The fullest circle.

I have to preface this blog with a story I have already shared, so I will make it as short as possible (for real this time).

Despite knowing I had the final stage of a job interview in Columbus, Ohio on April 15, 2022 and intended to move, I went on my first date with Brad two days prior. I didn't think one date would hurt anybody, and if I didn't like him, I had the perfect exit plan.

I had no intentions of telling him about the Ohio job until after I had my offer in hand, but the morning after our date, I accidentally texted him instead of my best friend, Brooke.

Oops. It was fairly traumatic for both of us.

After I told him the truth about the job, Brad was ... devastated, to put frankly.

Despite acknowledging that we had only been on one date and barely knew each other, Brad expressed that he was so disappointed I was moving, because he had done a lot of work to figure out what he wanted in life and a partner, and it was appearing to be a rarer personality than he had hoped. After a plethora of bad dates and dysfunctional romantic interests, he was relieved to meet someone with whom he felt he finally aligned.

I felt so bad for the situation I had put him in. Apparently, one date could hurt somebody. I genuinely really liked him, though, so we continued to text over the next few days, despite knowing our fate.

"It would be so stupid for me not to take advantage of any time I could spend with you while you are still here," he had said.

Brad made me a music playlist for my trip up to Ohio, and I thought that was the sweetest gesture. My whole drive up, we sent voice memos back and forth, because I was still too nervous to talk on the phone, despite already having gone on a date. (Anybody who knows me knows that I absolutely loathe phone calls).

The next afternoon, during my in-person interview, I was extended an offer. I asked to have the weekend to look things over and make my final decision.

The first person I texted when I got to my car was Brad. Not my mom. Not my best friend. Not my brother. Brad.

"Do you want the good news or the bad news first?" I asked.

"I want any and all news related to your life," he replied.

"Good news: You have 36 days to spend with me. Bad news: You have 36 days to spend with me."

He asked me if the 36 days was a hard cut off.

I said I didn't know, that my life was the hottest of messes, that I was taking it one hour at a time, because even one day at a time was too daunting.

Despite not having our second date planned until Tuesday, when I left Ohio on Sunday, I didn't go home. I went to Brad's house. We were already missing one another and knew our time with each was limited to 36 days.

The next day, I declined the job. They replied and offered me more money. I declined again.

My mom will tell everybody and their cousin that I turned the job down for Brad.

That sure does make for a romantic story, but it would also make me a lunatic.

This job paid 5-figures more than my current job, and it was my chance to return home to my family after a devastating divorce that left me with no local support system. The cards had finally aligned for me, so why would I throw them out the window?

Call it what you want, but all I know is that my gut was screaming at me to decline that job.

So, I listened.

I couldn't fathom leaving Goodwill to work in the marketing department for the City of Powell, a very privileged demographic. Even if it meant a chance to return home.

Little did I know, back when we met, there was a Best Buy job opening in Columbus. Brad's boss approached him about it, and Brad said he was interested in the job because a girl he was "dating" was accepting a job there. By dating, he meant "we have been on one date and she hasn't even agreed to a second one yet."

Once I turned down my job, Brad halted the process for his job (which is now held by one of his very best friends who is in our wedding party).

Two and half years later, we are moving to Columbus after all. But this time, we are doing it together.

I don't believe "everything happens for a reason," but this feels very orchestrated. More than a decade ago, I left home to dive into my career at Goodwill Kentucky, and now, I get to return "home" while staying in the Goodwill family. And I get to do it all with my best friend and the love of my life, my second chance.