Mara &​ Dave

Dave and Mara were both bumming around DC when they met. Their mutual friend Peter convened a group of fellow campaigners for drinks. The night ended at Johnny’s (DC’s Ohio bar, Never Bet Against Ohio) with just the three of them. After Mara left, Dave asked Peter to see if Mara would be interested in a date. Peter crafted a long text message to ask and upon review, Dave objected to Peter’s opening line: “Dave Chase is infatuated with you.” Without hesitation, Peter said, “trust me” and hit send to Dave’s dismay. On the other end of that text, Mara was indeed intrigued by the word “infatuated.” And of course it would be true soon enough.

A couple of rainchecks later, Dave and Mara were back at Johnny’s for their first date. The conversation was one for the ages, anyone listening would know these two were meant for each other. The only hiccup? Mara didn’t know it was a date. 🤦 She invited a friend to crash drinks thinking it was just a networking thing. Dave, dismayed for the second time, politely left.

Not to be deterred, Dave tried once more. To Saint Vincent’s (Mara’s favorite bar) they went. This time Mara managed to sus out Dave wasn’t just looking for intros and a proper date followed. The date even continued when the two were independently invited to the same hang later that evening where Mara took note of Dave’s appreciation for the perfect Nacho bite.

The two were inseparable after that. The callous would say it was because Mara’s place was nicer than the spare room Dave was living in, but the truth is Dave fell in love with Mara just a few weeks in while dancing in her kitchen at 3 AM over a half cooked pot of Annie’s.