SHE SAID YES—BUT NOT TO THAT RING

I really thought I nailed it.

I’d saved up for months. Cut back on takeout, skipped a trip to Atlanta with my boys, even sold my old vinyl collection. All for this ring. I went with a classic oval diamond, platinum band—nothing wild, but elegant. The kind of ring I imagined she’d wear forever.

So when I got down on one knee by the lake where we had our first date, heart pounding like crazy, and popped the question, I thought the hard part was over.

She said yes. She did say yes.