Jimmy and I met through mutual firefighter friends. Our friend groups overlapped, so we ended up spending a lot of time together—just hanging out for years, all of us. One random day, while I was sitting in the hair salon, Jimmy texted me out of the blue and asked if I wanted to take a trip down to the Keys for a few days. Of course, knowing I’m always down for an adventure, I said absolutely. I booked the hotel room—two beds, thank you very much—finished up at the salon, raced back to my condo to pack, and headed out to what would become a foreshadowing of our future life together. We jumped into the Jeep and drove south to Key West, making all the classic stops: hole-in-the-wall bars, roadside eats, dive spots. We blasted music—either songs we both already loved or ones we introduced to each other—and, naturally, shared the same obsession with road snacks. By the end of that first night (and after one truly terrible wingman moment), we were having the time of our lives with zero responsibilities and nowhere to be but in the moment. We ended up at a dive bar right across from the hotel, and when the DJ played “Tequila” by The Champs, I channeled my inner Pee-wee Herman and danced on the bar. Let’s just say…we were very comfortable with each other. So comfortable, in fact, that Jimmy went in for a kiss—and I hit him with the stiff arm. “We’re just friends,” I said. The next day, we headed back north, stopping for key deer sightings, more dive bars, and enough fried food to make any Southern heart happy. But something had shifted. The energy between us was different. By the time we made it back home, Jimmy convinced me to make one final stop at our local Cooper City watering hole—Cagney’s. And that’s where it happened. That’s the night Jimmy finally made it out of the friend zone. My heart was doing these weird little flutters…for the friend who suddenly felt like something more. Here’s how it all unfolded: • First kiss: 7/14/18 • Officially together: 8/10/18 • Said “I love you”: 8/25/18 • Welcomed our baby girl: 9/10/20 • Welcomed our baby boy: 6/9/22 • Said YES: 7/14/25 Our story is completely organic and beautifully unexpected. What started as friendship turned into the greatest love story of my life. I’m so thankful to have someone who was first my friend, then my partner in crime, and now the love of my life—and the best dad to our two beautiful babies.