I start to speak, but Aundrea cuts in. I love when she takes charge. “We met at Max’s Bar the night Jean came to visit.”

I know the moment the light bulb goes on in Genna’s head because her eyes get wide. “Did you two …?”

“Oh, hell,” Jean laughs out. “They did more than hook up. Those two were all over each other that night, grinding and making out by the bathrooms. She was too chicken to leave, but finally grew some tits and went home with him.”

“She’s the girl you left with?” Kevin says loudly, in realization.

I nod.

“Damn.” He laughs.

“So, that night at our house,” Jason begins, “the two of you already knew each other.”

“Yes,” Aundrea confirms.

“How long were you two hooking up before you announced that you were dating?” Genna asks, hands on hips. I can’t tell if she’s upset because she didn’t know or because she wasn’t the one who actually introduced us.

“We weren’t,” Aundrea answers.

“Well, unless you count the make out session at the clinic right before you started,” I counter.

Aundrea swats my chest playfully and I laugh.

“Oh, come on guys! She turned me down countless times. I had to work for it—hard. I mean, it took me a long time just to get her to agree to go on a darn date with me to the hockey game.”

“That wasn’t a date,” Aundrea insists.

“Babe, call it what you will. It was a date.”

“I can’t believe I was so blind,” Genna says.

“No shit; well played, guys,” Jason adds. He’s smiling. “No wonder you were so shocked to see him in our living room that night. Here I thought you were mesmerized by his good looks when, really, it’s just a total nightmare to see your one-night stand in your sister’s living room. Damn. That’s quite funny, really, looking back.” He laughs harder.

“You.” Genna shakes her head at Aundrea. “I never would have thought you had it in you, sister.”

Aundrea laughs, then she turns serious as she looks at me. “I never thought my Mr. One Night Stand would become my future.”

I pull her close. “And I’m not going anywhere.”

“Speaking of which,” Jean announces, pulling our attention back. She steps close to Kevin and takes his hand. “Neither am I.”

“What do you mean?” Aundrea asks.

“I’m moving to Rochester.”

“You are?” Aundrea’s face lights up and she practically slams into Jean as she pulls her into a hug.

Jean just shakes her head.

I knew she and Kevin would figure it out.

Eventually, we all join the parents in the living room. Looking around, though, I don’t see Aundrea. I finally find her in the basement, gathering food from our snack bar.

“Hey, do you need any help?”

“No, thanks, I got it.” She shoots me the smile that hits me like a bolt of lightning. I take the snack bowls out of her hand.

“What?”

“I bought you something.”

“You didn’t need to get me anything.”

“Yes, I did.” I pull a tiny gold locket from my pocket.

Aundrea takes it, opening the small heart. Inside is a photo of me, holding Mason. The locket reads, “We’re here because of you.”

“Parker,” she exhales.

“You once told me that I have to surround myself with light and give it to others. I can only hope to give you and Mason as much light as you’ve given me.”

“Parker.” She pulls me into her arms, hugging me as tight as she can. “How did I get so lucky?”

“I ask myself the same thing every day.”

We’ve said those words to each other before, but they’re true. I’m still amazed this woman chose me.

“I love you, Aundrea.”

“I love you more, handsome.”

“If you say so.” I smile.

Some people search their entire lives for that one person they can’t live without; who is their other half in every way possible.

Aundrea is mine.

We’re intertwined.

For life.