How we met

I started to do a survey about Ryan and myself, then I thought I would just tell you some stories instead. This is good stuff for my boys anyway. Watch out, its a pretty long story...
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I met Ryan through a really close friend named (we'll call him Rhome for his protection) Rhome happened to be an old friend of Ryan's and he was looking for a place to live at the time. Ryan had just purchased his house and was looking for renters. The two hadn't seen each other for years.

Rhome relayed this story to me right after it had happened. He was excited about it because he was looking for a place to live at the time, and he hadn't had any luck. He had told me that he was going to go ride his dirt bike with a friend of his, and that they were going to meet at Gandolfo's. Rhome sat and waited for this kid to show up for over an hour (could have been closer to 2 hours). While waiting, he ran into Ryan and Aaron who showed up sometime later for breakfast. When they talked, Ryan asked Rhome right out of the blue if he wanted to rent out his place with him. After Rhome ran into Ryan, his friend he was waiting for called him and told him that he had slept in and that he was on his way. Had this friend not been late, the three wouldn't have run into each other. Rhome saw it as a blessing in disguise because he needed a place to stay, who knew it was a blessing for me as well.

After Rhome moved in I started hanging out at this house. He was my best friend at the time and showing up at his house was not a random thing at all. I did my homework there and we hung out for hours with all of our friends. When I began going there I didn't think much of Ryan. He was this really Huge muscle man that I was sure was just like all of the muscle guys at the gym... (flex in mirror, walk to drinking fountain, check out girls, walk back to mirror, flex some more, repeat) so I went out of my way to not pay any attention to him at all. I didn't want this guy to think in a million years that I thought anything of his big muscles. Aaron also lived there and was the sweetest guy ever. Always talking to Rhome and myself and making us all feel comfortable there. The place was a total bachelor pad, Aaron even had his motorcycle parked in the living room. There was a lighted patio out back with speakers and Rhome had bought a ping-pong table and put it out there so we all hung out and played. At the time I had a real thing for guys who called me girl. I know it sounds stupid but I just loved it when they would say, see ya girl.. or hey girl, or whatever. I can't even explain it. It was something my Dad did so it made that guy that much better in my book if he called me girl. ANYWAY...I remember showing up at the house one day and Ryan answering the door. It totally threw me off because I was able to avoid him so far. We didn't make much conversation, he just told me that Rhome was there and he let me in.

Now the days of the next week are remembered specifically because the first day we actually talked was on Valentines day. It was a Monday (the year 2000) and it was Rhome's sisters birthday. She was having a party at their parents house and I was all dressed up and ready to go. Rhome called me and asked me to pick up his present for her at his house. Now to be honest, as much as I didn't pay any attention to Ryan at this point, he really intimidated me so I didn't need to run into him. I reluctantly told him I would pick up her present and made my way to their house.

When I got to the house it was dark. Yes- I thought, No-one home! I went around to the back of the house and found the gift in the kitchen. As I was leaving, I began to close the back door and that's when I heard it. A car pulling into the driveway... Aaron and Ryan had just gotten home. BLAST! What to do. I knew I looked good at this point, I was all dressed up for the party- So I decided to just go out and face them. When I walked around to the front yard there was a flat-bed tow truck in the driveway with a HUGE white 70s era Cadillac on the bed. Aaron was walking around it excitedly. He saw me come around from the back and (he was always so nice) he showed me what he had. He had just saved this car from the dump. I have always known how much he bought it for but its slipped my mind now ($175 bucks?) anyway it was a really cool car! I walked around it with him and talked to him for a bit. I told him why I was there and as I saw Ryan coming to the house I told Aaron why I had to leave and I started for my car. As I began to leave Aaron asked " is that your car?!" I turned and looked at the car, not knowing whether he was making fun of me or not...

