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I never thought our first real hug, the first time my body was pressed completely to his, would also include his mother.

When she pulls away, the scent of her perfume, Chanel No. 5 or whatever rich women wear, clings to my dress.

“Just look at this view. It’s picture perfect for wedding photos, isn’t it?”

“I was just telling Monty the same thing,” I say. “It’s so nice to finally meet you.”

“Yes, it is. What took you so long to introduce us, Monty?” his stepfather asks suspiciously.

And just like that, my boss blinks his blue eyes, and he’s back to being his grumpy self.

I’m going to miss drunk Monty.

“You and my mom were off on adventures, and I was busy whenever she was home.”

“I think he just wanted to make sure he had found the one before introducing us,” his mom says with a wink directed at me.

Jumping on this opportunity to cause strife, I turn to Monty and brace my hands on my hips. “You had doubts about me? About us?”

He stares at me a moment before picking up what I’m trying to throw down.

“Well, we’ve had some ups and downs…”

“You mean that little fight we had about how you overthink every little decision?”

“That’s just one example,” he says through gritted teeth.

“Every couple has disagreements,” his mom remarks. “Now, let me see the ring.”

I proudly hold it out for her and it’s even more dazzling in the sunlight. “It’s stunning, isn’t it?”

“It is. You did a good job, honey,” she says to Monty. “It fits her hand perfectly.”

“It really does,” I gush as I gaze down at it. I’ve thought it was beautiful since the first time I saw it in the pretentious jewelry store. “I wonder how much it cost. Monty won’t tell me. He says it doesn’t matter, but I’m thinking at least twenty grand.”

He didn’t let me stick around while he paid for it.

His mom and her husband exchange a look that I interpret as uh-oh, she’s a gold digger, which is perfect.

But then his mom leans closer to me and whispers, “Honey, that diamond is worth at least a hundred grand.”

“Shut up!” I gasp glancing between her and Monty. “You did not spend six figures on a freaking engagement ring!”

Monty clears his throat and looks away like I’m embarrassing him.

Isn’t that the point of this whole weekend?

Still, I can’t stop myself from gripping his shoulder to apologize. “I’m sorry, Monty. It’s just, I should’ve known you would spend way too much trying to impress me when I would’ve been happy with one of those lab diamonds, you know, because the ring represents our relationship and the kind of love we share is priceless.”

His mom slips her arm through mine and pulls me to her side as she guides us toward the entrance to the café. “She’s a keeper, Monty!” she calls out as we leave the men behind us. “Now, honey, tell me exactly what you have in mind for your dream wedding day so we can make it all come true.”

“Well… ” I say while thinking up the craziest beach wedding I can imagine. “I had this wild idea of doing a circus theme,” I tell her.

“Circus theme?” She reels back to look at me from behind her sunglasses. “On the beach?”

“That’s right.”

“Hmm, that sounds…unique.”