We're on two separate computers so it must be a bug.
It will be a good game for you two to play, it takes time to get it running properly.
You were not able to join the MP site, or did you have trouble when you tried to launch a game?
Custom Civs among other things are not allowed at the moment as they are causing desyncs.
The multi-player channel on GCIVs Discord is the best place for info on these restrictions I would go there and look.