I knew Teo through mutual friends who would hang out at our favorite bar in Astoria, Dillingers. He was a very witty, charming guy, but I never really got to talk to him until he invited some of us to his place in Long Beach. Funny enough, whenever I went to talk to him, he'd say one or two words and walk away. Later I learned he was trying to "play it cool," but I thought I had offended him somehow and kept chasing him around to talk to him and make sure I wasn't coming off rude or ungrateful. As the night went on and people went to sleep, we stayed up playing games. We eventually walked out to the beach at midnight and sat on the lifeguard bench with nothing but the moon, waves, and late night rambling. Despite such a romantic setup, Teo still kept himself an arm's-length away from me. It wasn't till the next day that I left and Teo texted me "That was the most fun I've had in a long time," that I knew he was interested. After that, we started seeing each other it didn't take long for me to realize he was the one.

I had no idea that I was going to fall for Jackie. When I first started hanging out with her, it was during Wing Night and Steak Night at Dillingers alongside Joe (before wing night became a multi-table, multi hour affair). Months later when Jackie was single I noticed how amazing she really was, and made the effort to have her notice me too. When she was sick I helped out around her apartment and helped take her mind off work with a Bareburger picnic in Astoria Park, our first unofficial date. We took our food and sat on a picnic blanket, surrounded by other people who happened to be off on a Friday in the summer. We ate, and I ran my fingers through her hair as we chatted about nothing. It suddenly dawned on me, and I said immediately, "You're just a big mush." Weeks later I was madly in love. Now, I'm the luckiest man in the world, with our wedding in less than a year!