Happily Ever Edmond

Kiana and Malcolm both graduated from Howard University in 2018. Despite four years on the same campus and plenty of mutual friends, they never met, *allegedly*. It took them both graduating, moving across the country, and returning to D.C. for Homecoming a year later before their paths finally crossed. It was Homecoming 2019. A Sunday, to be exact, and the rooftop day party at Decades was packed. One of Kiana’s line sisters decided to play matchmaker, telling each of them that the other was interested. Whatever she said, it worked. After exchanging a few looks across the room, Malcolm finally closed the gap. As soon as he did, Kiana was quick to call him out for just staring so long. Malcolm flashed his gold grills and matched her energy with a cheeky response of his own. A little flirting turned into banter over what the moves were that night. They exchanged information and made plans to reconnect later, but still managed to leave DC without ever seeing each other again. Once back in Los Angeles, Malcolm wasted no time reaching out to Kiana to ask her on a date. The date was straight out of your favorite romcom meet-cute. They went to Taste of LA, bonding over their mutual love of good food and new experiences. Six years, seven countries, two apartments, and one pandemic later, they’ve built a life full of love, laughs, adventure, fun, family turned friends and friends turned family. They’ve become each other’s favorite person to come home to and the person they want beside them for whatever life brings next. Looking back, they wonder how many times their paths crossed on the Yard, in the iLab, or on South Beach during that one spring break, never knowing that the person they would one day call home was already so close. Perhaps an invisible string had been connecting them all along, quietly drawing them toward the life they were meant to share. They may not have known it then, but God’s timing was perfect. Now, they’re preparing to become husband and wife in Mexico, surrounded by the people who have loved and supported them along the way. They can’t wait to celebrate with their favorite people and begin their next chapter together. #HappilyEverEdmond