Have you ever watched a movie where someone decides to go speed dating and thought "Huh, I wonder if that happens in real life?" This story is proof that it does. Keri & Victor met on January 3, 2023, at the Malt House in FiDi. Victor decided to give speed dating another go, while Keri, eager to make 2023 the year of optimism, was convinced by a friend that this was better than the dating apps. Unassumingly, Victor and Keri passed each other coming in, having no idea the other was signed up for the event. Victor ordered a Whiskey Sour, Keri ordered a glass of Riesling, and the two of them took their places. Keri wasn't exactly looking for love, so the thought of dating people for five minutes became a humorous exercise on how much you could learn about someone before hearing "TIMES UP" and never speaking to this person again. That shifted when Victor came over. He was Keri's second to last date and when he approached her, the energy of the room changed. It became a little brighter, a little warmer, and less of a game. Keri complimented Victor's ring- a goldish bronze band with antlers wrapping around his finger. Victor said it symbolized his favorite character from his favorite book series, A Song of Ice and Fire (Game of Thrones for the non-book readers) Stannis Baratheon. What he didn't expect was Keri to respond with "The One True King of Westeros." That one sentence meant Victor's world was about to change. The two of them completed the "date" and moved on, continuously making eye contact with one another. At the end of the event, Keri managed to make her way back over to Victor and strike up conversation again. It was easy. It was confident. It felt like home. Victor didn't leave until 11PM on a school night, and anyone who knows Victor knows that doesn't come easy to him. Keri and her friend went home, wondering if she would make a match. How could he not have asked for her number right then and there? How was she supposed to wait? What if they didn't match, and this connection was just a ruse? The next day, Keri and Victor received an email from the speed dating sponsors, letting them know they matched with one another. That note, that one match, was all they needed to begin their forever. Three years later, the two of them have created a beautiful life together. It's filled with beach walks, bike rides, coffee, & cocktails. Dove, their cat, happily resides in their Rockaway apartment, sharing in the good life. Keri can't recommend speed dating enough. With a 100% success rate, who can blame her? Victor is proof that good things come to those who wait - and better things come to those who believe in House Baratheon.