We met online (on Hinge, in case you were wondering). We were both at that point in the online dating journey where everything felt... underwhelming. Honestly, we were very close to deactivating our accounts. On March 4th, 2023 we decided to meet at Sugar Fish in Manhattan Beach. -ISABELLA'S POV- When I first saw Billy’s profile, I thought: handsome… and silly—maybe too silly. But it was our shared values that really drew me in. When I walked up to the restaurant and saw him standing there, my jaw literally dropped. All I could think was, This Viking man is GORGEOUS. I instantly turned into this giddy little girl. I remember at dinner, I was so nervous I kept fidgeting in my seat. At one point, he looked at me and asked gently, “Are you okay?” I said yes... while still fidgeting. We both laughed—and from that moment on, the nerves melted into something warm and easy. Beyond the obvious physical attraction, what stood out most was his calm, grounded energy. His stoicism gave off a peaceful presence that immediately made me feel safe and anchored. After dinner, we walked along The Strand, talking about our stories, our families, and our experiences with God. From that day forward, we’ve been inseparable. Oh—and about Billy being “too silly”? Turns out, that side of him didn’t fully show up until we got more comfortable with each other. This silliness is actually a deeply vulnerable, soft part of him… and it’s been such a gift to me to experience that side of him—a part of him I hold close. -WILLIAM'S POV- When I first saw Bella’s profile, two things immediately stood out: she was sober, and she was very pretty. At that point in my life, I was really looking for someone who was on a similar path, so sobriety was a big deal to me. I was also feeling pretty over the whole online dating thing—I’d been on a string of disappointing dates and was ready to take a break. I told myself this would be my last one for a while. If it didn’t go well, I was done. We met at a local sushi spot she liked. When she walked up, the first thing I noticed was that she was taller than I expected—and she had a great smile. From the moment we started talking, she was easy to connect with. The conversation flowed naturally, though I could tell she was a little nervous. I asked if she was okay, and she smiled and said yes. We both laughed. It was cute. After dinner, we went for a walk and talked about everything—life, family, and even our shared faith in God. We had so much in common, and I left that night knowing it was something special. I couldn’t stop thinking about her. And since that first date, we haven’t gone a single weekend without seeing each other.