be fine.” I smile, hoping it eases her, but it doesn't seem to be working.

“I believe in you. Sort of,” Connie says as she speed walks away to the stage, and everyone quiets down. “Hello, everyone, and thank you so much for coming. This event has been an absolute blast, and we’ve already surpassed our donation goal, so thank you so much!” A round of applause ensues before I feel a hand caressing my arm. I don't even have to guess who it is.

“Liv, I’m going to be fine. You know I don't hate public speaking as much as you do,” I say as I spin to face my sister.

“I know you’ll be amazing, Bree. I just wanted to stand with you before your speech. And I’m sorry that our parents did what they did.”

“Don’t apologize for their mistakes, Liv.”

“I’m not. Well, I did, but I wasn't trying to. I’m just so proud of you, Bree. I feel like I don’t say it enough, but I am so damn proud ofthe woman you’ve become. Look at all this good you’re doing for others, even when you’re going through something nobody else can understand. It’s remarkable, Bree. You are remarkable.”

I pull her in for a hug, our heels making us the same height. “I am who I am because of you, Liv.”

“You are who you are because ofyou, Bree. I had nothing to do with who you’ve become. And no matter what you say, I’m not taking any credit. Now, get up there and show everyone why I’m the writer in the family,” she jokes as she squeezes my hand before she heads back to Tristan, slipping into his side like she was always meant to be there. Tristan’s eyes meet mine, and he gives me a thumbs up before I hear Connie introduce me.

That’s my cue.

I walk up the short staircase before I hug Connie and stand behind the podium. I take a deep breath as I look out into the crowd, the ballroom filled with more people than I could’ve imagined when I first started organizing this event.

“Thank you all for coming. I’m so excited to be hosting this event in honor of the Mental Health Foundation, and the fact that we’ve already passed our donation goal is…insane. So, to anyone who donated, thank you so much. One hundred percent of your donations will be going directly to the foundation to bring mental health access to communities where it’s not easily accessible.”

I pause for the applause, and before I speak again, I lock eyes with my family in the front of the small stage. I knew this wasn't going to be easy, but seeing them here to support me makes the nerves settle in my stomach. And then I spare a glance at Vince in the back of the room, and the look of pride on his face is enough to send me straight through the floor.

He throws me a wink, and I smile to myself. “I know a lot of you have probably heard about my life through the internet. I’ve been puttingmyself out on the internet since I was a teenager, and I’ve had my best and worst moments broadcasted for everyone to see. A lot of people have had a lot to say, especially in the past few months.”

I look to my sister for some extra strength, and I take another breath to steady myself. “But my story is my own, and nobody should be able to tell it for me. I talk to my therapist every single day. Since that night in May, I’ve had panic attacks, PTSD-induced nightmares, and so much more behind closed doors. It’s been hard, and it’s been the biggest fight of my life, but having someone to talk to about it has made it easier to carry. It was easy for me to have access to a therapist, but others don't have that luxury. This foundation is so close to my heart, so thank you all. I hope the rest of your night is magical. Thank you.”

I walk off the stage, and I’m immediately met with Teags and my sister pulling me into a hug before Teags lets me go to take a sip of her champagne.

“Might want to slow down, Teags,” Dom says as he tries to take her flute from her.

“I’ll bite you, Graves. Don’t touch my drink when I’m having a good time,” she snaps back, and our eyebrows raise. I can almost guarantee we’re both thinking the same thing.

Vince’s hand around my center surprises me, and before I have time to say anything, he whisks me to the dance floor, just as a song comes on that I immediately recognize.

Faithfullyby Journey.

“Did you pick this song just for me?” I ask him, wondering if he remembers that the first time he escorted Liv and I home after we met, this was the song playing on the radio.

“Of course I did. Now, let’s get lost in the music for a bit, okay?”

I can only nod at him as my grip on his hand tightens, and I let him lead while we dance. I’m not the best dancer, but Vince seems to be amazingat it. He’s got this confidence about him when he dances, and with the way he’s looking at me, I could melt into a puddle on the floor.

I’m hyper-aware of all the cameras, but I’m also aware of his hand on my back, guiding my movements. The way his hand feels in mine is too good, and I hate that the song is almost over because I could dance with him all night and never get tired of it.