They met in college through mutual friends. When Alex came over for a movie night, Emma couldn’t take her eyes off him. They ended up talking until 3 a.m., with the Moana title track accidentally looping in the background the whole time. They took it slow, starting with a solid friendship and two years of adventures — chasing a total solar eclipse in North Carolina, circling Lake Michigan, and hiking in Arizona. Alex would pass by Emma’s archery class on his way to yoga, waving hello every time. The truth? Alex liked Emma from the start but never made a move. Emma liked Alex from the start but assumed he just wanted to be friends. Torture for both of them. That changed on Valentine’s Day 2018. Emma gave Alex his first-ever bouquet of flowers and a slideshow of their adventures. Alex gave her spicy chocolate — which she politely threw away after he left. Six months later, they had moved to North Carolina, where Emma mentored teenage boys and Alex became a cider maker, with huge thanks to Aunt Carin and Uncle Chris for their support. When COVID hit, they returned to Milwaukee and went to massage school together, grateful to be home near family. Now, they’ve adopted two cats — brothers named Light and Shadow — and spend their time playing D&D with friends, reading, watching movies, and saving for their next adventure.