Our best friends were absolutely convinced that Matthew and I were meant to be—they loved the idea of introducing us and watching us fall in love. Honestly, I loved the idea too. Matthew… not so much. He hated the thought of being set up. One night, his friend invited my best friend and I to go late-night catfishing. Matthew very reluctantly (and somewhat forcefully) agreed to allow us to come along. We met, a little awkwardly, and eventually made it out to the lake—after a very interesting incident involving a bunny. I was dressed in a hoodie, jeans, and Vans… clearly not prepared for fishing on a cold November night. Matthew offered me his extra jacket—a worn blue flannel—and his muck boots. I remember feeling a little weird putting on a stranger’s clothes. But Matthew says that was the moment everything changed for him. Seeing me in his jacket and boots didn’t just spark his interest—it made me more than just “a friend of a friend.” Later, we ended up back at my friend’s house, sitting around a fire making s’mores. The four of us started playing this guessing game called “The Scale.” Matthew was the guesser, and at one point he asked me to name a fast food restaurant. If you know me, you know I love Burger King—so I confidently said it, fully believing it deserved at least an 8 out of 10. He looked me dead in the eyes and rated it a 3… maybe a 4. I was personally offended. He was too—apparently my answer did not meet his expectations. Eventually, our friends disappeared inside, leaving us alone by the fire in a slightly awkward silence. Matthew broke it with, “So… you like Burger King?” And somehow, that turned into hours of easy, effortless conversation. When it was time for me to leave, I told my friend, “We talked that whole time and he still hasn’t asked for my number.” Right as I said that, I looked up and saw him walking toward my car. My friend immediately stopped mid-sentence and ran away. He came up, a little awkward but very sweet, asked for my number, and gave me a small hug. And from that moment on, we’ve been inseparable.