In August of 2023, I moved to Chicago to pursue an internship at Priority Sports. Everyday I had to monitor clients social media and September 13th, I came across a photo with Zacch tagged in it. Figuring there was nothing to lose, I DM'd him. Zacch responded with the same flirty, optimistic cadence just a few days later. That evening, we spoke on the phone for hours as if we'd known each other for our entire lives. Zacch was out of town for an away game but we set our first date for the very next day as soon as wheels touched back down. There was no reluctancy, no hesitation; only curiosity and excitement. September 16th came and we were both counting down the seconds until we could meet face to face. We had got tickets to a wine and R&B night downtown (perfect to set the mood with limited anxiety or pressure). As it got later and later in the day, I realized going out wasn't in the cards for me as I had to be up for my internship in the morning but I didn't want to call Zacch and cancel since we had such good conversation the night before. As soon as the team plane landed, he got in his car and headed almost an hour to see me... just for me to say I was too tired to go out. Luckily, he was exhausted too and we decided to cut on a horror movie and relax at my apartment. We laughed, chatted, and the conversation was flowing effortlessly yet again! The only thing was, he wouldn't touch me at all.Unsure if it was nerves or maybe a desire for a friendship and nothing more, I decided to hold his hand during the movie we had put on. We sat there holding hands until it ended. Somehow, it was already time to call it a night and part ways. I wasn't sure of how he felt since he seemed so timid (he was really just being a gentleman but that was something unfamiliar to me lol) so when we said goodbye, I decided to lean in and test my luck. We kissed goodnight and that was that. The next day, he was still the same Zacch I'd been talking to for the past few days and he was still very much interested- as was I. After work that day, he drove right back out and we spent the evening together again but this time, he mentioned me being his girlfriend. I told him he couldn't be serious and he said he was. He'd only just met me in person the night before so I just brushed it off as flirting but his efforts persisted and his mind never wavered. He showed up the next day with the same idea but with more intention this time. He was positive that I was going to be someone very special in his life. The time I had spent with him had been nothing short of amazing so I said yes to being his girlfriend and we both took the best leap of faith ever just 3 days after meeting in person. Within a month and a half of knowing each other, we'd already moved in together and got our pup Pablo. Time only brought us closer- we cooked Thanksgiving dinner together, spent Christmas together, shared both of our first ever New Years kiss, tried endless new restaurants together, went on our first (and last lol) cruise and so much more. We shared so many firsts together including welcoming our first child into the world. You know what they say, "when you know, you know".