She just wanted more time off. That’s how it all started. I was 25, freshly promoted to manager of Tottie’s. I had already sworn off dating co-workers, but now that I was in charge, I knew that I couldn’t (shouldn’t at least). But when you work 60 hours a week, you just don’t have time to meet anyone else. It was either date an employee or a customer or be alone for the rest of my life. And being the company man I am, I wasn’t going to jeopardize any business sales by dating a customer. She had just turned 21, the evil temptress. She’d like you to think that she was just an innocent college kid from a small town in Canada (I mean the U.P. of Michigan), but she had moves. She would come over for the customary after-work hangouts, and she could HANG. (Anyone that knows her knows that’s no longer the case…she’s usually in bed by 9.) She would laugh at all my jokes (also no longer the case.) She wasn’t shy about her pursuit of me. She played up her love of the movie “Fight Club” (our first movie was actually “The Lion King”.) Our first date was at Pig and Pickle (she’s not much of a meat eater.) But somewhere along the way, I just couldn’t resist anymore. I fell for her. Once she had me, she would take off weeks at a time from the restaurant. Her wicked witchcraft had worked. Here I am five years later, a non-smoking, turkey burger eating, dream pursuing, world traveling writer living in LA. Not where I saw myself 5 years ago, but a better man for sure.

He was totally into me. Every time I'd come to work, he'd flirt with me. He really did have the cutest smile and could make me laugh until my stomach hurt. One night after work a group of us coworkers planned to go get drinks together. Michael and I were the only two that actually showed up... that counts as a first date, right? We sat there talking for hours. I mean, he did pay! See... like I said he was into me. Literally, his smile though! Ugh, it still gives me butterflies. On our second date we went to breakfast at this cute family owned place. When we were in the middle of talking each other's face off the restaurant made an announcement asking who drove a car with the same description as Michael's. We learned that a cute little old lady had backed into his car and left a long streak of red paint on the side. She tried to give him her insurance information to fix his car and he continuously told her not to worry about. This was the moment I realized this guy not only has the best smile but also had the kindest heart. Now here I am, still falling head over heels for him every time he smiles at me.