We met on my second day working for MarketValue. He was running Peer Presentation (a time in the morning when the new people teach back basic marketing principles as a theory) and I was one of the peers.

We had become really good friends at this point and we both realized we loved going to the movies. We both had the AMC A List membership so we saw movies for free and we both were looking for a new movie buddy. We decided to go see Wonder Woman 1984 the day after Christmas as friends, we ended up going to lunch at Torchy's afterward and was there talking for 3 hours and we both knew this was now a date

Dating while working together is hard. When you're trying to remain a secret it's near impossible. So what we would do after Crew and Team Nights (which happened Tuesdays and Thursdays) we would both leave early, meet at the Chick Fil A on Beltway 8 and Bell Air (because it was between both of our places) order a Chocolate Strawberry Milkshake (AKA the "Moanna") and have a mini date

I had a friend get married in Chattanooga Ten. and I had asked Michael Ramirez to be my plus 1 MONTHS ago! However at the last second, Michael couldn't go and I had already told the couple I was bringing a plus 1. Mo and I had been causally dating for 2 months now, I mentioned my dilemma to him and he offered to join me as I was heading to the airport. He bought a plane ticket that night and joined me the next day. He didn't know anyone and he was very uncomfortable, especially when other guys would ask to dance with me at the wedding! The next morning before we headed to the airport to head home he sat me down and we had the dreaded "Determine the Relationship" talk. We both wanted to move forward, to become exclusive which luckily meant the same thing for both of us; we were both wanted to get married. From that moment on we stopped treating this as a casual thing and started treating this as an end game relationship.

2 weeks after Chattanooga, I knew I had loved Mo. However, I wasn't ready to SAY I Loved him because it was way too soon and it would scare him I was sure of it. At the end of March, Anamika hosted a game night at her place which also featured her legendary Margaritas because of how strong they are. I had had 1 too many apparently and got super drunk super quick. After 20 minutes of non stop vomiting, Mo drove me home and took care of me. When we made it to my house and he was saying goodnight and drunkly said "Goodnight, I love you" "What did you say?" He asked before I walked inside the house "I SAID I LOVE YOU" And closed the door on him and stumbled to my room for the night. The next morning I called him mortified he laughed it off and said he wouldn't hold it against me because I was so out of it. Relieved and Also sadden we laughed it off. 2 nights later we somehow managed to go out on a last minute dinner date. Towards the end of the night it was obvious Mo was baiting me to say it again. My heart racing in the parking lot of this Mexican restaurant I said "Mozard, I love you" "You do?" "Yes.." "Well, good because I love you too" and we've been saying it ever since

Not much happened within the past year. It was becoming extremely clear though it was time to get engaged (by me. I wanted to be engaged) After Months of waiting and being suspicious, one random Sunday he offered to go to a brewery (one of our favorite things) go to a nice dinner and "Maybe an escape room?" (our absolutely favorite thing) I was instantly thinking "engagement" when I met him at his apartment and read his demeanor I started to doubt the engagement and grew more moody and sad and overall crabby. "Give me 2 weeks" he says "I'm waiting on a few elements to come in. I promise within the next 2 weeks, can you wait 2 weeks?" he says. "Fine" I say and we go on with our day. We get to the escape room and we're waiting to go back into our room. We're sitting on this bench that is across from the glass front doors and I see my mom walk in front of the doors.... "That's my.. mom?" I said "Well, this is awkward" Mo says defeated. We go back into our room and I am going hARD looking for the "Clues" thinking the ring was going to be IN something. At the end of the room, a note pops up explaining how we've been on this journey and it's time to take a new one. The lights go out, Christmas lights turn on, our dumb song (which I HATE) Starts playing, he gets down on one knee and asks me to marry him. With my Tear Soaking eyes I said "OF COURSE!" After the ring was on my ring my family walks in with signs. It was the most perfect moment. So close to pulling off the surprise, yet so far away