Our story started like any other classic love story. We went to the same college together and one thing led to another, right? WRONG.

I hadn't really talked to Erika much but we had a couple of classes together. I was quiet in class. Just there to do my work and go home. Erika was kind of the outgoing one in class, shocker. She just kept quoting shows that I had watched like "Parks and Rec" and "It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia." So, I was intrigued and wanted to get to know her more since she obviously had a great sense of humor. This is where the first mistake on my part happened.

I had never put two and two together, but at the time I was working my last few months at a restaurant. One of my co-workers at the time was Jordan Williams (Erika's brother) and I had known Jordan since he was a kid just running around at Jackie Cooper Gym all the time. I randomly asked him one day if he had a sister and he told me yes and that her name is Erika. I was like, "Oh does she go to UCO? Because I think she's in some of my classes." To which he confirmed it was her. So, I was thinking, "Wow, I can get some common ground with her." I was not thinking anything romantic by trying to get to know her, but I didn't know anyone at UCO and she seemed like the person I would have the most in common with.

Fast forward to the next time I see her in class. After class I approached her, thinking that I could finally get a friend in some of my classes. WRONG. I walked up and said "Hey, Erika. Are you Jordan Williams' sister?" Little did I know that was the worst thing in the world I could say to her. She just replied, "Yeah" with the most icy cold look on her face. I thought I had just created an enemy for life with one simple, innocent question.

We had common ground and we were cordial to one another for the rest of our time at UCO, but that moment always stuck with us like the world's largest elephant in the tiniest room possible. Truthfully, we were cool for the rest of our time at UCO even though I thought she hated my guts. Then, we graduated and went our separate ways.

COVID (yeah, that thing) happens and you really found out a lot about people during that time. It was a time for reflection and binge-watching any shows you had been putting off.

Erika and I still followed each other on social media, and we would frequently like each other's posts on Twitter, usually some sort of apathetic joke. I decided one day to DM her on Twitter and just catch up with her. We really aligned on all aspects of life and, frankly, she was just hilarious.

We kept messaging back and forth and the more we kept talking, the more I just felt like I needed to give things a shot with her. I'd never met anyone like her. I had never had conversations flow so well and go so in depth about life like I had with her.

Now, here we are getting married. I'm glad I followed my gut that was telling me to give this a shot because I hadn't felt that way before. I have the ultimate trust in her and she makes me feel safe and comfortable. I enjoy being her arm candy when she has a big award show or banquet. I'm just the luckiest person because I found someone like her.