Every year, Tucker and Bella take their Everything Trip—a tradition of celebrating their anniversary and both of their birthdays (all in August, because why not celebrate everything at once?).

Each year the goal was to top the last, but this year? This year was different. This year, Tucker had a secret up his sleeve, and he was determined to make it unforgettable.

It all started with a trip to Hilton Head Island. Tucker, the planner of planners, had organized every last detail. The hotel? Perfect. The rental car? Spot-on. The dinners? Gorgeous ocean views, five-star everything. It was going to be a trip for the books.

Literally.

The biggest trick of all was that Bella had no idea that the proposal actually started months prior to this trip, and the key to it all was her birthday gift, the book "The Rosie Project."

The copy of The Rosie Project she’d received for her birthday was more than just a quirky gift—it was the book. The book that would hold the ring he planned to propose to her with. Tucker’s mom, Terri, had worked her magic, carving out the center of an additional copy, creating the perfect hiding place for the sparkly surprise. It was like every rom-com you have ever seen... especially the ones that involved sneaky, last-minute stunts and a whole lot of stress.

But Tucker didn’t want it to be just a proposal. Oh no, this was going to be a ride. So, naturally, he staged a fake proposal. Dinner. Views. Champagne. The works. Everything screamed “proposal,” except for one tiny detail: it wasn’t happening.

Bella, who could usually read Tucker like an open book (pun intended), had caught on to the hints, but she couldn’t have known this was all part of his grand ruse. In a slight panic, she even stepped away to text her friend Taylor to have a mini freak out session as she waited for the big moment to happen (Taylor shared a quick screenshot to Tucker to show him his plan was going well). By the time they finished their perfect dinner, the mood was set. The anticipation was palpable. Bella was waiting for the question, and Tucker was sweating bullets, trying not to crack under the pressure.

But he didn’t ask. Not then. And to Bella’s slight surprise, there was no ring, no dramatic gesture. Just the lingering taste of champagne and Tucker calm and collected once again.

In fact, the night ended like any other nice dinner out—no proposal, no romantic "will you marry me?" But Bella had learned to roll with Tucker’s antics. And after a bit of disappointment (with a touch of confused amusement), they decided to head back to the hotel. After an hour of getting ready for bed, Bella threw on her “uglies” (pigtails, no makeup, and comfy clothes), and got comfortable in bed with her book.

In this moment, Tucker was having a full-blown panic attack. The plan had been perfect. Almost too perfect. It could only be messed up now. The book was set on the nightstand, the ring hidden inside, and yet… once she opened it up she was merely reading the book without a care in the world, oblivious to the giant surprise just one page over.

Oh. No.

Tucker’s heart stopped. She was just reading. He watched unsure what to do as Bella continued to read the page for what felt like an eternity. Her eyes scanning the text like she hadn’t noticed the giant sparkle sitting in the center of the book, almost mocking him. His stomach was doing backflips.

Finally, as he tiptoed around the bed, trying not to hyperventilate, she finished the page the page and—bam—saw the ring.

“OH MY GOD!!!” Bella shrieked, her eyes going wide as saucers. “WOW!!!”

Tucker barely managed to stay calm as his knees buckled and he slid down onto the floor, preparing for the real proposal. But Bella was still processing. She kept repeating “WOW” over and over like she had just discovered the world’s most amazing treasure, not realizing Tucker was already down on one knee.

Finally, she turned to him, her face a mix of shock and joy. In this moment, Tucker listed off all of the reasons he loved her and knew she was the one he wanted to be with. And while there was no script, he knows the sentence he closed with: “I think you're... you're cool, Bella. Will you marry me?”

And just like that, it was done. The big, beautiful proposal… and the most Tucker thing ever. His grand speech? Probably a mess. His big moment? Pure chaos. But the answer? The answer was everything.

Bella, tears streaming down her face, barely able to form words, nodded vigorously. “Yes. Yes, I will!”

And just like that, Tucker knew the whole trip had been worth it. Not for the perfection or the planning or the flawless execution, but for the fact that Bella was by his side through every moment.

From the fake proposal to the real one, from the near-heart attack in the hotel room to the “cool” moment that somehow still worked, everything was perfect in its own, unexpected way.

A gift is NOT expected, but if you do feel so inclined please feel free to reference the list below for ideas!