And since stories are hard, here's a timeline for you:
October 25, 2020: We meet for the first time at a birthday party. Since we're living in different cities and one of us is dating someone else, we settle for following one another on Instagram. Notes: CB1 was clean shaven. CB2 was wearing jorts.
November 26, 2020: The first Instagram interaction. It was the "clapping hands" emoji. Note: These high-level likes and responses to one another's stories occurred sporadically through November 2021.
Q2'21ish: We match on Tinder for the first time, but since we're still geographically challenged, nothing more happens.
Note from the Editor: At some point in 2021, it appears we both deleted our respective Tinder accounts.
September 2021: CB2 redownloads Tinder.
October 2021: CB1 becomes fed up with both Boone and Atlanta and decides to relocate to Charlotte. He also redownloads Tinder.
November 2021: We match on Tinder for a second time. This time we not only communicate, but go straight into planning a coffee date.
December 5th, 2021: After seeing one another at a Christmas party the night before, we get coffee together, go for a long walk through Villa Heights, and then (accidentally) attend the same CrossFit class. Note: Coffee date was scheduled days prior to the Christmas Party; don't take any credit here Misner-Wardwell household.
February 2022: "I love you" is mutually exchanged on the sofa while watching TV at CB2's house.
Note: Lots of other things happened during this time period, probably.
*haphazardly waves hands in the air*
October 2022: We buy a home together. Normal progression.
July 2023: We get engaged in Blue Ridge, Georgia. Specifically, standing in cool waters of Stanley Creek, nestled just below his family's long-time mountain home. Unbeknownst to CB2 (who did the asking, for the record), CB1 had driven to Atlanta and purchased a ring just days prior. CB1 said yes, keeled over laughing at the irony of the situation, and we proceeded up to the house to grab the other ring. Special shoutout to Dr. Jordan November, who successfully helped us each pick out rings, plan our respective engagement intentions, and kept her f***ing mouth shut.
September 24, 2023: CB2 writes this story at a coffee shop while CB1 sits across from him looking at wedding tents and planning what time fake fire extinguishers filled with cinnamon whiskey will be distributed throughout the dance floor to our guests.
Looking ahead to October 5, 2024: We celebrate with you, oh, loved ones, at the classiest, chillest, coolest, non-boring wedding you'll ever attend before undoubtedly getting a Beef 'n' Cheddar from Arby's on the way back to your room at the Ramada and accidentally falling asleep with your fake eyelashes on again... and for that, we love you.