We were both interning in Chicago during the summer of 2012. I was living with a friend who had just started a job as a traveling consultant. After living with roommates and having friends around me all the time, I was not faring well with the lonely afternoons and evenings after work. Derek and I had met once or twice while being home from college during the summers in Ann Arbor, and I had heard that he was living in the city. Finally, after my millionth solo trip to the thrift store, I decided it was time to make some friends. So I called Derek and (unabashedly) asked "I'm so lonely, will you hangout with me?" Thankfully he said yes, and John Dwyer, Derek and I spent every day that followed together hanging out, going to the beach and little did we know (minus John, SORRY JOHN) falling in love.
After arriving home on Saturday from Portugal, we were rather jet lagged and got up very early the next morning. Sunday is our day to catch up on housework, run errands and spend time together. So being the responsible adults we are, we got all of our "chores" done by 1pm. Without anything left to do, Derek suggested we sit outside, read and enjoy the gorgeous fall day we were having. A little while after being outside, Derek went in to grab what I had assumed was a snack (cheese). Before I knew what hit me, he was kneeling in front of me, saying my whole name and asking me to spend the rest of my life with him. I of course said "YES!", followed later by: "I thought you were bringing me cheese."