We had known each other since our teenage years and went to the University of Central Arkansas for college. Back then, we were just friends—never seeing each other in a romantic way. It wasn’t until after we graduated that our friendship began to deepen. By coincidence, we both moved to the same city and ended up living on the same street. Naturally, we started spending more time together, often meeting at my favorite Mexican restaurant, Casa Mexicana. It quickly became a staple of our growing bond. Over tacos and margaritas, we started to realize how much we’d always been in each other’s lives. One day, during one of our many “friendly” dates at Casa, I told him I loved him—YIKES! But, to my relief, he said he loved me back. :) Not long after, Graylin accepted a job in Dallas, Texas, and moved from Arkansas. At the time, the thought of building a relationship long-distance felt daunting. But I’m happy to say that distance didn’t deter our love. That summer, I visited Graylin often, and it turned out to be one of the most fun summers of our lives. We bonded over bowling, chicken nachos, pancakes, and, of course, margaritas. That fall, I decided to move to Dallas and officially became Graylin’s girlfriend. It was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made—and it still is to this day!