Valerie Bertinelli's Boyfriend Mike Goodnough Speaks Out, Says Their Relationship Is ‘a Gift’: 'I Just Adore Her'

Valerie Bertinelli's boyfriend Mike Goodnough is proud to say they’re together.

The pair quietly went public on April 3 when the Indulge cookbook author, 63, stepped out for a filming of The Drew Barrymore Show with him by her side. But now, Goodnough, who goes by the moniker Hoarse Whisperer, is making it internet-official.

“I am Valerie Bertinelli’s boyfriend… and that may well be among the most surreal sentences I’ve ever pecked out. But it’s true… and nothing about our actual relationship seems surreal. It just seems… good… lucky… a gift,” he wrote on his Substack called Hoarse Whisperings.

“I just adore her. I’m so glad we’re together,” Goodnough added.

Bertinelli graced the cover of PEOPLE in April and revealed that she was "madly in love" — but wasn't ready to name her boyfriend at the time. Since then, the two have hinted at their relationship.

Goodnough's recent Substack post is titled “Rumors, Rumors, Rumors.”

“There is a certain bit of gossip about my alleged love life floating around which I have been loath to comment on. However, now that it has apparently reached the tabloids, I think it is likely best that I address it head on,” he explained. 

“There is apparently a rumor circulating alleging Valerie Bertinelli and I are romantically involved somehow… that we are dating or are a couple even,” he continued. 

Goodnough then referred to Bertinelli as “the one who has won two Emmy’s and two Golden Globe Awards; hosted her own cooking show for fourteen seasons; and written six books including a #1 New York Times best seller. That one.”

“Valerie freaking Bertinelli… dating… me!?! I know. Ludicrous. How would that even f------ happen?” he quipped. 

After a bit of backstory involving Panera, he later added, “So, the little rumor going around, consider it happily confirmed.”

Bertinelli shared a photo on Threads on Tuesday, April 16 of them together outside of the Drew Barrymore Show studio. "Hiding in plain sight 🤭" she wrote.

"No idea who the security guy is but you look great,” Goodnough joked in response on the Threads post. 

Bertinelli previously told PEOPLE that her new romance was "a seesaw of emotions because I was adamant I was never falling in love again."

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"I was supposed to die with my six cats and my dog,” she said with a laugh, “and very happily live the rest of my years alone — I'm good alone.”

The television star added that the relationship came unexpectedly. “My belly is flip-flopping," she said. "This was not supposed to happen."