“It’s not about work. And nothing’s wrong,” Luke assured his mom. “It’s just . . . I found her.”

“Who?” his dad asked.

His mom leaned forward. “Do you mean . . .”

The smile came so easily when he thought about Sarah. “Her name is Sarah. She’s got two amazing sons.”

“Wait a second.” Jason leaned forward as well. “Are you saying you’re actually serious about someone?”

Michelle, Jason’s wife, planted her elbow on her knee and her chin in her hand and smiled. “Oh, I hope so. It’s been so long since someone held on to Luke for more than a minute.”

“Hey!” Luke said, knowing full well Michelle spoke the truth. He turned to his mom, knowing she’d understand. “I’m in love with her. She doesn’t know it yet, but I’m going to marry her.”

Shocked silence filled the room.

Emma broke the silence by bashing a plastic purple hippo on the coffee table over and over again. Luke wondered if she’d be disappointed when she found out there were no purple hippos in the world.

“You’re serious?” Jason asked.

“Yes.”

His father looked surprised. “How long have you known her?”

“Five weeks.” It seemed like a lot longer.

His mom continued to study him, so he told her the truth he still couldn’t wrap his brain around. “I saw her, and I wanted her, and somehow, despite my brash questions and annoying her because I thought she was something she could never be, she fell for me.”

His mother gave him a knowing grin, and he went on, “She’s amazingly smart and kind and devastatingly beautiful and honest and . . . incredible.”

His mom put her hand on his knee. “She makes you happy.”

“In a way I’ve never felt. When she and the boys are here, it’s like . . . everything is perfect. The way I dreamed it could be. And every dream I ever had for my life and this place includes her. Them,” he clarified.

“Tell us everything,” his dad coaxed.

His family sat focused on him, open to everything he told them about how he and Sarah had met, Jack and Nick, her work and the company she ran, everything he could think of about her.

Jason sat back, eyeing Luke. “I have to say, I’ve never seen you this excited about a woman. You look happy and content for the first time in a long time. I can’t wait to meet the woman who finally tamed you. Will she be here soon?”

“Any minute.”

His mom took a sip of her wine, then looked at Luke over her glass. “I’m not surprised you’re so eager to move things along. Jason and Michelle fell head over heels right out of college.”

“He marched me down the aisle six months after I met him.” Michelle leaned over and kissed Jason, so much love in her eyes.

Sarah looked at Luke like that. He hoped she saw it in him when he looked at her.