We are getting married!

Once upon a time on August 29, 2019, in the heart of Dallas, Texas, two worlds crossed paths at Hero Sports Bar. Fabiola had just arrived, meeting up with her college friend Arianna, a sorority sister from her Tri Delta days, who had recently moved to Dallas. As Fabiola looked around, her eyes landed on Matthew, a tall figure dressed in a UCF black polo. She couldn’t help but chuckle to herself—was he a UCF parent here to cheer on the team? But as Arianna introduced them, Fabiola learned he was actually a Sigma Chi fraternity brother from UCF. Memories of “meatheads” and college parties flashed through her mind; Sigma Chi wasn’t her usual crowd back then. Yet here was Matthew, a seemingly familiar face from a different time. Only a few days later, their paths crossed again at Lake Lewisville, where friends rented a speed boat for a day of fun in the sun. Unbeknownst to everyone, Fabiola grew up on the water and knew her way around boats, though her friends insisted Matthew, whose last name was conveniently Skipper, could show her the ropes. They even snapped a picture together with the caption, “Skipper teaching the new Skipper.” Amused, Fabiola went along with it, enjoying their easy banter. The very next morning, Fabiola joined him and some friends at The Standard Pour, a favorite brunch spot in Dallas. That’s where Matthew introduced Fabiola to the venue’s strolling magician, asking him to perform a card trick just for her. The magician asked Fabiola to sign a playing card, which later reappeared in a jaw-dropping way. Matthew didn’t think much of it at the time, but Fabiola quietly kept the card and dated it “9/1/19”—a keepsake of a moment that felt different, special. She couldn’t explain why, but she wanted to remember the day Matthew brought magic—literally—into her life. Over the next few months, Matthew and Fabiola’s friendship grew, becoming the kind of friends who could meet up for late nights of music, cheering at sports games, or celebrating birthdays together. They even shared back-to-back birthdays in October, bonding over their mutual love for dark and mysterious characters like Darth Vader, emblematic of their Scorpio energy. They were close but simply friends, supporting each other through work stress, long hours, and countless laughs. And though both were in relationships at the time, a connection formed between them that seemed to grow deeper with each shared experience. One chilly February evening in 2020, they celebrated a friend’s birthday (Dr. Kimmy) at the Clover Club, where Matthew’s dance moves caught Fabiola off guard. As the live band played, they shared a lighthearted dance, letting the night drift into deep conversation about life, family, and their respective hometowns of Okeechobee, Florida, and Henderson, Nevada. That night, she saw Matthew in a different light—more than a party friend, he was thoughtful and caring, offering her the book The One Thing as a guide for balancing work and life. Their friendship continued through 2020, and when the pandemic hit, they leaned on each other as essential workers, still going into work every day. Together, they started a boat membership at Freedom Boat Club, spending weekends on Lake Lewisville, unwinding from the daily stress. The lake became their escape, a place where they found solace and freedom. They shared summer sunsets, countless laughs, and unforgettable moments with friends on the lake. Despite their closeness, they were still just friends, each focused on other parts of their lives and hesitant to change the balance of their cherished friendship.

Fast forward to 2021—their bond over sports reached new heights when Fabiola’s beloved 49ers made the playoffs. They spontaneously booked flights to Green Bay with friends to watch the 49ers play in below-freezing temperatures at Lambeau Field. The 49ers won, marking the beginning of their tradition of traveling to games together. They followed the team to Los Angeles, with a memorable detour to Disneyland, where Matthew saw Star Wars come to life for the first time. From there, they continued making memories, celebrating birthdays in Vegas, seeing live shows, and dancing together at concerts. Then, on March 24, 2022, things took a turn. Matthew invited Fabiola out for drinks at a speakeasy called Atwater Alley, where he finally asked her to be his girlfriend. Playful as always, she teased him, saying she’d think about it. A few old fashioneds and laughs later, she finally gave him a “yes” just after midnight on March 25th, marking the beginning of a new chapter. From there, their story blossomed. They traveled together, visiting London, Paris, and Hong Kong, exploring cities from New York to Nashville, and even heading to Italy. And it was in Italy, surrounded by the majestic Dolomites, that Matthew planned the surprise of a lifetime. After days of excursions and magical spa moments at Chalet Al Foss, he led her to a treehouse adorned with roses, chocolate-covered strawberries, and champagne. Just as Fabiola admired the view, a mini gondola delivered a pot filled with roses—and a diamond ring nestled in the middle. Matthew got down on one knee and asked her to be his forever. With a beaming “yes,” they celebrated the rest of their Italian adventure as fiancés, looking forward to the life ahead of them.