We’re getting married!

While I was working a late shift at Denny’s in Manhattan, Kansas, Hunter came in with a group of friends. I kept working, but as I passed we kept looking at eachother. So finally, I started my conversation by asking for boy advice. I asked Hunter to scoot over so I could sit by him and on my note pad from my server book, he drew me a whale named Gary, I do still have that picture. Before I ended my shift I stopped by their table one more time and gave them my snapchat. Hoping Hunter would text me first. Acouple days after their friend group and a friend of mine and myself all went back to Denny’s for a dinner date to get to know eachother, Hunter sat by me again and I couldnt stop giggling all night. I told my friend next to me that Hunter was so cute and that I had a crush. We all left that night laughing and as I went home I couldnt stop thinking him. After a week or so, He finally texted me and made small talk, after confessing that I thought he was cute, He asked me out on a date. I couldnt refuse.. Our first date was no other then, you guessed … Denny’s. My comfort place. He was so nice and made sure I was having a good time. We ended the night by sitting in the parking lot talking about what we have in common. And soon after he asked me to be his girlfriend.

November 1, 2021. I had just gotten out of class and I was on the phone with my mom. She asked, "Are you nervous?". Of course I was a little anxious and jittery, but I was definitely not nervous. I wasn't nervous because I KNEW that this was the girl I wanted in my life forever. It felt so right and normal that I knew I wouldn't have anything to worry about. I got home from class and she could tell I was getting antsy. I was pacing and talking about random things and my hands were getting pretty sweaty. I swiped the ring from its hiding place while she was doing her hair and hid it in my pocket. She looked stunning (but also, when doesn't she?) and we were on our way. She had always dreamed of getting engaged at the gardens here in Manhattan. I set up a little trip to go and "look for bugs" for my insect report that was due weeks away. It was 40° and she looked at me like I was crazy but she went with it anyways. My friends Nick and Nick (and Nick's girlfriend) were planted to be my secret photographers and follow us around to snag a photo of the moment. We wandered through the rose garden looking for bugs (there were absolutely no bugs). "I feel like I'm a little person, like Alice in Wonderland and this garden is so giant compared to me". Scroll for part 2!

Brittney will tell you that's the last thing she remembers, but I remember everything like yesterday. As soon as my secret photographers wandered close enough to us, I led her to the fountain that I THOUGHT was the one she liked. Years from now she's still going to make fun of me but I think it still turned out pretty good. There was a hawk on top of the fountain and I half-pretended to go and look at it so that she would follow me. She was a little scared of it though so I had to scare it away before she would come stand with me. I asked her if I could hold her hands and she kinda looked at me weird, but she gave in eventually. Finally, it was time. It's what I had been waiting for since I bought the ring in July since I had seen her last. I wanted to give a cute speech beforehand but I was too excited and cut it short. I looked at my girlfriend one last time, got on a knee, and stood up to hug my fiancée. She didn't even care about the ring at first and just jumped on me, all of her nicely curled hair going into my nose and mouth. But I didn't care. We did it. We made it through almost 2 years of long distance dating and I couldn't be happier. Brittney Renae Bruenning is gonna be my wife and I thank God for her every day.