Real life gay Love stories

Dan and Israel

We’ve decided to share our love story as we have both said we would have loved to read real life gay love stories when we were growing up……

Monday 12th January 2009. A fresh faced 21-year-old me (Dan) heads out with a group of friends to Queens court in Leeds.

I’m upstairs when I glance over to the DJ booth and see a very attractive, 18 year old Israel, he catches me looking and looks back, this continues for most of the night.

It gets to closing and I’m ready to head home, but…I still haven’t spoken to Chris so, I go over to him, tell him how attractive I think he is and ask for his number which he shares, we have a kiss and I leave excited at knowing I will contact him in the not too distant future.

The next few days we begin messaging about all sorts of things but mainly getting to know one another, its leading up to me asking Israel out on a “proper date” when the messages stop, no more replies, phones going straight to voicemail, nothing. I keep asking “Did I say something wrong” checking my texts over and over but can’t see anything, no reason for the sudden silence, so I begin to realise I’ve likely been ghosted! With this in mind I decide to go on another night out, this time heading to Mission nightclub.

As I walk in and head to the main dance area I see Israel, I can’t believe it, what do I do, should I say hi, should I leave as he clearly isn’t interested what with the silence, what do I do?

However, delighted at seeing me, he comes over and begins explaining that he’s so glad he’s seen me….he explains that he lost his phone and now has a new one but all numbers including mine had gone. it now makes sense, that’s why I’ve not heard from him!

However, I’m also thinking is it coincidence that he’s in the nightclub I have decided to visit or is it fate?

Anyway we pick up where we left off, getting to know each other more, were chatting, dancing and having a great time, were getting on so well that what felt like only 5 minutes, was 5 hours and the lights came on in the club, it’s time for home, were both gutted but agree that we do want to see each other again so we exchange numbers for the 2nd time.

The following weeks and months consist of us chatting almost daily, meeting each other’s families, going on holiday and seeing each other regularly for drinks, meals, overnight stays and gradually building a relationship together, learning more about one another’s interests likes and dislikes.

At around 8 months I tell Israel I think I’ve fallen in love with him and he tells me the same, it’s at this point we start planning our future together.

Fast forward 12 years later, 4 houses, numerous ups and downs like any other couple, countless holidays and 2 fur babies we are happily settled in our forever home, we have plans to take a year out in the not too distant future, but for now we are happy, healthy, very much in love and wouldn’t want it any other way.