We traveled to Charleston, SC with our college buddies for Mr. Husband’s fraternity alumni formal. We weren’t going to participate in the actual formal, but we wanted to see everyone and used that excuse to get down to our favorite town.

We had an amazing few days. We played on the beach all date, ate some amazing meals and partied hard. One of Mr. Husband’s fraternity brothers invited my best friend along, so it was great.

The night of formal, Mr. Husband made a pretty big deal of making sure we spent the evening alone. There was a restaurant that we’d gone to once before, and it was kind of expensive. And he wanted to take me there. And he made sure I wore a specific dress. No, my stomach wasn’t in butterflies hoping for a ring. Okay, maybe only a little bit.

My best friend was staying in the room right next to us, so while Mr. Husband was getting ready, I wandered over there just to hang out. And our friend [her date] comes and sits next to me on the bed.

“Jo, I feel like I should tell you that J didn’t bring the ring. I just don’t want you to get your hopes up so you can enjoy your evening.”

Uh. Well, I would have. But now was just sad. And mad. And hurt. And well, let’s face it…fuming! Please, before you judge me, know that at this point Mr. Husband and I had been out of college for a year, and he’d already had my ring for two years! [I wasn’t certain of this fact, but I did know he had it.] And we’d been together for five years and 9 months! Not that I was counting…

I tried to brush it off. I would be fine. I would just enjoy my evening with my wonderful boyfriend who was taking me to a gorgeous restaurant in my favorite place.

Nope. We all get in the cab to head downtown, and I’m not talking. I’m just staring out the window blinking back tears. I might be the most emotional, dramatic person on the face of the planet. We go our separate ways from our friends, and now it’s just me and Mr. Husband. He can tell something is wrong. He doesn’t push it.

We order our food, and I’m really trying guys. I’m really trying to be pleasant and cute and witty and all I can think about is why doesn’t he want to marry me?

Dinner was somewhat of a blur. I don’t remember a bite of my food. I don’t remember what wine I drank. All I remember is sitting across from the man whom I desperately loved questioning whether he loved me too. What an awful awful feeling.

The waiter comes by our table…and here’s the freaking kicker.

Mr. Husband tells him it’s two separate checks!!!

Oh, God. It was just so awful. We left the restaurant and I demanded to just go back to the hotel. I cried all night long. It was terrible. Awful. And I made it that way…

There are no pictures from that night because I was being such a sour puss. I ruin everything with my stupid moods! [luckily, Mr. Husband loves me anyway :)]

[The Real Story: Mr. Husband did have the ring. His friend apparently was just trying to throw me off [as was Mr. Husband when he asked for 2 checks] Unfortunately, all they were successful in doing was pissing me off. Mr. Husband figured he’d wait until I wasn’t in such a bad mood to propose. He proposed the next weekend. And that’s an even funnier story.]