Later, after the curtain falls and the congratulations fade, we walk home, hand in hand, through the softly falling snow with Bailey padding ahead, still wearing one donkey ear.
Bree says, “We have a lot to figure out. My writing schedule, your hockey travel ...”
“We’ll make it work,” I promise.
She squeezes my hand. “I can’t believe we both planned surprise skits.”
“Great minds think alike.” I pull her closer.
“Or in our case, great hearts.”
Soft, winter moonlight catches in her hair, tinting the loose strands into threads of silver. I’m not thinking all the way down the road just yet to when we have gray hair, but this woman is my future. She’s the center of my life, my world—past, present, and all the days ahead, here on earth or extraterrestrial.
“You have a look,” She teases a grin as if she knows what I’m thinking about—us.
“Can you blame me?” I step closer, drawn to her chocolate scent.
Her eyes turn heavy, lashes brushing her cheeks as I gently swipe my thumb across her jawbone, feeling the warmth of her skin beneath my touch.
I couldn’t imagine it before, wouldn’t allow myself to dream, but she’s mine now and I get to touch her, hold her, laugh with her, and do life with her.
Lifting Bree’s chin, her gaze finds mine. I lean down until our foreheads touch and our noses brush together.
Her palms press against my chest, resting over my heart.
“What are you thinking about?” I ask, unable to keep a smile out of my voice.
“That depends. What are you thinking about?”
“You know what’s on my mind.”
“Do I?” She taps her finger against her lips.
Her lips.
“Hmm. Let’s see. Hockey? Your Christmas presents? Aliens?”
We both chuckle.
“You, of course.”
As if those are the magic words, our mouths meet and we’re kissing.
It’s slow and deliberate. A savoring of the soft give and take. We’re not in a rush, experiencing the presence, the patience, and the truth of the matter—we have all our lives to do this, to be together.
She pushes up onto her toes, pressing closer. I sling my arms around her waist as she knots her fingers in my hair.
The kiss deepens and when I’ve completely lost track of my thoughts, the only thing that draws me out of how wonderfuland perfect this is, is when Bree lets out a contented sigh like everything is right in the world.
It is now.
I lift her slightly off the ground and she frames my face in her palms, steadying the kiss as we melt together once more.
I could kiss her for hours like this, days, lifetimes, learning the shape of her mouth, the curl of her smile, the little catch in her breath when I press my palm to the small of her back. There’s no urgency anymore, no fear that this might be the last time. Just the steady certainty that together is exactly where we’re meant to be.
CHAPTER 25
BREE
