It was just before the Christmas Holiday of 2019, and both of us found ourselves in our late 20s and still looking for our special someone. Like most people our age, we were swiping away on dating apps, and ironically matched on Coffee Meets Bagel. We joke about this often, because both of us work in the coffee industry, and we love getting to tell people we met on a "coffee dating app." We spent only a few days talking through the app while states away celebrating Christmas with our families. Jay was in Cape Coral, FL, and Abby with her family in Villa Park, a suburb just outside Chicago. Messaging on the app, we talked about holiday plans and what we were up to -- Jay was cooking a fabulous tenderloin and risotto for his parents, Abby was hanging out watching Christmas movies. We quickly exchanged numbers, and then were facetiming late at night. We quickly agreed we wanted to have a first date, and in between travel plans, Abby agreed to meet up with Jay at a trendy local bar, Little Victories--the day after Christmas. We played darts and pool for a few hours, before walking through Wicker Park and hitting up Abby's favorite places. Abby grew up in the Chicago area before moving to the city after graduating college and knew all the best places. Jay mostly knew the neighborhood hits. Jay recommended Big Star for some quick tacos, Abby suggested Estelle's for a nightcap. The night ended with our first kiss inside Estelle's. Abby was off to Michigan to continue celebrating with family again the next day. Fast forward a few short weeks, we continued dating. Abby was opening a new ice cream store in the Wrigleyville neighborhood, and despite the insane hours she was working, Jay was there to keep her sane, meet up for drinks or food after work at Sluggers, and generally be amazing while she was hating her job. Valentines came, and Jay asked Abby to be his girlfriend and she said...not yet. She was falling in love but also very anxious to take the step! Jay was her first boyfriend! Eventually he won her over. And then covid happened. We both got furloughed in mid-March 2020 as restaurants were closing and the state shut down. There was a lot of uncertainty, and we didn't know what to do next. We wanted to stay safe and be responsible with the pandemic raging, and we thought the best thing was to stay with Abby's parents in the suburbs. We could be together, but not completely alone and could have the company of Abby's parents, sister, and her fiance (now husband!). Keep in mind Jay hadn't yet met Abby's parents, and essentially we moved in together with them! What a crazy time! What we thought might be a week turned into six! Playing it safe, we didn't leave the house aside from having bonfires in the backyard, and taking looooong walks through the neighborhood (to the local brewery for curbside pickup, sorry mom!). After the 6 weeks with Abby's family, Jay made the decision to take advantage of the time away from work to spend time with his parents, sister, and her family, in Cape Coral, FL. Abby cried the morning he left, as he booked a one way ticket and didn't know when she'd see him again. After spending the 6 weeks together with her family, she missed Jay and couldn't stay away. She quickly booked flights to see Jay and meet his family over the week of her 28th birthday. She flew to Florida, and similar to Jay's experience, immediately fell in love with Jay's family, and Jay, even more. I think we both knew by that time that we were in it for the long haul and if we could survive the pandemic together, we could get through anything. Eventually we returned to Chicago, and back to our jobs. So much has happened since then! We've moved in together, met each others extended families, and attended quite a few weddings together. Then, on our second anniversary, while again celebrating Christmas together, Jay finally asked Abby to marry him! Four apartments, two jobs, and a pug later, we are finally getting married!