One (One Universe)

had to say in the last couple of hours, somehow, this is the hardest.
    “That’s not why I love you, you know. I don’t love you because you make me fly. You make me fly because I love you.”
    “Wait a minute,” Elias teases. “I didn’t hear that last part.”
    My heart pounds as hard as it did that first night we walked beside a cornfield together. “I said,” I murmur, my eyes still trained on the horizon. “I love you.”
    “You talking to me or the sky?”
    “Both.” A grin cracks across my face. I still don’t look at him. He laughs once, the sound of release. My heart calms a little.
    Then he swallows hard, bends down, cups his hand around my jaw, and kisses me, moving his lips hungrily against mine. I draw back and kiss him once more, light as a whisper of wind.
    I take a deep breath, then stand tall at his side again. He bends down and kisses the top of my head.
    “I love you,” he says into my hair, then pushes a shuddering breath outward. I nod, close my eyes, surprised by how happy it makes me to hear him say it, no matter how long I’ve known it. Since Homecoming. Since the first time we flew, maybe.
    Something warm and heavy and exhilarating floods my whole body. I look up at him. He nods, then we both look up at the sky again. I drop his hand.
    I take off first. The buzz from those three words propels me forward faster than ever before.
    It takes me two seconds to memorize the feeling of flying on my own, its power and strength, the wind biting at every surface of my body.
    It takes Elias a good 10 seconds more to catch up with me. I am the lighter one, after all.
    It takes me no time at all to decide that even though I can fly without Elias, I don’t think I’ll ever want him to leave my side.
    We join hands again, grinning like we did after the first time we kissed. When I remember that, my smile grows even wider. For a moment, we both forget what we’re leaving behind, what we must face ahead, because at least, at the very least, we have each other.
    A shooting pain bursts through my body, under my skin. I don’t mind, though, because I know what it means we can now do. We grip hands tighter. Then we go so fast that a great ripple of air shakes the ground beneath us, and the world is nothing but a blur of color and light. I close my eyes, savoring it.
    I think we just went supersonic.
     
     
    Elias and Merrin’s story continues in TWO, coming October, 2013...

Acknowledgements
    Publishing a book is a labor of love for so many more people than just the author.
    Jamie Grey, thank you for being the greatest editor, best friend, plan-hatcher, and constant support I could ever dream of. From publishing decision day to the release, you kept my chin up and my head in the game. I love you.
    Thanks forever and ever to Trisha Leigh, my mentor and hand-holder. You and your books were the single greatest thing that made me believe that One could be a real, beautiful book. I love them and I love you.
    Becca Weston, my incredible copyeditor, thank you so much for your eagle-eye, unparalleled patience, and willingness to work with me again despite my crazy. Jaclyn Hirsch, you were the most exacting proofreader I could have asked for – thanks for that, and for accepting payment in the form of Jeni’s ice cream.
    Nathalia Suellen is the genius behind the cover of One and its sequel, Two . Nathalia, I can’t thank you enough for giving my debut a more beautiful face than I ever thought possible. You make dreams come true.
    KP Simmon, my publicist – thank you so much for believing in One so fiercely, and for working tirelessly to get the word out. You, my friend, are a force of nature and a miracle worker.
    Andrea Hannah and Megan Whitmer, you were my “Who cares how it’s published?” cheerleaders without fail. You two made my heart lighter when it was heavy. Thank you.
    Thanks for reading the first page of One before I gave you permission, Chessie Zappia, and being its first fan. You don’t like that many books, so either you’re lying to me or this one is really good. I appreciate it, either way.
    Alexa Hirsch, you are my number one fangirl and very first reader for everything I write. To have both those things in one person is quite a rarity. Thank you.
    John Hansen, thank you for volunteering to be my assistant and throwing all your enthusiasm into this little project even before you knew whether you liked it. It was a brave thing, and I didn’t take it for granted.
    Cat