From App to Altar!

It started with an app, as so many relationships do these days. It was mid October 2019. Rob saw a picture of Emma eating sushi which prompted a message about her having an adventurous palate. The conversation flowed pretty easily from there over the next couple weeks with messages back and forth keeping both of them in giddy anticipation of the next reply. Rob was in uncharted waters and felt like he needed to act before he lost his nerve, so he asked Emma out. Rob, having heard that these kinds of relationships can fizzle out easily over text, suggested a pause on texting, for fear they would run out of things to talk about. Emma, who had surely never heard of this tactic, found it odd. Nevertheless, she obliged. Rob was working hard to change enough so that, in person, he could maintain the attraction that had been building. Emma mentioned a local BBQ and brewery that she loved, which is where they would have their first date on November 3rd, 2019. Nervously waiting on a bench outside wearing a new shirt he hoped would impress, Rob kept his eye out for Emma. She was easy to recognize from her glowing smile and very curly hair, just like her photos! At dinner, they were eager to connect, sharing stories and laughs without a lull in sight. Not wanting things to end, Rob suggested a walk around downtown Long Beach, as it was an area he was getting familiar with after moving there earlier in the year. Without a destination, they set off, continuing their conversation and taking in the nightlife. Emma insisted that she take Rob home at the end of the night since he walked and she drove. After dropping Rob off, Emma drove home that night with a smile that wouldn’t go away. There was no goodnight kiss, but that would be remedied soon. The next day at work, Rob was distracted. He was dying to get an idea what Emma’s impression of the date was. Emma was eager to reach out, but trying to avoid scaring Rob away by being too eager. Rob broke the stalemate with a very forward question, about whether or not a kiss was in the cards the night before. Emma responded that it would have been welcome. A missed opportunity for the couple or a reason to schedule a 2nd date as soon as possible? Rob and Emma decided on the latter. Dinner the next night went even better, as the nerves from the first date were replaced by a comfort that only comes from a rare compatibility. Rob and Emma learned even more about each other. No red flags so far! There was also an air of anticipation since this date was specifically planned to fix an oversight from the previous one. Afterwards, the cool evening breeze was the perfect accompaniment for a walk to a special spot, Lion’s Lighthouse. The Queen Mary and downtown skyline at night made for the perfect backdrop. Sitting on a bench overlooking the marina, Rob and Emma continued to talk. Rob was waiting for a break in the conversation and a way to get Emma’s purse out from between the two of them so he could move in. After Rob moved her purse to the ground (subtly, he hoped), Emma punctuated the slightly awkward silence with a question. “Are you trying to get closer to me?” Sheepishly, Rob said yes. They both laughed. That moment of levity was enough to overcome the awkwardness and they kissed. Rob walked Emma back to her car after a while and was able to steal one more kiss before they parted ways. There was no going back. The following months would see Emma and Rob face the reality of dating during a pandemic, which tested the newly budding relationship. However, they found a way to embrace the situation, making the best of date nights with homemade sushi, tacos al pastor, and churros from scratch, among other culinary adventures. Dealing with Rob’s CSI training which put some date nights on hold when duty called and Emma going back to school, proved to be a challenge but they persevered. This was all a part of an ever-expanding love story between the two and ultimately the reason you’re here to read about it