The joke goes, "a man stumbles into a bar," and that's exactly what happened. Christopher, dressed in one of his best first-date outfits, falls down the stairs to The West End Lounge on July 8, 2015. Cory, waiting for this date with a guy he'd been introduced to on Tinder several months prior, watches as this man falls head over heels in his white summer pants and Zara shirt. I bet you're wondering why Christopher’s outfit mattered. Well, cut to three hours before he fell down the stairs, you'd find a frantic man, trying on every piece of clothing he owns in preparation for this much-anticipated date with a man he's been so captivated by via dating app. Cory was stunning, smart and a charming flirt, so Christopher was determined to look like someone fresh off the runway, just in case, he forgot how to speak after looking into Cory's green eyes. So, back to the date. Cory, being ever the gentleman makes a charming remark about how Christopher fell for him, asks to buy him a drink, and so begins a 4 hours long conversation. Flirting and debating, opening up and diving in, getting lost in intrigue with the man who would someday become the love of his life. As the night winds down on this romantic summers night in an Upper Westside bar, neither Cory or Christopher can seem to find the courage to end the date. Finally, they leave the bar expecting the romance to end. Just as Christopher begins to walk away, the sky opens up and a torrential downpour begins. Cory calls to Christopher, seeing that he doesn't have an umbrella and that his effortful first date lewk is getting wet. As they stand, cuddled under the petite umbrella on this warm New York summer's night, Christopher, in a shocking twist, makes a move. Shocking because he's been a nervous wreck since he stumbled down the stairs. He leans in to kiss the man of his dreams, to end a perfect picturesque date. On the corner of 107th & West End, their story began.

Chapter 1: "The Plot Twist" On August 5, 2018, Christopher woke up and started getting ready for the closing night performance of "A Bronx Tale," the show that was his Broadway Debut. As he put on a somewhat casual outfit, Cory suggested he get dressed up to celebrate the last performance. Thinking nothing of it, Christopher puts on a "lewk" and left for the theatre. Cut to the end of the show, the cast was taking a final photo onstage. People started casually suggesting to Christopher to head to the closing night party. As he exited the stage door, he immediately sees his group of close friends. Assuming they gathered outside to say congratulations on his closing night, he began to walk towards them. That was until he felt a tug on his belt loop. Confused, Christopher turned around and... *PLOT TWIST* ...sees Cory on one knee, and he bursts into tears. This doesn’t make sense; Cory is way too reserved for public displays of affection, especially in front of hundreds of strangers outside a crowded Broadway theater. How can this be? Chapter 2: "Payback" It was December 10, 2018; Cory had an incredibly long day at work and, only naturally, wanted to go out for drinks. Christopher obliged and asked if he wanted to go to the West End Lounge, the same place they had their first date together. With it being a Monday, the bar was somewhat devoid of the usual crowds and social types, something Cory appreciated. He said hi to his favorite bartender, Megan; Christopher ordered Jack and Gingers, their typical well drink of choice, and they sat down at the same table they had sat at on their first date. At this point, a normal, lucid person would have become suspicious of the romantic foreshadowing but Cory, in his mentally exhausted state, was ignorant of what was to come; as Christopher, in his most sentimental of moments, secretly asked Megan to play their song, "Simply the Best," over the speakers, got down on one knee and asked 'Cory J,' "will you marry me?"