Page 237 of At First Catch

Everything feels peaceful tonight.

The kind of peace we seldom reached because fear kept convincing both of us that love had to survive through control instead of trust.

I lean back against Nolan fully. “You okay?” I ask.

There’s a pause behind me as his arms tighten around my waist.

“Yeah.” I smile faintly.

“Liar.” A quiet laugh vibrates against my shoulder.

“You’re annoying now that you understand my tells.”

Warmth flickers easily between us, but Nolan doesn’t let go. I turn carefully in his arms until I’m facing him fully.

Moonlight and kitchen light blur together across his features while emotion flickers behind his eyes.

“Nolan.”

He exhales before reaching into the pocket of his sweatpants. And just like that, my entire heartbeat stumbles unevenly.

Nolan laughs under his breath the second my face changes. My hands fly to my face.

“Oh my God.”

“Very reassuring reaction so far.”

Surprise surges so hard through my chest I physically can’t breathe properly. And suddenly every version of us flashes through my head at once: the storms, the fights, the marina, the breakup, the bookstore, and the way he looked at me when he finally chose staying over fear.

He looks emotional too.

“I had this whole speech planned,” he admits.

I laugh shakily through instant tears. “Of course you did.”

“Then you started aggressively crying, so now I’m improvising.”

I wipe quickly beneath my eyes while Nolan reaches for one of my hands carefully. Like he still understands exactly how precious this moment is.

“You know what’s funny?” he says.

I shake my head once.

“I spent most of my life thinking forever would feel like pressure.” Nolan’s thumb brushes across my knuckles. “But then you happened.” His eyes lock fully onto mine. “And suddenly, forever started sounding peaceful instead.”

The tears spill.

He pulls a small velvet box from his pocket.

“I love you,” Nolan whispers roughly. “Not like something temporary. Not like something I’m waiting to lose.” Emotion sharpens through his voice. “I love you like home.”

The words physically steal my breath.

The marina was never truly the home Nolan spent the whole story searching for. It was belonging. Safety. Love.

Nolan drops to one knee, barefoot on the kitchen floor, while moonlight spills across the windows behind him.

I don’t think I’ll ever survive how much I love this man.