the sun’s setting low over figure eight, turning the water gold. waves roll soft against the shore, the air thick with salt and summer heat. rafe’s standing there barefoot in the sand, sleeves rolled up, eyes on you like he’s trying to memorize every damn thing about you.

he’s been quiet all day. too quiet, even for him. usually he’s cracking jokes or running his mouth or fussing about something, but not today. today he’s got that look like he’s carrying something heavy. “hey,” you say, stepping closer. “you okay?”

he nods, breathing deep, thumb rubbing over the edge of his jeans pocket. “yeah, baby. just… come here a sec.”

there’s a tremble in his voice, one he tries to hide behind that little grin of his. you walk to him, the sand cool under your feet, the wind tugging at your hair. when you reach him, he takes your hands in his. big, calloused, rough around the edges but soft with you. always soft with you.

he looks down for a long moment, jaw flexing. then he starts talking, voice low and drawling, like it hurts and heals him at the same time.

“when i was a kid,” he says, “my mama used to wear this ring. never took it off, not once. it was—hell, it was like her thing, y’know? she’d sit out on the porch, hummin’ to herself, that little diamond catchin’ the light. and when she—”

he swallows hard, eyes glassy. “when she died, dad gave it to me. told me to keep it safe, to give it to someone if i ever found a girl who made me feel the way she made him feel back then. i told him i’d never do that. told him nobody’d ever get close enough.”

he laughs, quiet and broken. “guess i lied.”

you feel your chest tighten, throat thick with emotion. he’s still looking down, like he’s scared if he looks at you he’ll lose it. then he drops to one knee, the movement slow, almost unsure.

he pulls the ring out. t catches the sunset just like he said it used to.

“baby,” he murmurs, eyes finally lifting to yours. “i ain’t good at this kinda thing. you know me. i mess up more than i should, i lose my temper, i do dumb shit. but i love you. god, i love you so much it scares me sometimes. you make me wanna be better. you make me feel like i can breathe.”

he laughs again, but his voice cracks halfway through, and his eyes are red now. “you’re it for me. always been. i don’t know what the hell i did to deserve you, but—”

he takes a shaky breath, holding the ring out with both hands now, like it’s something holy.

“will you marry me?”