I nodded across to Bryan, then hung back to wait for Brooke to find me. I saw her talking with her mom, then Owen wrapping her in a bear hug and lifting her off her feet.
Moments later she came bounding across the grass to me, crashing into me with a giant hug. My senses flooded with the smell of her peach shampoo.
“We actually did it!” she exclaimed breathlessly. I reached up and gently pulled back the strand of hair that had stuck in her lip gloss.
She rode back to my house with my family, where my parents were hosting a small graduation party.
We spent the evening filling up on food and laughing and talking with my cousins and a few classmates and friends. When I brought Brooke some punch, I saw her engaged in a lively discussion with her friend, Nicole.
I bided my time until the celebration wound down. Guests trickled out the door, and my mom began tidying the kitchen.
I wrapped my hand around Brooke’s elbow, leaning my head to indicate we should go out the back door.
“Fancy a game?” I asked her playfully as we stepped into the May night.
She discarded her heels on one of the patio chairs and set her small purse and flip phone on the iron table. Pulling a hair tie off her wrist, she effortlessly lifted her long brown hair into a ponytail. She padded barefoot towards our shed and grabbed the basketball from its familiar place. The sun had set completely. In only the dim porch light, her white dress seemed to take on an ethereal glow.
“HORSE?” she asked, approaching the tall basket at the end of my driveway with a twinkle in her eye.
I could hold my own in gym class, but she’d always been the more athletic of the two of us. I knew I didn’t stand a chance at sinking more shots than her, but I loved seeing the flush of her skin and hearing her horrible trash-talk whenever there was a competition at stake.
She lined up for a shot and sank it. I attempted the same and missed.
“H,” she said teasingly, bumping her shoulder against mine. My skin tingled from the contact. “Don’t let me make you a HO.”
I rolled my eyes and chuckled. Her attempts at lewd humor always fell woefully short, but I kind of loved that about her.
I kind of loved everything about her.
I was one shot from losing when she approached the approximate free-throw line. She grinned widely and turned her back to the net. She took the ball between her legs granny-style and hoisted it above her head, expertly aiming her backwards toss to land in the net with a soft swoosh.
I lined up for the same shot, only mine fell short, missing the goal completely. The ball rolled down the hill beyond our driveway, and Brooke began her victory lap.
Undeterred, I snatched her up and squeezed her waist, laughing as her long legs flailed.
“I wonnnn, I wonnnnnn...” she chanted in my ear.
I set her down and gently turned her shoulders so she was facing me.
Her eyes shone in the dim porch light, and I couldn’t wait another second.
I pressed my lips to hers, a shock of electricity flooding my system. I’d given her a soft peck when I dropped her off after prom, but this kiss was bolder, more sure. I tried to fill it with all the emotions and words I wanted to convey.
Then I pulled back and caught her stunned expression.
“Brooke,” my voice came out a rough croak. “B...” I started again.
Her eyes searched mine.
“I’m in love with you,” I blurted out.
Her eyes widened, all trace of humor suddenly gone from her expression.
I laughed humorlessly, reaching up to my neck and tugging on strands of my hair.
“I’ve been in love with you as long as I can remember. I think...I think I was always meant to find you. I think you’re my soulmate.”
My eyes met hers, searching for answers.
