God, where do I even start? My life has turned into something you’d expect in a movie. My girlfriend and I have never had trust issues, and I never suspected her of cheating until now.

So, here’s the deal: I’m a 28-year-old guy, clueless about jewelry. I’ve been with Meredith, my girlfriend, for three years, and I can’t imagine life without her. Deciding to propose was easy. The hard part? Picking out the ring. Meredith’s best friend, Lisa, is my go-to for advice, so we decided to meet at my place to look at catalogs.

Frustrated, we agreed a trip to a jewelry store was needed. To figure out when Meredith would be home, I texted her. She replied she’d be out for a few hours, shopping with Lisa. But Lisa was right next to me. We were confused.

When Meredith came home, acting normal, I was tormented by her lie and my secret proposal. Days later, I sat her down. “We’ve been talking about marriage. I invited Lisa to help pick a ring, but you said you were with her. What’s going on?”

Meredith burst into laughter. Then, she showed me a photo of her holding a tiny Kenyan sand boa. She had planned to surprise me with a pet snake, knowing how much I loved them.

The revelation brought us closer. We spent the next hour excitedly discussing our future pet. Despite the tension, our bond deepened, reminding us of our commitment and love. As for the proposal, that’s a story for another day.