Crystal had never known a yes could feel so electric.
After Justin's rooftop proposal, the world took on a soft glow. Everything felt lighter clearer. Even the winter chill seemed to hum with magic. Snowflakes fluttered like blessings from the sky, landing gently on her lashes as they stood wrapped in each other's arms, hearts racing, future unlocked.
But with yes came reality.
And the first day of forever?
Well, it started with an engagement hangover.
Crystal woke up the next morning in Justin's apartment, the engagement ring catching a sliver of morning light as it rested on her finger. It was delicate. Classic. A gold band with a single oval diamond,elegant and understated, just like her.
She held her hand up and smiled at it like it was a newborn puppy.
"Oh, you're real," she whispered to the ring,giddy.
Justin stirred beside her, his hair a mess and his face scruffy with sleep. "Talking to the ring already? Should I be jealous?"
Crystal rolled onto her side and grinned. "A little. It didn't forget dinner or take three days to text back."
He laughed, grabbing a pillow and smothering his face. "Low blow, future wife."
She leaned in and kissed his cheek. "You made up for it."
He pulled her closer. "So... we're really doing this?"
She nodded. "We're really doing this."
And for a while, they just lay there, wrapped in warmth and promises, the kind of peace only deep love could bring.
But peace doesn't stop emails, phone calls, or family.
By noon, Crystal's phone had exploded.
Mom: "Just got the news! Can we talk? Call me NOW!"
Sierra (her cousin): "Girl. ENGAGED?! Spill the details. Group chat emergency!!!"
Alana: "I'm crying in my office. I knew he was the one. I KNEW IT."
Justin's inbox wasn't much different. His sister had sent a voice note threatening to plan the entire wedding if he didn't let her help. His father had emailed asking for dinner "to talk about expectations."
And so, just like that, the day turned from "We're engaged!" to "We need a plan."
They spent the afternoon curled up on the couch with coffee and notepads, bouncing ideas.
"Big wedding or small?" Crystal asked.
Justin shrugged. "Whatever makes you happy."
"You're really gonna play that card?"
He grinned. "Absolutely. It's our wedding, but let's be honest you've probably had a Pinterest board for this since college."
She snorted. "I'm not that predictable."
He raised an eyebrow.
"…Okay, maybe a little predictable."
"Do I get to see it?"
Crystal held the coffee to her lips. "Only if you survive meeting my family first."
Later that evening, they visited Crystal's parents for dinner.
Her mother opened the door already teary eyed. "Let me see the ring oh my Lord, that's a ring."
Crystal beamed. "Hi, Mom."
Justin greeted her with his signature charm, offering a bouquet of her favorite lilies. "For the future mother-in-law."
"You're already a favorite, no need to suck up," her mom teased, then added quietly, "But thank you."
The dinner was emotional. Laughter mingled with nostalgia, and stories of Crystal's childhood filled the space.
Then her dad, usually the quieter of the two, cleared his throat. "Just one thing, Justin."
Justin sat straighter. "Yes, sir?"
"You hurt her…" He paused, eyes steady. "You won't just answer to me. You'll answer to her grandmother."
Crystal's heart swelled.
And Justin bless his steady heart nodded with absolute sincerity. "I won't let you down."
Her dad nodded back, and in that one exchange, something unspoken passed between them.
An understanding.
A welcome.
That night, back at their apartment, Crystal curled into Justin's arms, exhausted and glowing.
"That felt like the first day of forever," she said quietly.
He kissed the top of her head. "Then let's keep making every day feel like that."
She smiled. "Even the ones with email chains and wedding spreadsheets?"
"Especially those."
They laughed, and as the city lights flickered beyond the window, their hearts pulsed with one truth:
Forever wasn't just a promise.
It was a choice they'd keep making together.
Day after day.
No matter what.
Weddings were supposed to be magical.
What no one warned Crystal and Justin about was the chaos.
The glorious, emotionally exhausting chaos.
The kind that starts with a Pinterest board and ends with your cousin threatening to wear white "just because she can."
It had been exactly three weeks since the rooftop proposal, and Crystal's once romantic visions of floral arrangements and candlelit vows had been hijacked by color coded spreadsheets, group chat arguments, and the sudden reappearance of people who hadn't spoken to her in years.
Like the aunt who'd once said Crystal was "too dramatic for love."
Now? She wanted to sing at the wedding.
For free.
"But she can't sing, Mom!" Crystal wailed into the phone.
Her mother sighed. "She can't, but she'll insist. Say yes now and mute her mic later."
Crystal hung up and buried her face in a throw pillow.
Across the apartment, Justin looked up from his laptop. "That sounded intense."
"I am being swallowed by wedding planning," she groaned. "I had a dream last night that the cake stood me up at the altar."
He chuckled, walking over. "Want to elope?"
She peeked up at him. "Don't tempt me."0
Meanwhile, Justin was fighting his own battles.
His father, a stoic businessman with a steel handshake and opinions that never needed invitations, had ideas. Strong ones.
About venues.
Guest lists.
And most alarmingly… prenups.
Justin had expected it, of course. He just hadn't expected the conversation to happen over dinner in front of Crystal.
"You two should consider a prenuptial agreement," Mr. Miller said, dabbing his mouth with a cloth napkin.
Crystal froze, the fork halfway to her lips.
Justin set down his glass slowly. "Dad."
His father lifted a brow. "It's practical. Marriage is love. Divorce is math. Better to protect both parties."
Crystal smiled tightly. "Do you think we're planning to divorce?"
"Of course not. But planning for all possibilities shows wisdom."
Silence fell over the table like a fog.
Later, in the car, Justin muttered, "I'm sorry."
Crystal stared out the window. "I'm not mad. Just… caught off guard."
"I should've shut it down sooner."
"You were respectful. I appreciated that." She turned to him. "But for the record, I didn't say yes to your bank account. I said yes to you."
Justin reached across the console and squeezed her hand. "I know. And I know we don't need a prenup."
"But if you want one…"
"I don't."
She smiled. "Then we're good."
That night, as they lay in bed, Crystal whispered, "We planned for forever. We didn't plan for your dad."
Justin laughed into her shoulder. "Or your tone
deaf aunt."
"Or my sister threatening to bring her tarot cards to the ceremony."
He kissed her cheek. "Maybe we can write our own vows and include a section on 'surviving wedding planning.'"
Crystal closed her eyes. "We should start a support group."
They fell asleep in each other's arms tired, overwhelmed, but still very much in love.
Because love wasn't just in the grand gestures.
It was in navigating the unexpected.
Together.