We knew of each other through church, yet managed not to speak for years; despite having the same inner circle. We grew interested in each other through fishing trips with mutual friends/family; potentially thanks to the abundant commentary from parents and friends about how we would end up dating. Fishing turned into carpooling, and carpooling turned into long talks about life plans. We realized how much we had in common, and Kai asked me to join him for dinner with his sister. Meeting the family on the first date….no pressure. However, it was game on from there. We clicked, and instantly started spending our time together. On our first dates we enjoyed meeting each other’s family, eating ice cream, and watching scary movies. From there, it was theme park trips and late night fishing trips.
Kai took me to dinner at Melting Pot for the first time by ourselves on March 22, 2024. Dinner was extra sentimental since Melting Pot is my favorite restaurant, and March 22 is a day of remembrance for a loved one. When we got there, the table was covered in rose petals; cue Haley’s tears and Kai’s anxious sweat. He played it off as a pleasant surprise, and my parents managed to assure me it was a common gesture for date night. I was oblivious to Kai’s nerves and our waitress being in on the secret. When dessert came, I asked for more strawberries, per usual, and the waitress caught me off guard when she said she already had some for me. She quickly turned the corner with a plate of chocolate calligraphy and strawberries that said “will you marry me?” I instantly started crying, out of pure excitement, and couldn’t get my words out. Kai got down on one knee, with a beautiful ring, and patiently waited for me to compose myself to say yes! We wasted no time when starting to plan and now, we are excited to share this new chapter of our lives together with all of you!