Aeri and Andy were introduced by Andy’s cousin, Connie. Connie introduced the two of them under the pretense that Aeri and Andy both shared the same birthday. But the introduction didn’t happen in the typical sense because, at the time, Aeri and Andy didn’t even live in the same state. A group of friends were chatting online when Connie decided to cyber-introduce the two.
Aeri and Andy hit it off right away, but not like you would think. They became instant friends, and remained best friends… albeit long distance best friends… for several years. They never lived in the same place at the same time even though their families both lived in Arizona. During this phone-friendship, Aeri had set Andy up with several of her girlfriends, and vice versa; however, none of these relationships panned out for either Aeri nor Andy. They never once thought that there might be something romantic between the two of them, until about six years later when Aeri moved back to Arizona and they finally began to spend more time with one another.
There wasn’t a decisive moment for either one of them that eludes to the shift from friendship to romance, but there was a defining action. One night as Aeri and Andy walked together, Andy slowly moved his hand into hers, which is where it has remained for the last nine years.
What a beautiful story about Aeri and Andy! Thanks so much for sharing these gorgeous images.