I had yet to wear a cocktail dress in DC, but my dear friends invited me to an event at American University which after a lovely evening landed me hungry, in a cocktail dress and sitting at the bar at my neighborhood restaurant alone. I drove there as I wasn’t walking from home. Important to note I never drove on the weekends. I walked everywhere. I sat, ate my dinner, bantered with the Duke fan bartender and as I was about to leave, this big, handsome guy beside me said “don’t leave, this game is getting good.” Against my better judgment I stayed and he bought me a drink. Three hours later we had talked nonstop and he asked for my number….i said you are so sweet, but too young and said thanks so much, “this was fun”. Five minutes later I was back, wet from the now pouring rain, with a dead jeep on the street channeling very damsel in distress vibes. Will being Will, hopped up and ran out to try and help me get it started with no success. Again, Will being Will, he gave me a lift home and his number and offered to help me out the next day. I had to have the car towed and Will came and picked me up from the dealership and delivered me home Sunday evening to get ready for a business trip the next morning. Between planes, automobiles and property tours not only did I neglect to save his number in my phone, I also inadvertently deleted his text. When I went to send a thank you text I sadly realized I had deleted it . A couple of days later I received a text asking about the car and my trip. I assumed it was him, but wasn’t for sure. When I asked to confirm, his response was very Will, quick witted and cute, like “wow I wasn’t number saving worthy. “ Two days later we had dinner and have been pretty inseparable ever since.

What started as a chance meeting at our neighborhood pub on a cold January night in 2020 has turned into a shared life rooted in genuine love, friendship and joy.