It was the kind of warm, golden summer afternoon that felt straight out of a movie. The Starkey family reunion was in full swing at a cozy lake house tucked into the Carolina woods—kids running barefoot in the grass, adults laughing over iced drinks, the scent of grilled food drifting through the air. You’d been to a few of these gatherings before, but this one felt different somehow. Maybe it was the way Drew had barely let go of your hand all day, or how he kept glancing at you when he thought you weren’t looking.

You sat on the porch swing, watching the lake ripple with late afternoon light when Drew appeared in front of you, smiling—but nervous.

“Hey,” he said, brushing a hand through his hair. “You wanna take a walk with me? Just for a sec?”

You raised an eyebrow, amused. “Now? Aren’t they about to take the big family photo?”

“Yeah, but it’ll wait. C’mon.”

You followed him down the wooden path that led to the dock, your sandals tapping softly against the worn boards. The lake glimmered like a mirror, and the trees rustled gently in the breeze. The sounds of the reunion faded behind you.

Drew slowed to a stop at the very end of the dock. You stood beside him in silence, looking out over the water. Then he turned to you, his voice quiet.

“You know,” he said, “this place means a lot to me. Summers here with my family are some of my favorite memories. But nothing compares to the memories we’ve made together.”

You smiled, tilting your head. “You’re getting sentimental on me.”

He laughed, but it was soft, almost shaky. Then he reached into his back pocket.

Your heart stopped as you saw the small velvet box in his hand.

He dropped to one knee.

“Y/N,” he said, looking up at you with eyes full of emotion. “I’ve loved you since the moment we met. You’ve been my best friend, my peace, my biggest adventure. I want to keep making memories with you—for the rest of our lives. Will you marry me?”

For a moment, you could barely breathe.