Our story started the way many modern love stories do: with a swipe right. We connected on a popular dating app and quickly realized how much we had in common. We were both passionate about the sciences, enjoyed wine tastings on Mass Ave, and even shared a taste for apartment buildings—Kevin had just moved into the same building Manuel had lived in when he first moved to the city three years ago, right on the Indianapolis Canal.

Given our shared connection to the Canal, it was the perfect place for our first date on July 25, 2018. We grabbed a couple of limoncellos from Fresco Italian Cafe and enjoyed a walk along the water. We had such a great time that we met at the Canal again for our second date, this time with a special guest: Johnny, Manuel’s mini schnauzer. We ordered dinner from ClusterTruck, a local delivery service that was a pioneer before Uber Eats and Grubhub became a thing. During our meal, Manuel accidentally dropped some chicken wings, and before he could react, Johnny swooped in and ate them. For all three of them, it was love at first sight.

Our story was just getting started when life threw us a curveball. Manuel received an amazing job offer that he couldn't pass up, but it meant moving to Maryland. Though we had only been dating for a few months, we weren't ready to give up on what we had.

At the time, Kevin's consulting job required him to be in Indianapolis for the first six months, but after that, he could work remotely from anywhere near a major airport. So, in January 2019, we decided to give living together a try. Kevin moved in with Manuel in Maryland for a six-month trial period, keeping his Indianapolis apartment just in case things didn't work out. Luckily, the trial was a huge success.

By July 2019, Kevin officially ended his lease in Indiana, packed up his things, and moved in with Manuel for good. We celebrated by upgrading to a two-bedroom apartment, and the rest, as they say, is history. Since then, we've shared seven years of adventures, living together in three different states. Our journey is just getting started!