"My human's getting married!" ~Pearl, our mini-schnauzer

2015, I met Rhana at a party hosted by a friend of a friend. There wasn't much more than casual greeting. I saw her again some time later at my cousin Star's performance recital. Turns out Rhana is a friend of the family. I felt like she was flirting with me so I shot my shot. I got her number but not much interest. 2016, I'm in Germany with my cousin Jeremy and she messages me on Facebook. That started a lot of chatting that I tried to pivot into dating. But she wasn't ready and tried to friend zone me... I told her "I don't want to be your friend" and we went our separate ways. 2018, I saw her at a surprise party for my cousin, Devin. We spoke, but since I knew several people at the party, I was trying to catch up with them. Then, Rhana hits me to get my attention and asks "why I wasn't talking to her." But we both knew WHY. I obliged though, lol. We talked and she flirted. But I still wasn't sure. So I invited my cousins out to an event I had planned for some coworkers and told them to invite Rhana. Of course Rhana came, so I knew she wanted more. After, I invited her to a R&B Only concert. She said yes, and she hasn't gone home since.

Brian and I met in 2015 as we were entering a theater in Dallas, Ga for my good friend Star's music performance. I'm not quick to speak to strangers, but Brian is all about it and he quickly started talking to me. I'm a bit awkward with new people, but Brian was funny and easy to enjoy the performance with. After a post-event dinner at Applebee's with Star, her sister Devin, and nephew Cayden, Brian and I parted ways until we saw each other months later at one of Star's plays. As we were leaving the play, Brian convinced me to let him walk me to my car. After that, I knew he was interested. Months later we started messaging each other on Facebook. We hung out a couple times in person, but I wasn't interested in dating anyone at the time, so I asked him if we could just be friends. His response, "No." I thought it was rude, but I respected the intent to not get friend-zoned. More than a year later (2018), we saw each other again at Devin's birthday party. I guess I flirted a little. He flirted back. Two weeks later, we had our second first-date at the RnB Only Concert at Buckhead Theater. That night, I realized he was right. We couldn't be friends because that man, that man was going to be my husband.