It all began in 2018, when Collin and I first crossed paths at work. We were just colleagues at the time, exchanging polite greetings here and there, but there wasn’t any real spark yet. Fast forward to 2022, when our company hosted a big party at West Gate Ranch. That’s when things started to shift. It was that day when Collin and I actually hung out for the first time, and, looking back, it’s safe to say he definitely made a memorable impression. I’ll never forget how he convinced me to ride the mechanical bull… in front of everyone. Yeah, everyone. That included not only our coworkers but also his parents! I was beyond embarrassed—let’s just say I wasn’t exactly ready for my mechanical bull debut. Now, anyone who knows me knows I’m not exactly the bull-riding type. I wasn’t even sure I could stay on for two seconds, but Collin? He wasn’t about to let me back out. “You’ve got this,” he said, his confidence contagious. There I was, in front of a crowd—including his parents—trying (and failing) to even mount the darn thing. But Collin wasn’t giving up. He kept cheering me on, making me laugh with every attempt. I was embarrassed, sure, but it was also impossible to resist the infectious energy around me. Eventually, after what felt like a billion tries, I finally was able to get on the bull, but I couldn’t stop laughing. That was the moment I knew Collin wasn’t just a coworker—I was starting to see him in a whole new light. After the initial shock wore off that’s when I knew this was someone, I could really enjoy spending time with. As the evening went on, Collin and I found ourselves away from the crowd, gazing at the stars, talking for hours. It was in that quiet moment, under the night sky, that I felt like I was truly getting to know him for the first time. What started as a fun, slightly embarrassing moment turned into the beginning of something really special.