After unknowingly living across Tower Grove Park from each other for several years, Nick and Annie met when they both "swiped right" on Bumble in November 2022. Annie dropped a line, "Nice to meet another pizza lover and city dweller!" Nick shared his love for Quatro's Deep Pan Pizza in Carbondale, and that is all it took. The two met for beers at Civil Life Brewery in December 2022, and despite having some nerves, they hit it off and knew they had found something special. Over the coming months, the two frequented restaurants, bars, and movie theaters, talking about soccer, family, friends, politics, and their pets. Riplet and Jolene immediately hit it off, and Rory (reluctantly) tolerated adding another human to the mix. They spent three years traveling, cheering on their STL sports teams, and exploring the best food and drinks they could get their hands on. In October 2025, they sealed the deal at Tower Grove Park when Nick got down on one knee and asked Annie to be his wife!