Anyone that knows me (Emily), knows that I can't tell a story without background information, sidebars, swearing, and multiple tangents. I'll try my best to refrain, but no guarantees:

I started working at Potbelly in 2007 (gag) in Vernon Hills.

*insert 7 year fast-forward*

2014: I was sick of VH's crap and transferred the hell outta there.. to the wooonderful land of Deerfielddd.

My dear friend Scarlet worked there at the time and Deerfield had some of the highest catering sales in the company. What more could I want?

One morning, Scarlet was scheduled to work, but instead, in walks Justin. I didn't know this guy and couldn't believe he was covering my friend's shift, breathing my air, etc. Big offensive. Much outrage.

Turned out that he was funny and I liked him just fine. I accepted this man as my co-worker.

In his last semester of school, he had class in the morning, but could make it into work before 11am.... aka, when all my catering orders had to be out the door.

Naturally, I had to appoint him my sidekick/other delivery driver. Unbeknownst to me, he was also becoming my greatest supporter, my biggest comfort, my strongest motivation, my huge freakin' crush, and my best friend.

After school had ended and his schedule opened up, he started to actually open with me and we'd spend 3-4(-5) hours every weekday morning before we opened, talking and bonding and listening and sharing (and sleeping with our eyes open on those 5am days) while we worked. We were in constant communication into the afternoon, speeding around the North Shore delivering lunch to local offices and schools. Then we'd leave work and somehow we still never ran out of things to say. Like, never. I literally don't shut up. But he always kept listening. And replying.

😍

He eventually became the GM, I stayed in my positon (I'LL NEVER CHANGE), and we got to keep playing the roles of the Deerfield Potbelly Dynamic Duo.

Finally (and I mean FINALLY) in fall of 2019, we started dating and the rest is history!

I've always been somewhat of a pessimist and have sometimes felt like I've been dealt a bad hand, until this chapter of my life. I'd daydream of living in a fairytale, but never imagined I would actually find someone who could love me and understand me the way Justin does. I'm beyond blessed, and so grateful for this man.

And I can't wait to spend the rest of our lives together.