My heart was so full that I stepped up and kissed him, even though it wasn’t time for that yet in the ceremony. He kissed me back, beaming, and I stepped back to recite my vows to him with a happy-tear-streaked face.
“When I first met you, I was in such a dark place, trying to banish my magic and run away from my past. I thought, ‘wow he’s the most beautiful man I’ve ever met, if only he would one day smile at me.’” I laughed. “Then you did smile at me, that day we bonded over fixing the antimatter drive filter. You smiled at me, and everything in my life started to bloom. Like after a long winter. You treated me with such respect, such kind honesty. You took care of me when I didn’t know how badly I needed it. You make me laugh, you make me glow from the inside out with my love for you. You accept me for who I am, and every day you choose loving kindness, to me and everyone around you. I will always come for you,” I said, going off script for a moment, “and I promise to be faithful and dedicate my hands, my heart, my magic in service to our life together. I love you, Beck.”
Summer wiped tears from her cheeks. “And now Gemma and Beck will tie their cords, which will be hung up and honored in their new home.”
I called my magic forward easily. It was eager to join with Beck’s magic that was already stealing sweetly into my hands. When our hands began to glow, we unclasped one hand at a time, rejoining them, and worked together to tie a knot in our handfasting cords, allowing them to fall into the decorative box Summer held at the ready.
“May we have the rings, please?” Summer asked, and Hannah and Beck’s brother Jude came forward. Summer nodded at me to begin.
I took Beck’s ring from Hannah and turned back to my groom. Holding his left hand in mine, I slipped a silver band onto his ring finger. “I offer this ring to you as a symbol of my undying love and devotion.”
Beck took my ring from Jude and took my hand. “I offer this ring to you as a symbol of my undying love and devotion,” he said, slipping a delicate ring onto my finger. He pulled my hand up to press a warm kiss to it, and the fine gold stars on my pink fingernails sparkled in the dappled sunlight.
“It is my great, great honor and joy to now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss the bride!”
Beck reached for me, beaming. “It’s about damn time.”
I laughed, rushing into the arms of my future with pure joy in my heart, and he kissed me.
Dirty, muddy feet, grass on the kitchen floor, wildflowers in a jar by the sink. Messy little chocolate faces huddled up in blankets by a campfire, their bellies full of smores, listening to Beck tell them about the stars.
