And here we were pulling into my parents yard. I let them know I was coming but not exactly when I was pulling up because they were not going to be waiting outside for me like Noah's mom.

We parked, got out the car and walked in.

"Mom? Dad? I'm home." I yelled out.

"Oh wow, you really did bring him. Hello, Noah. You sweet boy we missed you." My mom said.

"It's nice to see you too Mrs. Carter." Noah replied.

"Lucas," my dad said. "How's football season going? When's the next game?"

I took a deep breath.

"Actually, I'm dropping football." I said.

"What?! You're kidding right? Football has been your dream since forever. I mean yeah you could have picked a better school but you have talent"

"Well I actually got offered a paid internship for at a pharmaceutical

business so I'm probably gonna change my degree to business and take advantage of this guaranteed path because let's be honest football is not guaranteed. And I want to be able to take care of the ones that I love one day."

Noah was looking at me as I spoke. But after that last line he couldn't do anything but look down and it seemed like my parents noticed.

"Do what you want I guess." My dad said.

"Well... I just think you should do what makes you happy." My mom said.

"Okay well we were only stopping by for a short while due to the drive back so... we're going to head out okay."

My mom hugged me.

"Okay, you boys just stay safe." She said.

"Okay will do," I said before I turned around walking towards my car.

"Noah," Mom called out.

"Yes ma'am?" Noah replied.

"It's good to finally see you again."

"Yeah... you too. Thanks Mrs. Carter." Noah smiled softly.

We finally got in the car.

"Okay. Destination number three," I said.

"So what's that?" Noah asked.

"You know it's a surprise."

"Oh..." He paused. "Hey, did you mean what you said? About football and changing your major?"

"Yeah. Like I said, I want to be able to take care of everyone I love. And if that's the better opportunity, I'll take it."

"So... you really ended up at my school because you knew I was there?"

"Yeah... I'm sorry, Noah."

"You let go of a promising football career because of me."

"Do you think football meant more to me than you?"

"Lucas... you put me too high on this—"

He stopped mid-sentence.

His eyes widened.

Seaside Sparks Arcade.

"Oh my God..." he whispered.

"What? You've been here since middle school, right?"

"No... how could I? The last time I was here was with you."

"Well," I said softly, "today we get to go there together. For old times' sake."

He didn't answer.

That was fair. This place probably carried more pain than nostalgia for him.

"Come on," I nudged gently. "We'll play a few games. Ride a few rides. I'll even get you a funnel cake. Just make sure you eat it after the rides."

That got a small smile out of him.

"Yeah," he said quietly. "Sounds like fun."

The second we walked inside, the noise hit us.

Arcade machines chiming.

Tickets spitting.

Kids yelling.

Music from some racing game blasting in the corner.

For a second, Noah just stood there.

The neon lights reflected in his eyes, and I swear he looked sixteen again.

"You still suck at air hockey?" I asked casually.

He blinked at me. "Excuse me? I beat you every time."

"That is such a lie."

"Oh yeah?" He stepped toward the table like he had something to prove. "Five dollars says I win."

"You're about to lose five dollars."

We played.

He did not, in fact, suck.

He slammed the puck so hard it flew off the table and hit my chest.

"Foul!" I shouted.

"That was skill."

"That was assault."

He laughed.

Really laughed.

And that sound?

Worth the two-hour drive.

Worth the stress.

Worth everything.

We moved from game to game.

Basketball toss.

Racing simulators.

That stupid claw machine he used to beg me to try for him.

"You never won me anything," he said, arms crossed.

"Because it's rigged."

"You're just bad."

"Oh yeah?"

I slid a bill into the machine and focused.

One try.

Two.

Three.

The claw dropped.

Lifted.

Shook.

And somehow caught a little blue stuffed shark.

Noah's mouth fell open.

"No way."

I handed it to him. "For the record, I'm amazing."

He held it to his chest like it was treasure.

My heart skipped.

"You kept remembering things," he said softly. "Snacks. This place. The games. You will never forget?"

I didn't trust myself to answer that.

Not because I thought I would forget but because... if I become someone else I don't want to make that promise.

So I just said, "Come on. Let's hit the rides."

Outside, the small amusement park lights were warming up for the evening.

We rode the pirate ship first.

Big mistake.

Halfway through, Noah grabbed my arm.

"If I throw up on you, it's your fault."

"You said you weren't a kid anymore."

"I changed my mind!"

I laughed as he buried his face into my shoulder when the ship swung high.

The Ferris wheel was calmer.

Slower.

By the time we reached the top, the sun was dipping low, painting everything gold.

Noah leaned his arms on the railing.

"It's still the same," he murmured.

"Yeah."

The ocean stretched out behind the arcade.

