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The sunset was beautiful. Dazzling shades of orange and red dancing among the clouds in the sky. The beach wasn’t nearly as busy now that dinner time was approaching, the sand scattered with families and bodies that wanted to enjoy the view.
Waves slowly rocked against the sand, hitting Luke’s ankles as he crouched to pick up shells that washed ashore with every push and pull. He glanced up at the sunset, squinting to take it all in. The horizon was warm, the reflection of the sun mixing with the blue of the ocean, and he couldn’t help but smile.
They always collected shells at the beach, even as kids. It was a tradition of sorts, to take a handful of them home. Usually, they would be added to a little mason jar filled with rocks and shells they had found together, but one year they found a large conch on the beach that was then displayed in the bathroom.
Luke loved making it a contest, trying to find the prettiest shell to give to the other. He always won, determined to find the most stunning of pieces to give to Rosa. She deserved the prettiest shells, the prettiest rocks, the prettiest gems.
That ring was burning a hole in his pocket.
“Rosa! Are you hungry at—”
Luke lifted his head, turning to take in the sight of her. The girl he always wanted. Something out of a dream. Her pink rose printed bikini was hidden by a slightly sheer dress that moved along with the breeze. There was a wicker hat with roses on the top that she held to keep from blowing into the ocean, her hair braided carefully to one side.
She turned to face Luke, a soft smile on her face. Her eyes were a dazzling shade of green, and even though Luke had seen them thousands of times, it still took his breath away. She let her eyes close into a tight smile as Luke stood to his feet and admired her from afar.
The white fabric draped across her body was precious to him. He’s seen her in skirts so many times, most of them being business attire for work, but this was different. She rarely wore white, always worried about stains and keeping it clean. She was wearing it today, and all Luke could think about was how much he wanted to spend the rest of his life with her.
Everything about her was stunning.
Not just the physical traits either.
She was kindhearted and always put work and helping others before herself. Luke often found himself bringing lunch or dinner to ensure she was healthy. Reminded her to get rest and take breaks, even if she reminded him every time to do the same.
Luke smiled to himself thinking about everything that happened the past year. Meeting the love of his life after being apart for so long. How he kept his deepest darkest secret from her for so long out of fear for her. Once she found out, they cried together, and then she kissed him sweet and slow.
“You have always been mine and I will always be yours.”
Luke was the one who wanted to wait, who couldn’t fully commit to a relationship. They weren’t boyfriend and girlfriend, but they were sort of together. There were no titles, but everyone could see it and everyone knew.
He kissed her every morning, spent the night a dozen times, made his lover breakfast in bed every opportunity he could. She always complained that Luke did too much for her, but that never stopped him from doing it again. Rosa deserved everything, and Luke knew he needed to do everything he could to show her that.
Rosa turned back to the ocean view as Luke approached her, a few steps until they were nearly arms length apart. He reached out, intended to brush his hand across her arm and pull her closer, but she turned and took a step away.
She giggled and Luke felt his heart burn, the butterflies in his stomach flutter. Luke was falling in love with her all over again. He loved the way she teased him, taking a step back with every movement he made. Just out of reach, and while he could easily grasp her, he liked this chase.
“Why are you running away from me?”
The pout on Luke’s face made Rosa laugh again, her eyes forming into crescents and a flush of pink lining her cheeks. She reached out to take Luke’s hand, tugging until she could place it around her waist and pull him close.
“I could never run away from you.”
Luke pressed his lips to hers, pulling her closer until her body touched his, wanting her to be close to him. She kissed him back, grasping onto his arms that were wrapped around her to deepen the kiss. Every time they kissed it was like the first time all over again, Rosa smiling through the movement as Luke ensured their lips wouldn’t part for longer than a second.
He didn’t want to pull away, chasing the taste of Rosa’s lips on his when she broke the kiss. Luke let out a small whine at the loss, pulling her closer into a hug and pressing his lips gently to her shoulder. “I would’ve given everything for you to be my wife.”
A small shiver ran up Rosa’s spine, a deep sigh falling from her lips as she pressed a kiss to Luke’s neck. She knew what he meant, and she always tried not to push him too far about it. She always let him lead, let him decide when he would be ready for something more than a relationship without a title.
“All you have to do is ask, Luke.”
He nodded, holding his lover close to his heart. It beat for her and only her. It always has and always will. Luke was lovesick even when she was by his side, always wanting more. Maybe he was greedy for that, but maybe, just this once, he would allow himself to be selfish.
Luke pulled her away from his figure, her beautiful green eyes peering up to meet his. Staring into them was entrancing, bright and dazzling under the setting sun. They said something that Luke couldn’t quite understand, and that made him fall deeper into her gaze.
They were waiting. Pleading for him to say something.
To do something.
Luke glanced toward the waves of the ocean rolling onto the sand. He couldn’t meet eyes with her just yet, not until he finally mustered the courage. Rosa rubbed his arm, always letting him go at his own pace.
There was a deep sigh and then Luke was fishing around in his pocket.
He pulled Rosa’s left hand into his, slipping a dazzling piece of jewelry onto her ring finger. It fit her perfectly, snug and not loose at all. The heart shaped ruby faced her, sparkling under the sunlight as she moved it. It was surrounded by a dozen small diamonds that sparkled just as much. When she glanced up at Luke his eyes were on her, watching as their eyes met and her filled with tears.
“No, no! You weren’t meant to cry,” Luke panicked, pulling her into a tight hug and letting her nose bury into his chest. She sniffled but didn’t let the tears fall, instead grasping tightly onto him. He brushed his fingers through the strands of hair that weren’t tied, taking a deep breath before whispering, “This is my promise that we’ll get married one day. I don’t know when I’ll be ready, or if I ever will be, but I want you to know that I’ll always love you.”
“I love you more.”
“I love you most.”