A mutual desire for sobriety brought Gregory Lawrence Reck and Emily Blakeley Starkey together, but they were online friends for four years before their relationship turned romantic.
The two met in October 2018 in the parking lot of a shopping mall in Austin, Texas, before attending a late-night 12-step meeting.
“I was newly sober at the time and spotted this cute girl who was chatting with her friends,” said Mr. Reck. “I approached the group to say hello, and we all introduced ourselves and talked about where we worked.”
When Mr. Reck told Ms. Starkey that he was pursuing a career in public education, she immediately warmed to him. She mentioned that she was a public-school teacher who loved her job. “There’s this unique bond between people who share a love for public education,” she said.
A few days later, Mr. Reck, 31, and Ms. Starkey, 30, added each other as Facebook friends and kept in touch online by exchanging messages a few times a month and commenting on each other’s posts.
Their virtual interaction increased in 2020 when 12-step meetings went online because of the pandemic. “Since we were communicating more frequently, I started looking at Greg’s profile pictures more closely and realized how attractive he was,” Ms. Starkey said.
Mr. Reck was drawn to her, too. “We used to encourage each other to stay sober during a difficult time,” he said. “Our careers had progressed, and we talked about teaching and social justice.”
Ms. Starkey was working as a high school English teacher, while Mr. Reck was a policy analyst for the Texas Education Agency.
In November 2022, they saw each other at an in-person 12-step meeting. “Emily walked in, and we locked eyes,” Mr. Reck said. “We both broke out in smiles and were so happy to see each other.”
They chatted afterward and agreed to attend the same meeting the following week. And the next week. And the next. Their conversations became longer and more personal.
One night, Mr. Reck asked Ms. Starkey if she wanted to grab a late-night dinner. “My heart fluttered,” she said.
The two shared a meal at Whataburger and talked until 3 a.m. about their struggles battling alcoholism as teenagers.
“It’s very rare to meet someone with the same life experience as you at such a young age,” Mr. Reck said.
Before they parted ways, Mr. Reck kissed Ms. Starkey in Whataburger’s parking lot and told her that he’d like to see her again. “I was reeling from the depth of our conversation,” she said.
The pair became inseparable. They spent most nights and weekends together despite a 45-minute drive between their apartments. Attending weekly 10:30 p.m. meetings became an essential part of their routine.
“He already had an overwhelming pull toward Greg and was sure I wanted to marry him,” she said.
Mr. Reck had known for months that Emily was “the one,” he said. “There was a moment one night in December when we were stargazing in the Hill Country, and I looked over at her under the glowing stars and was completely smitten.”
The couple had their first dance to “Chasing Cars” by Snow Patrol, an alternative rock song they had bonded over during their early dating days.
The reception featured a traditional bar serving alcohol — and a coffee bar. “Emily and I toasted over my iced chai latte and her iced vanilla latte with extra espresso,” Mr. Reck said. “We toasted to a lifetime of commitment and love.”
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