It’s a promise.
A claiming.
A declaration.
His hand slips to the back of my neck, holding me close as if he’s afraid I might disappear.
I won’t.
Never again.
When he finally pulls back, his breath mingles with mine as he grins. “God, I love you,” he whispers, the words so soft I almost don’t catch them. Almost. But they settle deep in my chest, igniting something I’ve been too scared to name until now. Grabbing my hand, he pulls me next to him in front of the machine, his grin wide enough to light up the Strip. “Let’s do this.”
The screen of the machine flickers to life when he pushes the start button.
Welcome!
Let’s get married.
Name of the Groom?
Sylus types in his name with a grin spreading over his whole face.
Sylus Walker.
The screen blinks, then moves to the next question.
Name of the Bride?
Sylus nudges me with his shoulder when I hesitate. “Your turn, Sparkle.”
My fingers hover over the keypad. A nervous laugh bubbles up, but I quickly swallow it, trying to steady the pounding of my heart. It’s just a joke, a silly moment in a city full of them.
But I want this.
Novalee Sparkle Evans
The screen changes again.
Say yes, share your vows, and kiss the bride!
Two bigYESbuttons light up beneath the question, one for each of us. Sylus presses his without a second’s hesitation. I glance at him, my finger hovering over mine. The way he looks at me, so sure, so open, makes me press the button.
The machine chimes in cheerful confirmation.
Vows.
I need a vow.
My throat feels dry as I clear it, suddenly hyperaware of how fast my heart is beating. My gaze locks on his, and all the teasing falls away. It’s just us, standing on a street corner, making promises to a machine. And yet, it feels like more.
I take a breath, and the words come without me even thinking. “You’re my person. Forever. I’ll never get enough of you.”
His grin softens, and if I didn’t know better, I’d say his gray eyes have a sheen of tears in them. He holds out his pinky, and I hook mine around it. “You’re not just my person. You’re the owner of my heart.You own me.”
We press our joined fingers to our lips, sealing the vows with a shared breath of laughter before Sylus gives me the softest kiss he’s ever given me.
A sudden click pulls us apart, both of us startled. I blink, my lips still tingling from the kiss.
