A friend and I decided to go out for the evening, but the motto of the night was “no guys”. She had just been through a break up recently and we were both excited about a night of no pressure dancing and hanging out. We went a couple of places earlier in the evening, but ended up at Rugby House in Plano. We were hungry, so we sat at the bar and got some food – spinach & artichoke dip and something else and a couple of drinks. A random guy sat down a few seats down from us and tried to order food as well. Our food came out right after they told him that the kitchen was closed and he could pretty much only have pretzels or chips. He leaned over and asked how we got the food we did, and that was Rusty and I’s first conversation.  The rest of the conversation got kicked off by “Is that a piercing in your neck?!?” and many other clearly romantic topics…, but either way, Rusty, my friend and I talked for the rest of the evening. The friend I was out with was a pretty big flirt and has a big personality, so she was typically the one getting guys numbers at the end of the evening, but somehow, Rusty seemed to be more interested in me! I couldn’t quite figure him out… he was cute and funny and… bald… definitely not like other guys I had met before, but when he asked for my number I was very discreetly (probably not) giddy. I talked about him the whole way home and couldn’t believe that on the night that we said “no guys” I ended up finding my guy!

So I wasn’t even supposed to be at Rugby House that night. I was meeting a friend at Top Golf. He bailed on me just as I arrive so I decided to head home. Along the way I decided to stop and grab a drink at Rugby House. I find a seat along the bar next to a few girls. I’m hungry and attempt to order some food, but the bartender says no because their kitchen is closed. So as I begin enjoying my beer dinner, the girls next to me use their incredible powers of female charm to order some food. It was neat how the bartender was totally fine with taking their order after just telling me no, sitting one barstool down. This sparked some good conversation between us. It didn’t take long for me to see that charm in Megan that the bartender must have seen. Anyone that spends time with Megan knows what I mean! The rest of the night was awesome… I got to know someone as nerdy as me. How could I not be impressed with someone that makes a math rap video for her students! I asked for her number at the end of the night and luckily she gave it to me!

He text me the next day (April 6th)… can you believe it?!? Did he not know that he is supposed to wait a certain number of days before texting or calling?!? This should have been a very good indication that Rusty would be anything but normal! In fact, he sent me a text asking me out for that evening! Unheard of!! So, me, in my infinite wisdom told him, “No, how about a raincheck?” I really had no reason to not go out that night outside of not wanting to seem to eager myself… So, his response was, “OK, but if you blow me off tonight, then you have to pay… (obviously a joke) So then, how about tomorrow?” I couldn’t ask for another raincheck, even though I was a little nervous, so I said yes. Rusty picked me up the next evening, April 7th, and took me to Pete’s Piano Bar in Addison. I had been before, but it had been a long time. We found a spot along the railing, grabbed some drinks and sang along with the dueling pianos while chatting a little in between songs. Then the moment came… one of the piano guys did a sort of responsive song where they told you to do things (sounds much stupider when it written form *sigh*) and the last thing he said to do was to kiss the one you’re with. Panic set in… I didn’t know if I should casually run to the restroom of fake a cough or what, but nope… Rusty leaned right in and got the first kiss. This was far from my typical first date! We were about ready to leave and he ran to the restroom, so I ran to the bar and in my true to self literal form, I paid for the drinks (because he jokingly said that I would have to since I blew him off the previous night). I thought I was pretty clever and then immediately realized that he might not take it the same way I did, so I just hoped I wouldn’t run him off… agh! He took me home, kissed me goodnight, called me the next day, and the next day, so I think it worked out ok!

So I guess there is some dating etiquette that says you aren’t supposed to call someone the next day (If you get their number the night before). Well I threw that right out the window and called Megan the next day. I asked her out and she turned me down! (For that night) but agreed to go out with me the day after. We went to Pete’s Dueling Piano Bar. That’s where I learned about Megan’s amazing singing talents! And she learned about my terrible dancing talents (On stage in front of the pianos). Our first kiss happened spontaneously about halfway through the night when the piano player yelled “Kiss the person next to you!” Who am I to break the dueling piano laws?!? My feeling at the end of that night… she’s nerdy, she can sing, she knows how to have fun, and she enjoys life. She seems perfect for me. I was right

I had band rehearsal during the day, so it was a pretty busy Sunday for me. Rusty said earlier that he wanted to go out to eat, so I told him sure, but he had to pick the place. He seemed ok with that, so I went to rehearsal and came back 5 or so hours later. He told me we were going to Perry’s Steakhouse (fancy!), which caught me a little off guard because I was expecting a causal dinner, but hey… who am I to turn down a good steak? We love Perry’s, but the funniest part to me is the fact that every time we have gone to Perry’s or a nice place over the past few years, I would go through the possibility of him proposing, but for some reason, there was no way that he was going to propose this time… So I left the house in a t-shirt and jeans and thought nothing of the evening. We had a great pork chop, some wine, and were just about ready to get dessert. Like a cheesy couple, we were holding hands across the table and he was checking out the first ring he gave me, my robot ring. He had given me that ring 4 years earlier at Perry’s, right before I was leaving for a trip to Italy as sort of his first, “Hey, I really love you and really want to be with you long term” ring. At this point, I am still completely clueless… until… he says, “Your ring is looking a little beat up. Maybe we should get you an upgrade…” and then he got down on one knee!! WHAT?!?! I literally have NO CLUE what he said next. I think it was something along the lines of “Will you marry me?” (at least I’m hoping), but I totally missed it. I was in complete and utter shock! So much so that, I pretty much lost all control and grabbed the ring and put it on my finger myself… not exactly sure that’s how it’s supposed to happen… oops! I was blown away! Didn’t see it coming from a mile away, but I have never been so happy in my life!! Best. Night. Ever.!

I chose the ring on Friday and picked it up on Saturday. I debated on waiting for a holiday, a special event, etc. but I couldn’t ask the question fast enough. I managed to make it through Saturday and suggested we have dinner at Perry’s on Sunday. I don’t think she knows what’s coming… Perry’s is a somewhat normal spot for us to eat. I know we spoke throughout dinner but I couldn’t tell you a single thing we talked about. I make it through the meal and desert... I hadn’t found the right opening to pop the question. We order coffee and then it comes, the perfect moment… plus I’m out of food courses! After days of planning what I’ll say, all I can get out is “Will you marry me?!” Pretty original eh! I can’t remember if she actually said the word “Yes” but I knew the answer when she grabbed the ring and put it on.