Once upon a time, in a land far, far away (well, actually just over the rainbow), there lived a young lad named Jeremy. In 2019, Jeremy packed his bags, waved goodbye to the land of Oz, and set off for the great state of Texas. Why? For work, of course! Specifically, Quik Trip (QT) - because even wizards need to pay their bills. Meanwhile, in the same year, a native Texan named Orlando was on a journey of his own. He had already lived in Bulldog country and Space City, but fate (and maybe a GPS glitch) led him to the capital, Austin, the land of tacos, tech, and traffic jams. Now, back in the golden days, us old gays (yes, I'm that old) used to meet our future partners by fluttering around and socializing like social butterflies—or possibly fairies— at local clubs/bars. But times have changed, and so have we. Fast forward to a sunny September day, when both Jeremy and Orlando, rusty and out of the dating game for what felt like a century, decided to embrace their tech era. In this modern age, we all have computers in the palms of our hands—phones, to be exact. So, with a little faith, a dash of courage, and a whole lot of hope, they both downloaded Tinder. Yes, Tinder. The digital Cupid of our times. After swiping left on more unsuitable profiles than they could count (seriously, who puts a fish in their profile picture?), they both finally got that magical notification: a right swipe! It was a match! Cue the fireworks and the choir of angels singing. Thus began the great Tinder messaging marathon. They exchanged the usual pleasantries: "Who are you?" "What do you like?" "Do you think pineapple on pizza is a crime?", Thankfully he said no!. After two weeks of back-and-forth banter, Jeremy decided it was time to take things to the next level. On a sunny fall day, while Orlando (aka Gordo) was at a UT tailgate party with his cousins Clari, Joel, and Miro, Jeremy sent a message asking if they could finally meet up. Gordo, who was probably mid-bite into his uncles roy's famous brisket, agreed faster than you can say "hook 'em horns." Gordo raced back to his apartment in Hutto, showered faster than a speeding bullet, and headed to meet Jeremy at a bar called Shooters in Cedar Park. Sitting in his Jeep, Gordo gave himself the ultimate pep talk: "Just go in, walk in, put one foot in front of the other, and say Hi!. Stop being so nervous, you big dork!" After five minutes of self-motivation, Gordo finally walked in and spotted Jeremy right away. There he was, playing pool with his friend Tessa. And oh, those bright blue ocean eyes and that smile—Gordo was hooked faster than a fish on a line. They nervously said hi, and it was like they hadn't missed a beat from their online chats. They talked all night, played pool, hung out on the patio, and before they knew it, it was late. They exchanged numbers and went their separate ways, but the texting marathon continued. Their first official date happened a week later at yet, another UT tailgate game. But instead of watching the game, they walked around the campus, enjoyed live music, and talked the afternoon away. It was like a rom-com montage, minus the cheesy soundtrack. As the weeks went by, they spent more and more time together. Gordo even met Jeremy's roommate and best friend, the infamous katana swordsman, Kiefer, who to this day insists he likes Gordo more than Jeremy. (Sorry, Jeremy!) Then came spooky season—Jeremy's favorite holiday. On October 31st, Gordo decided to make it extra special. When Jeremy walked in, he was greeted with a sign of letter balloons on the wall that spelled out, "Be my BOO?!" Of course, Jeremy said yes, and thus began one of the greatest relationships they both had ever encountered. And that, my friends, is how Jeremy and Gordo went from Tinder matches to happily ever after. The end, or should I say, the beginning.......

