Max and Chloe dated once before during his freshman year, and her junior year. They began a close bond, and clicked in many areas. At the time, however, things were not right for the two of them; Max did not know how to truly pursue Chloe's heart, and Chloe did not feel like Max was capable of leading her in a relationship. The next two years were intense with growth and development, as Chloe spent her summers at Kanakuk Kamps and in Peru, and Max with the Navigators in Jacksonville, FL and Southeast Asia. These two summers were critical in revealing what they truly sought and desired in their lives: to love the Lord their God with all of their hearts, souls, and minds and to do this alongside someone who desired the same.

Fast-forward to January 2018, Chloe invited him over to her house after the first week of classes to tune her guitar. Innocent in request, but she had the intention to convey her feelings for him romantically and to act on a conviction from the Holy Spirit, which she had been praying and seeking counsel about for the past semester. Max told her that he would need time to pray and process this information, but he KNEW that he wanted to be with her. The next two weeks were spent praying and discerning their future, to see if God was calling them to a relationship. They came back together, and Max asked her out on a date because of how the Lord showed him desire for her based on character and her deep, thriving relationship with God, and to pursue her with an intent to marry. They could definitely get on board with this.

Date after date they began to fall more and more in love, learning more about God's heart and character from each other. The following summer (Max being in Jacksonville again, and Chloe in Maryville) they both realized that this was the person God designed for them to love Him and serve Him more. The following semester (and in a matter of a few short months), Max had a RING FROM GOD and plans to propose. God began to open doors for Max to surprise Chloe with an engagement two months prior to what their timeline said. Max prayed frantically for the Lord to provide a day, time, and place, and in a matter of three days during the week before school started, all of these things came together. On January 21, 2019, with help and counsel from friends and family, Max proposed to Chloe at the park where they said "I love you" for the first time. *cue "Love on Top" by Beyonce*