When I had a bad day at work, he’d show up with ice cream and terrible jokes that somehow made everything better.
For two years, he made me feel like I was the only person in the room when we were together. We connected on everything, which made me believe I’d found my person.
Then came the proposal.
We were walking along the pier at sunset, talking about nothing important, when he suddenly stopped.
The sky was painted in shades of pink and orange, and the water sparkled like diamonds. Ed dropped to one knee right there, pulling out a ring that caught the light perfectly.
“Lily,” he said, his voice shaking slightly, “will you marry me?”
I said yes without even thinking. My heart was pounding so hard I could barely hear his words, but I knew this was right. This was my future.
A few weeks later, it was time for the big introduction. I brought Ed home to meet my family, i.e., my mom and my older brother, Ryan.
This was the test that mattered most to me.
I didn’t know it then, but Ryan’s reaction to Ed that night would echo all the way to our wedding day.
