WHEN STEVE MET PEGI (AGAIN): Fargo man, GF woman talk about strange start to relationship

Together at last.

Steve Hicks and Pegi, the mystery woman he tracked down this week, appeared on The Jay Thomas Show on Friday afternoon on WDAY Radio to speak for themselves.

Although they were a little reluctant to receive any more publicity, the couple set the record straight for those who questioned Hicks’s extensive efforts to rekindle their relationship.

Thomas, the host of the show, admitted he was “eating crow” after examining the story with a critical eye Thursday, before he heard the news that they reunited.

After Pegi’s number didn’t come through on Hicks’ cell phone the night they met at The Hub bar in Fargo last month, Hicks was determined to find her.

Hicks took out an ad in the City Briefs section of the Herald earlier this week and told his story to the Herald, which ran the article Wednesday. Hicks’s story quickly gained attention regionwide — and Pegi’s attention, too. She returned his messages Thursday afternoon, and soon after, they reunited for the first time since the concert Jan. 23.

During Friday’s WDAY interview, Pegi, who is from Grand Forks, had the chance to reveal her side of the story, telling how she saw Hicks at the Tracy Lawrence concert and hoped they’d meet. They did later at the Cadillac Ranch, a small bar at the Hub.

Hicks clarified Pegi was the one who suggested exchanging numbers, asking him for his number first. He admits he didn’t bring his phone into the bar that night because he “wasn’t really in the mood for looking for numbers.”

After meeting Pegi, he regretted that decision. Thomas asked Pegi if she really called Hicks’s phone to leave her number. “I did, yes,” Pegi replied.

After the two separated that night — Hicks had to give a friend a ride home — and Pegi’s number wasn’t on his phone, Hicks admitted he was “bummed” for a couple of days. He said he didn’t want Pegi to think he hadn’t returned her call. “I did believe that,” she said on the air.

At first, Pegi didn’t see Hicks’s ad in the Herald, but a friend who delivers the newspaper noticed it.

After seeing the ad, Pegi said she thought it was very romantic but admitted she was a bit unsure what to do next. She consulted with friends before calling. She said she wasn’t worried about Hicks’ intentions, more along the lines of being shocked.

Hicks said he has the weekend off from Cargill in Wahpeton, N.D., but is sure his co-workers won’t let this episode rest.

Ring is a reporting intern at the Herald. Reach her at kring@gfherald.com.

Tags: local news, steve hicks, north dakota, northern valley region, gf and egf, grand forks, want ads searches, tracy lawrence, the jay thomas show, pegi, dating, fargo, crookston, wday-am, radio