I tiptoed towards him, hoping to catch him by surprise and hug him from behind. But he wasn’t on alert. He didn’t resist. He didn’t even flinch. It was as though he had expected me all along. I slipped my arms around him and rested my head against his back, swaying him gently. I could feel his smile as he tilted his head slightly to touch my forehead.
Then he turned around slowly, taking my arms in his hands, and bringing them to his lips. He kissed them softly, then kissed my forehead, and finally wrapped me into his embrace, holding me against his chest.
“I know you're upset the day is over,” he said, his voice warm and soft above me, “but this is just one of the many days we’re going to be spending together. Because once I marry you, you won’t have to ask for anybody’s permission. You
