It was a warm fall evening when Steve invited Lara to the Upper East Side for a night of s'mores and wine at his favorite neighborhood joint. He arrived to discover the thermostat was on the fritz; the dense air in the bar hovered near 90 degrees. By the time Lara arrived, Steve had already shed his handsome first-date sweater and was perspiring to a degree Lara found concerning. In an attempt to salvage the evening (and to prevent Steve's imminent collapse) she suggested they abandon the s'mores plan and relocate. They soon found themselves on the terrace of a small Irish pub with an extensive whiskey collection and a temperature more compatible with human life. The drinks flowed freely as did the conversation, and before long, the bartenders announced last call. Steve offered to walk Lara to the Q train, where they shared a single kiss before parting. Steve began to sweat again.

The plan was simple enough. Steve was to borrow the VW camper from Schwed and Jess, fill it with Lara's favorite treats and champagne, and head to Montauk where, after a weekend of wine tasting and sleeping beneath the stars, Steve would ask Lara to marry him. Unfortunately, even the best laid plans are no match for Steve. On the morning of the trip, he had just finished loading the van when he began to rethink his master plan. What if Lara figures it out? After all, he was being kind of quiet, wasn't he? And who brings Moët on a camping trip? Convinced his plans would be foiled before they reached the expressway, Steve made a game-time decision. He strode back into the apartment, where he found Lara standing beside their open fridge eating chips and salsa with intense focus. "How much do you love me?" he asked, moving close. Without missing a beat, Lara threw her arms wide and exclaimed "This much!", revealing a mouthful of chips and his favorite smile. Beaming, he took a knee, and before Lara and Goopy and the refrigerator asked her to be his wife. There were squeals, there was jumping, there was a spilled jar of salsa that nobody even noticed. He placed the ring on her finger and they shared a perfect moment in the home they'd made together. Steve grabbed the bags, Lara grabbed the remaining chips, and they headed out east to celebrate.