I Arisbeth Manzo a recent college graduate was optimistic I could get this job in financial aid. Fake it till you make it right? I listened to Isiah Rashad’s ‘Modest’ on the way, fought through traffic, got lost in a parking garage, gave myself a pep talk and made it on time, barely. I sat in the lobby for what felt like ages before Daniel Gonzales trots in, super casual like in a blue suit and tie and walks me back to the conference room where our now close friend Napoleon Andrews sat. Immediately after I called my best friends and the first thing I said was,“they’re so handsome, I bet they have hot friends.” Subtle. I know. I didn’t get that job but I like to think Daniel created this OTHER job I did get. I spent pretty much the next year trying to figure out who was hogging the black chai teas from the office lounge. Ahem. Opportunities came up (or they were created I’ve been told)for Daniel and I to see each other outside of work. We taught a fourth grade class together, conspired with the cool kids to meet in Scottsdale, hilariously I got asked if I like brunch, and we also got let go together. In what should have felt like a devastating blow, I found myself in a dingy bar with dear friends at 9:00AM on a Monday, feeling happy. Someone called Daniel and mentioned he was turning around to meet us. Instant butterflies. To keep the party going in a way only Daniel can, we had our first of many pool parties at his house, now our home. Fun fact, our first date was a pool party shout out Skrillex at Talking Stick. Now here we are. I like to think we’re partners in all things. We do our best to listen, to understand, and to be ourselves. We try to do this for others and we hope our wedding conveys just that. All I know is there’s an image of Daniel in my head when we taught that fourth grade class. Daniel is grinning at me from a tiny desk across the room where I’d left him a little note on some kid's piece of paper. I wanted that smile for forever and I got it.