"It was never easy for us..." until one night in early July 2022. After realizing that he had accidentally sent Anna the wrong phone number on Hinge just a few hours earlier (something he is normally REALLY good about), Patrick anxiously awaited her arrival in the lobby of Kingfisher in downtown Durham. Meanwhile, Anna nervously approached the building after parking across the street, concerned that for some reason, she had not heard from Patrick after sending him a text to let him know that she was on her way. Fortunately, the connection was made, and after Patrick profusely apologized, the two enjoyed an evening of cocktails, conversation, and board games together. They quickly bonded over a shared sense of humor (hence the quote for the 1979 classic "The Jerk" in the title of this story), values, and life experiences. Patrick was immediately charmed by Anna's wit, intelligence, beauty, and sense of style. Anna was floored by Patrick’s kindness, vulnerability, and good looks :) They felt a sense of both ease and excitement as they learned more about each other. After the date, the two texted each other good night, made plans for a second meetup, and exchanged several GIFs from the movie Anchorman. On their subsequent dates, they deepened their relationship over meals of Thai food, Linda's (RIP) legendary cheesy tots, and Sunrise biscuits. Smiles and laughs were exchanged, hands were held, and hopes and dreams for the future were shared. It was clear that this was something really special. One night, after a delicious meal of bibimbap and haemul-paejun, Anna asked Patrick a question: "So, are you my boyfriend now?" A year and a half later, Patrick proposed at The Carolina Inn in Chapel Hill, where they first said “I love you.” We are thrilled to soon share this next exciting step with you all at one of our favorite places!