Nicole Marie Crowder, who is typically punctual, was late to her first date with Robert Michael Ballengee Jr. In her haste to meet up, she messaged that she was running behind on the Tinder app, where they initially met. But because they had exchanged phone numbers weeks priorjili777, he didn’t think to check the app as he waited outside Spyhouse Coffee Roasters in Minneapolis.

Mr. Ballengee, who goes by Mike, had a rule: coffee or drinks for the first date as a less formal and more efficient way to explore a connection.

Ms. Crowder, an editor and upholstery designer, had moved back to Minnesota, where her family still lives, in December 2020 after living for 15 years in Washington. While she planned to move to Los Angeles the following year, she ultimately decided to stay close to family. In June 2021, she swiped right on Mr. Ballengee.

He waited 10 minutes, wondering if he was being stood up, but still he stuck around; Ms. Crowder arrived a few minutes later.

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After two hours of chatting, it was clear they were hitting it off. Chief among their converging interest: film. They would learn later that they shared a love for the movie “Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind.”

Ms. Crowder, 39, began hinting at grabbing a bite to eat during that first date, and Mr. Ballengee, 46, didn’t want the conversation to end. So he broke his rule and they strolled to Black Sheep, a pizzeria nearby.

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