Once upon a time I picked up a part time job at a fitness studio in Chicago. Hoping to spend my free time progressively by forcing myself to workout with a free gym membership where someone yells at you to get your best workout in. I had no idea how much that was going to change my life.

My positive thinking was that maybe I’d be able to save some money by picking up that extra job. Maybe I’d burn a few calories and hold myself accountable to get myself into shape, maybe I’d make some friends! (The last one was a bit more unrealistic).

But I never expected to meet the woman of my dreams.

She might tell the story a little different than I do. I think maybe we both realized our love at different times.

I started working at Orange Theory Fitness around the beginning of September 2019. Over the next few months I kept myself mostly closed off. Just did my job, kept moving while I learned how to work in the fitness world and tried to blend in. Lex might say I was mean during that time 😂 but when you only work weekends and open at 5:30 am on Saturday and Sunday in your 20’s I’m not sure if I would be able to act any different!

Over those next few months at the studio Lex would always try to pick my brain. Always asking me questions to get to know me. It wasn’t in a way that she was trying to date me, she is always just curious about people. Lex has a gift of getting people to open up. I didn’t know it at the time, but she’s used to people finding her comforting in a way that you could tell her anything. Free of the fear of judgement, and the security of knowing she won’t gossip about you to anyone else. I held the fort though like a tough guy, and kept to myself.

A few months later I was in the back office finishing up some work for the day. We had one class left before we got to leave. I isolated myself to focus on my work for the rest of the day when Lex came into the back office extremely uncomfortable. I was perplexed to say the least. But knowing that the studio was filled with people before the next class, and she was clenching her knees together I could put two and two together.

Our studio had 3 bathrooms next to the fitness room, and they were all full. Lex had to pee bad, and I found this very awkward moment hysterical. The bathrooms are always full right before a class, and she picked the worst time to try and go.

It allowed me to see a different side of her and that made me much more comfortable.. Every time she heard a bathroom door open, someone else was always in line before her. She had to have been going back and forth for 10 minutes and each time she returned to the office I made fun of her. This is when I started feeling differently. Being able to poke fun and see her take a joke, and share an awkward moment together was where I really connected. I put up a wall for months but all it took was something silly like this to feel connected. From there the wall quickly started coming down.

It was shortly after that, a couple weeks into November that Orange Theory had a holiday party. By that point I’d gotten comfortable enough with a couple employees that I could go and have a good time.

A few hours into the party I’d had my fair share of food. I pigged out to say the least. A thanksgiving feast before thanksgiving. I brought some drinks for myself but the rest of the party must’ve thought the drinks were for the them, so I had to resort to red wine.

Shortly after I started burping from acid reflux, Lex entered the party ‘fashionably late’ with her friends. She never thinks anyone notices her when she walks in a room, but that time it was like she had a spotlight on her. You couldn’t ignore it. Her confident walk, her big beautiful eyes, and calming smile.

I hadn’t seen her since she had to pee, and now to me she’s the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen. Everything seemed different. A veil was lifted on my soul, and my heart completely opened up.

Unfortunately for me that’s when I get awkward. I didn’t think for even a second about myself. I was so focused on getting her attention I forgot that I was covered in stains, food in my teeth and red wine all over my mouth.

But she was different. Even in my disgusting uncleanly ways she just giggled. The same way I laughed at her about the bathroom she laughed at me about my very poor food manners. Normally I’d be so uncomfortable with a crush like this, but she just had a way of warming my heart in any moment.

We spent the night dancing like idiots and realizing how much fun we could have together.

After that we both went back home to our families for the holidays. I went back to Naperville and Lex went back to Michigan. I had a few weeks to marinate on what exactly cultivated that night, and if those feelings were as real as they felt.

Soon after arriving back to Chicago we decided to spend a night getting to know each other. Normally I’d be so nervous but the way everything happened so naturally I never felt like anything could go wrong. Considering she’s already seen me act like a child, how much worse could I be! It wasn’t a date, and even if it was I was nothing but excited and ready to goof off with my new friend.

