It all started in 2016 when I had been working at Carbone’s Pizzeria. One day I noticed a new face washing dishes in the back sink and being the up-tight “stick-in-the-ass” kind of person I was I went up and introduced myself with a handshake and in a booming voice, I said, “Hi, I’m Charles!” causing Briana to jump and turn around. Once I had ruined that first impression of myself we happily went about our workday. A year later on July 4th, I texted Briana and invited her over for fireworks. As the night grew closer Briana finally read my text and accepted to come over and spend time with me while ditching her own friends. We went on to enjoy the fireworks and have a fun night setting off fireworks together while looking into the sky at the lovely bright lights. When the show was over, I awkwardly invited her to play video games. She reluctantly agreed and played specifically the zombies game-mode in Call of Duty. On August 1st, 2017 we both went on a date to Charlotte beach to enjoy the weather. I found this a perfect opportunity to make it official with Briana and become her boyfriend by awkwardly asking “Do you want to be my girlfriend?” From this point on we were boyfriend and girlfriend, going on dates, creating memories, eventually moved into our own apartment on February 15th, 2020, and adopted our dog, Tucker, on June 28th, 2020.

Her Version I started working at Carbone’s on August 24th, 2016 which is Charles’ Birthday…I like to say I was his birthday present from our boss. During our year of working together, Charles and I were quick friends as he was always laughing and fun to work with but even then he could get on my nerves like nobody else! So when he asked me over to his house on July 4th for fireworks a year later I definitely did ditch my friends to go hang out with Charles seeing as there was already a connection between us. And when he asked if I wanted to play video games I thought I could impress him since I had played a lot with my siblings but that did not go as planned because I was not as good as I thought I was. From that night on we grew closer and closer and as my best friend he stuck by me through high school, college, and the start of my career and it’s safe to say there is nobody I’d rather have by me for the rest of my life.

On September 14th, 2020 Charles was on his computer playing video games when he got it in his head that this was the night he was going to propose to Briana, as he had had the ring for over a year already. He had to work up the courage to call Briana’s father and ask for his blessing. To get himself ready he talked to Tucker to work up the nerve by saying things like, “I am Going to do it!” and “Tonight is the night!” getting both him and Tucker excited. After a short conversation explaining that he wanted to grow and create a life with his daughter, Don gave his blessing and wished him luck in dealing with Briana's inherited sarcasm. That night Briana was working until 9:30 PM and did not get home until 10 PM. Briana likes to immediately get into comfy clothes and start relaxing, so Charles anxiously held the engagement ring in his pocket while Briana rummaged around the apartment. After waiting what felt like an eternity, he took Briana by the shoulders and stood her in the middle of the living room, and asked her one of the most important questions of his life, “Will you marry me?” What made this moment extra special for Briana was the fact that Tucker sat right next to Charles and waited patiently for Briana to finally say yes.