We met on Hinge in February 2021, right in the middle of the Covid era when date options were pretty limited. For our first date, we went on a walk through Bidwell Park in Chico, California. Cole brought along his dog Zoey—a tiny Dachshund/Chihuahua mix—and Belle immediately knew he had to be a good one. What started as a simple walk turned into grabbing coffee and spending more time talking. Belle was drawn to Cole’s kind blue eyes and the quiet warmth behind his shy personality. Cole couldn’t stop smiling at Belle’s laugh and how bright her smile was. The connection was easy, natural, and something we both wanted more of. Wanting to impress Belle, Cole planned their second date just a few days later—sushi at Rice Bowl, one of the few places open for indoor dining at the time. And from there, everything just clicked. The rest is history—and now, we're so excited to begin our next chapter together.