It's rare that a "how we met" story starts off with my mother-in-law loving me first, but that's exactly how this one started. As a landscape architecture student at Texas A&M, I was involved in our the program's student organization where I got to work with several members of the Professional Advisory Board, including none other than Aan Coleman. Upon graduating, she hired me on as the Coleman & Associates Marketing Director. It wasn't until much later that I found out that she secretly hoped her son would fall in love with me. As you may know, the C&A studio is located a short pathway away from the Coleman House. Unbeknownst to me, Clayton had ALSO just graduated from Texas A&M and was living at the house while he looked for an apartment. This meant that he made his way over to the office every day when he got home from work to "steal snacks" from the office snack closet. As the person at the front desk, he always stopped to talk to me, which was fine until it became very clear to everyone in the office that he was overstaying his welcome and lingering far too long at my desk therefore making me feel...well, awkward. So when he asked me for my number so we could go see the new horror movie "It", I friend-zoned the poor guy. Much to his credit, he said he understood, but continued to ask me to hang out; meeting me at Jim's and going climbing with me and my friends. Then he came over to watch Ace Ventura with me and that's when my dog Ralph--who didn't trust men at the time--fell in love with him. Next thing you know, the movie is over and he's pouring his heart out to me while petting my dog who's fast asleep in his lap. What did ya girl do? She hit him with a "but we're just friends". I was cold. *4 days later* I realized I valued my friendship/relationship with Clayton over whatever possible repercussions I would be facing at work so I gave him a shot. Thank goodness for that epiphany because now I get to marry my best friend.