Page 20

Bennett

The moment we step out of our beach rental, the tropical air hits us like a warm, fragrant wave. Gracie's eyes light up, and she breathes in deeply, taking in the sight of the bright blue ocean.

"Look at this place, Bennett. It's like stepping into one of those fancy screensavers," she whispers.

I chuckle, watching her hair twirl in the breeze. She spins around, arms open wide, embracing the island as if it were an old friend. Even after months of planning, the reality of being here is exciting.

"Let’s go!" Gracie grabs my hand, pulling me towards the beach. Our sandals leave imprints in the soft sand until we are standing where the tide kisses the shore.

Gracie doesn't hesitate. She's shedding her sundress like it's nothing but a barrier between her and adventure. My own shirt follows, and together we plunge into the ocean.

The water is shockingly cool, and it laps against my skin. Gracie's laughter mingles with the wave noise. She splashes me, and I retaliate and fire back with the start of a water fight.

"Can't catch me!" she teases, swimming further out.

"Watch me!" I call back, laughing.

Our bodies move through the water, powerful and unrestrained.

"God, this is perfect," she breathes when I finally catch up to her, our limbs treading water as we float under the endless sky.

"I agree." It's about as close to perfect as anything I've ever felt.

We spend another hour playing around in the water before we leave to get showered and changed for our dinner reservation.

Before we know it, the sun is dipping lower as Gracie and I find our table on the beach. The resort staff has outdone themselves. Candles flicker in the center of our table, and there's a privacy to our spot that makes it feel like we're the only two people in the world.

"Wow," she whispers, eyes wide, taking in the scene. Her fingers brush mine across the tablecloth, sending a jolt up my arm. "This is beautiful, Bennett."

"Nothing compared to you," I say.

We unfold our napkins as the first course arrives. It's a local dish, a tangy ceviche. Watching Gracie savor her first bite, I'm hit with a wave of something that feels suspiciously like pride. She catches me staring and grins, a bit of juice on her chin.

"Stop looking at me like that, or I won't share," she teases, but she pushes her plate towards me anyway.

"Like what?" I ask, playing dumb as I help myself.

"Like I'm your favorite flavor of ice cream," she laughs.

We eat slowly, indulging in the flavors and each other's company. Gracie tells me about her latest project, her passion for creating connections through her work at Holidates App lighting up her speech.

"Enough about me," she insists, after explaining an algorithm like it's poetry. "Tell me about the team. Are we going to lose any of our friends to trades?"

"The only thing I know is that Jackson will still be here at least another year, but it’s uncertain about where Ethan will end up next season," I answer.

“Oh dear. I’m sorry, Bennett. I know that Ethan is one of your best friends on the team.”

“Well, you know, that’s part of the business,” I admit with a shrug of my shoulder.

After dinner, we take to the shore, hands linked, barefoot on the cool sand. The moon lights our path along the shoreline as we walk in comfortable silence.

"Remember that time you tried to teach me to ice skate? I was so terrible," Gracie asks.

"Hey, you stood up. That's more than most can say their first time," I remind her, squeezing her hand.

"Only because you were holding me," she counters.

"Maybe, but that doesn’t matter. You still stood on the ice," I affirm.

We continue our walk under the moonlit sky.

The rhythm of the waves sets a perfect cadence as we stroll, and on impulse, I pull Gracie into my arms for an impromptu dance. "Bennett, what are you—" she starts, but I shush her with a grin.

"Trust me," I say, guiding her steps to the sound of the ocean's music. We're not exactly ballroom material—more like two people swaying awkwardly in the sand—but it doesn't matter. When she laughs, that’s music to my ears. We spin, stumble, laugh even harder, and it's just... us. Unfiltered. Real.

"Where did that come from?" she asks, breathless from our sandy dance.

"Can't a guy dance with his girl without a reason?" I tease, reveling in the way her body fits against mine, even if we're covered in a fine dusting of beach.

"Of course he can,” Gracie says, her smile infectious. “Especially if he’s trying to distract her.”

"Ah, you got me," I admit with mock surrender, leading her by the hand toward a cove I discovered earlier—a secluded spot shielded by palm fronds.

"Another surprise?" she wonders aloud. She's onto me, and I can tell by the slight tremor in her grip that she feels like something is about to happen.

"Perhaps," is all I offer as I guide her through the natural archway of intertwined branches.

"This is so cute," she whispers, taking in the strings of fairy lights I hung earlier. I watch her chestnut hair glow with the light and think how right this all feels.

"Gracie," I begin, but then pause. I see her slender fingers flutter to her mouth, her eyes wide, and suddenly the need to speak fades away.

"Is this..." Her question trails off, but I hear it clear as day.

"Wait here," I say, stepping back just enough to reach into my pocket while my heart beats like crazy.

I take her hands in mine, feeling their slight tremble that mirrors the nervous flutter in my own stomach.

"From the moment we bumped into each other outside the coffee shop, I knew you were something special," I begin.

She draws in a breath.

"Every challenge we faced, every laugh we shared – they weren't just small things, Gracie. They were the building blocks of this... of us." My thumbs brush over her knuckles. "You've turned my townhouse into a home, your laughter has filled every quiet space in my life, and your strength..." I pause, swallowing the lump of raw emotion in my throat. "Your strength has become my backbone."

Tears escape from her eyes and run down her cheeks to meet the upturned corners of her lips.

"Gracie Hogan, you're the fire on my ice, the calm in my storm, the victory in every defeat. And I can't—I don't want to—imagine my life without you in it."

I drop to one knee, and finally pull out the small velvet box. Opening it, I reveal the ring inside.

"Will you make me the happiest man on earth and agree to be my partner, my confidant, my love... for the rest of our lives?"

Her hand flies to her mouth.

"Yes.” She takes my face in the palm of her hands. “Yes, Bennett, a thousand times yes!"

Emotion surges through me as I slide the ring onto her finger, a perfect fit, a perfect moment.

I scoop Gracie into my arms, making her laugh.

"Can you believe it?" she whispers against my ear. "We're engaged."

"Believe it?" I chuckle softly, pulling back just enough to see the twinkle in her vibrant green eyes. "Gracie, I've imagined this moment more times than I can count. But this... this is better than any fantasy."

The ring on her finger glimmers in the moonlight. She holds up her hand, staring at it with awe before her gaze meets mine again. "Every setback, every doubt, it all led me here, to you."

I press my forehead to hers. "And now we have a lifetime ahead of us. Just think of the stories we'll tell our grandchildren," I murmur.

"Look at us," she breathes out. "Falling for each other was the last thing we wanted, and now..." She trails off, her eyes shimmering with tears and laughter.

"And now we can't let go," I finish for her, the truth resonating deep within my chest.

"Never letting go," she affirms, her fingers interlocking with mine.

"Here's to us, Bennett," she says, her voice filled with promise.

"Here's to us, Gracie," I echo, sealing our pledge with a kiss that feels like forever.

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