We're getting married!

In May 2022, after a month of recovering from COVID, I was so ready for a night out. On Friday, May 20, I went to Bodega Bar & Kitchen for good music and a Latin vibe—love was the last thing on my mind. Enter: Eric (and his wingman Demetrius). One introduction later, we were outside after closing, laughing until 4 a.m.… and yes, sharing a kiss before sunrise. The next morning, I figured it was just a wild night to laugh about—until Demetrius invited me to meet them at the Italian Market Festival. There I was, trying to piece together what Eric and I talked about the night before (he graciously filled in the gaps), watching him and Demetrius shoot hoops, and refusing—absolutely refusing—to kiss a basketball he offered me. Eric was set to fly back to Florida that same day, so I assumed that was it. But then came the text: “Hey, it’s Eric. Sorry I didn’t message sooner.” (Who apologizes like that after one night?!) And from that moment on, the conversations never stopped—and neither did we.

I was visiting my buddy in Philadelphia, and after a night of bar hopping, we ended up at Bodega—a little bar with big energy. Honestly, I was tired and ready to crash, so I sat at the bar while my best friend wandered off to dance. That’s when he introduced me to Priscila. She immediately started asking if I spoke Spanish and trying to guess where she was from. From the start, it was all smiles, laughter, and easy conversation. When the bar closed, everyone spilled outside, and we kept the jokes going on the sidewalk. Priscila was looking great in her yellow dress, and while other guys were trying to get her attention (one even pulled up in his car—wild), she and I were in our own world. Somewhere between the jokes and the chaos, we ended up making out against the wall like something out of a movie. The next day, we met up again at the Italian Market Festival. Priscila didn’t remember half of what we talked about the night before, but she was just as funny and full of energy. I was flying back to Florida later that afternoon, but before leaving, I asked for her number, gave her the smallest kiss on the cheek, and promised to keep in touch. And from that day forward, we never stopped talking—here we are now.