A good actress, and a happy ending

For a couple of weeks now Rey has been planning to propose to his girlfriend (my buddy) Lauren. I have been in on it. Sorry, Lauren. I hated "acting"... and by acting, I mean lying.

No, I lie. It's been fun. We had this whole plan, where we would get Lauren to come to Vizcaya, where he would pop out of nowhere and propose. It was going to be perfect.














And then Rey got impatient (just as Lauren was getting antsy to see him before Thanksgiving). He landed, and he was a wreck. Ready to propose. Ready to see her. Ready to be engaged already. So the plans changed. And I was still a good actress.
While visiting, I'm driving around in my dad's huge truck. It's huge, and it's brand new.













I needed to "break down" near their favorite park (this was the new plan for where he would propose). Unfortunately, with only 5,000 miles, the only thing that might happen to it was a flat tire. "Acting" even more, I called Lauren:
Lau: Hello?
AM: I'm right by your house, and everything was fine, and now I have a flat tire and I don't know how it happened, and I can't believe this and I need help and... and... and...
Lau: Calm down. Where are you?
AM: At the park by your house.
Lau: I'll be right there.

So Rey hides by a tree about 50 feet away from me. Merari and Brigitte hide in the bushes like paparazzi. And I start pacing because, of course, I am just. So. Upset. by the flat tire. (What a good actress I am).
My great acting skills only got me so far, however, because Lauren is the girl version of MacGyver. She ignored my wailing and attempts to lead her in my direction (and Rey's) and walked towards my truck. Noooo! So I started fake crying, "I can't take this." "I'm so upset." She replied, "Where's the flat?" and when she went all the way around, "You don't have a flat tire."
At this point, I am not a good actress, and must resort to flat-out lying. "No, Lauren, you can't see it because I added air. But my dad said if I keep driving I'll ruin the tires." Lies. Lies. Lies.
Whatever, she realized her friend was being ridiculous and came to my side, because at this point I was still incosolable.
And then she saw him.
And he took a knee.
After about 100 kisses and yeses, it was official. They're engaged.
I couldn't be happier for them.