After her Americorps term ended, Ashton wasn't ready to leave Juneau yet, so she got a job at a youth treatment center. On her first day, Ashton's boss told her to pay attention to Eric Mountcastle, an exemplary employee. Ashton did NOT pay attention to Eric Mountcastle for several months. But after a while, they started working a shift together and became fast friends. Eric developed a crush on Ashton...and again, she wasn't paying attention. But Eric didn't give up, and eventually, Ashton got the hint. And now we're here!

Eric didn't know when exactly the ring would arrive, but he had a plan for when it did. He would take Ashton to a romantic dinner at their favorite spot, Alki Beach. Then they'd hunt for sea glass as they often do, and he'd propose with the ring surrounded by a handful of the glass. Awwwwww. The plan went just as he imagined...almost. The ring came on Monday, August 21, 2017, and Eric couldn't wait. After work, he asked Ashton to dinner. "Are you serious?" was among her responses. They'd just spent all day at Alki Beach 3 days before for Ashton's birthday. She was not in the mood, but after some smooth-talking, Eric convinced her (though she didn't bother to put on makeup or wash her birthday/beach weekend hair, details she now regrets). Dinner was more casual than romantic, but beautiful, outside overlooking the water. Ashton indulged Eric's suggestion to hunt for sea glass, as long as she could do nothing on a blanket. They arrived at the beach at sunset to find...high tide. The glass would stay hidden under the water while Eric, much to Ashton's confusion, searched what was still exposed. As Ashton played on her phone, Eric ran over to her, kneeled down, and presented the ring in a handful of wet rocks. It was perfect, and she said yes!