It was one of those nights when Cristian almost didn’t go out. After spending the day at a Yankee game, he was completely wiped out. But his friend Brittany, ever the social butterfly, convinced him to join a going-away party for one of the coaches at their gym. He figured it would be a quick stop before heading back to bed—but fate had other plans.

When he arrived, he headed straight to the bar to meet Brittany, who was sitting with her friends, Hannah and Caroline. And that’s when he first saw Hannah. Hannah sat there with a quiet confidence, but it was her earrings that caught his attention. There was something about them that immediately pulled him in. “I love your evil eye earrings,” he said, introducing himself with a smile. Hannah looked up and smiled back, her eyes lighting up as she thanked him.

Feeling a bit bold, he decided to buy everyone a round of tequila shots. He turned to Hannah and asked if she wanted one, but Hannah declined, saying she was driving. No big deal—he figured he could at least get Hannah to laugh. Brittany and Caroline, who already knew her, asked what she thought of him, and when Hannah said he was cute, she couldn’t help but smile, knowing that the feeling was mutual, even if it was just a spark at that point.

The night quickly took on a life of its own. Brittany, sensing the chemistry between them, called him over to the dance floor. Before he knew it, he was dancing with Hannah—laughing and just feeling... drawn to her in a way he couldn’t quite explain. Then there was that moment—one of those rare, almost magical moments—when everything seemed to slow down, and he just knew he had to kiss her. It wasn’t a thought, it was an instinct. And when he leaned in, Hannah didn’t pull away; instead, she kissed him back, with the same intensity, as if she’d been waiting for it, too.

What happened next felt like a blur. Suddenly, they were kissing in the middle of the dance floor, completely unaware of anyone else around them. Realizing where they were, they stepped outside for a quieter moment, still wrapped up in the energy of the night. There, they continued kissing, but this time, they began talking. Sharing stories, laughing, teasing each other. He joked around, doing his corny "salt bae" routine, telling her he is going to add some spice into her life and Hannah laughed. Her laughter was warm and genuine, making him feel like she’d known him far longer than just a few hours.

Even though he was a little tipsy, he could feel how easy it was to be around Hannah, how effortless it was to connect. Hannah stuck around, even though he was joking and playfully asking her to come home, knowing full well that his flirtatious persistence probably wasn’t making the best impression. But Hannah kept laughing, and that’s when she realized—she didn’t want the night to end.

After that unforgettable night, he couldn’t stop thinking about Hannah. Even though they’d only known each other for a few hours, it felt like he had met someone truly special. He had to wait a week for Hannah to get back from her trip to Florida, but during that time, she was the first thing he thought of when he woke up and the last thought before falling asleep. He couldn’t shake the feeling that he had found someone who was meant to be in his life.

When the day finally came for their first date, he was determined to make it memorable. He didn’t hesitate—he knew exactly where he wanted to take her. He surprised Hannah by bringing her to breakfast at his sister’s restaurant, a place that felt personal and close to his heart. He was nervous, of course, but when he saw Hannah’s smile, he knew he had made the right choice.

After breakfast, they played mini-golf, and as they drove, he put on some country music—Hannah’s favorite—and it felt so natural, so easy. They laughed and joked around, feeling like they were in their own little world. As the day went on, the music seemed to play the perfect soundtrack to their growing connection. Towards the end of the date, love songs started playing on the radio, almost as if the universe was trying to tell them something. The last song that came on was *Next Thing You Know*, and it felt like a sign—like fate was giving them a little nudge, reminding them that something real was unfolding.

From that moment on, that song became a staple in their relationship—a little reminder of how everything seemed to fall into place so perfectly, so effortlessly.