It was August 31, 2023—a night I’ll never forget. I was with a friend who wanted to see a guy she’d been talking to, and she mentioned he was bringing his roommate along. She thought he was in a relationship, so I didn’t think much of it. It was dark when he got in the car, and I couldn’t really see his face… but the moment we stepped out, I finally laid eyes on Jack—and my heart skipped a beat. He was the most handsome man I’d ever seen. I instantly thought, “Of course he’s taken.” But fate had other plans.

That night felt like the beginning of something written in the stars. We clicked instantly, laughing and teasing each other like we’d known one another our whole lives. At one point, we even argued over something silly—like an old married couple—which only made the connection feel deeper, more real. We both walked away that night thinking we’d messed it up. But the next day, through our friends, we exchanged numbers, apologized, and something beautiful began.

You might wonder why we didn’t start dating right away. About two months in, Jack asked me where we stood. I knew how I felt about him, but I was careful with my heart. I was preparing to study abroad in Spain, and the idea of starting something just as I was leaving felt impossible. I tried to protect myself… but leaving him in January was one of the hardest things I’ve ever done. I remember crying, telling him I hated how perfect he was, because it made walking away that much harder.

But love is patient, and so was Jack. We waited for each other. Despite the ocean between us and an eight-hour time difference, we FaceTimed every day, texted every chance we could, and counted down the days until we’d be in the same place again.

On May 11, 2024, we finally made it official. But in every way that matters, we belonged to each other long before that.