Hi y’all! I’m Caitlyn—a Southern belle born and raised in South Carolina. In 2021, I packed up and moved to the big city of Chicago for work, ready for a new adventure. Just 20 days after arriving, I matched with a Midwest boy named Chase on Hinge. Believe it or not, he was my very first Hinge date. We met over sushi and pickleback shots (yes, really!), and the conversation just flowed. At one point, he asked where I was from in South Carolina. I told him not to worry—he probably wouldn’t know the town. To my surprise, he said, “Well, I’ve been to Darlington for races growing up—my uncle used to work at the racetrack there.” That racetrack? Just eight miles from my childhood home. From that moment, I had a feeling this guy might be different. Over the next two years, we dated on and off. Chase introduced me to Michigan Avenue, the card game Euchre, and converted me into a full-fledged Wolverines fan (Go Blue!). He was always the nice guy—bringing flowers, planning thoughtful dates, and insisting on walking on the street side of the sidewalk. Naturally, I told him I couldn't date him seriously because he was “too nice.” (Oops.) Fast forward to late summer of 2023—Chase got a new job in Davidson, NC, and not long after, I was placed in Charlotte. Fate brought us back together, and this time, we decided to give it a real shot. We made it official, moved in together, and even bought a house. The rest, as they say, is history—or as I like to think of it, just the beginning.