But there wasn’t a whole lot of goofing off. We sat on her couch for hours just chatting. I forgot that the wall I held up like a tough guy had already fallen. I told her everything about me. From my deepest darkest secrets to why even at 28 years old I average at least 1 ketchup stain on my shirt per day. There was no doubt in my mind that night that I caught the strongest feelings I’d ever had for someone. I didn’t have to be insecure about my goofiness. You wouldn’t know it by looking at her, but this beautiful, angelic, confident woman was just as goofy as me.

After that night I needed a moment to work out my feelings. I was supposed to have a wall up, but it came down so quick. I could never put it back up. This wasn’t just a crush, it was love.

I told myself I’d take my time and feel it out. But 2 days later on Saturday, December 7th, 2019 Lex invited me to her apartment where she was having some friends over. Wisconsin was playing THE Ohio State in the big 10 college football championship game. So the fact that I wanted to go made me realize even more how into her I was.

Wisconsin blew a 21-7 first half lead to lose 34-21 but I got over that pretty quickly.

Lex’s small Chicago apartment filled up quickly. And to cool off we both agreed to take a walk together outside. We felt like we wanted some real alone time. We ended up walking through the December cold for what felt like minutes, but ended up being probably over an hour. Just having the best time together. Friends were calling us asking where we went, making sure we were okay. No offense to any of our friends but in that moment we would’ve rather been together, alone, in the freezing December cold than inside with everyone else.

Before we went back in, granted just really our 2nd time being alone together, I had to tell her how I was feeling. It was the first time I got nervous around her. I told Lex I needed to tell her something, but honestly I didn’t know what I was going to say. So I mumbled and stumbled and stuttered. I kept saying “I think.. I think…” and then the confidence came out “I’m in love with you.” I thought I had just shot myself in the foot, but no matter what happened I know I’d never regret it. My feelings were so strong that I’d never be able to keep it in. And like a true miracle not only did she not want to run away from me, she looked at me and said “I love you”.

From that point on we began to spend a lot more time together. 7 months later we moved into a little garden unit apartment in Lincoln Park, that’s where we spent the bulk of our Covid lockdown days. From there we started to really get to know each other being locked inside for months. Just when you think you really know someone, living together adds and entirely new level to it! Those types of situations have always been exciting to me. I truly feel that all anyone is made of is their experiences. Good and bad. This beautiful woman has been through so much in 26 years, more than I could ever handle, but has always triumphed. Every time she falls she gets right back up. She’s always lifted the trophy, gotten the job, succeeded at something new. Whatever she puts her heart into, God leads her to where she’s supposed to go. It’s such a beautiful thing to experience. The things my beautiful Angel has been through would make any average person despise God, but with Lex she knows God is who made her the stunning, confident woman she is today.

After moving to Schaumburg during the pandemic to get out of the city we briefly separated. I’m not good with those things, hardly ever comfortable. But I knew deep in my soul that we were going to be reconnected again soon. I’ve never felt anything like that before to calm me down. The love I always had was still there, and with the calm I had in those times I was able to stay relaxed enough in the waiting until our hearts were together again.

Soon enough I got to re experience this woman’s beautiful heart, catch up on months missed without each-other. God did it only in the way He knew he had to. It’s never the way you think it’s going to be!

We started seeing each other more and more. The separation really allowed us to see things from a different perspective. We were able to spend more time focusing on the things we needed to before. It truly ended up being a beautiful little hiccup in our relationship.

From there we continued to build our unique but strong bond, we moved back in together in Chicago. We figured we’d have one last ‘hoo-rah’ downtown before we found some place else to explore. I couldn’t think of a better place to continue to grow our relationship than the beautiful city where it all started.

