I love telling the story of how Alex and I met to pretty much anyone that shows even a minute interest (and even some people that don't!). It all started with a really terrible online date- with a different person. I had agreed to go out to dinner and then karaoke with someone I met on a dating app. Needless to say it did not go well. There were mishaps at every turn and just like a fairy tale princess when midnight came, I was alone at the bar. However, I didn't mind one bit. After shedding my ill-fated date- I decided to stick around and enjoy the night to myself. Anyone who knows me can confirm that I adore karaoke and even though the date didn't go as planned I was still going to sing "Separate Ways" by Journey at the top of my lungs and dance like no one was watching. Except someone was watching. Across the bar while I was enjoying my tipsy musical stylings to "Smooth" by Santana, Alex was bartending. He told me that he normally never approaches women while he works. However, he was so mesmerized by my confidence at being the only person dancing in a room full of strangers, that he had to come over and talk to me (and here I thought he was seduced my drunken attempt at merengue). So three drinks in this handsome tall, dark-haired stranger wandered up to me, and he casually engaged me in conversation. My observational skills are clearly on point, even while inebriated, so I mentioned that I saw him behind the bar and inquired if he worked here. I will never forget the tomfoolery that happened next. He said: "No this is my bar" with a sheepish laugh. My response? I pulled out my business card and immediately entered into my sales pitch for custom screen-printed t-shirts (romantic I know). To my surprise Alex did actually want t-shirts for his bar. He took my business card and promptly responded- "May I have your actual number as well?" I of course agreed. What kind of fairy tale was this? Alone at the stroke of midnight- only for prince charming to ride up with promises of a future coffee date. The high of coming home from a failed date with a new date on the horizon could only be topped by the romance that followed. Alex used that business card to send me surprises to my office and he wasted no time proving that he was Husband material. Michelle had flown into town that week and we were determined to go party. Of course, we had to invite my new potential beau. Alex took us out on the town and it was magical. What wasn't magical was my very decidedly unsexy migraine that came the next day as a result of my gluten allergy... I was miserable and our plans for fun were now ruined. I texted Alex to commiserate, but instead of leaving his new lady friend to languish on a Tuesday afternoon, he rode to my rescue once again. An hour later he arrived at the threshold of my "Den of Depression" with medicine in hand. He bravely entered my sick cave and helped me until I was finally able to fall asleep. I fully expected him to leave to go about his business after I had passed out, but I was wrong. When I woke up five hours later, he was still there smiling at me. It was at that moment that I knew that I had found someone special. Someone to watch over me.