We probably passed each other a bunch of times without knowing it. We had mutual friends, came close to meeting once or twice, but somehow it never quite happened...until it finally did. From the start, our conversations were easy. It wasn’t just filling space or going through the motions. We were both showing up, listening, and asking the kinds of questions that mean something. We finally made plans to meet for a drink after work and picked a place halfway between us. We were both a little cautious, first dates can go either way, but once we sat down, the nerves faded fast. We talked about our days, our families, our dogs. It was comfortable and real in a way that caught us both off guard. That night didn’t end in fireworks or a big dramatic moment. It was better than that. It was simple, honest, and full of the kind of conversation that leaves you wanting more. And thankfully, we both did.

Since we first went there together, Jackson, New Hampshire has always felt like our place. We’d gone there a couple of times when we needed to hit pause and just enjoy being together, away from everything else. But on this trip, in November 2024, things felt different. One night, we were out by the fire pit at our hotel, sharing a bottle of wine, talking about everything: where we’d been and where we were headed. The mountains were behind us, stars overhead, and somewhere in the middle of it all, it just felt right. Like it always had to be this. So John proposed, and James said yes without hesitation. And even with the fire crackling in front of us, that moment was the warmest part of the night.