Our Story

How it Began

Although we are not that young, our story is not long. We met for brunch almost two years ago on an easy summer Sunday in Durham, North Carolina. Indeed, we met online (thank you, Bumble) and chatted for a couple of weeks before meeting in person. We both had things to do and didn't think it'd take too long - and ended up staying there until close time!

We went on a second date that same week. Pete found a pet-friendly restaurant so Toni's dog, Bonnie, could join too. Gladly, it was a success and Pete and Bonnie really liked (or were crazy about) each other! After a few more dates, it was time for Pete to leave for his long-awaited around-the-world trip, for a whole month. He made sure to call Toni almost everyday, whether from the RDU airport, from a biergarden in Berlin, from a market in Bangkok, or from his infinity pool at sunset in Phuket.

After that, he took a long flight back to the US, via Manila, and landed in LA. He had to attend (or so he said) a travel agents' conference in Disneyland. All this time, he kept in touch and shared the many bits of Mexican culture that’s deeply embedded there, such as the mariachi in Disney and Elvis in Acapulco.

Meanwhile, Toni had her own travels too. She went to New Orleans and Puerto Rico for work (really!). Then she went to the beach with friends, where Bonnie saw the sea for the first time, and to the Blue Ridge mountains on a lab team-building retreat.

All along, we stayed connected and sent each other pictures of what we did and saw, until Pete finally flew back from LA, the day after Toni returned from the mountains.

Since then, there hasn’t been a day since we haven’t seen or talked to each other at least once a day - on happy and not so happy days.