If you have been in contact with a known positive person, PLEASE do not come. If there is any doubt, please protect the people around you.

It was hot. It was sweaty. The pace was building, and only continuing to build, until he finished. Now, if you think this is dirty, then the bride did her job and mislead y'all, but the first time these two met, it was Samantha's first week of work at UNI and first time covering the conditioning that is held in the summer. Lee was an offensive lineman for the Panthers and could only ever complete the lift and run in the afternoon... when the air was sticky and the heat unbearable if you're the one running. Samantha's first moments meeting Lee (her future husband nonetheless) was learning his name, which she thought was a cool name that she wished she had, and laughing to herself as he struggled running half gassers. Samantha specifically covered football for UNI as a graduate assistant, but chose the offensive line to cover during practice, which conveniently is Lee's position group. These two spent the entire summer together (by force), followed by every single day afterwards because they ALSO shared the same graduate classes. After the football season ended and classes continued, they continued to see each other every day (slightly less forced) until the spring, when the story takes a dramatic twist....

Lee knew the moment he met Samantha. He relentlessly flirted, which only resulted in Samantha's boss pulling him aside to mention "absolutely not...in season". He complimented her nail colors, hair style changes, and even her therapeutic therapy, while also acting like a child by leaving ultrasound gel artworks throughout the athletic training room and plunging into the hydroworx with a perfect cannonball.... promptly flooding the wet room and leaving Samantha livid (typical). However, Samantha continued working blind to Lee's feelings because the two of them are absolutely terrible at flirting and picking up on the hints. The two were friends throughout the season and into the spring, occasionally enjoying each other's company in a crowd, until Easter Sunday (of all days), when Samantha vaguely offered to go out to dinner with Lee. As previously mentioned, Lee was not sure if Samantha had actually asked him out, so he left her in a panic with his unusual delay in response while he went to ask one of his closest friends if this was a date (YES). After agreeing on a date, time, and place, and a few arguments over who was driving, April 3, 2018 the couple went on their first date. On this first date, in the time spent sharing old stories and currents interests, the two already knew this was something different, hidden beneath their noses this whole time. By April 7, 2018, they quite literally became inseparable.

Now, Lee and Samantha knew this was the real deal: there was never a doubt since the first date. Lee had even mentioned engagement rings less than two months into dating (for real). It's June 2019. Early in this month, Lee had flown home for a friend's wedding where he also brought back a small box, unknown to Samantha (it's the ring). Lee had been planning for quite some time on when and where this proposal was happening. Everyone, including Samantha, thought Lee was going to propose in March in Colorado on a mountain (spoiler: he didn't), and again at the spring game (except Samantha, hard pass). At this point, Samantha was slightly discouraged. Now at the end of June 2019, the couple was preparing for a vacation to Long Beach Island, New Jersey. A much needed vacation was finally in sight. The two traveled across the country to visit (and meet) family and enjoy themselves on the water. July 1, 2019 and Samantha is drunk at a local brewery because she didn't eat much all day walking around with Lee. He laughed with (and at) her while sneakily taking pictures of her to both commemorate the day and because he admires her THAT much. The two enjoyed an afternoon of Samantha sampling beers and exploring LBI. However, Lee had something planned for the evening. Lee only mentioned a nice family dinner but suggested a walk to the historic light house before leaving. The evening was gorgeous, the water was calm, only inviting the two to come out onto the rocks to enjoy the view. Samantha walked out furthest first and stood there alone for a minute, before Lee called to her to turn around and come back a bit. Lee took her hands in his, kissed her gently before giving a deep, heartfelt speech while lowering to one knee, leaving Samantha speechless as he asked "Will you marry me?" And Samantha promptly replied "Fuck yes."