Benny Blanco & Selena Gomez: Our First Date

Selena Gomez has boldly proclaimed her love for boyfriend Benny Blanco — and it turns out the 32-year-old was just as bold in heating up their romance more than a year ago.

Benny, 36, thought the two were solidly in friend territory until the “Lose You to Love Me” singer flipped the narrative. “We were just talking, and then she said, ‘You wanna get dinner?’” Benny recently revealed. At the time, however, he swore he “had no idea” the meal was meant to be romantic. He explained, “We’ve been friends for 10-plus years, maybe 15” — a span that overlapped with Selena’s tumultuous on-off relationship with Justin Bieber — “and I met her when she was like a friend.” Things became clearer during their hang sesh, which included drinks with Benny’s friends followed by a one-on-one dinner. “She was like, ‘I would have worn something different to this date,’” Benny said. “And I was like, ‘Wait, what? We’re on a date?’” Two days later, he revealed, “We hung out… and then I literally just kissed her, and the rest is history.”

A year later, the pair are known for their PDA-filled social media posts and attached-at-the-hip life. “They’re together almost every day,” says a source, adding that they’re looking at next steps. “Marriage and kids are definitely on the agenda.” (In September, the Only Murders in the Building star revealed that because she has lupus, she is not able to carry her own children.) “People can see how well-matched they are,” adds the source. “They bring out the best in each other.”