It all began in a grocery store—Mariano’s, for those familiar with Chicagoland. Jake had been noticing a girl in the produce department for a few days. She seemed older than him, but he couldn’t help being intrigued. Meanwhile, he was out in the parking lot collecting carts. With a little encouragement from a friend ("Who cares if she's older? Just talk to her!"), Jake finally struck up a conversation. Turns out, she wasn’t older—she was actually younger. That girl was Abby. They hit it off immediately, spending the rest of their shift deep in conversation. At the end of the night, Jake simply walked Abby to her car. As he turned to leave, Abby called out, “Well, aren’t you going to ask for my number?” The rest, as they say, is history. Throughout high school, Jake and Abby were inseparable—attending each other's dances, from TWIRP (Turnabout) to prom, and making memories every weekend as an official couple. After Jake graduated, college brought a year of long distance. But fate had other plans: Abby and Jake both ended up attending Saint Louis University the next year, and they spent their college years together. From dorm rooms and frat parties to Tuesday night trivia at Narwhal’s and sorority formals, their college years were filled with laughter, growth, and plenty of unforgettable stories. When Abby started pharmacy school in Chicago, Jake stayed in St. Louis one more year. That meant another stretch of long distance—but Jake made the 4-hour drive nearly every other weekend, even if it meant just watching Abby study. Then COVID hit, and Jake moved back to Chicagoland. Finally, they were back in the same city, building their lives side by side. In the summer of 2023, they celebrated Abby’s pharmacy school graduation with a dream trip to Paris and London. Shortly after, they moved to St. Louis once again—this time sharing their first official apartment together during Abby’s pharmacy residency. Tuesday nights were reserved for pizza at Union Loafers (they really miss that place). While they loved exploring STL’s amazing food scene, it never quite felt like “home.” So, they made their way back to Chicagoland. In the summer of 2024, they settled into their new home in Schaumburg and both began exciting new jobs. From trivia nights at Pollyanna to trying out all the local restaurants, they’ve been embracing every bit of this new chapter. Then, in February 2025, Jake pulled off the ultimate surprise: the perfect proposal. Abby said yes—and now, they can’t wait to celebrate the next chapter of their love story surrounded by the people who mean the most.