I've Been Writing About Her for Months. Now You Get to Meet Her.

Written 7/9/2026I’d like you to meet Leanna.We met on a dance floor.Long before I ever asked her out, I noticed something about her. She sparkled. It was as though she walked into a room with a spotlight on her while everyone else quietly faded into the background.At least, that’s how it felt to me.For several weeks, I admired her from across the dance floor but never made a move. She wore a ring on her left hand, and being a guy, I simply assumed she was married.One evening, in the middle of a dance, I finally worked up the courage to ask, “Does your husband enjoy dancing as much as you do?”Without missing a beat, she smiled and said, “I don’t have one of those.”Still spinning, I immediately replied, “Would you like to have coffee with me?”Thankfully, she said yes.Coffee turned into dinner.Our “one-hour” first date lasted four hours.Our second date lasted ten.Somewhere during those conversations, I realized I wasn’t simply enjoying someone’s company. I had met someone genuinely extraordinary.For once, I didn’t try to control the outcome. I didn’t overthink every conversation. I didn’t create rules about where the relationship should be after a certain amount of time. I simply let it unfold.Ironically, that’s what made everything feel so natural.Today, I couldn’t be happier.A few weeks ago, we entered America’s Favorite Couple simply because it sounded like a fun adventure to experience together. We’ve bounced between 5th and 9th place, and it’s been a lot of fun watching the competition unfold.If you’d like to support us, we’d be honored if you voted for us. You can vote once each day, and every vote means a great deal to us.Thank you for cheering us on.https://americasfavcouple.org/2026/robert-and-leanna This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit rslayton.substack.com/subscribe