They’re crying before I am.
What’s going on?
Connor picks up where he left off. “I speak for everyone here today,” he tells us, “when I say that you two—Lily and Loren—are the strongest people we’ve all ever had the honor to meet.”
My eyes well. What? Lo squeezes my hand.
Connor remains stoic, his grin genuine and heartfelt. “You both have spent years praising all of us for our talents and our strengths, but you were too blinded by your own foibles to even realize how much we’ve revered you. For years, we’ve watched you fight for this future, for each other, and you’ve conquered a larger battle in your lifetime than most of us will ever come to see.”
I feel the tears roll down my cheeks, my chin trembling. I never ever believed someone could say something like that to us. This is a dream, but I know it’s not. Because Lo squeezes my hand again, his eyes misted too.
And Connor says, “You are our heroes, and today, we are grateful to celebrate your love and your life together.”
Lo wipes his eyes with his sleeve. “Goddamn, Connor.”
Everyone lets out tearful, emotional laughs. I do too, and Lo uses his thumb to dry off my face.
“You two have the floor,” Connor tells us, taking a step back.
Our turn. I look up at Lo again, one of his hands on my hip, the bare skin where my skirt meets my top.
“First or second?” he asks me.
We didn’t write down vows. We told each other to just say whatever hits us in the moment. I knew that if I tuned out the audience, his groomsmen, my bridesmaids—I’d be able to accomplish the task without stage fright. It’s already begun. The last figure I see in my peripheral is Maximoff Hale, my smiling, happy superhero son.
“First,” I whisper. “I’ll go first.”
His fingers are lost in my hair, his large hand encasing my cheek. I think back to days upon days with him. And I begin, “If someone ever asks how long we’ve spent together, I’d say for as long as my mind stretches back. I can’t tell you the day that I fell in love with you because there wasn’t a single day that I didn’t.” My voice shakes with more joy than I’ve ever known. “You have the purest parts of my heart, and I’m certain that in every alternate universe, I’m always, always in love with you.”
His chest rises with mine, our breath matched. Exhale for exhale. Inhale for inhale. He leans close like he aches to kiss me. His arms wrap around my waist. And in his sweetly edged voice, he tells me, “Nearly every day of our lives you’ve wondered one thing.”
Sex darts into my brain.
And his smile lights up his face, full-well knowing the dirty paths of my mind. “You’ve wondered when your superpowers will kick in.”
His words flush my thoughts, and I focus on his intense, passionate gaze. “Have they?” I ask softly.
“According to your timeline,” he says, “they’ve been present as far as your mind stretches back.” His lips rise. “Lily Calloway…all this time, your superpower has been loving me.” Tears cloud my eyes, and they don’t stop, especially as he adds, “And you’ll be happy to know that I’m not mortal.”
“You aren’t?” I choke.
“No.” He shakes his head, brushing away the wetness beneath my eyes. “Because my superpower is the love that I have for you. It’s out of this world, extraordinary, incomprehensible kind of love. And no one and nothing on this Earth comes close to it.”
My heart is so full that I can hardly breathe.
Our lips meet at the same moment, expressing the words we’ve spoken. Our bodies attracting like magnets that’ve met for an unquantifiable time.
In the very happiest moment of my life I learn three things:
I am strong.
I have powers.
And my soul meets Loren Hale’s in every kiss. When the curtains on my universe close, he will still be with me. That, I’m sure of.
{ Epilogue }
LOREN HALE
Ghosts, witches and zombie kids skip along the street at 5 p.m. on Halloween night. The sun hasn’t even dropped yet, and they’re already crazy for candy. I hop into my new car, another black Audi, with Connor in the passenger seat and Ryke in the back.
“Don’t speed,” Ryke says, buttoning his plaid flannel shirt, his plain Halloween costume. I still have no clue what he’s dressed as, other than himself. “There’s too many fucking kids out.”
Connor checks his Rolex watch. “At least go ten over.”