Many of you know Jake and Jamie’s story began at Bonefish Grill, where they worked during college. Jake was a highly requested bartender, adored by regulars much to the frustration of Jamie, a newly hired hostess tasked with seating fairly. Their passionate exchanges quickly became a defining trait of their dynamic, later realizing it stemmed from their shared competitive nature as athletes. From their very first conversation, they surprised themselves with how comfortable they felt speaking freely and being unapologetically honest with each other. Although both attended East Carolina University, they never crossed paths despite often being in the same places. Jamie still wonders how they never met, but Jake always says, “Honey, it wasn’t our time.” Even after 3 years in the same friend groups at Bonefish, their story truly began one night on Jamie’s front porch on Lewis St. That night, what started as small talk turned into an honest conversation about chasing big dreams, life after college, leaving their small town but also loving it, and watching their parents work hard to give them a better future. They had exchanged plenty of lighthearted conversations before, mostly about Jake’s questionable taste in football and work but something shifted after that night. Their honesty turned into vulnerability, and naturally, they ran like hell from it! Jake moved to Charlotte, and Jamie continued coaching in Greenville. But the check-ins never stopped, and soon, hardly an hour passed without them talking. They took things slowly, knowing their lives could change at any moment after graduation. After six months of dating, and figuring out whether they were preserving a friendship or something more, Jake officially asked Jamie to be his girlfriend after the ball dropped on January 1, 2018. She said yes. A few months later, the opportunities they had prayed for became a reality, and they had to choose whether to chase their dreams alone or together. At first, they agreed maybe the timing was too hectic for love, but days later they both admitted it was already too late this was special. Over the past five years, they’ve grown up together and moved across the Southeast, chasing dreams, exploring new cities, and meeting incredible people. Their love for family and SEC football has brought them even closer, whether cheering for the same team or passionately rooting against each other. The honesty and passion remain! Their families have blended, and their friends have become a shared community. On January 1, 2024, six years after they started dating, Jake proposed to Jamie on a rooftop in Kansas City. She was completely unsuspecting, still on a high from receiving Bengals vs. Chiefs tickets for Christmas (5 rows up from center field baby). The proposal at midnight was the perfect finale surprise. Now settled in Charlotte, they are beyond excited for this next chapter and can’t wait to celebrate their love with family and friends. Every step of their journey has led to this moment, and they know this is just the beginning of what God has in store for them!