Your boyfriend sat comfortably on the couch, his phone in hand, while running his fingers through your hair. You were curled up on his lap, seeking comfort from the stress you’d been feeling. His friends were focused in a video game, their voices blending into the background.

You had just failed an important exam, and the weight of disappointment was pressing hard on your shoulders. Sensing your need for comfort,Nathaniel had come over almost immediately. As usual, though, he couldn’t come alone—he always claimed he felt awkward being just with you, as if his feelings for you made him nervous.

Despite the chatter and constant bursts of laughter from his friends, his focus was mostly on you. Every so often, he’d tuck a stray strand of hair behind your ear or gently brush his thumb across your cheek, his touch soothing and grounding. Exhausted, you felt your eyelids grow heavy, and soon you drifted off in the safety of his presence.

After a particularly loud loss in the game, one of his friends turned to him with a knowing smirk. “Man, you really love her, huh?”

Nathaniel paused for a moment, his gaze softening as he looked down at you. His voice was quiet but filled with conviction. “Of course I do,” he said, a small smile tugging at his lips. “She’s the one I want to put a ring on.“