“Ummm… I think it is pretty obvious that I like you… so I’m going to need you to tell me if you like me or not so I can get over this” those were the words Kayla shouted at James at midnight in her car in the Harbor Parking garage of Jersey Shore University Medical Center. The look on James face was pure shock. He was speechless. Kayla leaned back and frustratedly released all the air in her lungs. She had been dropping hints for a while now… hell she asked him to a wedding as her date. How much more obvious could she make it? But James face said it all. He had absolutely no idea Kayla was enamored by him. James was shocked, but also really excited. He had a crush on Kayla for a while now, but felt work relationships were off limits. It was so validating to hear Kayla felt the same way, but how would this work? A 10 year age gap… previously her preceptor… coworkers. For the next 3 hours, they would talk in circles figuring out if exploring this relationship was worth it or if pushing their feelings down and avoiding making their job complicated was the only option. At 2 am they left each other with no resolution. The two barely spoke over the next week and danced around each other in the office at work. A week later after leaving a friends house, the two stood next to James car and James asked Kayla to dinner for the following week. Kayla was so excited as she changed in the work bathroom for her first date with James. People at work asked why she was dressed so nice. She told them she was going out with someone she met in her internship… this was not a lie, just not the full truth. The date went off without a hitch and lasted about 6 hours. This started to become a weekly occurrence. It was fun keeping this secret from everyone at work. The two kept their relationship private for 10 months until they could no longer do so. The PTO schedule was suspicious, coworkers were asking Kayla about James. Dancing around the subject and even when Kayla was flat out asked if she was dating James she lied and said no. They were both about to take their first trip as a couple. It was time their manager knew. All their fears disappeared as they realized everything would be fine. The truth was finally out. Once the truth came out, the couple was able to be themselves again. The anxiety around being found out disapppeared. After that day, things moved more quickly. The vacation to Boston was perfect and before the end of the year, Kayla moved in to James 700 sq foot apartment. The smoke detector went off when you showered, the oven was as old as the hills and the neighbors were batshit crazy, but their love for each other got them through. Six months of living in this apartment, they decided to entertain the idea of purchasing a home. After seeing a lot of duds they found the perfect home in Kayla’s hometown with the most lovely couple who fell in love with their story. The house was theirs! From that moment, the two planned for the rest of the future. They moved into their home and started the rest of their lives together. 11 months after moving in and almost 3 years of dating Kayla’s patience was growing thin. When was this man going to pop the question? He had a ring… they owned a house… and they knew they wanted to spend forever together. Just as Kayla’s fuse was beginning to run out. It finally happened. James asked Kayla to marry him and tears streamed down Kayla’s face. “yes yes yes” was all she could say. Finally, a preceptor and an intern… two forbidden coworkers… a set of best friends… and now a future husband and wife. It was finally time to plan the wedding of Kayla’s dreams (James could care less he just wanted this girl forever).