Page 62 of The Score

I gulp. I'm tearing up just like my dad.

He takes a breath that shakes just like mine does. "One day I'll prove to you that I've always seen you in my future. That every time I imagine what's to come, it's you I see. If soulmates are real, you must be mine."

I can't fully hide a gasp. He glances at me and rubs his lips with his free hand— his left. Fairylights glint on his ring.

He takes another breath. "If I'm confessing that in my vows, it's because I need you to understand how important you are to me. You're my best friend, Pen. My favorite person. My compass. Whoever came up with the idea ofsoulmates must have had someone like you in their life. I count myself lucky that I get to show you this way, too."

He smiles when he sees the tears welling in my eyes. I blink them away and smile, too.

"Leon Karlsen," the officiant says. "Do you take Penélope Duarte to be your spouse?"

"Yes. I do."

He puts the wedding band on my finger.

Holy fuck, we're really doing this.

The officiant's voice gets stronger. More joyful, as she speaks to her mic. "With these rings, I pronounce you husband and wife. You may now kiss the bride!"

I gaze up at my best friend. Tingles run through my body, I feel so much. I'm getting swept up by the moment, because butterflies explode in my stomach.

Leon cradles my head, like he did all those years ago. The last thing I see is the small, unassuming smile on his mouth, before he presses his lips to mine.

Everything turns gold inside. A sun— maybe a supernova. This light source glows with the power to travel for a thousand light-years, across space and time, stronger than galaxies and the cells in my body, because it takes hold of every corner within me.

The pace of time changes again. Something got rewritten in the fabric of reality.

He ends the kiss and looks at me with twinkling eyes. I can't process what's going on. All I know is we're not kissing anymore and that is unacceptable.

Before I know it, I chase his lips. I kisshim. Arms around his neck, resting my weight on him, up high on the tips of my feet. Without realizing what I'm doing, I'm asking for more.

It only takes him a second to respond, but time still runs in slow motion. He kisses me back. A stray thought points out that wedding kisses aren't like this… but no kiss has ever felt like this.

All things shift. Light refracts around us like when it goes from air to water, but more. Unique. Like nothing before. Like the pressure of his lips on mine has power not only over my anatomy, but the laws of physics themselves.

Next thing I know, I'm held in his arms and bent at the waist. People whoop and applaud.

I gasp. It ends the kiss, but not the dip position he's holding me in.

My mouth is open in surprise. Bear looks awestruck. I'm still bent at the waist, hanging on by a thread and by his strong arms.

"After a kiss like that," the officiant says, "who's ready to party and celebrate this groom and his bride?"

Leon helps me stand by his side. My fingers shake, but I don't think anyone notices— they're hidden in Bear's large palm. I hold on and use his hand like an anchor. People look at us. My parents grin, Bear's parents laugh, and our friends and guests continue applauding.

I smile but it's a reflex. Bear reacts first and, after a dry chuckle, he glances at me and takes us back up the aisle.

Holy fuck. That did not feel like the kiss in my backyard. It felt… I felt…

Oh my God.

I can't process what happened or what it means. There's no time, and nothing is firing properly in my brain anyway. I'm still dizzy from the way Bear dipped me, and the feeling of his lips on mine, and his tongue, so assertive, and I—

Wow. Yeah. What?

As was planned, people follow us straight onto the outside patio. We walk into the wonderfully decorated area, hands still held tight. A server waits for us at the center of the patio, with two champagne glasses on a tray. They have ‘Mrs’ and ‘Mr’ etched on the surface. Neither Leon or I make an attempt to drink them yet.

We only exchange a quick look, before our parents get to us. They hug us. Then it's our friends' turn.

I smile through it all but, inside, something has changed.

Shit.

In fact— holy fuck.