I tried to swing into the shift in conversation and looked up at the stars.

I held his jacket closed over my chest. “Yeah, it’s great out here, but I think I have to go somewhere with actual heat so I don’t get sick.”

He wasn’t moving. “I mean, it’s beautiful out here with you. I just don’t wanna make anybody mad, but I’m pretty sure I need to taste your lips.”

He ran his thumb over my bottom lip and I held my breath. I didn’t want to break whatever spell this was because we weren’t acting right now. We had nobody to convince that we were together, that we were a couple. I felt hope expand in my heart. In my dreams Austin was always my soul mate. And to hope that he might kiss me was just… I mean, I had kissed him before, but this? This kiss would be just for me.

“Breathe, Taylor. Take a breath.”

I did just that and I heard the intake of my breath sound like inflating all my hopes.

“Will that be okay with you? Can I make this happen? Can I take this chance? I never want to change how much you need my family in your life and we need you.” He leaned closer.

Everything inside of me wanted to kiss him, but I waited. If he was going to make this happen, if it was going to be real, I needed him to kiss me. I felt my lips part.

He was waiting for my consent, so I gave him that. “I’d like it very much.”

And then Austin leaned down and kissed my lips specifically because he wanted to. If there was something equivalent to fireworks that went off in someone’s chest, that’s exactly what happened to me. My brain was screaming in delight. And then it occurred to me to kiss him back. I had Axel‘s leash wrapped around my wrist so I could only use one hand to cup the back of Austin’s neck. He unleashed passion on me that I had only imagined existed between us.

His words misted over my skin. “You’re beautiful, you're amazing, you taste so good.” He was nipping my jawline and running his hands up and down my back, underneath his jacket. The chills he gave me combined with the goosebumps I had from the cool air. “Taylor, I don’t wanna make this complicated, but this is the most exquisite kiss in the world.”

I nodded slightly and returned my lips to his jaw. He smelled delicious. In the gentle lighting of the garden, his profile was something I never intended on forgetting. “This is beautiful.” I was wearing a flower crown and surrounded by intoxicating foliage. Again, I pictured a secret wedding just between Austin and me.

* * *

AUSTIN