Our story really begins with our families, who have been friends for years. Because of that, we always knew of each other. In high school we were in the same friend group anthough Kasey will admit she wasn’t exactly quick to give Ryan a chance. (If you know Ryan, you’ve probably already heard him joke about how Kasey friend-zoned him three times!) Luckily, Ryan never gave up, and in May of 2020, everything finally clicked. Just a few months later, Kasey left for college, and we spent the next two years navigating long distance. Those weekends together — filled with road trips, adventures in Plattsburgh, and a lot of goodbyes — only made our relationship stronger. By the time the long distance ended, weekends together had become our favorite routine, and for the next two years we spent nearly every one side by side. From family friends, to persistence paying off, to a love that’s carried us through distance and time, our story is proof that sometimes the best things are worth the wait.