In the crazy summer of 2020 — yes, the “COVID summer” — the world was shut down, but fate clearly wasn’t. I had just been sent home from college during spring break and immediately went into Type A survival mode: I have to keep myself busy and make money. That’s how I ended up nannying for an amazing family in need of some extra help during the summer.

Enter Bradley. He also needed a summer job and started running outdoor basketball workouts for kids going stir-crazy at home. On my very first day, I was asked to bring out a check to “the basketball coach.” I walked outside, handed over the envelope... and locked eyes with the guy who would unknowingly change my life.

We saw each other once or twice a week that summer. He wasted no time trying to ask me out — but I definitely didn’t make it easy on him. Knowing he played amateur baseball for the Mount Vernon Mustangs, I told him he could take me on a date only if he hit a home run. (Seemed like solid odds in my favor ha!)

Naturally, he hit one early in the game — and texted me right away. I still have the picture he sent me before the game started that said, “Please God let me hit a homerun…” (Spoiler alert: God came through!!)

Two days later, Bradley picked me up for our first date — we got ice cream from Zesto and drove to Sandy Beach on Lake Mitchell. We talked for hours and learned everything about each other. Looking back, I think we both knew: life was never going to be the same again <3