After I Do

Lauren Spencer and her husband, Ryan Cooper, attend a Dodgers game together. In the stadium parking lot after the game, they cannot find their car and get into an argument. Lauren knows that even after they get home, they won’t stop fighting. They finally find their car and smile at each other, but Lauren doesn’t feel any affection between them.

The narrative shifts into the past. Lauren and Ryan first meet during Lauren’s sophomore year at UCLA. Freshman year was lonely for her, and she often went home to visit her sister (Rachel), her mother (Leslie), and her brother (Charlie). She didn’t settle into college life until she got “a job in the mailroom” (5) and started meeting people.

In her second year, she and Ryan start running into each other on campus. One day, they introduce themselves and get lunch together in the dining hall, then make a date for the following evening. While getting ready, Lauren realizes that she is nervous. They go out for burgers and talk about their studies. After dinner, they kiss, and Lauren is overcome by emotion. They make plans to get breakfast the next morning.