I matched with Danny the day after breaking up from a two-month relationship. I was sad, but really wanted to be in a relationship. So I put myself back out there and immediately matched with Danny. The conversation was immediately easy and comfortable. Our first date was on New Year's Eve, though neither of us really acknowledged that is was New Year's Eve (too much pressure.) We went bowling because I found that I was more comfortable on the first date when we were doing an activity rather than just sitting across the table from someone. This also gave me a better sense of the guy's personality. We had a great time bowling with high fives after every bowl (whether we hit any pins or not.) We decided to continue the date over dinner across the street at Chili's. We had a nice dinner and when we were walking to our cars, he said he would really like to see me again. I agreed and then we kissed. The next weekend we had three dates three nights in a row, and after that, we couldn't get enough of each other. Danny was clear and direct about how he felt about me and that he wanted a relationship with me, which made me feel so confident in the feelings I was having. After a few short weeks, we said "I love you" after a weekend of me being sick and getting him sick. I stood in the door of the bathroom watching him puke his guts out and just knew I loved him. I had thought about it before this, but in that moment, I was absolutely sure. By the next month, we were basically living together, just in two different apartments. By the fourth month, we were looking for an apartment and moved in together. We had talked about getting married many times, and I had made it clear I did not want some huge production of a proposal. So he just held me one day and said, "I want you to be my wife," and I said, " Okay!" He made it clear he was really asking me this time and I said I was really saying yes!

I was ready to delete the app. I had gone several months with a ton of matches and dates, but no real connections. I had given myself a deadline of the end of 2018. Lindsey messaged me as I was heading up to Dallas to run a 50k on December 28th. Her first question was interesting and gave me a clue that she had thought more about this than other women I had interacted with. To my surprise she was the third theatre teacher I had matched with in about the last month. It was either three strikes and I'm out or third time is the charm. Her easy smile shown through almost immediately while we were bowling. At dinner afterwards I was completely blown away with her commitment and passion to both her job and her family. I knew she was special right away. I needed to make sure she knew I wanted to see her again and said so as plainly and directly as I could. By the 4th date (which was still in the first week) I needed her to know that I wanted to pursue a relationship with her, and that I was completely ready to delete the app. Within a week and a half, I knew I loved her and needed to have her forever. Her love is as warm as sunshine, and I can't imagine the rest of my life without her.