It all started back in middle school. Wait, no – okay, it did start in middle school, but that’s not where Madilee and Dylan met, it’s where… well, here’s how it all worked out… Madilee goes off to college in Joplin, and she meets this girl named Chloe. They become roommates and besties. After college, they both return to their home towns – Madilee to Stillwater, OK and Chloe to Omaha, NE. After loads of fun living back at home with her parents and siblings, Madilee decides maybe she should go back to school and become a Registered Nurse and also, maybe she should do that somewhere other than Stillwater. So, because she really loved being Chloe’s roommate, because Chloe is in Omaha, where there are multiple school options for Madilee, and because Chloe thought Madilee wasn’t a half bad roommate herself, Madilee heads to Omaha for a roommate/bestie sequel and adult-ish endeavors. A few months after the sequel begins, an old friend that Chloe has known since middle school sees that she is back in Omaha and invites her out to brunch. At this point, Madilee is all “Ooooh! Maybe you’ll reconnect and it will go somewhere!”

Chloe and Dylan (middle school friend) did meet for brunch but did not send sparks flying. They did, however, remember why they were friends, and Dylan becomes a fixture at group hangouts that include Chloe’s roommate/bestie (you’re following, right, so you know that’s Madilee). Then Dylan joins their life group, and Madilee is all “Oh hey - I like this guy, and it doesn’t hurt that he’s super hot.” But, she’s busy being adult-ish, and she’s working nights so she skips out on life group often and doesn’t get a lot of hang time with super hottie. Coincidentally, while she is working nights and not hanging out with Dylan at life group, she is working with a girl named Alexis, who is constantly telling Madilee that she should date her brother Dylan, and Madilee is all “Haha, whatever”. Also, Dylan is DYLAN.

So a year goes by, and Dylan thinks Madilee is super down to earth and fun, and she still thinks he is a great guy (and also still a hot potato) and that maybe it’s not all about the looks. She’s beginning to feel a whole lot more than just friendship with this guy. They continue to hang out together as part of a larger group, and they celebrate the New Year together (THIS new year) and then Dylan’s birthday in January. Then Madilee invites Chloe and Dylan and another friend to her brother Eli’s wedding in Oklahoma (apparently her invite was a +3). After an amazing weekend, realizing that Madilee’s family is basically the best thing ever, Dylan calls shot gun in Madilee’s car for the 6-hour ride back to Nebraska. By the end of the trip home, Dylan is all “waaaaiiiiitttttt a minute”. From there it was a whirlwind of her helping him remodel his house and him falling for her more and more each day and her realizing this super hot guy is THE guy. So, see, it all started back in middle school.