We met our freshman year of college at the University of Illinois-Chicago (UIC) in the Army ROTC program. Our flirting started with math tutoring (obviously Clay tutoring Amara). Clay made it super obvious that he liked Amara after he went to a Halloween party with her after he just returned from the Norwegian Ruck March (18.6 miles with 25lb rucksack). It was all set in stone when Clay gave up his UIC basketball jersey that he won to Amara!

Clay is the best at surprises! He told me months before not to make plans that day and then refused to give me any other hints! At dinner, there was a wedding reception going on in the other room. Clay made the comment that he wouldn't mind having a wedding reception here. I joked that there needs to be a ring first. I had suspected that the proposal would be that day from some clues that I had gathered. I brought up my suspicions and he played off all of them! He assured me that the only surprise was the Game of Thrones orchestra tickets he got us. We enjoyed the amazing concert and started to head to the parking lot. I tried to get in the car, but he kept stopping me (umm I'm cold! Let me in the car!). He then got down on one knee and asked me to be his Khaleesi (it's a Game of Thrones thing, yes I know we are nerds). After I said yes, he told me to turn around and SURPRISE, his parents and my parents were behind me! The night ended with me losing my balance and busting my knee open on the way to my mom's car for champagne. I was still smiling from ear to ear as I sipped champagne and held Dunkin Donuts napkins to my bleeding knee. It was a great night!