Haley and I first met on the dating app, Hinge, in early 2018 where we talked for a few weeks and I worked my charm, hoping to meet her in person. This included serenading her with a rendition of "Under the Sea" from The Little Mermaid on my guitar. That must have done it because she agreed to meet me at iTap in Chesterfield for some drinks.

The first date was... interesting. I tried to drive the conversation but she seemed a bit harder to talk to in person than on the app. I was worried she wasn't interested. She let me know that she was about to leave on a trip to Europe and wasn't looking for anything serious. That didn't matter to me though, I didn't blame her. I just wanted to hang out and get to know her more; she was beautiful. After some conversation and learning a bit more, I reluctantly agreed to get Imo's pizza with her even though I don't like thin crust pizza; a first of many compromises. Even after sacrificing my taste buds, and learning that she was going to Europe in a few weeks, I let her know that I enjoyed my time and would love to meet up with her again before she left for her trip. I later found out that she agreed in order to avoid an awkward situation and and planned to bail on another date.

However, over the next few weeks, I talked with her almost every day, did end up going to a dog park with her and a pup from Gateway Pet Guardians, and started a long lasting trend of playing Mario Kart with her during a date at Dave and Busters. She said that she remembers feeling comfortable with me during that date at Dave and Busters because I was my unapologetic, authentic self, and knew that she could be goofy around me. Then, the hard part came. I was really starting to like her, and yet she was going on a trip to Europe. Thankfully, though, I still talked with her throughout her trip, so I was convinced she was still into me.

Fast forward to her return to the States and a Blueberry Hill date where I first found out that Haley sucks at darts... I awkwardly uttered the phrase, "so are we, like, together?", which I still get made fun of for, but totally worth it because she confirmed how I hoped she felt.

Over the past 6 years, I have gotten to know Haley's family and friends who have welcomed me from the start. We have gone through a pandemic together, career changes, living in a 10 by 10 room, and now loving life in our South City apartment where we've been for the last 4 years. I have convinced her to wake up early to watch soccer with me, got her into golfing, got her to like some video games, and will some day get her to watch the entire Lord of the Rings trilogy. I cannot wait to experience the rest of life with her!

Corey and I matched on the dating app, Hinge, in February of 2018. At this point in my life, I was a month or two away from going on a solo trip to Europe. Something I was equally terrified and excited to do. Although I wanted to be in a relationship, I realized that starting to date someone right before my month excursion would not be the best timing. However, after texting for a few weeks, we decide to meet up for drinks at iTap.

I don't remember what we talked about (although Corey likes to talk about how it was awkward). I do remember getting ready to leave and expecting not to see him again. It wasn't a bad date. It wasn't a great date. And, I was ready to go on my independent-woman solo trip. As we hugged goodbye, he asked me on a second date. I told him about my trip, and how I would be leaving soon, and that I was getting my tonsils out the following week and would be homebound for a while (all true). He said we could meet up after. I agreed to save face but the timing seemed not on par with my plans. Not the most romantic start, but it didn't take long before things changed.

After my surgery, I was stuck in bed in an unbelievable amount of pain. He texted me daily checking in and at one point offered to bring me ice cream. What?! A guy in his twenties offering to do something so thoughtful for someone he's been on one date with? If you know me, you know I love ice cream. But, not enough to have a guy who i've been on one date with see me in my un-showered, bed-ridden state. I declined but thanked him, and knew that at this point I couldn't just blow off a second date; I was starting to like him.

Toward the very end of my recovery, I was temporarily fostering a dog, at the same time as I was returning to work. I knew that I wanted to see him, but was pretty tied up. I made the offer for him to meet me at the dog park at around 9:00am on a Saturday morning before heading to my job. Something that I now know was a big deal for him to agree to (mornings are not his thing unless it involves watching Tottenham play). I remember calling my bridesmaid, Erin, on the phone on the way home. I believe my words were something along the lines of, "shit, I think I like him".

The next two weeks before going to Europe were full of food, laughs, and a drunken first kiss in the Harpo's parking lot while waiting for his sister, Mikaela, to drive us home. On my trip, we texted daily, and I called him, A LOT. I was hopeful that things would continue the way they were going when I returned in a month. Sure enough, he picked me up from the airport.

The following Saturday, May 19th, we went on a date. I don't quite remember what we did all day but I do know that we ended up at Blueberry Hill in The Loop, playing darts. That was when he looked at me and in the most equally awkward and romantic way, said the words, "so like, are we together?". And the rest is history!

After almost 6 years of sharing everything with each other, taking trips to the farmers market, the Botanical Gardens, going golfing (who would've thought he could get me into that?), and laughing, I can easily say that I answered his question right. I can't wait to see what is yet to come.