Mary and Brendin met in 2019. It was a dark December night and Mary was deciding whether or not to brave cold temperatures and the sticky floors of Nick’s Pub. Understandably, she felt she might be better off joining her parents at Lester’s Bar and Grill for dinner for the 3rd time in 2 weeks. Just as the clock was about to strike 8pm, a blustery gust of wind pushed her out the door and away she went. Mary got to Nick’s, the dimly lit watering hole for 20 somethings in Saint Louis. Little did she know, 30 short minutes later, a light would be turned on in that bar, and in her life, that hasn’t gone out since (get it?) After ordering some hazy lazy pale ales with her friend Allie, Mary notices a guy wearing a baseball cap walk into the bar. As was customary, Mary and her friend were approached by a group of guys asking for their numbers. Mary politely declined and ordered another drink. Some time later, the guy with the baseball cap comes up with a drink and a shattered phone screen and also asks for her number. She agrees this time, but not without an extra hurdle to clear. The guy wearing the baseball cap was, of course, Brendin Loveland. Brendin, knowing that Mary was not one he could risk letting slip away, calls the number that has just been put in his phone. When he does, Mary’s phone doesn’t register the call, hm weird. Mary’s final defense had been played and the issue was quickly resolved. A week later, Mary’s phone illuminates to a text saying “hey Marry” (foreshadowing?) Obviously, Mary screenshots that text, sends it to her friend, laughs about what kind of person would spell her name like that, and doesn’t respond. It is important to note that whenever this story is told, Brendin insists on reminding everyone of the cracked phone screen, likely leading to Mary having mistyped her own name. Nevertheless, Brendin persisted and a few days later he sent another text asking her out on a date. This time, against all odds, Mary responded. On December 13th, 2019, Mary asks her younger sister to drop her off at (but not too close to) Bar Louie in the Central West End for their first date. The bar was well-lit that night, still a little sticky, but the rest, of course, was history.