But for those who know me well know that I work quick! (I told her I loved her on day 2). We spent the summer together in our new downtown apartment. However, as Lex always does she set her heart on a new dream. She started her career as a flight attendant with Delta. A job that Delta will tell you is harder to get accepted to than Harvard. But what my baby wants, my baby works hard for, and achieves. Every single time! Starting in July she’d be gone for 6 straight weeks in Atlanta for training.

We spent every day but 1 away from each-other the next 6 weeks. But this time we were ready for a challenge. Lex battled her way through some of the most difficult training for any job. In a hotel for 6 weeks, away from her handsome man 😉 Colby 🐕 and Sophia 🐈‍⬛ were lost without her.

Of course Lex graduated, and I got to go down to see her ceremony. Truly an amazing experience and a beautiful way for us to celebrate the next step in her career and an opportunity to see the world together! Since then we’ve been blessed to be able to see Dublin and London together. Seattle, Dallas, New York, and so many more. Not to mention Hawaii!

In September after Lex just started her new amazing job I took her to Honolulu for her birthday. It’s a place I’ve always wanted to see and Lex’s heart will forever belong to a beach with many palm trees. This was the first time we had really traveled together in a very long time because of Covid. And the thought of this trip was exciting but also extremely nerve wracking. As I was constantly carrying around a small expensive piece of jewelry that I had to keep a secret.

And if you know anything about Lex, you know you just can’t keep a secret around her. So every moment is one second closer to me not being able to surprise her.

I wanted to find the perfect place to propose the day we got there, but the entire day was a wash. It never stopped raining.

And because Lex can sniff out any secret, I couldn’t pre-plan anything. No planning tourist events, no ability to get a photographer. But that part was thrilling, not only did Lex not know about this, but in a lot of ways I had no idea how it was going to happen either!

We ended up doing a sunset cruise along the beaches of Waikiki the next evening. 5 course meal, drinks and entertainment. But as I gazed into the sun reflecting perfectly behind Lex to create this amazing image I’ll never forget, as I continually fell in love staring at her instead of eating my food, I felt like I needed to pull the trigger. I needed to go for it.

We finished our meals quickly, and as everyone else on this massive ship was entertained by hula dancers and ukulele’s I took her hand and we snuck up to the top of the ship. Thinking maybe we could get the alone time we had the night I told her I loved her.

But just like the night I spilled my heart out on that cold Chicago street, I started to fall apart in my head. I had at least 5 minutes alone with her at the highest point of the ship, sun setting in the background, and I couldn’t do it yet. I just loved soaking in the moment before I made her my fiancé, it was too perfect to fathom. Too good to be true. This woman was going to become my wife.

As I reflected on those things and we gazed into the endless ocean I finally caved. “I can’t wait anymore!” I said. In my head I assumed she’d already known this was coming because I can’t keep a secret, but at that moment I realized she somehow didn’t sniff this one out!

“Wait for what?” She asked

I got down on a knee and said something! Not sure what but she said yes and now we are getting married!

We gazed into the setting sun but I wish it lasted forever. It quickly vanished as we held each-other and enjoyed every single moment together. Everything went perfect without even the slightest plan. And just like everything else with us, with a strong love for each-other and a true faith in the Holy Spirit, God has been guiding us all along.

Since then everything has lead us to Savannah, GA. Where we continue to explore new places, peel more onion layers, and get to know each-other a little better every day. Because one thing I’ve learned about Alexis Jacqmain is that you get to know something new about her every day, and it’s truly a beautiful thing. No day is ever the same, no moments ever dull. She is truly beautiful in every way. Through her scars she has become the strongest woman, the most confident and fearless woman. And one I am so happy to soon call my wife.

I love you Alexis Jacqmain, forever and ever. So excited for so many more adventures, and to see where God takes us next.

Travel

Courtyard by Marriott Petoskey at Victories Square

Holiday Inn Express & Suites Petoskey an IHG Hotel