Sophie stood in the middle of the living room, surrounded by swatches of fabric, flower samples, and Ethan's very opinionated family. She massaged her temples, wondering how this simple engagement party had spiraled into a full-blown production that could rival a royal wedding.
"Lilies or roses, darling?" Ethan's mother asked, waving two sample bouquets in Sophie's face.
"Uh, lilies?" Sophie replied hesitantly, earning an approving nod from Mrs. D'Angelo.
"No! Roses are classic!" Zoe chimed in from her spot on the couch, eating popcorn like she was watching a reality show.
"Let her choose, Zoe," Ethan said, walking into the room with a cup of coffee for Sophie. He handed it to her with a grin, his fingers brushing hers.
Zoe smirked. "Look at you, Mr. Perfect Fiancé. You're so whipped."
"Whipped and happy," Ethan shot back, sitting beside Sophie and draping an arm over her shoulders.
"Can we focus here?" Sophie pleaded, gesturing to the chaos around her. "This is getting out of hand."
"Out of hand? Oh, sweetie, this is just the beginning," Grandma Vivian chimed in, appearing out of nowhere like a matchmaking ninja. "Wait until we talk about the menu. Ethan loves lasagna. Do you know how to make lasagna, Sophie?"
Sophie blinked. "Um, I've made it before..."
Grandma Vivian narrowed her eyes. "Good. A wife should know her husband's favorite dish."
Sophie's face burned. "We're not married yet!"
Vivian waved her off. "Details, darling. Details."
---
Teasing Tensions
Ethan, clearly enjoying Sophie's discomfort, leaned closer and whispered, "You're handling this like a champ."
She elbowed him in the ribs. "You could help, you know."
"I am helping," he said with a grin. "I'm staying out of the way."
Sophie shot him a glare, which only made him laugh.
"Seriously, Ethan," she said, her voice lowering. "Your family is intense."
"Welcome to the D'Angelo circus," he said, kissing her temple.
---
The Guest List Debate
"Now, about the guest list," Mrs. D'Angelo began, pulling out a notebook. "We've got to include the Donovans, the Millers, the—"
"Wait," Sophie interrupted. "Who are all these people?"
"Family friends, of course," Mrs. D'Angelo said as if it were obvious.
Sophie groaned. "This is supposed to be a small party!"
"Small?" Zoe snorted. "Do you even know this family?"
Ethan squeezed Sophie's hand. "Don't worry, I'll handle it."
"You will?" Sophie asked, surprised.
He gave her a confident smile. "Of course. I'll just... uh, delegate to Mom."
Sophie groaned again, and Ethan chuckled.
---
Fitting Drama
Later that afternoon, Sophie was dragged into a boutique by Zoe, Grandma Vivian, and Ethan's mother to try on dresses.
"This one screams elegance," Mrs. D'Angelo said, holding up a sequined number.
"This one screams 'I'm about to hit the club,'" Zoe said, holding up a much shorter, glittery dress.
Sophie, caught in the middle, tried not to laugh. "I think I'll go with something... less screaming?"
"Boring," Zoe teased.
But when Sophie emerged from the dressing room in a simple yet stunning gown, all conversation stopped.
Ethan's mother teared up. "Oh, Sophie, you look beautiful."
"Not bad," Zoe admitted with a grin.
Grandma Vivian nodded approvingly. "Perfect. Ethan won't be able to keep his eyes off you."
Sophie flushed. "Can we not?"
---
Ethan's Secret Project
While Sophie was dealing with dresses and flowers, Ethan was up to something. Locked in his study, he worked on a surprise for Sophie.
"What are you doing in there?" Sophie asked later that evening, knocking on the door.
"Nothing!" Ethan called back, his voice suspiciously cheerful.
She narrowed her eyes. "You're terrible at lying, you know."
"Just trust me!"
Sophie rolled her eyes. "Fine, but if this ends in glitter or chaos, I'm blaming you."
---
Wrapping Up
By the end of the day, Sophie collapsed on the couch, exhausted but happy. Ethan joined her, pulling her into his arms.
"See? We survived the day," he teased.
"Barely," she muttered, snuggling closer.
Ethan tilted her chin up to look at him. "It's worth it, though, right?"
Sophie smiled, her heart full. "Yeah. It's worth it."
As their laughter filled the room, Sophie realized that, chaos and all, she wouldn't trade this life—or this family—for anything.