"I think you're going to meet a girl on this trip," one of my dearest friends told me before I left Seattle, WA, to fly to Tampa, FL, for a business trip to deliver a presentation to the front office of the Tampa Bay Rays. I laughed and said, "No way," since I wasn’t interested in dating at the time—and, honestly, I didn’t have much hope that the love of my life was in Florida. Little did I know that a simple decision to get dinner at a hip, local ramen spot—Buya in Downtown St. Pete—would prove me wrong about timing and show me that Florida had more to offer than I’d imagined. A few minutes after I walked into the restaurant that Friday night, I noticed Grace. How could I not? She stood out: tall, with a unique sense of personal style that radiated thought and care, bright eye makeup perfectly matching her earrings. I was immediately drawn in. After hyping myself up and some encouragement from the bartender, I asked her to see if Grace would like a drink—on me. She said yes. Minutes later, I nervously approached, espresso martini in hand. I fumbled through an introduction, complimented her outfit, and learned she was with her little sister. To my surprise, Grace invited me to sit with them. We struck up a warm, jovial conversation, and within ten minutes, I knew I wanted to know more about her. She had a caring spirit and effortless joy that felt magnetic. The evening unfolded naturally. Grace invited me to tag along with her and her sister after dinner, insisting I wasn’t intruding, though I still felt a little awkward. We went next door to a lounge, where we swapped stories over puffs of hookah, sips of cocktails, and bites of crème brûlée. (The fact that I shared my crème brûlée—my favorite dessert—was a sign. I’m notoriously stingy about sharing food, even with people I’ve loved for years!) Before we knew it, the clock struck 2 a.m. The lounge was closing, and it was time to part ways. We hugged goodbye, and I kissed her on the cheek. I told her I wanted to see her again before I left town. She agreed, and we set our first date for Sunday. The next day, I went to the Tampa Bay Rays game with friends and couldn’t stop talking about Grace. They said, "Oh, you’re going to end up moving here for this girl," and, "You’re going to fall in love with her—I can tell." By the end of our date on Sunday, I knew they were right. I had met my match. We explored the Dali Museum, shared wine and cheese in its waterfront courtyard, and visited Grace’s favorite beach—Treasure Island—which has since become one of our magical places. When it was time for me to head to the airport, neither of us wanted the day to end. So, I changed my flight to the next morning, soaking up every last moment with her. At 5 a.m. the next day, Grace drove me to the airport. We held each other tightly, and I promised her, "I’ll come back soon. I want to see you again. I want to try this, as impossible as it may seem—St. Pete to Seattle." Many miles and visits later, we’ve learned that nothing is impossible with a little bit of love and commitment plus lots of laughter, and of course airline miles & points (thanks Alaska and Delta). We look forward to spending the rest of our lives taking many more walks down the beach, sharing endless laughs over dumplings and noodles, and cheering on the Rays together.