It all started on Amanda’s 27th birthday. She and her friends were out celebrating when one of them asked to bring a friend along—enter Eric. They chatted a bit throughout the night, and on the way home, Eric asked for Amanda’s number. What followed was casual texting and the occasional meet-up at Smokey Bones to grab wings. Then, on March 4th, fate (and Amanda’s brother bailing last minute) stepped in. Just an hour before she was supposed to catch a train to an Islanders game, Amanda texted Eric at 10:30 am: “Yo, what are you doing this afternoon? Wanna go to a hockey game?” His response was simple: “Yes.” By 11:10 am, they were on the train with two tall boys in hand.