Courtney and Tom

The first time I met you, we were at the bookstore. Ironically, we were both there to get a wedding gift for a bride. You had picked out a copy of a book called Alan and the Undead, and I was still deciding on a book. I saw the book you had in your hands and thought you could give me a good recommendation. We talked about similar books, and we came upon one after about an hour and a half. 

Then, a few days later, we ran into each other at the coffee shop. I went in there to cool off after I had a bad day at work, a lot of angry customers, and my boss getting in my face for being behind. I needed to blow off some steam by getting a cup of Joe. The coffee shop is one I frequent, and that day made it even better. I walked in and took a deep breath, inhaling the smell of the coffee and calming down. After I ordered my coffee, I waited for the barista to make it, and I looked around and saw you sitting in the corner. My mood was already in the process of calming down, but when I saw you sitting there,e my mood changed drastically. I made my way over to you with a smile. You looked up at me and smiled back. I sat across from you, and we both said hi at the same time. Then we both replied, saying hello at the same time again. We laughed at each other until the barista called out, “Dom.” We both ignored it as we kept chatting and then the barista called the name out again. I happened to look over at the coffee she was calling out and walked over to check the order. It was mine, but it had the wrong name. I came back to the table, and we talked about everything and anything. We also kept laughing at the fact that they put the wrong name on the cup. We were there for what seemed like hours. 

Our time together was cut short as my boss called me and asked me to come back in. We had someone quit, and my boss had to swallow his tongue to call me. I agreed to go back, and I apologized to you up and down. But the takeaway from our meeting is that even when I am having a bad day, seeing your beautiful face is all I need to cheer up. I started to drive back to work when I realized halfway there that I had forgotten to ask you for your number. I turned around and drove back to the coffee shop, but when I got there,e you were already gone. I was mad at myself for missing my opportunity. But what I didn’t know at the time was destiny was just around the corner.

A week later was my cousin's wedding. After the ceremony, I went to sit at the tables and watch them dance. I was happy for her, I truly was. Something about seeing them together hit me. I was just about to leave when I heard a familiar voice. “Are you here for the bride or the groom?” I turned around to see you standing there with a smile on your face from ear to ear. 

I jumped to my feet and gave you a big bear hug. “Oh, I’m sorry. I don’t know what came over me.”

“It’s fine. I am glad to see you, too.”

“I, um, I am here for the bride. She is my cousin.”

“Oh, that’s cool. I work with her and the groom.”

“Oh, cool,” I said, trying not to be too awkward. “I was just about to leave. Do you want to go get ice cream or something?”

“I would like that.”

“We both walked out of the venue holding hands. I will never forget that day. Here we are two years later at our wedding. I hope that the rest of our lives together are just as amazing as the last two years. I love you, Courtney.” Tom said as he sat back in his seat and listened to the applause. He looked over at Courtney, who was wiping away some tears. 

“Honey. I have to tell you something. The first time we met was the second time I saw you. Two years ago, I was on my way to work when my car started to break down. I pulled into the mechanic shop where you worked. As I was talking to the man in the front, I saw you in the back, and it was like love at first sight. I left my car there and went to work. I told my coworker about you, and she perked up. She said you two were cousins and that she would make sure you were at the wedding so we could meet. When she called you to see if you were going to attend, she had to convince you to go. Then she said that all the gifts on the registry had been taken and that you could just buy a book for her. I promise I wasn’t stalking you because we met at the bookstore. When we met at the purely coincidental coffee shop.”

“Why didn’t you say anything to me when we were at the coffee shop?”

“I was writing down some ideas on what to say when we met at the wedding. But then I saw you walk in and take your deep breath, and I forgot about everything. After you left, I also realized that I forgot to get your number. I bolted out the door and got in my car. I drove to your shop, but you hadn’t arrived yet. I tried to talk to the guy at the count, but he wouldn't let me talk to you when you got in. He also wouldn’t give me your number. At that point, I decided to just wait until the wedding to make it seem like I wasn’t stalking you. Then I almost forgot about the wedding. I ran from my house to get on a bus and take a ride share to get here. My car was still at your shop.”

A woman stood up and shouted. “It was meant to be.”