Our story started during routine workouts at what was then MUV Fitness in Forest Acres, SC. As fate would have it, it was leg day for both of us, which meant we kept ending up in the same corner of the gym. Mckinley usually keeps to herself, but Carson has never met a stranger. After Mckinley finished a set on the leg press, Carson decided to break the ice by offering her a “helpful tip.” Mckinley couldn’t help but laugh at the idea of this boy trying to give her leg-day advice. But Carson isn’t easily embarrassed and never misses a chance for conversation, so he kept the small talk going anyway. As Mckinley headed to the stretching area to finish her workout, Carson made a quick jog over to ask for her number before the opportunity passed. Soon we started planning our workouts around the same time, giving Mckinley the chance to show Carson what a real leg day looked like. Gym sessions turned into dates, dates turned into love, and love led us to this next chapter.

Carson started talking more seriously about proposing during the summer of 2024, and being the hyper-observant person I am, I started picking up the little pieces and clues to figure out when it might happen. To keep me guessing, he scheduled dates in a way that wouldn’t give away the exact day, but he made one funny mistake along the way. The first clue came while shopping for ornaments at Hobby Lobby. I spotted a Christmas ornament shaped like a ring box with “2024” engraved on it. I teased Carson, saying, “If only I could get this!” His flustered reaction was priceless, and when he suggested we grab it anyway, I knew it was really happening. Brunch on December 21st, 2024, was unusual... Carson is definitely not a brunch guy—and when he mentioned walking around the USC Horseshoe afterward, all my flags went up. One thing to know about Carson is that he’s really bad at keeping a secret, especially from me. He has such a young heart, and his excitement often takes over—any gift he’s given me, I usually know what it is because he can’t help giving hints. I love a good surprise, so I never press him for information. That’s why, even though I suspected a proposal was coming, I didn’t ask a single question. I wanted him to take the lead and make the moment exactly how he had imagined it, knowing he had worked so hard planning it. At the Horseshoe, Carson suddenly remembered he “forgot something” and slipped something into his pocket. As we walked, he grew quiet. Everyone knows Carson as a talker, and for the first time ever, he was completely at a loss for words. I distracted him by pretending to be fascinated by the statue in the center to give him a little extra time to get ready. Finally, Carson took my hand, guided me down a path, got down on one knee, and proposed. Of course, I said yes.