Deontey met Tamaria on his first day of Evening Gathering rehearsals, where he was assigned to sit a few rows back. Although he needed to pay attention to the conductor, his thoughts kept drifting to the beautiful woman in front of him. During a mid-practice break, they found themselves in line together for a snack. Tamaria was going for a cookie that she claims she didn’t need. As they stood there, she turned around and asked how he was doing with the songs, given that he was new and hadn’t had much practice. Deontey told her it was going well, but in reality, he was mainly focused on her. With his uncle standing next to him, they asked where she was from, but for some reason, she momentarily forgot. Deontey left rehearsal early that day, and Tamaria later expressed that she was kind of upset that he left because she wanted to talk him more. In truth, she was the only thing on his mind during his drive home. When they saw each other again, at another rehearsal, they finally mustered up the courage to talk. They sat down together and discussed work and their interests, marking the beginning of something beautiful—though they didn’t realize just how beautiful it would become. Tamaria thought maybe Deontey wasn’t into her, feeling at one point that he “hated her.” because at a later rehearsal she was trying to create opportunities for them to meet, while Deontey didn’t want to seem too pushy. In reality, he had been looking for her all evening because she stood out to him with her beauty. That same night, Tamaria caught up with Deontey outside and complimented one of his songs, asking why he hadn’t told her he could sing like that. He replied that he had been listening to her music as well, having taken it upon himself to find it because he really wanted to know her better. Later that evening, Deontey texted her as soon as she got home, saying, “I hope my favorite neighborhood pharmacy tech made it home safe.” She affectionately called him her “Black Man In Tech.” They finally set up their first “date,” where Tamaria and her friend were heading downtown to a rooftop—a place that would become a staple in their relationship. When Deontey arrived, he felt nervous, as it was their first time outside of rehearsal. They sat across from each other, still experiencing that nervous excitement, a feeling he wouldn’t trade for the world. After grabbing drinks and ice cream, they played “Would you rather,” though they didn’t pay much attention to the game. What Deontey vividly remembers is the moment Tamaria laid her head on his shoulder for the first time, and in that instant, he knew his life would never be the same.