The crowd was silent, all eyes on us. My heart pounded, not with anger but with a swell of emotion. I felt seen, validated, and supported in a way I hadn’t expected. Ryan’s words had cut through the superficial laughter and had struck at the core of what mattered most.

Ed looked at me, genuinely contrite now, his bravado washed away. “I’m sorry,” he said, sincerity coloring his voice. “I didn’t think. I just wanted to make people laugh, not hurt you.”

I took a deep breath, processing the whirlwind of emotions. “I appreciate the apology, Ed,” I replied softly. “But this is something we need to work on if we’re going to continue this journey together. It’s about understanding and respecting each other, even when things seem lighthearted.”