How We Met: The Night That Wasn’t a Total Blur

It all started at The Brahmin, a chic bar in Boston, on a night that would go down in history—not for anything particularly memorable that I remember, but for everything that didn't quite stick. You see, I (Jacqueline) was single at the time, so I made the decision to bring my friend Chloe as my "date" to my sorority formal. We were ready to show Boston that no one could do a girls' night like we could. Pregame? Check. Formal? Check. A stop at The Brahmin before hitting the club? Absolutely.

By the time we waltzed into The Brahmin, let's just say I was… extra enthusiastic. (i.e: I was drunker than I intended to be.) Chloe and I shuffled down to the basement to the bathroom, and there, in line behind us, was Kevin. Now, I’m not entirely sure what happened next because, well, my memory gets pretty fuzzy. But according to Chloe—who, in case you’re wondering, had a very clear recollection of the evening—Kevin and I exchanged some deep thoughts about life. Or at least, that’s what I think we did. The details are blurry, but Chloe swears we bonded over something. Important, probably.

We spent a few hours laughing and talking like we were the best of friends. But then, as all good nights do, the clock struck "time to leave," and Chloe and I decided to hit up Storyville, the club down the street. We bid farewell to Kevin and his friends with a “See you around!” (Spoiler alert: we didn’t.)

Fast forward to the next morning: I wake up to a head-splitting hangover and a peculiar feeling. Not the kind of “oh, I think I ate an entire pizza last night” feeling, but more like "I think I met someone last night and I think I really liked him?" Was it real? Was I imagining it? Did it really happen, or was it a dream fueled by way too much Tito's? I texted Kevin, and after a few days of awkwardly texting back and forth (as you do), we made vague plans to go on a date... but, as fate would have it, those plans never actually materialized.

Cue four months later.

I’m out at The Harp in the North End with my college friends—Casey, Michelle, Bella—and Moriah, who was in town visiting. I'm in full “I’ve had three vodka sodas and I’m ready to conquer the dance floor” mode, dragging Bella toward the DJ booth, begging him to play the one and only “Man’s Not Hot” by Big Shaq. Yes, that was my vibe. Then, out of nowhere, I hear a voice behind me.

“Jackie?”

I turn around, and standing there with the same confused-but-charming look I vaguely remember from The Brahmin is none other than Kevin.

We talked, we laughed, and—this time—we actually made plans to go on a real date.

About a week later, we met at Loco in Southie for our first official date. The restaurant was so loud, we could barely hear each other, which worked out perfectly because we both just smiled and pretended to understand what the other person was saying. I, of course, was way overdressed in a fur vest and patent leather stiletto boots, because I had no idea what kind of vibe Loco was serving. In the bathroom, I texted my friends in a panic: “I think I really like this guy!” but also "I look ridiculous in this outfit, help."

Over the next five years, Kevin and I were inseparable. We celebrated milestones like me graduating from college and getting my first real job, and we survived the chaos of learning how to “adult” together. He tackled studying for his Electrical Engineering exam, and I learned how to cook dinner without burning the house down. We moved in together in Everett, MA, where we enjoy weekends on Lake Winni with the Rice’s and beach days with the Linehan’s in Cape Cod.

Fast forward to October 2023, in the heart of Italy, surrounded by my family, where Kevin asked me the easiest question in the world: “Will you marry me?” And, as you probably guessed, it was the easiest “yes” I’ve ever said. But here's the thing: Kevin knew I might suspect something was up—because, hello, we were in Italy on my birthday, and who doesn't think they’re getting proposed to in Italy on their birthday? So, to throw me off the scent, Kevin did the most Kevin thing ever: he handed me a small gift bag and said, “Are you ready for your birthday present?” Now, naturally, I thought, “This is it. This is the moment.” I had fully convinced myself I was about to get a ring—like, there was no other possibility in the world. My heart was pounding as I opened the bag… and inside, I found a pair of diamond earrings. Cute, right? But my heart sank. I mean, they were lovely, but I was kind of hoping for a little more sparkle. I was crushed, texting my friends things like, “OMG - I was wrong, that box I found in his nightstand was EARRINGS.”

Then, just as I was straining to choke back my tears, my mom—who could not stand the suspense any longer—saw the look on my face, winked at me, and said, “Your birthday isn’t over yet.” And sure enough, Kevin got down on one knee just moments later, and the easiest “yes” I’ve ever said was followed by the happiest tears I’ve ever cried. It was like the universe knew I needed a little more drama before the magic happened. Kevin: 1, Jacqueline: 0.

Today, we’re each other's peace and strength. We spend Sundays wrapped up in blankets for movie marathons, with Kevin acting as the best sous chef in the world (he could make our favorite recipes in his sleep by now). We love our weekend date nights in the North End, and we can’t wait to spend the rest of our lives together—celebrating love, laughter, and maybe a few more “Man’s Not Hot” dance parties along the way.

But let’s be honest: none of this would’ve happened if Kevin hadn’t been in line behind me at The Brahmin that night, where he probably thought he was just going to the bathroom—but instead, he unknowingly found the love of his life (me, obviously).

And that, my friends, is how we met.

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