Instagram DMs brought Brayden and Montana together around December 2020, at the end of a difficult year marked by Covid and unusual high school schedules. Both were excited about attending Oklahoma State the following fall and had access to the Okstate2025 Instagram page. Montana posted on the page, and Brayden messaged her, seeing that they had many similarities. They immediately started talking non-stop—even though they were 5 hours away from each other. Brayden was from Flower Mound and Montana from Midland. In mid-December, Montana was in the DFW metroplex for a UIL football playoff game. Unfortunately, Brayden had Covid at the time, so their first interaction was limited; Montana and her friends drove by Brayden's house and waved from afar. The pair continued to text and soon planned their first visit. To convince his parents to let him drive to Midland for a weekend, he put together a slide show to sell them on it. Kelly and Casey thankfully said yes, and the first weekend date was set. Brayden drove up on a Saturday and got the full Midland tour: a run in Windlands Park, a drive by the Bush Family Home State Historic Site, a visit to the Chris Kyle Memorial, and attending a friend's birthday party. Midland—and Montana—made a lasting impression, and the next meeting was planned for a month later. Upon arriving at the Mack household for their second visit, Brayden asked Montana to be his girlfriend. She said yes, and they have celebrated February 12th as their anniversary ever since. During their senior year, despite their busy schedules, they managed to see each other about every two weeks. At the beginning of June, Montana invited Brayden to join her senior trip to Aruba. While in Aruba, they got a sense of what it was like to travel together—a great trip they still reminisce about. Next came the college chapter in Stillwater! Freshman year at OSU, Brayden lived on the 5th floor and Montana on the 2nd floor of the co-ed West Commons dorm. They shared a couple of classes and were each involved in their own Greek organizations—Montana in Phi Mu and Brayden in BYX. Throughout their time in Stillwater, Brayden and Montana actually attended class, studied in Edmon Low Library together, enjoyed Eskimo Joes' peppered bacon cheese fries, went to sporting events, spent time with friends, and enjoyed nights out on the Strip. After Brayden graduated from OSU in the fall of 2024, they celebrated with a Mack family trip to the Bahamas. On the way home, they stopped in Miami, where Montana, in the midst of her marathon training, set out on an eight-mile run on the beach. Seizing the moment, and with Montana on a run, Brayden took the opportunity to ask Scott, Stacy, and Kimberlyn for her hand in marriage, to which they happily said yes. A few days later the couple went on a trip to Italy to further celebrate Brayden's college graduation. In Italy, they saw all the sights in Rome, marveled at the scenery in Florence, and to Brayden's suggestion; looked at many jewelry stores. On the trip, Montana shared her ideal engagement ring style, and Brayden took good notes! After their trip they had to go back to doing long distance, as Montana was still finishing up her degrees in Stillwater and Brayden began full-time work in Fort Worth. Upon Montana's graduation a few months later, the couple celebrated with a family trip to Glacier National Park. Brayden, knowing the legendary opportunity that he had available to him, decided he would propose to Montana, in Montana. After a great day exploring the park, Brayden, Montana, and Kimberlyn, set out for an evening stroll to take in the scenery. After arriving at a spot that he had mapped out the day prior, he convinced Montana to "take a photo with him". Brayden got down on one knee and asked Montana to marry him. Montana happily said yes! Now - The two are looking forward to spending the rest of their lives together.