August 8, 2026

We both were in the trumpet section in the University of Akron's "Ohio's Pride" Marching Band. We ended up hanging around the same people outside of practice a lot, and one day, Preston decided he wanted to make his move after getting a pep talk from his best friend the night before. We had been talking to each other more frequently, but both of us were scared to make the first move. We were out late on campus one night after having a meet-up at the rec center's swimming pool. I had forgotten to bring clothes to change into after the pool, so instead of letting me walk around campus in a bathing suit and shorts, Preston lent me his hoodie to wear. At the end of the night, I offered to drive him back to his dorm since I was already driving another friend back to their dorm and his wasn't too far out of the way. When we reached my car, he stood outside the door and wouldn't get in, so I stepped out to make sure he was okay. I had butterflies in my stomach as he asked me to be his girlfriend. I, of course, said yes!