It was time.

I squeezed Declan's hand under the table and stood up. Lifting my mimosa and fork, I tapped the outside of my glass to call my family's attention. My mom, dad, brother, aunt, uncle, grandpa, and cousins all looked up from their plates at the long table Grandpa always kept in his back sunroom for Sunday morning brunches.

Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Declan shift in his chair.

"Everyone, I have an announcement to make," I said, placing my hand on Declan's shoulder. "Last night I asked Declan to marry me, and he said 'yes.'" Delighted gasps and cheers bounced off the wall to wall windows. "We'll be married next year."

My family immediately sprung out of their chairs to come over and hug us. All the excitement made it hard to breathe, but for once, I was happy to be breathless.

This was why we only told my family in person. Declan's parents were notified by phone, specifically through a message on their machine: "Hi Mom, hi Dad. Listen, I just wanted to call and say that Hugh and I are getting married. Call me back if you want to be a part of our day, otherwise I'd rather not hear any more of your speeches. I hope to hear back from you soon." We hadn't heard anything yet, but it had only been two days.

I was optimistic. Declan was realistically doubtful.

Mom was the first to come to us and she yanked Declan and I both into a hug. "When must plan," she squealed. "Oh, I am so excited. Declan, you have to understand since soon I'll be your Mama Bear too, that I never had daughters, just two beautiful, amazing sons. This is my only chance, I'm afraid to help plan a wedding, since Gunther can't seem to find anyone good enough for him."

She reached behind us, presumably to pinch Gunther's cheek, like she would every time she complimented him in public, which--unsurprisingly--was a lot.

"Thank you, Mom," Gunther groaned. Yes, I was right. Did I know my mom or what?

She pulled away from us, still squealing. "I will contact all the vendors I know. I think the Martins know a caterer we can get for a discount, and Gunther, doesn't that friend of yours Flynn play the guitar?"

Gunther scoffed. "Not well enough for Hugh's wedding."

"Oh, I see. Yes, only the best for my boys. No matter, I'm on it. Mama Quail is on the job," she announced, saluting us.

Declan laughed uncomfortably. He always seemed uncomfortable around my family, probably because he wasn't used to the brand of unconditional love they gave. In my mom's eyes, each of us were rare diamonds in the majestic crown that was our family. No one could besmirch that majesty.

Gunther spun us around before pulling us both into his arms. "Brothers," he said. "Don't go thinking this alone will earn you a promotion, okay Declan?"

"Yeah, okay," Declan replied. I could tell he felt insulted by the comment. I wished Gunther were kinder to Declan, and I sometimes I wished Declan weren't so self-conscious. Most of the time Gunther didn't mean what he said. Most of the time.

Gunther guffawed. "I guess I could let you help me with my new project, though. I'll tell you all about it at work tomorrow, no need to spoil Sunday brunch with the details; however, I can tell you it involves a monkey."

"That sounds like something up my alley," I said in an attempt to draw the attention away from Declan. He was always uncomfortable by attention, though his uncomfortable shifting was always one of his more adorable quirks. I took his hand.

"Yes, but you work in a different lab. You could always team up with me, and Declan could help us both. He could even be the monkey's assistant."

Declan breathed deeply. "I have to go to the bathroom, excuse me," he told us.

Once Declan left the room, I faced away from our family at the table, who had fallen into excited conversation about my upcoming nuptials, and flashed Gunther a stern look. 

"What?" he asked, taking a sip of his Bloody Mary.

"You know what, Gunther, please don't play dumb."

Gunther rolled his eyes. "He's too sensitive."

"And you're too sarcastic. He's your brother now too, not just your assistant. You have to show him more respect."

"Ugh," Gunther groaned.

"How am I the young brother in this situation?"

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry," Gunther said, laughing a bit to himself. "Fine, I will try to behave better toward Declan."

"You won't try. You will."

Gunther was taken aback. "You've never spoken to me like that."

I shrugged and shook my head. "I'm sorry, Gunther. I love you, but I have to protect the feelings of Declan now too. He's going to be my husband."

He bit the inside of his cheek, probably to hold back one of his snarky comments. It was only then that I wondered if maybe we were arguing. Surely, Gunther understood where I was coming from, I thought. Was I wrong?

Gunther pulled the celery from his drink and chomped down. "I apologize," he said, chewing. "I'll apologize to Declan tomorrow at work, when it's just the two of us."

"You will?" Gunther was not the best at apologies.

"Yes," he replied, making his way back to the seat where his omelet was getting cold.

Typical Gunther getting out of an awkward situation by opening it up to the group, I thought. He knew I wouldn't continue the conversation at the table, so I retreated toward the bathroom to find Declan.

He stood in the bathroom, splashing water in his face with the door open just a crack. I came into the room behind him and closed the door. With my arms wrapped around his waist, I leaned forward to kiss his cheek. The walls in Grandpa's house were thin, so I whispered, "I'm sorry about my brother. I talked to him, and he said he will apologize tomorrow. Let me know if he doesn't."

"You know he won't," Declan told me through the mirror.

"Maybe he will change now that we're getting married." I kissed his cheek again, and Declan leaned on the sink.

"Can't it just be us?" he asked. "Can't we just run away and be alone?"

I smiled, but I soon realized Declan wasn't joking. "I've never been away from my family. Gunther will come around."

"And if he doesn't?"

"Then... then we will run away. If nothing changes, we can escape. You're the most important person to me. You are the love of my life, and I will follow wherever you go. That's the choice I made when I asked you to be my husband. You come first now and always."

Declan turned around to face me, and we pressed our bodies together. There in Grandpa's bathroom during Sunday brunch was not the place to be romantic, but I could never help myself with Declan. Something about him was so disarming, I always felt stripped of any preoccupations near him. I kissed his lips, and all the wedding drama and issues with Gunther faded away.

"Now and always, huh?" Declan asked, pulling his lips from mine.

"Now and always."

We kissed once more, and then rejoined my family at the brunch table. Today we would eat omelettes and discuss wedding plans, and tomorrow would be a day for new beginnings. I was sure of it. Declan and I would never need to escape as long as we had each other.

But that's not how life works, and that's not how tomorrow unfurled.

Gunther should have known I would always choose love over science.