The sun was slowly dipping below the horizon, painting the sky with hues of deep orange and soft pink. You walked hand-in-hand with Rafe along the shoreline, listening to the quiet lapping of waves as they met the shore. The air was calm, a welcome contrast to the whirlwind of life back in town, and being here with him felt like a rare, cherished escape.
He gave your hand a gentle squeeze, glancing over with a faint smile. "You look happy," he murmured, almost as if he were speaking to himself.
You laughed softly, nudging him with your shoulder. "It's hard not to be. Feels like we're the only ones here. Just... us and the ocean."
Rafe's smile widened as he looked back at the waves. "Exactly. No one else to bother us. No chaos—just you and me."
"Since when did you get so sentimental?" you teased, tilting your head up to catch his gaze. He raised an eyebrow, a playful glint in his eyes.
"Maybe I'm a secret romantic," he replied, the hint of a smirk tugging at his lips. "Or maybe," he added, pulling you closer so that your shoulders brushed, "being with you just brings that out."
You rolled your eyes but couldn't hide the smile that crept onto your face. He noticed, of course, and his hand slipped to the small of your back, holding you as you walked. "I knew it," he whispered. "You like my cheesy side."
"Maybe just a little," you admitted, your voice barely above a whisper as the waves lapped at your feet.
Rafe stopped walking and turned to face you, his hands settling at your waist as he looked into your eyes. "You know," he began, his voice low, "I don't think I've ever felt this... calm before. I mean, with you here, just standing like this—it's different."
"What do you mean?" you asked, wrapping your arms around his neck, feeling his heartbeat steady under your touch.
He hesitated, as if trying to find the right words. "I've spent so much of my life trying to be something, you know? Trying to prove myself, trying to be strong or tough or... whatever people expect. But with you, it's like... I don't have to pretend. You see me, the real me."
Your heart softened, and you brushed your thumb over his cheek. "You don't have to prove anything to me, Rafe. I love you exactly as you are."
He let out a breath, his shoulders relaxing as he smiled down at you. "I don't think anyone's ever said that to me before. Not like that." He pulled you closer, his forehead resting against yours. "Promise me we'll keep doing this—coming back here, just the two of us?"
You smiled, nodding. "Promise. Besides, who else would I want to be here with?"
He chuckled, his fingers tracing gentle circles on your back. "Guess that makes us pretty lucky then." He paused, his gaze drifting back to the waves. "This place, with you... it makes me feel like I could do anything, be anyone. It's... I don't know, like a reset."
You looked up at him, your voice gentle. "Maybe that's exactly what you need—a place to just be yourself."
Rafe smiled softly, then tilted your chin up, brushing his lips over yours in a slow, lingering kiss. When he pulled back, his eyes held a warmth that made you feel as if you were the only two people in the world.
He held you close, his heartbeat steady against yours as he spoke softly into your ear. "You're everything to me, you know that?"
Your breath caught, and you felt yourself melting into his embrace. "I know. And you're everything to me, too."
The sun dipped below the horizon, leaving only a faint glow over the water as you stood there in Rafe's arms, the ocean around you as your witness.
Author's Note:
Hey everyone! I've accidentally deleted the orginal "heartbeats by the ocean" and i've just realized this morning so here's a rewritten version of it and a tad longer as well!! Hope you enjoy🤍
