"Frank, that's for New Year's!"Mom scoff-shouts.
"Our daughter just got engaged to a man who sorts spices alphabetically.We're celebrating!"
As my family descends into complete mayhem—Harper demanding to see the ring, Claire already planning the engagement party, Mom happy-crying into Dad's shoulder while simultaneously critiquing his champagne selection—Luke pulls me aside.
"Too soon?"he asks quietly."I know it's only been?—"
“Nearly three months since we met.Two weeks since we found each other again.Approximately forty-eight hours since Buttercup learned to open the wine cellar."I grin."It's perfect timing."
"Really?"
"Luke, you coded us into permanence.You adopted my goat.You let my family destroy you at Pictionary.If that's not ready for marriage, I don't know what is."
"I love you," he says simply."Even when you promise our firstborn to goats."
"I love you too.Even when you alphabetize spices."
"That's just good sense."
"That's insanity."
"Tomato, tomahto."
"Christmas tree, server rack."
He laughs, pulling me close."This is going to be a very interesting marriage."
"The best kind," I agree.
My phone—still in his pocket—buzzes one more time.
"Mira?"I ask.
He checks it, grins."Buttercup.She figured out how to take selfies.She's documenting her wine cellar adventure."
"Of course she is."I look at my ring, at my family, at the man who drove through the night to declare his love through hacked dating profiles."You know we're going to have to include her in the wedding."
"Obviously.Ring bearer?"
"Absolutely not.Guest of honor.With supervision."
"Deal."He kisses me once more."Merry Christmas, future Mrs.Sterling."
"Winters-Sterling.I’m not giving up the chaos name."
"I wouldn't expect anything less."
And as my family swarms us with congratulations and questions and plans for what's sure to be a wedding Buttercup will try to eat, I realize something.
I might not have won game night.
But I definitely won everything else.
Even if our goat is currently drunk on expensive wine and taking selfies.
After all, what's love without a mess?
And a goat who's probably already planning her wedding menu.
