Christmas 2022 isla's best friend (and officiant) Aria was throwing a Christmas party. A few of our friends got covid and we were looking for one more person to invite. Meanwhile Emerson's friend had his flight to Seattle get cancelled due to dangerous ice storms. Emerson made a post online looking for something to do on Christmas and Aria reached out and invited him, a stranger! When he arrived he was instantly smitten by isla and a few weeks later they went on their first date at Liberty, a sushi bar in Seattle.