It all began in March 2024, during our annual spring break Vegas trip with the family ( or as my cousin Maddy says "My birthday trip". Jeremy and I were living our best lives—sipping overpriced cocktails, losing $20 at the roulette tables (okay, fine, $100… don’t judge), and pretending we belonged in the high-roller section. But amidst the glittering chaos of the Strip, something caught my eye. No, not the Elvis impersonators (though they were iconic). And no, not the Madea impersonator ( I think) who was somehow holding herself together with what looked like fishing line and sheer willpower (bless her heart). It was the jewelry stores. Every time we passed one, my gaze locked onto the shiny rings in the window. But it wasn’t just the rings. It was Jeremy. Walking beside me, flashing that big, goofy smile of his, his ocean-blue eyes lighting up like the neon signs above us. And that’s when it hit me: I’m going to propose to this man. Cue the Mission Impossible theme song, because this was about to get real. Fast forward to our trip to Isla Mujeres, Mexico. Picture this: turquoise water, powdery white sand, and me, sneaking off to the hotel’s tiny jewelry store like a secret agent on a mission. Unfortunately, the rings were not exactly the sparkle I was going for. So, I scrapped that idea and decided I needed a new plan. A plan that involved getting everyone in the same place without them suspecting a thing. And that’s when Plan B was born. What's the next big celebration? OH! Jeremy’s birthday. And what better way to celebrate than with a trip to one of his favorite places—a beach! I’d gather his friends, my family, and pop the question somewhere near the water, his ultimate happy place. Perfect, right? But first, I had to tackle the ultimate mission: getting his ring size. Cue the dramatic music, because this was about to get very sneaky.🎶🕶️ Enter Amazon Prime, my partner in crime. I ordered a ring sizer, which arrived the next day—because if there’s one thing I trust more than my own planning skills, it’s two-day shipping. That Friday night, Jeremy and I slipped into our usual routine: drinks, music, and our color-changing lights turning the living room into what could only be described as a low-budget rave. Jeremy, in his charming British accent, asked, “Would you like a beverage, my love?” I replied in my best Harry Potter voice, “But of course!” (Yes, we’re that couple. Don’t act like you’re not jealous.) A few Maker’s (Old Fashioned) later, Jeremy was ready for bed, and next thing I knew, he was out cold—snoring like a bear in hibernation. I poked (Neh) him (the bear) a few times to make sure he was truly asleep. No response. Perfect. With the precision of a ninja and the nerves of a cat burglar, I grabbed his hand and slipped the ring sizer on his finger. Success! Mission "get the ring size "accomplished.💎✨ To be continued… (because even the most perfectly planned missions need a little suspense.)

The mission continues… Next, it was time to find the perfect ring. While supposedly working (shh, don’t tell my boss), I scrolled through hundreds of rings online—all shapes, styles, and levels of sparkle. And then, there it was: the perfect ring. Simple but sparkly, just like Jeremy. I placed the order and waited impatiently for the notification that it was ready. When the text finally came through, I packed up my work stuff faster than you can say “emergency proposal mission” and raced to the jewelry store like my life depended on it. I arrived, nervously told the woman behind the counter I was there for my order, and waited as she disappeared into the back room like a magician about to reveal her greatest trick. She returned with a small red box, and my heart started doing somersaults. I opened it, half-expecting it to look nothing like the photo online. But no—it was stunning. Absolutely perfect. That night, I conducted another stealth operation. While Jeremy was snoring away, I managed to lip the ring on his finger. It fit like a glove. I even snapped a photo of it on his hand because, well, I’m extra like that. (And let’s be real, who wouldn’t want photographic evidence of their ninja-level proposal prep?) Now, for the big plan—getting everyone together! I started by searching for the perfect beach house in Port Aransas for Jeremy’s birthday. After reaching out to our friends for a headcount, I booked a place big enough for the whole crew. I let my family know we’d be celebrating Jeremy’s birthday at the beach—but only my mom and twin brother knew the real reason I wanted everyone there. (Cue the excited gasps and the “finally!” texts. I’m pretty sure my mom started planning the wedding before I even finished my sentence!) The day finally arrived, and we packed up for the weekend. The ring was safely tucked in my ACL fanny pack (fashionable, yet functional—don’t judge). Every chance I got, I snapped photos of the ring next to Jeremy—while packing, at the rental house, by the pool, walking around the house. I was basically a spy at this point, documenting every step of my mission. That night, we celebrated Jeremy’s birthday with singing, drinks, cake, and even a round of “What genre of music is this?” It was the perfect pre-proposal celebration—fun, chaotic, and full of love. Little did Jeremy know, the real surprise was still to come.🎂💍 The big day came, and we headed to the beach. My family arrived, and it was go time. I gathered everyone and started my speech to thank everyone for coming and spending the weekend celebrating Jeremy’s birthday, but also “This man is so amazing, I love him with all my heart.” Cue the nervous sweating and my hands shaking like a leaf in a hurricane. I got down on one knee, dropped the ring in the sand (smooth, right?), found it quickly (thanks to my cat like reflexes), and held it up. Jeremy said, “Yes!” The crowd erupted in cheers. But wait—in true Drag Race fashion, “GASP!” I clutched my imaginary pearls! A plot twist! Kiefer, Jeremy’s best friend, handed him a brown box. Jeremy got down on one knee, opened the box, and pulled out an extra sparkling ring. “Will you marry me too?” he asked. I was floored. Turns out, we’d both been planning proposals! Cue the tears, laughter, and a lot of “awws” from our friends and family. It was like a rom-com moment, but better because it was real. And that’s how we ended up engaged, on a beach in Port A, with sand in our toes, love in our hearts, and two shiny rings to prove it.💍💍 On to the next mission: “Wedding planning.” But first, we need another drink. Cheers to us!🥂✨