Mike & Ashley met peak pandemic in early September of 2020. Mike had almost given up on dating apps because he had struck out so much....until he swiped right on Ashley's profile on Hinge. They immediately began to connect over common interests: a love for dogs, horror movies, and NFL teams residing in the AFC East. Mike & Ashley decided to meet up for a first date at the Wooden Robot Brewery in South End, Charlotte. Mike had no idea that Ashley had celiac's disease and couldn't drink beer. Upon learning that fact, Mike ordered Ashley a truly disgusting gluten free beer. Ashley pretended to drink the beer out of politeness while Mike's dog (Pierre), who he brought along on the first date, continuously licked her feet. Despite these hiccups, they hit it off and Mike snagged a first kiss that night. From that point on, Mike & Ashley were inseparable. Ashley ditched her parent's house to hang out in Mike's smelly Uptown apartment, spending every weekend watching movies and drinking mimosas. She bonded with Pierre while Mike would work overnights at the news station. (Pierre now likes Ashley better). A few years later, they now share a second monster (Brady the Pomsky) and own a house together.

In November of 2022, Mike grew tired of Ashley's parents pestering him about proposing. He decided it was time to ask his best friend to marry him. He settled on the date of the 19th. As fate would have it, Mike got the flu that week. Despite being sick as a dog, he called up the Wooden Robot to reserve a table and set up flowers and balloons for the proposal. He double checked on the 19th that everything was ready to go and was assured it was. It was not and the Wooden Robot set nothing up. Mike got confused when he arrived and attempted to take balloons off a different table that he believed was his reserved table. It turns out it was the table of a lady celebrating her birthday who was shocked at this brazen attempt of theft. In the end though, Mike found the courage to ask a bewildered Ashley to marry him at the table where they had their first date and she said yes!! Please join Mike in boycotting Wooden Robot for the rest of your life.