If you’re looking for a short and sweet story about a couple who met at a bar and started dating, this isn’t it. These two have had a very long story that they wouldn’t trade for anything. They’re so excited to share that story with you all as they enter into their next chapter together. So settle in and maybe grab a snack as we look back on a thirteen year journey.

Michael and Liz met their freshman year at Colorado State University. Liz had joined a sorority on campus, Michael had joined a fraternity, and one night they found themselves at the same house party.

To say the least, their first encounter did not go well. Michael was a cocky young frat boy, and Liz was a firecracker with a short fuse. It was not a good combination, and the two definitely had some choice words for one another.

Following this unpleasant incident, all of their friends insisted that it was a misunderstanding and that the two of them had a lot in common. Among the many things Mike and Liz have in common, being stubborn is at the top of the list. So for weeks, the two vehemently resisted a potential friendship. Until one night when they were forced together in a dorm hall common room to watch a movie with some mutual friends. When trying to choose said movie, Michael and Liz discovered a shared love of the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise which led to the discovery that they were two of the most Disney obsessed people on the planet. Apparently, that was all it took because after that, they became the best of friends.

Michael and Liz hung out as often as possible for the rest of their freshman year. Although this would be a much shorter story if the two got together then, Michael made the brave choice to join the U.S. Navy in 2011 and left for basic training in 2012.

Once his training was completed, Michael was stationed in Oklahoma City, OK. The two stayed close friends and made sure to see each other whenever Michael came back to visit.

Liz graduated from CSU in 2014 and began working in Fort Collins, CO. Michael and Liz both went about their lives but always stayed close. Like I said, this is a long love story, folks.

In 2016, Michael was reassigned to a base in Naples, Italy. I know, poor guy, but he soldiered on. But even oceans between them was not enough to break the connection between these two. In 2017, they met up for a reunion in Barcelona, Spain.

I’m sure you’re all wondering when we finally get to the good part, and that came in 2018 when Liz went to visit Mike in Italy. They had a wonderful trip together visiting Malta and cities along the Amalfi Coast. And at this point, in the beautiful Mediterranean scenery, sparks started to fly. Who could resist such a romantic back drop, right?

Michael and Liz shared their first kiss at a concert in Malta and were both pretty thrown by the seemingly sudden dynamic shift. They spent the rest of the trip holding hands, talking about deeper things than they ever had before, and seeing each other in a whole new light. But, like all great vacations, it had to come to an end.

The two talked about what came next for them and decided that with Michael staying in Italy for at least another year, the best thing was to go back to being just friends. I know, this thing’s a real emotional roller coaster.

But they stayed true to their word and remained the best of friends, even once they were no longer separated. In May of 2019, Michael was honorably discharged from the Navy and came home to Colorado. And one of the first things he and Liz did together was go to a wedding, but just as friends.

After that, the two pretty much had a standing weekly date night where they would watch movies, go to dinner, attend wine of the month clubs and drive everyone crazy insisting that they were just friends. But for all intents and purposes, they were just that. Friends.

For months, their friends and family would insist that there was something between the two, but they always said there was nothing more than a deep friendship.

All that finally changed in December of 2019 when Michael visited his family in Mexico for the holidays. One night, that may have involved a little tequila, Mike picked up his phone to message his friend Liz to tell her he was in love with her.

Liz was shocked but undeniably ecstatic. Once the tequila wore off, they agreed to sit down and talk when he returned three weeks later. Talk about a long three weeks.

When he came home the two had a lengthy conversation about what made the most sense, how it would affect their friendship, and every other logical aspect. Liz, who’s never been the most logical person, through her hands up and said something to the affect of “this is so stupid.” The language might have been a little more colorful, but hey, there could be kids reading this. In response to this, Michael sat in stoic silence for a few moments then turned to Liz and said “You’re right. Would you like to go on a date?”

In January of 2020, Michael showed up to Liz’s door nervous and holding a poinsettia because “a bouquet of flowers felt too intense” and took her on their first date to the Denver Art Museum.

That was almost four years ago, and so much has changed since then. The two have been each others biggest cheer leaders through some huge achievements. Michael has become a commercial pilot and finished his Bachelors in Aviation and Aerospace Science. Liz has found a career she’s passionate about in Human Resources with a Denver based non profit.

The couple has moved in together, adopted what they believe to be the world’s most difficult yet lovable puppy, and gotten engaged…which I suppose is why you’re here reading this novel.

They’ve both been so fortunate to find such love in one another’s families and have been lucky to see those families grow.

They’ve also been each others biggest support through some really tough times making it through the pandemic, family health scares, lay-offs and more.

They’ve fallen more and more in love every single day, but one thing still remains true. That they are now and always will be the very best of friends.