Parker County Today February 2016 | Page 12

our romances: NINE COUPLES PC Love Stories Through The Ages BY MARSHA BROWN Think romance is dead? Do you fear that living happily ever after is a quaint concept that is outdated? Here are the real stories of real life couples that are living proof that people still really do find their soul mates and that romance is not only alive and well — it’s also fun. Aaron Brabson and Jesye Bridges Newly Engaged FEBRUARY 2016 PA R K E R C O U N T Y T O D AY P arker County Today 2015 Bachelor Aaron Brabson met his soulmate, Jesye Bridges last January when she joined Anytime Fitness, the fitness center he manages. “I became her personal trainer,” Aaron said. “I became one of the Bachelors and it was divine intervention after being single for so long. I asked her out after one of her friends sent me a text message saying that Jesye had a crush on me.” Turns out, Jesye’s friend was correct. “I did have a terrible, ‘little girl’ crush on him,’” Jesye said. “It was so bad that it made me awkward, clumsy.” Soon after Aaron received that startling revelation, he learned that he had a friend’s wedding coming up and, guess what? He could bring a date. The first time they went out together was at a wedding. “I asked her to be my wedding date,” Aaron said. “It was a sunset wedding in the last weekend of April.” Lots of romance was in the air. Aaron knew she was “The One,” when the two physical fitness enthusiasts faced a number of obstacles together. “I joke that I knew she was the one when she did her first obstacle race with me. That was last May and got all muddy with me,” Aaron said. “But, we had been dating for a month or month and a half [and] then we started spending time with my son. When I saw the love she showed for my son, I knew she was very special.” In late January, Aaron enlisted the help of Parker County Today magazine and its staff along with Chef Joe Lane, the Fish Creek crew, Aaron’s family and Jesye’s. All agreed to help him pull off a surprise proposal. Photographer Meagan Parks and Parker County Today Marketing Director Tristan Evans were on hand to help capture the moment for the camera. “It was at Fish Creek and we did have the setup in place,” Aaron said. “I had told her that PCT was doing a bunch of photoshoots of couples having dinner together 10 Photo by Megan Parks as a feature on dating. I told her if we looked really good maybe we would get our picture in the magazine. We were sitting in front of the fire and Meagan was shooting pictures and I got down on one knee. I said that I couldn’t live without her and I said I look forward to spending the rest of my life with her.” He didn’t rehearse it. “But, I did know what I wanted to say and I wanted my speech to be straight from the heart.” As soon as he proposed, the entire family came in. Jesye, of course said yes. “I was totally surprised,” Jesye said. The big day is tentatively set for May of 2017.