Ben and I met through an app called Bumble in September 2023, and we officially started dating on October 13, 2023—truly the best Friday the 13th ever! He asked me out during the second intermission of a UND hockey game, and we’ve been inseparable ever since. Not long after we started dating, he moved in with me, and our relationship blossomed quickly. As we grew closer, we started talking about engagement and planning our future together. One Saturday, we were in Fargo when Ben suggested we look at rings. We stopped by the mall and Riddle’s, where I added a few options to my list. A couple of weeks later, we returned to Fargo because Riddle’s had ordered a ring in that Ben and I had been eyeing online for months. The moment I tried it on, I couldn’t stop thinking about it. Ben could tell right away from my expression that it was the one. About a month later, we decided to purchase the ring. I kept telling Ben, “Make sure you propose when you feel ready.” We planned a whole day trip to Fargo with my parents and Ben’s mom to pick up the ring. Afterward, we went out for lunch, did some shopping, and headed back to Grand Forks. Once home, we put the ring in the safe since I wasn’t expecting to get engaged for at least six more months. That evening, I went grocery shopping with my parents, and when I returned, something felt different. Ben was unusually quiet, and if you know Ben, you know that’s not like him at all! I went to get some ice for my water bottle and heard him fiddling with something in the back bedroom. Curious, I walked in to see what he was doing. As soon as I entered, he looked at me and said, “I think now is the perfect time.” I instantly started shaking—I was in complete shock! I hadn’t expected it to happen so soon, but it was so us. There I was, in my pajamas with a messy bun, and it couldn’t have been more perfect.