As I sit with the boys at the Grandmarc pool, eating a burger that I just burnt while listening to Hackett talk about the changes he’s making to his golf swing, I take a look to my right and see a fine southern bell walking by in a pink dress. I spit my food out, not because it’s burnt, but because this woman is so fine. I knew what I had to do… talk to her. But in a normal way so she doesn’t think I’m weird (cause I’m not). “Act natural” are the words I’m telling myself as I walk over to this woman that is so out of my league. All while focusing on not tripping and falling on my face. Three miracles happened that day: I actually “acted natural”, I did not trip and fall on my face, and this beautiful woman somehow slightly, kind of, almost enjoyed speaking with me. To the point where she considered doing it again. For fun.

Coston and I met at Grandmarc Clemson, the apartment complex that we both lived at during his senior year. I had seen him a couple of times in passing because we shared mutual friends. Other than thinking that he was super cute, we had never really had the chance to talk. Until... one evening I was on the way to take pictures for a sorority function and Coston was out grilling at the pool with his friends. Somehow, we ended up on opposite sides of the gate talking to one another, but only for a few moments before we were both taken away by our friends. For the next week, I kept finding myself thinking about his face, his name, and where I needed to be in order to see him again. Now it's gameday. My roommates and I woke up, got ready, and headed out for the day. We ended up at a pregame and it turned out to be HIS apartment. Ironically, I ended up talking to his mom and decided that he was a whole lot cuter than I had originally thought. That same night, we all ended up at my neighbors' apartment and there he was yet again. We got to talking and next thing I know he was teaching me to two-step to some old country music. I was sold, but I couldn't let him know that quite yet. Fast forward to the following week, I had a sorority function coming up and I thought that he would look very handsome as my date. Without his number, snap or a single interaction since, his time to shine was dwindling. All hope was lost and then suddenly, I heard my apartment door open and slam. It was Coston coming to look for me. He walked into my room in his pajama pants, eating a bowl of Quinoa and asked me to go to his frat's mountain weekend. My heart was so full, I think I blacked out. I assume that I said yes. He left and I chased out after him to ask him to my function. He agreed. Fast forward again, things were getting pretty serious... he was home for Thanksgiving break and the Clemson - USC game was coming up. Unfortunately, he planned on flying in after the game... until I told him I planned on going. He changed his flight within the hour. The next day, I picked him up from the airport and we took off towards Columbia. After the 24 hours at USC and the Clemson win, we loaded up my car and headed back to Clemson. En route, there was a sign that said "Greenwood, Next Right" (my hometown). Coston insisted that we drive through so I could show him my hometown. As I was showing him the Greenwood Country Club (where I worked), he turned to me and said that he wouldn't feel right if he didn't try to meet my parents since he was in town. Hesitant to the idea, I laughed it off. Coston then snatched my phone and dialed up my dad, who was expecting his babygirl's voice, of course. It was on that phone call when I realized that silence really could be loud. My dad was speechless. An hour later, my parents walked into La Hacienda to meet us for lunch. It was quite entertaining, watching my parents talk to this new, lively boy. After lunch, we stopped by my house, and then gave my Anna and Pop a quick visit, where my Aunt Kitty was also visiting. After introducing him to my folks, we headed up the road towards Clemson. About half way there, Coston turned down the music and said that he needed to talk. Uh Oh. I just introduced him to my family and now he wants to talk?? The conversation actually went pretty well. It ended with me as his girlfriend. And now here I am. His fiance. Soon to be his wife.