Carli and Jake matched on Hinge on May 3, 2022, and instantly bonded over their shared love of movies, music, and comedy. Both were in transitional places in their lives and initially decided to just be friends—but between their effortless magnetism toward each other and the fact that they lived literally one block apart, they quickly became inseparable (Jake had set his Hinge radius to one mile to avoid driving across the city—though the jury’s still out on whether that was laziness). A few months later, they inadvertently shared their first date, splitting a plate of Swedish meatballs in the IKEA dining hall and laughing like they’d known each other forever. The early days that followed were filled with long drives to Carli’s favorite beach spots, trading playlists, and Jake patiently (and enthusiastically) catching up on the movies Carli considers absolutely essential viewing. From the start, laughter has been at the heart of their relationship—Jake brings out Carli’s silly side, and Carli brings out Jake’s sensitive side. At home, you’ll usually find them cuddled up with their rambunctious cat, Georgi, playing video games, quoting movies, and laughing at their own jokes. What began with a swipe has grown into a love built on friendship, joy, communication, and a whole lot of fun.