The Sunday of Labor Day weekend in 2016, I met up with Allie at a Royals game. I was waiting near a beer stand and watching the game when I turned to see her walking my way. I thought, “This girl is way out of my league, but here goes nothing!” I offered to buy her a beer and she shook her head saying, “No thanks.” Well, at least I tried! After talking for a bit, I gave her a hug and walked away thinking, “I’ll never see her again.” To my disbelief, Allie texted me before I got back into my seat. That talking kept up and progressed to going on our first date at Nick and Jakes that following Thursday. I remember picking her up and being incredibly nervous, more nervous than any date I had ever been on. We each got a salad, because I was afraid if she saw the way I maul a chicken wing or shred a rib bone, that would be the end of it. Worst salad I’ve ever had, however, Allie did order a drink! Progress! Our incredible two hour dinner date and conversation came to an end when I drove her home and offered to walk her to her door. She said no and gave me a side hug in the car. I thought yet again, “Well, you tried!” Following suit, she then immediately texted me saying how much fun she had and couldn’t wait to see me again. Boom! We hung out Friday and Saturday following our first date and things just took off from there. Two weeks after, I told her I loved her at the Plaza Art Fair followed with “Oh, will you be my girlfriend?” Luckily my feelings and question were reciprocated by her and the rest was history. We moved in together May of 2017, welcomed Cedar to our family in September, proposed in March of 2018, and bought a house in April. There’s not a day that goes by that I don’t think back of how everything happened and how incredibly grateful I am that Allie said no to a beer.