C + A

It was the same old routine - scrolling her phone in the trenches of online dating. With a thumb on autopilot swiping left, up came a man named Alex. Sifting through his profile...tall (a win!), from Michigan (fun, but I hope he likes the Packers), works at Epic (well, of course he does, just like everyone else). She paused, studying his photos, which ranged from “college long-haired skater kid” to “post-college professional adult.” Either way, she was intrigued. She swiped right. There he was, walking to his car from the library. It was a cold, crisp winter day, not unlike any other Saturday... or so he thought. As he reached his car, his phone buzzed in his pocket. When checking the notification, he saw "Courtney has matched with you!" A jolt of excitement rocked him. He had matched with the woman who had not left his mind since seeing her profile. After schmoozing her over with some messages, he managed to get her out on a date. He made the reservations, and they nervously met at Lucille. He was dressed to the nines, and she was dressed to potentially play a volleyball game afterwards. Over pizza and wine, they had great conversations and an effortless connection. They extended the date and went for a walk in the frigid air to the Memorial Terrace, which led to their first kiss. The date ended with Alex finally getting Courtney's phone number. A second date followed, then a third, then a fourth. They met each other’s families in Wisconsin and Michigan, fitting in so naturally it felt inevitable. They explored the state and discovered their favorite spots as a couple—mostly anywhere near a lake. Their adventures eventually stretched beyond the Midwest, taking them to Idaho, Oregon, Washington, and the Bahamas. They realized nothing could come between them—not even a Packers vs. Lions game. So then, on June 28th, 2025, Alex asked Courtney to marry him. It was the easiest yes she’d ever given.