It all started back in 2016 at a little bar called The Break. We know, it sounds so cliche. I was there with my mom, having a casual drink, as we often did at our favorite place with our good friend, Nate. Low and behold, Skittles walks in. This guy walks in with the nicest smile I had ever seen and the confidence to match. That’s the thing about life. When something as strong as that connection happens, you don’t just ignore it. I had always known I wanted to see him again. Little did I know, he left his number on a wrapper, or something. I actually never found it. He coerced my MOM into giving him my snapchat username, because she wouldn’t give him my number. Haha As weeks pass “Skittles” and I would message back and forth with some friendly banter. In that time, he revealed that his name was actually Skooter and not Skittles. I liked Skittles better. Skooter then told me it’s just a nickname and I could call him Ted if I’d preferred. He was Teddy to me. This was obviously football season and if you know Teddy and I, we are die hards! So, we attended our first Oktoberfest, followed by our first Utes game. It was against USC. 27-31 Utes. It was a night that went down in history. Not only did our team pull it out in the last seconds of the game, but I was having the BEST time of my life! Is this what happiness is? Is this what it’s like to love someone and love doing life with that person? It was raining. We were soaked. As we walked back to the car, we were cheering and high fiving anyone that would. When we got to the car, the traffic was insane. In true Teddy & Aeriqa form, we turned up the tunes, rolled down the windows and belted songs like we were center stage. Months later he would tell me, that’s when he knew he loved me. I was mid-song to Lady Gaga’s “Perfect Illusion”. Wet hair, tone deaf, and off key. Pointing and singing along with people as we drove by. Feeling absolutely no care in the world. I also knew, I loved him.