‘Everyone else knew weeks before we did’: readers who fell in love with their best friend

Two-thirds of couples start out as friends first. These readers were looking for love in all the wrong places - before they realised it was staring them right in the face

He was the first person I met at university, the day we moved into halls, and he tried to kiss me that night but I turned him down. I knew we'd be really good friends though, and I even joked that he would be godfather to my children one day. We stayed friends for a number of years as I careered from boyfriend to boyfriend, none of them suitable. Dave remained eternally single, focused on an army career. We stayed in touch and, not long after he returned from Afghanistan, we met up. He was different: he had grown up and looked hot! I saw him in a different light and realised I really fancied him. I was newly single and determined to remain so, but we went on a night out, snogged lots, and the rest is history. I'm so glad we had seven years of friendship - he's still my best friend, we always make each other laugh and he's such a wonderful husband and amazing father to our two children. Laura, insurance underwriter, Yorkshire