I then admitted that this was my car and continued. Aaron then says "Ryan, that's her car" and he points to my car. D'oh! I look over and Ryan is looking right at me...He walked over and the two of them together could not believe that I drove this thing "That is so cool" Aaron says as I finally breath. Aaron then went back to the Cadillac and Ryan walked over to me. Again this is Valentines and the first attempt either of us made at talking to each other. I must have had a crush on Ryan already and didn't realize it because I know exactly what he was wearing. Jeans and a black tee shirt with his blue flannel over it. The sleeves were rolled up over his forearms and he carried his water bottle with him. I have absolutely no idea what anyone else there was wearing.

Ryan and I talked a bit, I don't really remember what was said but I do remember him telling me he was going to start a club called the Land-sharks and I could join them if I wanted. That is what I pictured in my head and I had no idea if he was joking or not. I then told him goodbye and he said "see ya girl" and I remember realizing that this guy was no muscle head, he was a total sweetheart and I just loved loved talking to him. All I could think about that night and for the next week was that I needed to talk to him again.

At this time in my life I worked at Nu Skin. It was literally down the street from where Ryan lived. My parents house (I lived in the duplex basement apartment) was only a couple blocks away from Ryan's house as well. In talking to my sisters I realized that I was going to have to come up with a plan. I didn't want Rhome to know that I liked his roommate. It was embarrassing. Somehow I had to get to know Ryan without running into Rhome. (remember I am only 19 at this point) So my sister Heather and I decided on a plan. I was going to make some brownies and take them over to him. He couldn't know that I liked him yet...not until I had talked to him a little more so I had to figure out why it was okay for me to take him brownies...hmm...the story is as follows:

Rhome and I had a friend, Nick- who had come home from his mission early for medical reasons. He had just come home that weekend. The plan was to tell Ryan that I made Nick some brownies. Now whenever I make anyone brownies I make Rhome brownies. But Rhome is on a diet right now so I guess I better just take the left over, or the HAD TO MAKE for Rhome brownies to his roommates- Its fail proof right?!

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Next day, Tuesday. the day after my first conversation with Ryan and the day after Valentines. I get off of work and zoom home paying close attention to Ryan's house. No cars are there. So I run home and I whip up some brownies. By the time they finish I drive by Ryan's house to see that Aaron is home. SHOOT I didn't want anyone to be there, I wanted to be able to just talk to Ryan.

Wednesday, this was going to be the day. Drive home from work- no one there, speed home and whip up some brownies (they have to be fresh) and take them to Ryan. This time Rhome is just getting home. So I dodge him and I go back home....frustrated.

Thursday, sure to be the day...Rush home from work, only Ryan's car is there. Run home, make some fresh brownies and go over to his house. Still only Ryan's car. YES!

I walk up to the door and knock.

I hear him yell "come-in"

As I walk in the door, there's Ryan on the other side of the room, working on the floor. He was pretty surprised to see me and I think he told me that Rhome wasn't there. I quickly spill out my huge story of why I was there and how I had to make brownies for Rhome and at 100mph tell him how he is the one that is just going to have to eat them. I really don't think he heard a word I said. He got up and came over to where I was and grabbed a brownie..turns out they are his favorite...and little did he know I had two batches just sitting at home!

Next thing I know he is headed back to work on the floor and he begins pulling up the carpet in the living room. He then jokingly asked me if I wanted to help- and quick as he asked me I told him YES. (Come on, what girl wouldn't help, it was a chance to hang out with him!) He was pretty surprised when I said yes, but he got me a screwdriver and got me started on the staples in the floor. For literally the next six hours we worked on that floor together. We talked non-stop about our families, about what we were doing, and I got quized about what music was playing at the time which just happened to be Pink Floyd...(I got lucky to be honest) but I guessed the right band and even the right album which totally impressed him. Later that night he took me out for a chicken bowl to thank me for my help. I can honestly say that I have never felt more comfortable talking and hanging out with anyone. Ryan and I have been together pretty much every day since that carpet day. Ryan told me later that before he ran into Rhome, even though it had been years since they had seen each other, that his name had popped into his head while he was looking for a renter. That's why as soon as he saw him he asked him to move in with him.