Just over three years ago Brian and Melissa both decided to move across the country, Brian from DC and Melissa from Pittsburgh, to start their new jobs in a new city, Scottsdale, Arizona. Neither of them knew anybody when they moved here, so it was only natural that they would seek out an activity in their comfort zone, for both of them that was volleyball. Melissa's Side of the Story:
Within my first few weeks on the team I was invited to happy hour with a group of players. That was the first time I "met" Brian, and when I say met, I mean that we sat at separate tables and barely spoke to each other. Fast forward to the following summer, I've joined a new team and it happened to be the same team as that cute guy from happy hour. Throughout that summer, our team became super close, we hungout almost every night; from volleyball games, to trivia nights, to pool parties, to dinner on the weekend. One of those nights in particular Brian and I really hit it off over a heated round of Candy Land inside of a literal underground bar. That was beginning of a series of nights and weekends where Brian and I continued to hang out almost every night, at first with the volleyball crew then eventually just the two of us, once Brian finally decided to ask me out on an official first date.  After our first date, Brian and I were inseparable. Everything fell into place perfectly. We had our first Thanksgiving together with his family here in Scottsdale, followed by our first New Years together, where I got to meet Brian's parents and siblings over a wonderful weekend exploring Scottsdale together. We took our first trip together back to DC, where I got to meet Brian's best friends from Gonzaga at Renegade. Meeting Brian's friends and spending the weekend with his family, really solidified things for me, I knew after that weekend that Brian is exactly the man that I wanted to spend the rest of my life with.
Brian's Side of the Story:
It began on the volleyball court. I noticed a cute girl on the other team and said man I hope I get a chance to talk to her. A few weeks later I met up with some people after our games at a bar across the street. She was there. But I didn’t talk to her. But luckily someone else did, and they convinced her to join our team for the next season.

Over the next few months, our volleyball team hung out nearly every night. Going to the pool, diamondbacks games, trivia after work, you name it. We were all from out of town, had moved to the Phoenix valley recently, and were looking to make new friends.

That whole summer, while we were tearing up the town, I had only one goal: get this girl to notice me.

And boy did she make it tough.

I don’t think she really paid attention to me until one day when the state fair was in town. 48th best state fair in the continental United States, mind you. We were there with the usual crew, but I was determined to make a move that night. We walked through the troves of art stands, went on plenty of rides that I did NOT want to be on, and waited while fortunes were told for our friends. But late in the night we walked by the carnival games. We started talking for a moment, then all too soon, she hit me with a “I’m gonna run to the bathroom” and took off for the door. Grasping for some hope of continuing our conversation, I pointed to the closest game and said “just enough time for me to win you a betta fish!” She chuckled and continued through the door. I was left alone with only my ambition. And some friends, now surrounding the game of Shoot the Ping Pong Ball into the Tiny Fish Bowl. Make 1 for a goldfish, make 2 for a betta fish. I handed the attendant my $3 for 3 balls. But I only needed 2 ;). I summoned my 4 year degree at a state university and sank my first shot. A huge wave of relief came over me, but I wasn’t done yet. I had promised a Betta fish. I pulled back and shot another. Drained it. And just as she stepped up to join us at the game counter. I accepted my little plastic tank, turned to Melissa and said “I won this for you”. She was shocked. And I noticed her finally notice me for the first time.

It wasn’t long before I realized this monumental prize would quickly return to me when she got tired of carrying a small fish tank around the rest of the fair. A little while later we came upon a stand selling funny wooden signs. As we read them and laughed, I noticed the one in particular that seemed fitting for, what in my head was obviously, OUR new Arizonan pet. It read, “Guapo’s Cantina” with a little cactus on the side. A perfect sign for our new fish’s tank. “We shall call him Guapo!”, I said as I picked up the sign to buy it. “No, I think I wanna call him Fin,” she responded. I looked back, a little confused… then I looked around, maybe I had missed one of the signs… but no, she just didn’t like my idea. She had her own ideas about what to call her fish. I had more work to do before we could collaborate on something like this. 

A few days later, and with slightly more pep in my step, I worked up the courage to ask her out on a real date. I figured I’d take her somewhere nice, somewhere a little different than she might not have been to, so I pick a spot downtown that looked fancy. When we met up to walk to the restaurant, she said “Oh yeah, Wren & Wolf, I work in that building. We go there all the time.” Great. Then I looked around and noticed the decor.

All taxidermy.

Great, now I look like a weirdo.

But as it turns out, she didn’t think that, and we had a great date.