How to Say I Do

by Tal Bauer

“I love you, and I want everything with you!” I screamed. “All of it, our whole lives, together-forever! I want to marry you and have kids with you! I want to grow grapes with you and stay up for a whole week to pick them! I want to listen to Jason run wild on Christmas morning, and I want to hide Easter eggs for him in the vineyards, and I want to argue with Liam every day of my life. I want to grow old with you and sit in rocking chairs and wear sneakers with Velcro. I want to be with you, Wyatt, forever, because I love—” He kissed me, big and bold and true, just like those Hollywood movies. No, better than, because this was my true love’s kiss and this was our meeting in the rain. He flung his arms around me and wrapped me up. I gripped the lapels of his filthy jacket and pulled him closer. He lowered his head, his lips brushing over mine again and again like a promise. Neither of us noticed when his hat toppled into the mud.