I pressed my lips together. I didn’t want to burst into tears. This wasn’t supposed to be a sad moment. This was supposed to be the moment. “I’m sorry, Jacob.”

He didn’t respond. He seemed lost in thought.

“I think the two of us will be a little stronger than a snow globe,” I said. “More like a...brick.”

He looked up from the cupcake he was putting icing on and laughed. “Our love story is like a brick?”

“You know what I meant. A very romantic brick. And bricks are like...the foundation of a home, Jacob. They’re very important.”

“Okay then,” he said with a smile. “Our love story will be like a very romantic brick.”

I liked the way he said “love story.” And I wondered if one day, years in the future, we’d be telling our kids about this moment. I couldn’t stop smiling.

“Aren’t you going to try one?” Jacob asked.

“Once I’m finished icing all of them.”

“Where’s the fun in that?” He sprinkled some mini chocolate chips on top of one of the finished cupcakes and handed it to me. “Taste testing is half the fun.”

I smiled. “True.” I took a bite of the cupcake and stifled a moan. “How does it actually taste like ice cream? These are insane.” I took another bite.

Jacob laughed.

“What?”

“You have something right there.” He pointed to his cheek.

I rubbed my left cheek.

“Other side,” he said.

I wiped my right cheek.

“Here, let me.” He reached out and ran his thumb across my cheek. And then his hand just stayed there.

All I could hear was the sound of my own heart pounding as he leaned closer.

It was the exact move I’d tried to initiate when we’d gone out for ice cream. But I’d flubbed it. Jacob wasn’t flubbing anything though.

He tilted my chin up as he leaned closer.

“You are so beautiful,” he whispered.

I knew as soon as he kissed me, it would change everything. A line would be crossed that we couldn’t uncross. Jacob Miller would no longer be my lifelong friend. He’d be...mine. We’d be us.

“Even with icing on your face,” he said.

“What? I thought you got it?”

“You have a little more right...” He ran his finger through the bowl of icing and then touched the tip of my nose. “...there.”

I laughed. “Oh it is so on.” I touched the top of my cupcake and went to put the icing on his face, but he caught my wrist. His fingers wrapped around my wrist and he pulled my arm down, pinning me in place between him and the kitchen island.

He stepped forward, pressing himself against me.