Mutual desire for drinking brought Gregory Lawrence Reck and Emily Blakely Starkey together, but they were online friends for four years before the relationship became romantic.
The two attended a late-night 12-stage meeting held in the car park at a shopping mall in Austin, Texas in October 2018.
“I found this cute girl who was new and calm at the time, chatting with a friend,” Reck said. “I approached to say hello to the group. We all introduced ourselves and talked about where we worked.”
She quickly warmed him when Reck told Starkey he was pursuing a career in public education. She said she was a public school teacher who loved her job. “There is this unique bond between people who share their love for public education,” she said.
A few days later, Reck, 31, and Starkey, 30, were in touch online by adding each other as Facebook friends, exchanging messages several times a month and commenting on each other's posts.
Their virtual interactions increased in 2020, when 12-stage meetings went online due to the pandemic. “We communicated more frequently, so we started looking at Greg's profile pictures in more detail and realized how attractive he was,” Starkey said.
Mr. Reck was also drawn to her. “We were encouraging each other to stay calm during difficult times,” he said. “Our careers have progressed and we talked about education and social justice.”
Starkey worked as a high school English teacher, while Mr. Reck was a policy analyst at a Texas Educational Institution.
In November 2022, they saw each other at a 12-step meeting in person. “Emily came in and closed her eyes,” Reck said. “We both broke out with smiles and we were so happy to see each other.”
They then chatted and agreed to attend the same meeting the following week. And next week. And the next. Their conversations became longer and more personal.
One night, Reck asked Starkey if he wanted to grab a late-night dinner. “My heart fluttered,” she said.
The two shared a meal on Whataburger and talked about their struggle as teenagers until 3am.
“It's very rare to meet someone at such a young age who has the same life experience as you,” Reck said. Both of them calmed down for the first time as teenagers, recurring in their early 20s and calming down again in their mid 20s.
Before they could say goodbye, Mr. Reck kissed Mr. Starkey in the Whataburger parking lot and said he wanted to see her again. “I was upset by the depth of the conversation,” she said.
The pair are now inseparable. They spent most of the night and weekend together despite a 45 minute drive between apartments. Attending the weekly 10:30pm meeting has become an important part of their daily lives.
“I was already in an overwhelming pull towards Greg and was sure I wanted to marry him,” she said.
Reck had known for months that Emily was “one,” he said. “When we were staring in the countryside of the hills in December, I looked over her under the stars that made her shine and was completely mitted.”
Mr. Rek grew up in Bangkok, Cairo and Buenos Aires. He is a senior policy analyst at a Texas Educational Institute, where he conducts research and provides guidance to state public school districts. He holds a bachelor's degree in political science from St. Edward University in Austin and a master's degree in educational policy and planning from the University of Texas at Austin.
Starkey is originally from Columbia, Michigan and works as an English teacher at Arkins Erly College High School in Austin. She holds a bachelor's degree in English from Texas State University.
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They got engaged in July while on a holiday to Seattle. “We were looking at the space needle when Greg fell to one knee,” she said.
They married on March 15th at One Eleven East, an event space in Hatt, Texas. Rob Collins, the couple's best friend appointed to the American Ministry of Marriage, presided over 120 guests.
The couple had their first dance to the “Charged Car” of Snow Patrol.
The reception featured a traditional bar and a coffee bar serving alcohol. “Emily and I toasted Ice Chai Latte and her Ice Vanilla Latte with extra espresso,” Reck said. “We toasted our lifelong commitment and love.”
