Jared and Laynie first met at Duke University, Jared a business student and Laynie a medical student, during the COVID-19 Pandemic. While they "matched" on hinge, their connection was sparked on the rooftop of the Durham Hotel. Laynie and Jared were surprised by how much they had in common and spent hours talking about their upbringings, summer camp, and their love of Durham. Their first date went so well, that they needed to squeeze in a second date before traveling home for winter break. Laynie's family quickly learned about the "Jewish boy from Ohio" when Jared unfortunately tested positive for Covid soon after the break started, and Laynie had to quarantine away from her family. Upon returning back to Durham they continued to see each other over the course of a few months, but medical school and business school trips kept them both too busy to commit to a serious relationship. They lost touch for a couple months, but over Memorial Day weekend 2021, with some encouragement from her friends (and a few glasses of wine) Laynie decided to see if Jared was interested in catching up. Little to her knowledge, Jared was hiking in Colorado with no cell service for 3 full days. When Jared emerged from the woods and saw the text from Laynie his heart was beaming. They found their way back to each other and from that date onward, never looked back. Their love blossomed in Durham, grew stronger while Jared lived in Atlanta during Laynie's last year of medical school, and took them all the way to Long Island, NY where they created a home together in Port Jefferson with their puppy Billie.