Picture this: it’s a Friday night, and I’m on the phone with one of my friends, doing what we all do best—complaining. “Why is it so hard to meet someone naturally these days?” I whined. You know, like the rom-com moments where someone spills coffee on you at a cute café, and boom—you’re soulmates. But nope, here I was, single, tired, and wondering if my soulmate was stuck in traffic somewhere.

That same night, I got a ping on my Hinge app. Yes, yes, I know—dating apps. But hey, they work sometimes! Little did I know, this wasn’t just another random swipe. This was Jeremy, my future husband, sliding into my life with a message that would change everything.

Jeremy asked to call me, which was sweet. After a rough day balancing work and school, I thought, “Sure, why not? A quick call can’t hurt.” But then my phone lit up—not with a call but a FaceTime. A FACE. TIME.

Cue the panic: my hair was undone, my eyes were puffy, and I looked like I had just crawled out of a tornado. Naturally, I did what any sane person would do—I ignored the call. But Jeremy wasn’t giving up that easily. He tried again, and I finally thought, Fine, if he can’t handle this level of hot mess, that’s on him.

Turns out, I didn’t need to worry. We ended up chatting the night away, and for the first time, talking to someone felt... effortless. I laughed more than I had in weeks, and suddenly, that tornado look didn’t seem to matter anymore.

When we finally met in person, Jeremy walked up to me in the parking lot holding flowers. Sweet, right? But let me tell you, he was also the cutest ball of nerves I’d ever seen.

We headed to an arcade, where I proceeded to absolutely destroy him at almost every game we played. Skeeball? Check. Basketball? Easy win. But then came air hockey. Jeremy somehow managed to channel his inner champion, and I begrudgingly gave him that one win. (He still won’t let me live it down, by the way.)

Afterward, we grabbed some food and talked about everything and nothing. When it was time to go, neither of us wanted the day to end. Jeremy finally blurted out, “Do you maybe want to hang out longer?” And, well, how could I say no to that? We ended up spending the entire day together, laughing, sharing stories, and realizing that this thing between us was... something special.

After that first date, we were practically inseparable. It didn’t take long for me to know that Jeremy was the one. Of course, I couldn’t just tell him that right away—I had to play it cool. But here we are, planning a wedding and proving that sometimes, swiping right really does lead to a happily ever after.

Since then, we’ve built an incredible life together. We’ve purchased our first home, brought home our first puppy (and, because we clearly enjoy chaos, a second puppy—maybe not our most brilliant decision, but they’re cute, so it works). We’ve also upgraded to a new car, taken family vacations, celebrated weddings, and made so many amazing memories along the way.

But the real milestone? Ray approves. I know—can you believe it?

It was a night that seemed like any other. I had just gotten home after refereeing a high school football game, ready to kick back and relax. Then I saw it—a notification from Hinge. A message from a beautiful girl named Destini. I blinked for a second, trying to place her, then realized: Oh yeah, I messaged her two weeks ago.

We started chatting, and it didn’t take long for me to realize she wasn’t just another pretty face. The conversation flowed effortlessly, and I knew I had to keep it going. I played it cool and said, “Can I text you? I don’t use this app much.” To my relief, she responded quickly, and we swapped numbers.

Not wanting to lose momentum, I asked, “Can I call you?” She agreed—but I decided to go big. Instead of a call, I FaceTimed her. (Because why not, right?) Well, that move was bold, but it paid off. After some initial hesitation on her part, we ended up talking for two hours straight. By the end of the call, I asked her on a date, and she said yes. Victory!

The next morning, I couldn’t stop thinking about her. I even called to make sure she was awake (don’t judge me; I was excited). We made plans to meet at Stars and Strikes around noon.

When she stepped out of her car, I swear the world stopped for a moment. She was stunning—way out of my league—and I was instantly nervous. I tried to play it cool, though I’m pretty sure my nerves were obvious.

Now, if you ask Destini, she’ll tell you she wiped the floor with me at almost every game. But let me set the record straight—I let her win. (Okay, maybe not basketball, where she absolutely dominated, but I was distracted by how gorgeous she looked. That’s my excuse, and I’m sticking to it.) Air hockey, however? That was all me. A guy’s got to hold onto his dignity somewhere, right?

Between the games, the trash talk, and the laughter, it felt like we’d known each other forever. Nothing about the date felt forced—it was just easy, fun, and perfect in all the ways you hope a first date will be.

After the games, we grabbed lunch and kept talking. When it was time to leave, I couldn’t do it. I didn’t want the day to end. So, like a desperate man with no backup plan, I asked, “Do you want to meet some of my friends?”

To my surprise, she said yes. We hung out with Josh and Jennifer for a bit and then ended the day at Casa Grande for dinner. By the time I dropped her off, I knew I was in trouble—the good kind.

That day, I knew my life would never be the same. Meeting Destini was like finding the missing piece of my heart.

Today, I’m standing here, marrying not just the most beautiful woman I’ve ever met, but also my best friend, my soulmate, and the love of my life.

Destini, thank you for changing my life forever. I can’t wait to spend the rest of my days loving you.