Looking back on it, I should have seen it coming.
The first hint was during lunch with Ashleigh and Mike. Ashleigh, bless her heart, ask Nick when we were getting married and he immediately got flustered. That was very out of character for him, but I shrugged it off as fast as he changed the subject.
A little while later, Nick very casually asked for Dave’s phone number and again, I didn’t overthink it. He mentioned he’d been trying to get a hold of him for months, it turns out he had an old number. Not 20 minutes after this realization, he’s pacing around the front yard talking on the phone. Now I thought that was a little odd. Not the pacing, more the front yard bit. Again though, I went back to work and didn’t think much of it.
Now it’s Friday, June 3. All week we’d been having the same conversation as I log off work – Do we go out? Or do we stay in? If you know you know. This night was different, Nick had a plan! Yes! I was so excited. You know what I’m talking about if you’re in a relationship. When one of you has a plan for dinner or what to do that night, it’s incredible! Am I right?! Nick leads with, “Whatever we do, we have to dress up.” Ummm… okay. Quirky, but I’m down.
First on the agenda, after getting dressed and doing all the things. Learning a choreographed dance to Everybody by the Backstreet boys. Now y’all, I haven’t done a choreographed dance since my cheerleading days back in High School. So to say this was a hilarious mish-mash of flailing limbs and huffing and puffing would be overly kind. But we did it!
Next up, Nick seems to whip this Playschool mini-golf set out of thin air. We set up a few trick shots and about pee ourselves with laughter because Cooper cannot keep his composure. He is obsessed with balls and cannot deal if we’re playing with a ball that he is not allowed.
This is where I take a quick sidebar because, in the moment, the fact that this is somewhat recreating our first date is nowhere close to entering my mind. I’m still thinking this is just a fun, goofy date night at home. Because why not?
This is when Nick excuses himself to the backyard to set up the next activity. So I’m chilling in the living room, all dressed up, casually sipping on some bourbon, still completely and utterly clueless.
Nick comes back inside and escorts me to the backyard….
Let me set the scene here. There’s a circle of candles waiting. I Was Made for Lovin’ You by Kiss was playing. Nick drops to one knee and proposes. I honestly couldn’t tell you exactly what he said because I was absolutely overcome with love, gratitude, excitement, and awe. After I said “yes,” Nick ran over and lit a roman candle. Sparks flew and thank goodness we didn’t set anything on fire! Although Cooper had mixed feelings at this point.
We spent the rest of the weekend in a love filled, pink haze if happiness. And of course some day drinking with a dear friend.
And that’s it, friends. The story, at least from my perspective, of how we got engaged.