I thought my boyfriend Nick had planned a perfect romantic evening—dinner, surprises, maybe even a proposal. After a long drive out of the city, we ended up at a scenic trail by a lake. I was starving and eager for food, but he insisted we walk first. The hunger soon got the best of me.

Finally, Nick gave in and drove us to Taco Bell. I grabbed a taco and took a big bite, only for him to yell, “You ruined it all!” Confused, I soon discovered the engagement ring hidden inside the taco wrapper—covered in mild sauce. The moment was unexpectedly messy but unforgettable.

Nick explained his original plan: a sunset proposal at the trail, with candles, music, and a romantic picnic. But because I ate early, he panicked and improvised with the ring in the taco. We laughed so hard at the chaos, then headed back to the trail where he proposed properly.

I said yes through tears and laughter, and we ended the night with tacos. Now, every anniversary begins with a Taco Bell stop, a reminder of our imperfect but perfect love. It wasn’t the elegant proposal we imagined, but it was truly ours funny, real, and full of heart.