It all began on a late July evening when Tay needed a partner for Couples Golf Night at Stagg Hill, and I just happened to be available. We definitely didn’t win that evening, but I think it’s fair to say I ended up winning something better. After that first round, we kept finding reasons to connect, and our first real outing was a Royals game. I’d spent the day at the lake, but woke up early, drove to Manhattan, and met Tay and her family at the K. From there, it felt like we had started a new rhythm, late-night phone calls, weekends in each other’s towns, and more trips back and forth between Council Grove and Manhattan than I could count. And I never once regretted a single mile. Three years later, that rhythm has led us here, building a life together in Manhattan, in a cozy home that has become our safe place and the heart of our story.

Our story isn’t exactly conventional. I can’t recall the first time we met or even our very first conversation, but I do remember his laugh. (Who couldn’t?) That summer, I was fully in my “hot girl summer” era, bachelorette parties, weddings where All the Single Ladies was basically my anthem, and plenty of golf. I joined the Thursday night Ladies Golf League at Stagg Hill, and those women quickly became my summer crew. We had the best time making birdies and memories, and before long, they convinced me to try Couples Night too. Of course, I didn’t have a partner, which, by the time we hit the 19th hole (aka drinks at the clubhouse), was a very popular topic of conversation. Everyone knew. So, I started recruiting stand-ins: my friend’s dad, my friend’s husband, and eventually… my brother’s friend, Layton. (Because really, what’s more classic than falling for your brother’s friend?) What I didn’t realize was that Friday Night Couples Golf would change everything. That round with Layton was filled with laughter, more than I’d had in a long time. Not long after, I invited him to a baseball game with my brother. Honestly, I never thought he’d actually go. (He even had to ask my brother for a ticket!) But he showed up—and from then on, we started spending countless nights on the phone, visiting each other’s towns, and, somewhere between golf courses, baseball games, and boat rides on the lake, we fell in love. Layton is one of the kindest people I know. He cares deeply for everyone he meets (and every animal, too). He challenges me to grow, encourages me to be a better friend, and now, a better partner. I feel beyond blessed to be on this journey with him—the best one yet.