We both met back in 2016 at the University of Missouri. We actually met because we both worked the same IT job back then. Ben had already been working there for a while and I had picked up the job as a summer job to make some extra cash.

We had met and talked during work around August of 2016, but we really started talking to each other in November. I had a crush on him, but totally thought it was one sided! We had hung out multiple times, but only when other people were around, so I had no idea if he liked me back or not.

One fateful day, Ben brought up how we should have a movie night at the movies! It would be fun and we could hang out before winter break. So we set up a day for just the two of us to go see Dr. Strange. It wasn’t a romantic movie at all, so I was thinking to myself…okay…this is probably just a friend outing!

But of course, I got dressed up anyway JUST IN CASE in turned out to be a date. I even put on perfume, which I never do!

And dear reader, my hunch was correct. Halfway through the movie, Ben grabbed my hand and apologized for his hand being sweaty. He was really nervous! And I’m pretty sure I was clinging to the popcorn bucket for dear life before that happened.

At one point, I think I escaped the room and said I needed to use the restroom (a lie! I usually have a bladder of steel) just to text all my friends that this was DEFINITELY a date!

After having a little scream fest in the bathroom, i went back to the movie like normal. And we decided that, once the movie was done, we didn’t want the night to be over quite yet. So we got tickets to see Moana too. :)

Everything after that, my friends, is history 💕