Leighton and I first met during spring break in 2017, our freshman year of college. My buddies and I were wandering around the streets of Destin, Florida, when we found ourselves inside a house full of Alabama Phi Mus. That was the moment I saw Leighton for the first time. The second I looked at her, it felt like something in me snapped into place. I found my way next to her and asked her to be my beer pong partner. Somehow, that worked. We played, instantly hit it off, and yes I even got her phone number. When we got back to our house later that night, I looked at my friend Andrew Pratt and said, “I’m going to marry that girl one day.” He laughed and looked at me like I was crazy, but deep down I knew I meant every word. Eventually, I looked her up on Instagram… and discovered she had a boyfriend. Yes, I was devastated and almost weirdly enough heartbroken. Fall of junior year rolled around. My same group of buddies and I were out at Rhythm and Brews on a $1 Miller Lite night when Leighton walked through the door. I hadn’t seen her since freshman year, so I figured I might as well go talk to her. After catching up, I learned she was single. Right then and there, I asked her to my next date party. She already had one the same night, so we agreed we’d split time at each other’s. We went, and I knew instantly she was the one. We went to a few more date parties, even a Morgan Wallen concert, and I started to think things were becoming serious. Leighton, though, wanted to enjoy college single for the first time which led to heartbreak on my end. That happened at the beginning of second semester junior year… right after convincing me to sign up for the same literature class as her. So twice a week, I had to sit in the same room and make small talk. As the weeks went by, that class became something I really looked forward to. When the semester ended I was devastated, convinced I’d never see her again. Senior year came and went. I’d see her occasionally, but nothing more than a quick “hey” in passing. Then COVID hit. We were all sent home in March, and I accepted that I probably would never see her again. After graduating I moved to Austin, Texas. I’d go on dates and find myself comparing everyone to her and no one did. About a year into living in Austin, Leighton reached out and mentioned she was moving to Dallas for a PT school clinical. I told her that I was actually looking for a job in Dallas too. I eventually took a job in Dallas and moved there about six months before she did. She arrived that fall for her clinical, and during her first week in Dallas, I asked her on a date to Las Palmas (still trying to find a place in Birmingham that compares) Within thirty seconds of being there with her, I knew she was going to be my wife. This time, I wasn’t going to let anything get in the way. But I knew she’d have to go back to Birmingham soon. We came up with a plan to keep things “casual” and see if a long-distance relationship could work. Over the next few months, I racked up countless airport hours from delayed flights, but I didn’t care. I would’ve flown to Birmingham at midnight and back to Dallas the next morning for work if that’s what it took. February rolled around, and I visited her for Valentine’s Day. In an elevator, I asked her to be my girlfriend, and she said yes. You couldn’t have found a happier guy in the world. From there, we made long distance work. Eventually, after plenty of begging, I convinced her to move to Dallas. Although at the cost of her dad Jeff not being too pleased with me. Living in Dallas solidified everything I already knew. We learned so much more about each other, and every new thing I learned made me fall harder. Proposing January 17th, 2025 was the best decision of my life. I can’t wait to see where this life we’re building takes us. Leighton Claire, I love you, and I can’t wait for forever.