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I shook my head. “Well actually, maybe. My heart is pounding crazy fast, but I’m not sure it’s nerves exactly. More...anticipation.”

Axel reached out and put his hand in the center of my chest. He smiled. “Here.” He grabbed my hand and placed it on his chest.

His heart was beating almost as fast as mine.

For just a moment, we both just stared at each other, feeling each other’s hearts racing.

“Anticipation.” Axel nodded. “I think that’s right. For so long I was counting down the days to this moment. And it’s finally here. I can finally start thinking of what’s next. If that makes any sense.”

I lifted my hands and wound them behind his neck. “That makes perfect sense to me.”

There was no music, but we started swaying.

I laughed as he twirled me around and pulled me back in close. I felt a little drunk even though I hadn’t had one sip of alcohol. “Is it possible to be drunk on happiness?”

Axel laughed. “I think it’s definitely possible.”

I smiled up at him. “Me too.” I closed my eyes and breathed in his exhales. And I realized that I’d never found it easier to breathe. I was reminded of my dad’s words from the zoo a couple months ago. About knowing my mom was the one because it was easier to breathe when he was with her.

I’d always thought it was hard to breathe around Axel. But it was only hard because it pained me to not be his. It has physically ached. But it was easy to breathe tonight knowing that he was mine.

Thinking about my dad’s words reminded me of the last time I was at the zoo. It was right after the kiss thief first struck. My heart had been in pieces. Because I’d wanted to give my first kiss to Axel and I’d thought I’d given it to a stranger. I’d thought I’d messed everything up. It felt like my life was over.

And now? It felt like my life was finally beginning. I wasn’t sure how I’d ever existed without knowing he was mine and I was his.

I took another deep breath and pressed the side of my face against Axel’s chest. I stared back at the red pandas. The last time I was here, I’d related to one of the red pandas faceplanting a branch. But none of the red pandas seemed full of despair today. They all seemed perfectly content. I wondered which one it had been. Either way, the little guy had made a full recovery just like me. I smiled to myself.

Axel put his fingers under my chin so I’d look up at him. “Let me get that picture of you.”

I handed him my phone and stepped onto the bottom of a lamp post.

He took the picture and stared down at the screen. “Perfection.”

I smiled. Perfection. Axel thought I was perfection! I wanted to scream it from the rooftops. Instead, I started to twirl around the lamp post. I twirled around it a few times and then Axel stepped forward, catching me in his arms.

My heart was racing even faster now.

“You know, I had this idea when I was little that I’d propose to you here one day. It kind of all came out in a rush today. The next time I do it, it’ll be perfect.”

“It already was perfect.”

“But you didn’t say yes.”

I swallowed hard. “I wanted to finally be your girlfriend. For at least a day.”

“Hm.”

If he got down on one knee right now, I’d say yes. I wouldn’t be able to stop myself. But he didn’t. Instead he lowered his lips to mine.

And for the first time he kissed me slowly. Like we had all the time in the world instead of just a few minutes in a dark closet. I loved all his kisses. But this one did something to my whole body. It was like I could feel the effect everywhere. I tilted my hips toward him and he groaned.

I was so worried I’d lost myself over the years. But how could I have? Axel knew every side of me. And loved every side. I was never invisible. Axel had seen me. He knew me better than I even knew myself.

He stepped forward, making my back press against the lamp post. I’d always loved the red panda exhibit. But I’d never thought of it as the sexiest place on earth. My opinion was quickly changing.

But then there was a crashing noise. I stood on my tiptoes to look over Axel’s shoulder. I couldn’t see anyone, but I was worried someone had seen us. “We have to get out of here,” I hissed. I started running.

“What happened to not running in heels?!” Axel yelled as he caught up to me.