We're so happy you're here

Our paths first crossed when we started working together in the summer of 2018. Chelsea had already been with the company for a few years and I was a new hire. As fate would have it, my cubicle was diagonally across from Chelsea’s and we got to know each other very quickly. After gaining enough courage I made my first move. I’ll never forget it - it was October 10th, and Chelsea was preparing to give a presentation in front of all her bosses. At the time I had no idea she was breaking out in full body hives. On her way to the conference room, completely oblivious to her situation I stopped her to say “Today is 10/10, and you look like a ten out of ten” with a silly grin on my face. I admittedly had been waiting all morning to drop that line. Chelsea thinks that was the moment something “sparked” between us; but I knew she was the woman I’d marry the moment I laid eyes on her. As time went by, our friendship started to grow. I taught her everything I could about football and she shared her love for music. We watched games together on weekends; and I'd emphasize how important an allegiance to a team is. Regardless of their decades long playoff losing streak. She would send me songs of artists she had discovered and specially curated playlists. By the summer of 2019 we had begun seeing each other outside of work. As the occasional hangouts for IPA’s and soft Pretzels became more frequent it became clear that there was a spark between us. We started carpooling and would rush to our favorite bar Sunshine after work to take advantage of a happy hour that ended precisely at 6:07pm. Thing’s moved slowly that summer while we both navigated difficult life transitions, but our friendship never waivered. When Chelsea moved into a windowless 10x10 room in a house full of strangers - I was there to help. When I visited family in Singapore she took care of a kitten I had unofficially adopted only weeks prior. Our relationship was still in a very early stage but I was convinced that I had found my soulmate. Chelsea wasn’t ready to make the leap into an official relationship yet and in hindsight neither was I. I’d tell myself that she simply hadn't realized it yet, but that she soon would. If it’s meant to be it’ll be, and as we spent more time together we shared a few moments that confirmed how I felt. The first moment came later that year during a concert in October. According to Chelsea “she forgot she had tickets to see Ra Ra Riot '' at the Belly Up Tavern in Solana Beach but I’m certain that was her way of asking me out on our first official date. Either way I couldn’t have been happier to go. There was a different energy between us that night as we laughed, danced, and drank. During all of this a woman who was sitting next to us walked over and said she hopes her son could be as happy in a relationship as we were that night. Albeit a clear sign from the universe, Chelsea still wasn't ready. A few months later for my birthday, Chelsea surprised me with an impromptu San Francisco trip which included matching Sunshine tattoos. Chelsea still insisted it was just as friends but we both knew something special was happening. After getting our tattoos we went to a highly recommended bar called Zeitgeist where we’d finally have our “moment”. Due to a miscalculation on my part we decided to walk and what I thought was a 15 minute walk became a three mile trek through the blistering winds of San Francisco; with frequent stops at dive bars and even a chocolatier. When we finally got there Chelsea got us beers, and I ordered the burgers. As we sat at a wooden picnic table in the patio waiting for our burgers, listening to a live band, and sipping our beers Chelsea broke the silence with a question…”Are we in love?”. I smiled and told her I’d been in love with her since we met and asked how she felt. She smiled, gave me a small nod, and took a sip of her beer. Nothing else had to be said, we were in love and we both knew it.