Today I was tasked by my editor to get photos of the famous Bondi Beach that would go with a story written by one of my coworkers about everyday heroes, so it goes hand in hand with the Bondi lifeguards and since the lifeguard challenge happened to be today, I gladly accepted. Not only do I get to shoot for some of the most amazing guys in the world, I get to watch my boyfriend of four years, Mouse, compete. I held onto my camera in as I walked onto the sand from the ramp, I saw most of the guys setting up and when I saw Mouse my face instantly lit up. He quickly handed something off to one of the boys and jogged towards me, almost immediately he picked me up and twirled me around.
I laughed, "wow, it's like you're happy to see me or something?" he put me back down onto the sand and kissed me.
"Happy? More like lucky to even have someone as awesome as you here to support me," Mouse explained, then he saw the camera, "work too?"
"Unfortunately, but I'll get that out of the way quick and support my man," I smiled, he laughed and that's when the lifeguards all headed for the start line, "looks like it's time," I pointed.
"Better make sure you're waiting at the finish line for me," he quickly kissed me and jogged towards the others.
"I will!" I shouted, once he got to the others he looked back and smiled, I smiled back then got my camera ready to take some pictures. They sounded the horn for the race to start and they were off. It started with a swim to the marker and back, then soft sand race around the cones and lastly board paddle.
I captured many pictures throughout the race up until after the soft sand race, then I decided to cheer on Mouse. My favorite picture that I had captured though was definitely one of Mouse, it was one of him running after the swim.
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I now had my camera hanging off my shoulder, I cheered as loud as I could for Mouse as he was almost finished with the board paddle, and as promised I was waiting for him at the finish line along with many other family members from the lifeguards families. Mouse was in the top five once he dropped his board on the sand and as he ran he was side by side with Hoppo, then it looked like Hoppo handed him something? He managed to surpass Hoppo and cross the line fourth! I could not have been prouder of how well he did.
But once he ran past the line he continued running towards me, and instantly I was in his arms again, I didn't even care that he was wet.
"That was great Mouse! You did so well," I gushed, he put me down and smiled, but he looked like he was up to something, "what?" I asked with a nervous laugh.
"So, you know I'm not a man with many words but I do want to ask you one thing," he put his hand up with a little box in his hand, he opened it up to reveal this beautiful ring inside, I was shocked because I wasn't expecting this at least not for a couple more years!
"It took the whole team to make sure I did this today because I was so nervous," he laughed, "but Y/N, will you do me the honor of marrying me?"
"Oh Michael, yes, of course I will!" not a second passed before we hugged each other, after pulling away he grabbed the ring from the box and gently placed it onto my finger, it fit perfectly and it was absolutely stunning.
"I'm glad you said yes, because if you hadn't they would never let me live it down," Mouse chuckled as he gestured to the boys, we both looked over there and he gave them the all good. They cheered as loud as they could as we shared a celebratory kiss, I'm just hoping the whole country didn't hear them.
