We met at Generals while I was out dancing with my friends. Henry walked up and asked for my number, and I very confidently told him I was having a good time with my girls and wasn’t looking to wander off with anyone else that night. He laughed, promised he wouldn’t take me anywhere, and somehow still convinced me to give him my number. We talked for a little while before going our separate ways, and for the next few weeks we texted constantly. Henry kept asking to take me on a date, and I kept putting him off. Between school, work, life, and honestly not looking for anything serious at the time, I was busy and content keeping things simple. Then my birthday rolled around. My lunch plans fell through that morning, and I texted Henry about it. Without hesitation, he told me to get up and get ready anyway. I wasn’t convinced. It was pouring rain in Athens, truly the monsoon of 2024, and I was already disappointed about the day. But Henry was persistent. When he asked where I wanted to go, I told him I wanted birthday cake pancakes from IHOP. He laughed and told me there were far better brunch spots in Athens, but he took me anyway. He offered to pick me up, but being the independent woman I was, I insisted on meeting him there myself. And somewhere between the rainstorm outside and sitting in that little booth for three hours talking, everything changed. At one point, I told him, “I know I talk a lot, but that’s just me.” And without missing a beat, he said, “Well, I’m a great listener. I’ll fill in the gaps for as long as you let me.” That was the day our story really began. What started with birthday cake pancakes in 2024 slowly turned into one of our favorite traditions. Every year since, no matter where we are, we find the closest IHOP and celebrate together. We’ve had birthday pancakes in Athens, in the mountains, and everywhere in between, proof that sometimes the smallest traditions become the sweetest parts of a love story. And somehow, one rainy breakfast date turned into forever.