We met in the summer of 2016, while we were both training for an upcoming cross country season at the University of Chicago. Claire thought, "that guy has a Band-Aid on his forehead," and Joe was too focused on his math to think about much else. The following school year, Claire's roommate Megan started organizing game nights in their apartment. Over many rounds of Durak and Avalon, we became close friends before developing feelings for the other. While we wouldn't admit it to each other, we did tell all of our mutual friends and wouldn't talk about anything else. They eventually got sick of listening to us and told us to talk to each other about our feelings instead. We started dating in April of 2018 and have been together ever since - through new jobs, Covid, graduations, and Covid graduations. Joe teaches high school math (go Jaguars!), and Claire is in graduate school at UIC studying urban planning. We have two little guinea pigs, Pearl and our angel piggie Ruby, and live in the Hyde Park neighborhood of Chicago. We can't wait to celebrate with you at our wedding!