Page 72 of New Year's Faye

"No, you won't." I turned to straighten his bow tie. "You love them."

"I love you more."

"That's not in the data." But I kissed him anyway, quick and soft. "Come on. We have a show to do."

The energy in the venue was electric, reminiscent of that night a year ago when everything changed. The crowd seemed to pulse with anticipation as midnight approached.

One minute and thirteen seconds to go.

"Before we start the countdown," Sam's voice carried over the crowd as he stepped up to the mic. "I want to say something."

I paused in my usual spot in the wings, something warm unfurling in my chest as he found me with his eyes.

"A year ago tonight, I married the love of my life." The crowd cheered as the spotlight found me. "She thought it was the tequila." Laughter rippled through the audience. "But I knew. I'dknown since high school that she was it for me. I just needed her to catch up to my data set."

"Nerd," Justice coughed into his mic, earning more laughs.

"Says the man who cried at our vow renewal," Sam shot back before turning back to me. "Anyway, my beautiful, organizational wizard of a wife made me promise not to do anything spontaneous tonight."

I narrowed my eyes at him. "Sam..."

"But..." His grin was wicked as he gestured to the screen behind the stage. "She never said anything about planned spontaneity."

The screen lit up with a PowerPoint slide:

A Comprehensive Analysis of Why Samuel Dogg Continues to Fall More in Love with Faye Moyo

Year One Performance Review

"Ten seconds!"

Tears burned my eyes as Sam walked to the edge of the stage, holding out his hand just like last year.

"Nine!"

"What do you say, love?" His eyes sparkled. "Want to help me present my findings?"

"Eight!"

"You made a PowerPoint?"

"Seven!"

"With graphs and everything."

"Six!"

"Color-coded?”

"Five!"

"Of course." His smile was soft. "I learned from the best."

"Four!"

I took his hand, letting him pull me into the lights.

"Three!"

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