The beginning

I figured why not? A relatively young woman in a new city, what could it hurt? I tried, went on a few dates and decided it wasn't for me. Just as I was going to end my Match account, he emailed. He was cute, commented postively on the fact that I liked to steal mini shampoo and conditioner bottles from hotels and he liked the Tarheels. I had recently attended my first game so we had stuff to chat about. Many texts and emails were sent.

I went to visit family for the holidays, he went out with friends. I drove to Charleston for my mother's bithday, he sent me an email saying he decided to date someone else.

Ouch!

Don't get me wrong here people, we'd only been talking for a few weeks but he seemed fun...normal...sweet. I will admit, I was disappointed. I felt at least some sort of friendship connection with him. Hell, he was a CUBS fan!

His email went something like, "I want to be fair...I'm a nice guy...I have been talking with someone else...Let's stay friends."

My initial email went like, "Screw you. I have enough friends."

My real email went like, " I appreciate your honesty...please appreciate mine. I do not want to be friends."

I tried to close my account with Match but I forgot I had been sucked into the, "find your soulmate in three months bullshit" so I figured I would just stop checking it and close it at the end of three months.

I decided to take the opportunity to focus on me. You know, the person I tend to put by the wayside. I started making friends at work and going out. I started working out at crossfit and feeling REALLY good about myself. I signed up for a 6mile run and started training.

Two months passed...time to log onto my account and cancel it.

He just looked at my profile. Huh? Maybe he's not dating anyone anymore. Maybe he is. Maybe we could be friends. It would be nice to have someone to watch a cubs game and enjoy a beer. Maybe he has cute friends. Maybe he could be my wing man at bars. This could work.

I emailed. He emailed back immediately. The term "fast friends" comes to mind as I look at our old emails from the beginning. It was like settling in with an old friend or a cozy blanket or a cup of tea. We fell into a routine of just checking in, sharing about life and in a way, being supportive to one another.

And I still hadn't heard his voice.

Our reconnection started at the beginning of March. As the end of March approached, we were emailing and texting daily. We were just friends. I was out of town each weekend of that month, he had his kids so timing never allowed us a coffee chat or time to meet up for a beer.

Quite a few friends thought I was crazy to have never talked to this man on the phone.

Honestly, it felt okay. We were friends. He had been in and out of town for business and the texting and emailing thing worked for us. When I look back, I realize that we were both hesitant. I didn't want to get my hopes up and he didn't want his heart broken.

On March 31st, we met for a beer.

I went to work the next morning where I received this:

I figured I would send you an email :)
I cannot tell you how wonderful last night was. I really had not anticipated the evening turning out the way it did but I did anticipate that I would really be into you. You are an amazing person! It was really hard to believe we sat there for over 8 hours just talking. I am sorry I kept you up so late but it really was hard leaving you.
I look forward to more adventures :)
Michael

My heart melted and the rest is history.
That's how we began.