It’s cooler by the water, the wind more insistent when you step off the boardwalk onto the beach. Your toes sink into the soft, white sugar sand. It’s been years since you walked barefoot on the beach, but the memories come rolling back: the crashing waves, the scent of the salt, the powdery give beneath your feet. It’s very different from the New England beaches you frequented as a kid. But that’s not what you are paying attention to.
Your attention is drawn to a canopy thatched with palm fronds and draped in white gauze. It’s covering a table set for two, a bottle of champagne iced in the middle. In the surrounding sand, dozens of candles in hurricane glasses cast a warm, faint glow.A romantic dinner, you think. That’s incredibly creative and sweet. You wonder how he had time to set it up with everything going on lately.
“You know that Valentine’s Day is still two days away, right?” you say, mildly joking. “Are we celebrating early?”
“Nah,” he says. “Valentine’s Day is for unoriginal suckers.”
You don’t wholly disagree. You walk up the candlelit approach to the canopy, and lean over the table, examining the label on the bottle. Kai comes up behind you and wraps his arms around your waist, butting his head against your back.
“It’s so good to be back home,” he murmurs.
In his arms, you melt. “It’s good to be back home,” you agree.
He pulls away, and you grab one of the chairs, intending to sit down. Maybe the waiters are running behind, as nobody has greeted you guys.Weird.
“Ster,” Kai says, behind you.
“Hmm?” Absently, you turn around.
And Kai is down on one knee.
Kaius. He’s on one knee in the sand, looking up at you. He’s reaching into his pocket, pulling out a small, black velvet jewelry box, and opening it up. There’s a ring inside, glinting in the candlelight.
“Oh my god,” you say, struck dumb.
“Sterling,” he says, his voice very low and serious, “will you marry me?”
You can actuallyfeelyour jaw drop.
“Oh my god,” you repeat. “The other night, at the restaurant… were youasking my parentsfor my hand in marriage?”
“If I say yes, are you going to turn me down?” he asks.
“That’s… so old-fashioned,” you sputter.
“No, it’sproper,” he insists. “And I was asking for their blessing, not their permission. Are you going to answer the question, or am I staying down here all night?”
“Wait!” you cry, hand to your mouth.
Kai goes pale.
Quickly, you, too, sink to your knees. Both of them. You’re messing this up, but you didn’t get a chance torehearse,dammit. You are supposed to practice these things!
“Your ring is at home,” you say quickly, “because I didn’t know I was doing this tonight, but it seems we were on the same page. Will you marry me, Kaius Reinhart?”
Kai looks pained. “Sterling, you can’t answer a question with a question.”
“You’re messing up my proposal!” you cry.
“Well, you hijacked mine before that. And since I actually asked first, you have to answer first.”
You frown. “Of course I’ll marry you, you absolute idiot.”
He huffs a deep breath. “Well, good,” he says. “Because, if not, that would have made myyesreally awkward.”
You both laugh, and scramble to your feet. He sweeps you off your feet and kisses you soundly. Literally, your body is dragged against his, and your feet are in the air. He holds you like you weigh nothing, his big hands spanning your waist.
“I love you so much,” you murmur.
