We were set up by Jessica's aunt/ Thomas' co-worker. While heading home for a week in Ireland for spring break, Jessica got a text saying, "Jess, what do you think about a blind date?" After some coaxing & Facebook stalking, Jessica's friends convinced her to reach out to Thomas. They texted while she was overseas, eager to have a message waiting for her from Thomas every time she connected to WiFi. Finally, Thomas suggested going out to dinner when she returned.

While Jessica laid out a variety of outfits, sending pictures to friends to help pick out the perfect one, Thomas came home from work telling his parents he might cancel dinner. Thankfully, they insisted he didn't! Jessica's parents were sitting in their car across the street until she begged them to drive way, as Thomas was minutes away. Thomas greeted Jessica with a hug & opened the car door for her as the drove 40 minutes to dinner at Langosta Lounge in Asbury Park, NJ. Intimidated by the long drive, the conversation came easy. They shared lobster pizza & bread pudding together. Thomas waited until Jessica was nearly to her porch to ask if she wanted to go on a second date! (She responded, I'll check my calendar!)

On our fourth date, we got Italian ice at Lighthouse in Point Pleasant, NJ. Well, Jess did. We didn't realize Lighthouse was cash only... if we chose chocolate or vanilla (basic flavors), we could each have an ice! Jess, of course, immediately blurted out "peanut butter!", not realizing until only she walked away with a dessert what she had done! Afterwards, we walked on top of the rocks at the inlet. Jess, struggling in her non-beach-appropriate flats, said once they reached the sand again, "gee, what a story that would make! You threw your new girlfriend into the inlet!" And so the story goes...