Waves slow. Steady.

I checked the time.

Almost.

We got the funnel cakes after.

Powdered sugar everywhere.

He took one bite and got it on his nose.

"You're ridiculous," I said, reaching over and wiping it away with my thumb.

He froze at the touch.

Just for a second.

"Still too sweet?" I asked.

He nodded.

"Still worth it."

We walked toward the beach as the sky shifted from orange to pink.

The arcade noise faded behind us.

The sand was cool under our shoes.

And suddenly, it was quiet.

Just waves.

And us.

This is it.

My heartbeat picked up immediately.

Too fast.

I slipped my hand into my hoodie pocket and felt the box.

Still there.

Still real.

Don't mess this up.

We walked closer to the shoreline where the water brushed the sand and retreated.

"You really remembered all of this," Noah said quietly.

"I remember everything."

He looked at me like I had just handed him the world.

And I knew if I didn't do it now, I'd lose my nerve.

"Hey," I said.

My voice cracked slightly.

Smooth. Great.

He tilted his head. "Yeah?"

I stepped back.

Just enough space.

And before I could talk myself out of it—

I dropped to one knee.

I've taken hits without flinching. Faced men who could break me. But this? This was the scariest thing I'd ever done.

The sand was cold through my jeans.

Noah froze.

"Lucas... what are you doing?"

My hands were shaking now.

Actually shaking.

I pulled the small box from my pocket and almost dropped it.

I fumbled it open.

The bracelets caught the last light of the sunset.

His breath hitched.

"No..."

"I know it's not a ring," I rushed out. "And I know this is probably dramatic and stupid and I practiced this like a million times in my head and now I forgot half of it—"

He laughed through tears already forming.

"Lucas..."

"I kept them," I said more steadily. "You lost yours, but I found it. I never lost mine. I never wanted to."

My throat tightened.

"I know I don't deserve a redo. I know I don't get to erase what I did. But I want to build something new with you. Something real. Something that doesn't end because I was scared or stupid."

I swallowed hard.

"So... Noah Bennet... will you be mine?"

The wind moved between us.

"Officially," I added quickly. "Like... boyfriends. Not whatever we've been pretending this is."

The waves kept crashing like the world wasn't waiting on his answer.

But I was.

God, I was.

"Please don't say no," I whispered.

Noah didn't laugh.

He didn't speak.

He just stepped forward slowly.

Like he was afraid if he moved too fast, it would disappear.

His fingers hovered over the open box.

Shaking.

He touched one of the bracelets.

Barely.

"You kept them..." he whispered.

It wasn't a question.

It sounded like something breaking open inside him.

"I told you," I said softly. "I never wanted to lose you."

His hand came up to his mouth.

His shoulders started trembling before the tears even fell.

"You said we'd never stop wearing them," he said, voice cracking. "You said even if one of us moved we'd still be connected."

"I meant it."

"You were thirteen."

"I'm still that stupid about you."

That did it.

The tears fell fast now.

He dropped to his knees in the sand in front of me.

Not gracefully.

Not planned.

Just overwhelmed.

His hands grabbed the front of my hoodie like he needed something solid to hold onto.

"I know I don't remember much, but thought I was the only one who remembered these," he whispered. "I thought I was the only one who cared that much."

My chest physically hurt.

"You were never the only one."

He looked down at the bracelet again.

"I can't believe you kept mine too."

"Yeah."

Because I loved you.

Because I couldn't let go.

Because even when I was ruining you, you were the only thing I ever wanted.

But what I said was simpler.

"Because I was always planning to give it back."

His breath hitched again.

"You're so stupid," he cried softly.

"I know."

"You're so—"

He couldn't finish.

He leaned forward and pressed his forehead against mine.

"I never stopped being yours," he whispered.

That sentence nearly destroyed me.

"Then be mine," I said quietly. "For real this time."

He nodded against my forehead.

"Yes."

It was barely audible.

So I pulled back slightly.

"What?"

"Yes," he said again, stronger now, even through tears. "Yes, Lucas. I'll be your boyfriend. I think... I've been waiting for you to ask."

Like it wasn't just an answer.

Like it was a decision.

The world didn't explode.

The sky didn't change colors.

It was just the ocean.

The sunset.

The sand.

And him.

I slid one bracelet onto his wrist.

My hands were still shaking.

He picked up the other and fastened it around mine.

Just like we did years ago.

Except this time—

We both knew what it meant.

He leaned forward and kissed me.

Not rushed.

Not heated.

Slow.

Certain.

When he pulled back, his cheeks were still wet.

"You didn't forget," he whispered again, like he still couldn't believe it.

"Never," I answered.

And for the first time all day—

I wasn't afraid anymore.