They first met when working together at Dave & Buster's in Milpitas, circa 2008. Derick was new to California, after relocating to the Golden State from Pennsylvania looking for a new beginning, he found himself serving at Dave & Buster’s, where Jesi had also just started working as a server. In short time, it turned out, they were (are) two peas in a pod. They became good friends, and eventually, that turned into best friends, mainly spending their time going to their favorite bars where Derick would play pool (and beat everyone), and Jesi would rock out at karaoke (and beat everyone). It seemed everyone else around them knew that they would end up together, and after denying the obvious for the longest time...before long...they too began to realize it themselves. From the moment that Derick FINALLY broke the ice after 2 years, and told Jesi how he felt, they have been inseparable ever since.

Derick accepted a position with "Lazy Dog" Restaurants in 2017, which brought him back to California from Colorado for 6 full weeks of managerial training. Unbeknownst to Jesi, this was when Derick would strike. Since 6 weeks was longer than they had ever been apart, Derick was able to get his new company to purchase a round trip plane ride for Jesi to come visit him while he was in the middle of his training. Distracted by moving from apartment to house back in Denver while he was away, Jesi wasn’t only excited to see Derick after 4 weeks, but to be back home in the Bay Area after 3 years. After getting lost at San Francisco Airport (unsurprisingly), they finally reunited, and the duo headed to the big city. While Jesi could only think of the amazing seafood she was about to consume as they passed AT&T park (Go Giants!), Derick's attention was to the little black box in his pocket.... They parked and headed down to the piers, the City in it’s typical slightly chilly, semi cloudy day. Taking in the familiar smells and sights...suddenly, Jesi realized they had walked past Pier 39. Where she wanted to eat. But...she was starving. A romantic walk could wait!! Derick then steered her down a side pier, and Jesi thought, “Maybe there’s a place better down here? Or, he's going to pull a Jimmy Hoffa on me”. Drifting her away from passerby’s and tourists, she had no idea what was going on. He seemed slightly off, and she could not put her finger on it... Until he reached down to his pocket... And got down on one knee...