*photo taken on front facing camera of iPhone 6

July 10, 2017 - our second date*

It's truly your modern day fairytale. It all began one rainy Monday afternoon in Manhattan. Maria was visiting friends in the city and I was at work wondering when this cute Latina I matched with on Bumble over the weekend would message me. As the saying goes, "love at first swipe".

For those unfamiliar, when you "matched" with someone on Bumble you had 24 hours to send them a message before it "expired" and disappeared for-ev-er. I couldn't believe it, but Maria was about to let me expire. I took matters into my own hands and messaged her, "Hey hey! How's your Monday going?". It was risky, but it paid off.

She responded right away, phew. She told me about her day in the city and how she was heading home in the morning. I thought, "Hm, maybe a Connecticut girl, not too far". Maria had the Argentinian and US flags on her profile... color me intrigued. "Where's home?", I asked. Her response? "California".

Maria likes to say this is when I cut off all communication with her. And yes, that would be true. She lived across the country! I did not know how wonderful she was yet! I was dumb, I get it-I get it.

After several weeks of what I now call playing hard to get (not ghosting), we FaceTimed. A few minutes in, she tripped on the corner of her bed and plummeted straight to the ground. The screen went black, but I could hear her shuffling around... she picked the phone back up to say, "wow, I just fell for you" I stared back with a blank face not knowing whether I should check on her well being or burst out laughing. She then goes, "get it?!" with the biggest smile.

We laughed and laughed. And THAT is when everything changed.

We started talking more and more, she was coming back to New York July 5th to see friends again. She loves the movie Hitch, and had once referenced a quote from the movie saying the first kiss tells people everything they need to know about a relationship. With this information, I knew I wanted her to see fireworks for our first kiss - literally.

With it being July 5th, I planned to take her to Battery Park for the fireworks overlooking the Statue of Liberty. I would kiss her for the first time during the firework show.

As many have learned, "time" is something Maria claims does not apply to her due to her Latin roots.

Being in a crunch to make it for the fireworks show, I splurged and ordered a black Escalade to where she was staying. Just like any other Taurus (we are known for our love of expensive things, after all), I think to myself, "this is sure to impress her". I take the subway to meet the car in front of where she's staying because I'm really just a broke twenty-something.

The Uber Black arrives just as I do. Score, perfect timing and we'll make it in time. I go to the front door of the walk-up Brownstone and buzz her. Time passes, I send a text about the driver saying he can't wait much longer. I begin to panic internally. I offer him cash to please wait a little longer, he graciously accepts. In the final hour, she comes walking out of the front doors looking CUTE AS EVER. I'm talking hair blowing back in the wind and the infectious smile I had only seen on FaceTime until this very moment. I have a feeling in my stomach this girl is going to be really important to me.

The driver takes us straight to Battery Park and we make it just in time to see the final...single...last...poof in the sky. I wasn't able to give her the fireworks kiss.

The night goes on though! We walked around the city, had dinner, and started making our way back to the Upper West Side. At my apartment, we went to the rooftop to look at the stars above the city. I'm certain she thought I would kiss her then. And I should have. Sweaty palms though. Heart through your chest kind of nervous. I wanted it to be perfect.

We headed back downstairs to call it a night, at last, we were about to kiss.

[ Time out*: this is the point where my version and Maria's version begin to differ. BUT, I'm the one typing this while Maria is at work bringing babies into this world, saving moms, winning Daisy Awards, being a #healthcarehero, etc. so it's my time to shine :)]

Rewind 10 hours earlier in the day, I found a YouTube video of a fireworks finale just in case I needed to use it as a back up plan. Now it's happening... Maria leans in for the first kiss and I dramatically say "wait". I pull up the YouTube video and hold the phone next to us as it plays and we share our first kiss.

Fireworks... Then. Now. Always. Forever.

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