Page 132 of Promised Love

My throat chokes as Laura squeezes me tightly, and if it was only us, I might let the tears fall. Jasper’s grip is tighter today as he side hugs me before placing Autumn’s hand in mine.

There’s no officiant, but only Autumn and I standing under the arbor, holding each other’s hands.

“You came into my life before I even needed you, Lukas.” Our guests chuckle. “But then you became a big part of everything. Whenever something happened, good or bad, I wanted to share it with you. You didn’t judge me, and that’s the best thing a teenager can ask for in a friend.”

“Are you calling me out on my age, babe?” I squeeze her hand, and she giggles.

“No. Your old age is just an added bonus.”

I could stay here all day, watching her this happy.

“But as the years went by, I realized we’re two parts of the same soul born a few years apart. As much as I knew that thought wasn’t completely wrong, I couldn’t get over the fact that a choice had been stolen from us, and I knew you felt the same way.” She waits for me and I nod. “Every time we talked by letter or in an email, it brought us closer. We showed a part of ourselves to each other that we struggled to share with others. And then you got shot.”

Like in her written letters, her spoken words have the power to take me to an emotional high and then let me fall into a happy place.

I grin, grazing her soft cheek with the back of my hand. “You say it like I asked for it.”

Her breath hitches when my fingers run over her lips. She’s so pretty and all mine. A throat clears loudly, and Autumn’s eyes widen. She makes me forget everything. I smirk and she grins back.

“Um, yeah.” She finds her voice again. “When I received a call that my husband was at the hospital, shot, I realized you were mine all this time. When you opened your eyes, it was like meeting a friend who was close in so many ways but a stranger in others. Then you moved here, our bond had stood the test of time for so long that nothing could break us apart except for ourselves. We had to be apart to get together again. We needed to understand that as much as we hate that we were robbed of a choice, there’s no one else on this planet better for us than each other. And for the first time, I want to thank that promise, which always felt insane but brought my soulmate into my life.”

She presses her lips to mine, and I kiss her back, thanking her for being there for me when I didn’t even know I needed someone.

“You still have to say your words before you can kiss your bride.” Gavin’s holler is loud, but today, nothing can spoil my mood.

“You said everything so beautifully. I feel like there’s nothing more I can say to describe us,” I whisper close to her lips. “But I want to tell you how much you mean to me. All my life, I thought there was nowhere I belonged, that I had no home, until you.” I cock my head toward my friends. “As much as it’s going to ruin my reputation of being a daredevil, and my friends will never stop talking about this, I’m scared of losing you. I’m scared of being alone ever again.”

“You’re not going to be alone, Lukas. I’m here. For now and forever.”

“I like the sound of that, wife.” I place my lips on hers, holding on to the fact that she’ll be with me until the end of time.

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