It all began in a little Raleigh neighborhood on a Sunday afternoon in July 2014. Luke had just finished some landscaping in his backyard and was hanging out on his back deck. Meanwhile, Melinda was walking around Luke’s neighborhood to follow-up on sales calls for AT&T U-Verse that her colleague didn’t close the prior day.

She wasn't having much luck with anyone answering their doors, so she decided to try one last, promising lead. That last sales call was to speak to Travis, Luke’s roommate, because he’d spoken to her colleague and showed interest but needed to speak with Luke before making a decision. So, wearing a powder blue, AT&T U-Verse polo and matching capris, she knocked on the white door of what appeared to be a tiny yellow house tucked in a corner by itself, hoping to meet her sales quota for the week.

After hearing a knock at the door, Luke answered questionably since he wasn't expecting any visitors. Melinda with a big, bright smile, introduced herself and explained that she was following up about AT&T. Travis wasn't home, but decided to continue her conversation with Luke, since he would determine the sale.

The conversation morphed from internet speeds and cable packages to being transplants of the Raleigh Area. Melinda had recently moved from New Orleans and talked about how she missed it, while Luke decided to share that he'd lived in New Orleans for a year as a Volunteer for Habitat for Humanity after Hurricane Katrina. This led to talking for almost an hour on Luke's porch, sharing stories about New Orleans and talking about live music.

During that time, Travis still hadn't returned home. Their first time together eventually came to an end and Melinda didn't get the sale. Instead, Luke had asked Melinda for her number so that he could call or text her when they were ready to sign up (but really, it was so he could ask her on a date and see her again).

Fun Fact: During Luke and Melinda's first date, Melinda showed Luke the location of where she lived the same year that Luke volunteered in New Orleans via Google Maps. They discovered that they were next door each other the entire time without ever meeting.