It was Patriots Day…the day of the annual Boston Marathon and Red Sox matinee game. More importantly, a day off of work and a reason to celebrate with friends on the long weekend. Erin met up with her co-workers to head into town for the events. One of Erin’s co-workers told the group that his friends were also going to the Sox game and were having a pre-game party, which they decided to attend. The group arrived at the house, and Erin remembered thinking to herself, “this looks like an up-scale fraternity house definitely inhabited by all guys.” One of whom greeted the group upon their arrival and introduced himself as Eddie. What Erin and Eddie did not know, was that their paths would cross again years later.

That point came four years later. The COVID pandemic struck and the ability to meet new people was at an all-time low. Eddie was hanging out at home with his two dogs, Lilly and Tuukka, and he decided to download a dating app on his phone. Meanwhile, two towns away, Erin was talking with her brother, Kevin, who urged Erin to download the same dating app as well. One evening, Eddie was laying on the couch swiping away on the app when he came across this girl who looks familiar. He read through her profile and figured it out, “I know this girl, she’s been to my house!” This girl, of course, was Erin. He discovered in her profile that they had a common interest in the show It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia. After 20 minutes of thinking of a “good line,” Eddie finally sent Erin a message. Simultaneously, Eddie texted his friend (and Erin’s co-worker) to put in a good word with “that girl” he brought to his house on Marathon Monday. Erin, not so enthusiastic about the dating app, received Eddie’s message and was mutually interested, but decided to play hard-to-get. She messaged Eddie back but then left him hanging with unanswered messages for long periods at a time. Just through the messages that he did receive, Eddie was already so happy that he knew he had to meet Erin in person. He finally mustered up the courage to ask her on a date, which to Eddie’s gratefulness, she accepted.

Their first date was at The Range Bar & Grille in Hingham. Eddie arrived exceedingly early out of nervousness and sat in his car texting with Erin until she arrived as well. The two walked in together and Eddie did not hesitate to order a beverage in order to provide him with the liquid courage needed to talk with his date that he felt was clearly out of his league. They swapped stories and the time seemed to pass so fast. Soon after the date ended and the two left the restaurant, Eddie texted Erin asking when he would get to see her again. Thinking back, he sent this text before even leaving the parking lot. Thankfully Erin felt the same way. The two talked via text basically non-stop and found ways to meet up on dates whenever they could. Then it was time for the biggest test that the relationship would face yet.

One summer afternoon, Erin headed to Eddie’s house in Rockland but decided to bring a friend. This friend was Leo, her 90-pound golden retriever. Leo had no idea what he was in for when he trotted into Eddie’s yard only to be greeted by Eddie’s two much smaller dogs, Lilly and Tuukka. The barking, butt-sniffing, stare-downs, and chasing continued on in a successful manner. Eddie and Erin didn’t really need any further encouragement regarding their feelings for each other, but the successful meeting between the dogs that day basically solidified the fact that the two felt they were truly meant to be together.

The dates between Erin and Eddie continued (as well as for their dogs). They were both so happy and wanted to be together as much as possible. During lunch one day, it came time to discuss their next milestone, Erin moving in with Eddie. One would anticipate a serious conversation with several rational points to be discussed. However, with these two, it was a no-brainer. With the new school year quickly approaching, Erin and her dog, Leo, became the newest residents of Rockland, joining Eddie and his dogs, Lilly and Tuukka. Just like that… Eddie no longer had closet space in his home to call his own.

Fast forward again, this time to July 17, 2021. Between their first date at The Range and this date in July, Eddie and Erin had celebrated many of their “firsts.” Their first holidays together, their first vacation, their first time meeting each other’s families, and more. With the busy summer winding down, Eddie took Erin to their favorite spot to relive one of their first dates. They packed up the Jeep and headed to Peggotty Beach in Scituate to sit on the sand side-by-side and watch the sunset. They were about to take a walk down the beach when this date turned into something much more meaningful. Eddie went back to grab something out of the pocket of the beach chair and then stared at Erin as he walked back to meet her for the walk. Erin was confused, to say the least. It was then that Eddie dropped to one knee and asked Erin to spend the rest of her life with him. Unlike on the dating app when they first started chatting, Erin decided not to play the “hard-to-get” card and immediately said YES!