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With a sudden mental lurch, all thoughts of Buddy disappear. My dream of flying to Mars is about to become a reality.

We’re actually going to make it.

I’ve been so absorbed with Marek and space dirt these last few weeks, I never let myself think about this moment. The ship will pass through a new atmosphere and deliver us to a new home.

And we’ll never go back.

Marek has some final stern words for Buddy, whispered with their faces just a few inches apart. To punctuate whatever he just said, Marek gives a final shove, slamming Buddy into the wall. The drunk piece of shit stares back at us like a petulant child, literally being sent to his room..

Marek faces me, his arm extended, waiting for me to take hold. I place my hand on his tux sleeve and give a soft squeeze.

We move down the hallway toward the gravity lift, but it feels more like floating than walking with him by my side. The altercation with Buddy seems like it happened years ago. Everything outside this moment is a distant, unimportant memory.

Marek.

Marek and I, off to Mars.

If only it were as simple as that.

What if he had put his name in the proverbial hat instead of opting out? What if his algorithm had paired us? Then it would be as simple as that. We’d be expected to be together. Our attraction would be encouraged. Welcomed. Celebrated.

Hell, it would be under contract.

Instead, I have only moments with him. None other can be guaranteed.

When the lift doors open and we walk in, the urge to throw myself into his arms is so intense… so instinctual, that I find myself moving closer to him before I realize what I’m doing. I force myself to leave a modicum of space between us.

I can’t. I shouldn’t. I won’t.

Real life starts creeping in around the edges of my rose-tinted fantasy.

Robert and Astrid are waiting for us.

“Is Astrid…” The question falls out of my mouth before I know what I’m asking, but I can’t help it. My feelings are no secret to him. This jealousy can’t be dealt with through deep breaths or distraction. I need to know the truth. My heart can’t handle the doubt anymore.

These are our final minutes on this ship before life begins anew, so I’m not going to pussyfoot around and—

He kisses me.

It’s the perfect answer to whatever question I was trying to ask.

“No,” Marek says as his lips pull away from mine, though he lingers close enough that his nose brushes against my cheek.

“There is only you.”

With that, the lift takes us up to level four and my heart soars off into the heavens.

As the doors open and the sound of the party infiltrates my happiness bubble, I give his arm one final squeeze before removing my hand.

He is mine.

I am his.

Even though it cannot be.

Still, it is.

We walk toward the guests now gathering in the center of what had been the dance floor. Now people are watching a large rectangular screen that offers the first distant glimpse of our new planet.