In The Beginning, There Was Beer. And Lots of It. Part 2 of a Love Story

Now where were we? If you need to catch up, here is part 1.

Here's a quick recap...wedding, he thinks I'm cute, I think he's cute. Got it?

So after the rehearsal, we went to a swanky joint for dinner. Unfortunately it didn't work out that Tate and I were seated at the same table. Luckily, though, I could see him sitting at the next table. We made eye contact a few times and smiled. I didn't have butterflies, but I did like the attention.

The next day was (not so surprisingly) the wedding. Following the joining of two hearts (gag me), the wedding party rode in a limo to the reception at yet another swanky locale. We drank champagne on the drive there. Mere sips of champagne make me chatty. Too much makes me drunk.

Thank goodness it was a short ride.

I was definitely feeling happy when we arrived at the reception. After the dinner and garter/bouquet/cake cutting business (that included another glass of champagne), it was time to part-ay. At the beer table stood Tate, all alone. Feeling confident and somewhat buzzed, I marched over to him.

It felt like hours that we stood at that beer table talking. He was very friendly, introducing me to all of his friends and making sure I was never, ever without beer. I learned that he was a chemical engineer and lived in a far, far away land called Knoxville, TN.

"Damn," I thought to myself. Why can't boys who like me and that I like back ever live close-by? (Next week, I'll tell you all about my history with long distance relationships.)

We had a great time that night, drinking, talking, and dancing. After the reception, we headed to a local bar with a group of his friends to drink more beer. Luckily we didn't stay long or I probably would have passed out before the most exciting part of the evening...Tate invited me back to his hotel room. Normally I wouldn't go back to a hotel room with a boy I'd just met, but we'd been having such a great time, I didn't want it to end. And I was hoping for some major making out.

Back at his hotel room, we sat on the bed and chit chatted some more. And then it happened...the most exciting part of the evening. He turned on Sports Center. We sat and watched Cardinals highlights. Turns out, Tate was a gentleman.

I realized he wasn't going to make a move, so I knew it was time for me to go home. I called my sober brother to come pick me up. Tate asked for my phone number and email address before I left.

I figured that this would be the last I'd see of him. After two previous failed long-distance relationships, I wasn't eager to pursue something like that again.

But Monday morning, there was an email from him. And almost everyday after that.

Stay tuned for details from our first date and how we became inseparable.