“Yes?” he asks, so, so hopeful.
I lay my hand on his stubbled jaw and rub my thumb across his smile. “Yes,” I confirm. “And I think that always was the answer. In my words, in my tones, in my play, and in my choices. You have been asking with your every breath, and I have been answering, though neither of us knew how to decipher the answer I was giving. Now, we know.”
“Now we know,” he echoes. “And everyone else will, too.”
I drag my left hand in front of us, wiggling my temporarily empty ring finger.
“Yeah,” I murmur happily. Then, louder, “But that’s for later. For now, I believe I’ve been promised kisses?”
Epilogue
?
In love, engaged, and thriving. Just how we like them.
Fox
Poem’s new ring shimmers at me from across the bar as she reaches for a bottle off the top shelf, where all the bar’s drinks are being poured from today.
It’s our engagement party.
The one we’re having because somehow, someway, Poem fell in love with me.
Somehow, someway, I let her do it.
Somehow, someway, our families and our friends and our communities are all happy for us both, but seemingly happier for Poem. As if she is getting the better end of this promise. As if the vows we give will do her more good than me.
It’s lunacy.
It’s heartwrenching.
It’s beautiful.
She’sbeautiful.
Gracious, I wish our wedding were tomorrow. Tonight. Right this second.
Someone calls for one of the on-the-house drinks we’re slinging, and they’re on my end of the bar, but I ignore them. If they keep hollering, Poem will come this way, and I’ll be able to put an arm around her before I put my mouth to her clavicle, pressing my tongue against the warmth of her skin.
They call for their drink again, and she turns, butterscotch blonde hair flying everywhere as she levels a glare on me.
“Fox,servethe customers!” she bosses.
I don’t.
Her eyes roll, but her fingers rise to toy with the marks I’ve already left on her collarbone tonight, and happiness plays at her lips.
Chaos floats beyond the borders of the bar counter, but back here, our gazes clash, and it becomes just us. Just our game. Just our joy.
Just our love.
Just my proposal, floating in the air as I exhale.
And her yes, answering me as her mouth parts.
She takes her first step toward me, and my heart stutters.
Another, and I wet my lips.
