June First

by Jennifer Hartmann

the bluebirds that fly over them.” I quirk a smile. “Blue like the prom dress that brought me to my knees.” I take her shaking hand in mine, then slide the diamond over her ring finger. It’s a perfect fit. Blowing out a heavy breath, I lift my eyes to hers. “I want to dare to dream with you forever, Junebug. On top of being my best friend, my lover, my soul mate, my comfort and my courage…will you be my wife?” She nods. She nods and sobs and whimpers into her hands. But when she drops her arms and sniffles, inhaling a choppy breath, she asks, “Do…do you want the good news or the bad news first?” My heart nearly stops. I blink rapidly, trying to read her. These are happy tears. Right? Shit…was this too soon? Is she not ready? Trying not to black out, I choke out, “Good news first.” June doesn’t hesitate. She leaps into my arms, coiling her legs around my hips and linking her hands behind my neck. She kisses my shoulder, my collarbone, all the way up to my ear, and whispers, “Yes…yes. God, Brant, all the yeses. I’d marry you today, a thousand times over, in every version of every lifetime.”