Page 159 of False Start

Another laugh sounded from the guests, and I felt my nose stinging, eyes watering at how well this mandidknow me.

“But there’s so much more I still want to know about you,” Kyle said, his eyes finding mine. “And I know that will never not be true. There is nothing in this world I love to discover more than you. Every day I spend by your side, I peel back another layer. I find something new to love. I find something new to cherish in the woman I never deserved, but will spend the rest of my life trying to be worthy of.”

I squeezed his hand in mine, trying to tell him without words that he deserved me and more.

“Madelyn, you have brought out the best in me,” he said, and he choked a bit on those words, clearing his throat as I willed my own emotions to stay checked. “I didn’t have an example of a father growing up — not one I would ever want to emulate, anyway. But over the past year, throughbeinga father, I have learned more about love, kindness, compassion and understanding than ever before. And because of that, I know you really are an angel on earth. Because no one is as kind, compassionate, and understanding as you are.

“You light me up with the fire to live the life I was always too afraid to live before. You make me feel brave. You make me feellimitless. And truthfully, I know there’snothingin this world that you and I could ever face that would hold us down. I know we can survive andthrivethrough any test.

“From this moment and until my last breath, I vow to love you, Madelyn James soon-to-be-Robbins.” He smiled at that, squeezing my hand as the crowd sniffed and chuckled. “I vow to be the husband you deserve, the father I never had, and the friend you’ve always been to me. Because though our love is powerful and unending, it’s our friendship that has always been our lifeline, the roots that hold our foundation strong.”

I nodded, two silent tears slipping down my cheeks.

“I love you. And I will keep loving you until I am taken from this Earth, and long after I am gone, too. Always. That’s how long you have me. Forever. That’s how long I want you. Infinite, Madelyn — that’s what we are.”

I couldn’t wait any longer.

As soon as the words left his lips, I threw my arms around his neck and crashed into him, crying even as he chuckled against my mouth. But he dropped the notebook and swept me into his arms, holding me tightly to him as our guests hooted and hollered and made jokes about us not being able to wait.

I thought I heard the officiant announce us as husband and wife.

I thought I heard cheers and felt the dried flower petals we’d given our guests raining over us.

I thought I heard the universe exhale a sigh of relief that we’d finally figured it out.

But none of it registered — not the music or the applause or the smell of the rain moving in.

Because all I could hear, see, and feel in that moment was the most beautiful truth I’d ever known.

I had Kyle Robbins, and he had me.

And we had forever stretching out in front of us, bright and beautiful and unknown.

The End