We’re getting married!

Shay POV: After I finished up playing soccer at ACU, I decided to ref at an indoor soccer league for some extra cash on the side for my final semester at ACU. I showed up to ref my 1st game, and lo-and-behold, Sam was playing on the field. I was struck by two things right off the bat: one, this guy is pretty cute. Two, this guy is GOOD at soccer. Like, GOOD. at. soccer. He was the best one on the field by far- and usually still is to this day :). As the game went on, Sam ran right in front of me and tripped over himself. I laughed, he laughed, and got up and kept running. Fast forward to the next few weeks, I kept showing up to ref my games, and whattaya know... Sam started showing up to ref too!!! He began reffing with me every week, and during those games is where we began to get to know each other better. Sam then asked if any of my college teammate gals would want to join his Dyess AF boys to form an indoor team (dream team who ended up winning the whole league woohoo!). About 3 games in, Sam made a bet with me and said "whoever scores the most goals in tonight's game, the other one has to make them dinner." Well... Sam scored the most goals, but.... he still made me dinner :) I showed up to dinner at his place, still unsure about who we were to each other, what the future held with me heading to grad school out of state, etc. I really was still viewing Sam as a good friend at that point. Before walking into his apartment, he covered my eyes and walked me in, where I was met with a full candlelit dinner with homemade eggplant parmesan. Over 4 years later and now that cute soccer player is going to be my HUSBAND!!!! Sam POV: After about a year and a half of being stationed at Dyess AFB and playing a lot of indoor soccer, they were hurting badly for referees. Enter Shay. Wearing her purple ACU soccer pullover and black leggings, I knew I had to play well to garner her attention. Despite her intimidating nature, I mustered the courage to ask for her number to "make a coed indoor team." Little did she know, that was a guise to start courting her. Our mutual friend/soccer manager Alfredo allowed me to start reffing and, unbeknownst to Shay, he controlled the schedule and he allowed me to ref the same nights as her. Between our coed team, reffing together, and eventual slack-line hangouts, we slowly moved closer and closer "as friends." One bet later, and I found myself practicing an eggplant parmesan recipe 3 nights in a row to make sure it was perfect when she came over for our first date, even if she wasn't expecting it. Now 4 years later we are still playing soccer on the same team and planning an amazing wedding in Hawaii with our family and friends!