“Really?”
Josh pulled out his phone and clicked on the recording Auntie Chen made for him. There was no way he could have memorized it, but he wanted Riley to be able to hear it. She had read it again out loud so he could record it.
“Listen,” he said, and hit play.
Riley listened to Auntie Chen’s strong voice. It was soft the first time they read the letter together, but this second reading showed how excited she was to be part of this moment for him.
His bestie had never been great at hiding the emotions on his face, and Josh could tell he was nervous, but Riley relaxed as Auntie Chen read through her requirements.
Try to find someone who balances your weaknesses.
Riley smiled, likely thinking about how they’d always been a perfect balance for each other. It’s why they worked so well together. You couldn’t work, live and play with someone and be with them all day if you weren’t compatible.
Make sure you bring something positive to their life as well. Your relationship should feel like a partnership.
Riley chuckled, his eyebrows raising in agreement withMama’swords. They had the perfect partnership.
Find someone you can laugh with.
Duh. They’d nailed that one too. No one could make them laugh like each other.
Make sure this person loves you for you.
Riley shared a sweet smile asMamaexplained that one. How many times had Riley told Josh he was perfect the way he was? That he didn’t need to be what people said and instead could just be himself? And Josh felt the same about Riley. There was no way to improve upon perfection, and he’d told Riley that countless times over the years.
I hope you are as excited to see them every day as they are to see you.
Josh smiled as he remembered Riley’s reaction when he’d burst through the door that morning. They were rarely apart, but reuniting with him was always the best part of Josh’s day.
Riley gasped when Auntie Chen mentioned Riley himself in her letter.
You should see how hard it is to separate the two of you now when you are only babies! That’s exactly how it should be with you and your soulmate.
Josh’s eyes began to prickle with tears as he read the shock and awe on Riley’s face.
“We were always inseparable,” Riley whispered, squeezing Josh’s hand.
I wish I could have met them, but if I didn’t get the chance, please know that yourBàbaand I love you no matter what.
Riley’s eyes glazed over. He tried blinking away the tears, but the movement made them slide down his handsome face.
They hadn’t known it at the time, of course, but the fact thatMamaandBàbahad in fact met Josh's soulmate made him feel so much better about everything. And it was clear that Riley thought the same thing.
When the recording ended, tears were streaming down both their faces. Riley placed his mug on the coffee table and reached over to Josh’s to do the same. He crawled into Josh’s lap and held himclose as they cried together.
“MamaandBàbawould have loved you, exactly like I do, Ri,” Josh whispered in his ear.
“I love you so much.”
They held each other close until Riley started squirming on top of him, Josh’s hands stroking his back. He dipped under Riley’s hoodie and met his heated skin.
Riley sat up and wiped his eyes with his sleeve before rubbing the tears from Josh’s face away with his thumbs, then he brought their lips together. Josh could feel the promise in his kiss, the love that radiated from his best friend, his soulmate.
Before long, their kisses went from soft and teasing to passionate and desperate.
They hardly broke from each other except to shed their hoodies.
Josh tried to stand while holding Riley in his lap, but he was too far back on the couch to get leverage. Riley chuckled as he slid off his lap, pulling him by the hand toward Riley’s bedroom, where they spent all of their nights lately.
