Once upon a time, the Powell and the Dolley families were neighbors, living just across the street from one another. Matt and Val's story doesn't begin there, though. The Powells moved across town long before the pair were old enough to remember any barbecues or birthday parties. In adult life, Val and Matt met several times at a series of parties and holiday gatherings hosted by some mutual friends, sharing an occasional conversation without thinking much of it. Val and Matt finally 'met' for the last time early in the summer of 2021. They'd each been invited out for drinks by some mutual friends, and as the weeks went by this group frequently reunited to cut loose after work and socialize. Over time, Val and Matt began to develop something of a mutual interest in one another, and their friend -- the undisputed "Big Dog" of the group, Tessa -- set them up to get to know one another better. After one such night, Val asked Matt if he would walk her home from a local bar, Boss Croker's (try the wings). On that walk, they each realized that what was growing between them had the chance to be something special.