Page 75 of Handsome

I stood about a foot taller than a few of my brothers while we milled around at the buffet laid out on the beach patio.

Cyrus’s soon-to-be bride was talking to Arman and Joel’s fiancées, and it seemed my birthday was turning into a bridal party.

I was so happy my brothers were so happy.

And I wanted to be whole and complete like them.

So it was time to leave my adopted family and find out where I came from.

Then maybe one day I’d be as happy as the three of them seemed to be.

Cyrus tapped me on the shoulder, and I about jumped out of my skin. A second ago it seemed he was far away. I tipped my champagne flute at him and said, “Congrats. You both seem happy.”

He laughed and said, “We are. We’re planning a Christmas wedding on the island, so be back by then.”

Good. My birthday was full of smiles today. It was all I wanted, though I nodded and said, “Of course I’ll make an exception in my year-long plans so I can be at your wedding, man.”

We watched while the servants laid out the food on the buffet while I absorbed how our family all spoke as a cohesive unit.

“You really think you can live without cash for a whole year?” Cyrus asked.

Good question. The truth was, I wasn’t sure, but I wanted his luck. So I said, “Many people do. And it’s certainly what would have been true for me. Look, go back to your fiancée. Even I can see from here that she wants you.”

Then I saw our parents. They always considered me one of theirs, even though I’d been adopted. Now I needed to prove I was worthy.