Our story began when we were both accepted to the occupational therapy doctorate program at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga. The first time I ever met Carly, our entire class was meeting at a restaurant for a meet-and-greet before class began. There happened to be a spare seat next to me at the table, and Carly just so happened to fill that seat (probably because of my good looks). She proceeded to drop her phone 10 times during dinner, to which I picked it up each time for her. I guess this was her idea of flirting, but it was a little over the top if you ask me. Later on that semester, we found ourselves in the same study group, in which we were spending countless hours and late nights at school. I began to like her more and more as the semester went on and people began to take notice… but not Carly. At the end of the semester, a few of our friends decided to unwind with a trip to Blue Ridge, GA. Throughout the weekend, I found myself starting to believe that she actually liked me too, so I decided to take my shot at the end of the weekend… over text (like any brave young man). She proceeded to tell me that it would be a terrible idea for us to start dating, as she did not want to ruin our friendship. So I ended up where no man ever wants to end up… the friend zone. A couple months later, our OT class had their annual formal. It was at this formal that wheels began to turn. One of our good friends and hype squad member Taryn Anderson decided to meddle in our “relationship.” Taryn got both sides of our story that night and essentially set up our first date the following weekend and the rest is history.

Two years ago I just so happened to sit next to Ryan at our first class dinner (and yes, I dropped my phone a few times...I wasn't flirting, it was due to the wine night). We became fast friends and suddenly I found myself watching way more football... and basketball...and baseball than ever before. And Ryan was suddenly interested in studying. So, we both should've known something was up, but I was in denial and just excited to have found such a great "friend" so quickly in a new city. Our friends would make not-so-subtle comments about how we should date, but I just pleaded ignorance. I was determined not to jump right in to dating someone only months after moving, and I was even more determined not to date someone in the same program. So, yes at some point the words "terrible idea" might have been spoken because I was afraid. And I might have broken his heart and ignored him for an entire Christmas break. BUT what he didn't know is that it was during that time, I realized just how much I missed him. When I was asked by my sweet friends (Taryn & Caroline). "why won't you just go on one date with him and see?", I confidently replied "because if I do, I'll want to marry him". But what I didn't know is that I didn't need a date, because I already knew that he was the kindest, most sincere, selfless person who could get me to laugh like never before. So, after Christmas break, Taryn set us up. I thought we were just watching sports, like always, but he showed up all dressed-up and took me to dinner. Meanwhile, I was in leggings and no make-up and all I could think about was how I was going to sneak the check from him so that this didn't have to count as our first date. He won in the battle for the check that night but naturally we had to have a re-do first date the next weekend so I could look presentable. And 2 years of dates later, he asked me to marry him, so I guess it wasn't all that terrible of an idea.