Mike Chalub, left, and Tyler Freebairn.Handout
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Nearly two years after meeting on Tinder, Mike Chalut and Tyler Freebairn finally got serious about their dating life – with a little help from rom-com queen Drew Barrymore.
Who: Mike Chalut, radio host KISS 91.7, 40. Tyler Freebairn, finance professional GoAuto, 24.
Location: Edmonton
Relationship status: Dating since February.
“Forever single” meets “new in town”
Mike: We’ve only been together for a couple of months now, but our story goes back to the spring of 2016. I was the forever single guy and had basically given up on love. You know, swipe, swipe, swipe. When I got matched with Tyler on Tinder he was so my type that I assumed he was going to catfish me.
Tyler: I had just moved back from Vegas, just gotten out of a serious relationship. The first person who came up was this guy in a bright pink jacket, which was the tackiest thing I had ever seen, but for some reason I decided to give him a chance. We started messaging back and forth –
Mike: On Tinder it’s often “Hey” and then “Hey” and then hooking up. When Tyler asked “How are you?” I thought – this guy has potential.
Dating in bulk
Mike: The craziest thing is that, a couple of days after we matched on Tinder, we ended up at the same nightclub. I bought him a drink and I went in for a kiss. I think I came on a little strong.
Tyler: That’s just kind of Mike as a person: in your face, a little extra. I was happy, but also a little confused.
Mike: For a bunch of reasons, we only ended up going on our first date in February of this year, which was a lot of build up. I came up with this idea that we should go on 50 first dates, like the gay sequel to the movie.
Tyler: I was like, which one of us is Drew Barrymore?
From McDonald’s to moving in
Mike: We have done almost all of our dates over six weeks.
Tyler: Yes, but Mike’s version of a date could be going to the grocery store, doing laundry. He would clip my nose hairs and call it a date!
Mike: The McDonald’s date was a big one. Is he going to share his fries? Or the first date putting together IKEA furniture. Really, it has been a great way to take off the pressure and get to know each other.
Tyler: That’s true, except that he talks about our dates on his radio show! My whole family has been listening to every detail. When I go out, strangers will approach me. It’s like my name is “50 First Dates.”
Mike: Well it worked. We’re moving in together May 1st.
Tyler: His apartment is a total university bachelor pad. I have a lot of work to do.