Devan: It all started with a picture of her holding an anteater. Most people on Hinge thought it was a sloth, but I knew better—and apparently, that made me stand out. We messaged back and forth for weeks before meeting in person. I was in the middle of moving to the area and might’ve forgotten to mention that small detail… Luckily, she was patient because, honestly, most people would’ve dipped. When we finally set a date, I asked her to meet me at Abari, this cool arcade bar near my friend’s place. I’d gone over early to psych myself up, but I ended up talking too long and realized I was going to be late. So, I rushed out the door and drove to meet her. As I pulled up, I saw her standing outside waiting for me, and—wow—she was beautiful. So beautiful, in fact, that I drove right past her. Yeah, I really did that. I whipped around, found parking, and ran over to apologize. She laughed it off, which was a relief, and we headed inside. I gave her a little history lesson about the games (okay, I geeked out), and then we got to one I used to play all the time in high school. I popped in some quarters, promised to take it easy on her, and… she absolutely destroyed me. Three games in a row. Turns out her secret was just smashing buttons as fast as she could, and it worked. I didn’t stand a chance. By the end of the night, I knew this wasn’t just another date. It was the start of something amazing.

Julianne: On September 29, 2024, we were driving home from a weekend trip to Raleigh when Devan suggested a stop at Uwharrie National Forest to break up the drive and let our dog, Cash, enjoy a hike. As we explored the park, we quickly discovered that every single trail was closed due to Hurricane Helene. Undeterred, Devan tried to convince me to park and walk to a very clearly closed overlook, insisting it was fine despite the road being blocked. My rule-following nature kicked in, and I refused to get out of the car, completely unaware I was derailing his plan. Not giving up, Devan kept driving, acting a bit strange, which made me suspicious. After some aimless wandering, we stumbled upon the stunning Lake Tillery. He pulled over, and we found ourselves on a rocky beach with a picturesque view of the water. While Cash enthusiastically chased after a flock of geese, I was momentarily distracted. That’s when Devan guided me to a grassy spot nearby, got down on one knee, and proposed. It was a perfect moment—spontaneous, a little chaotic, and entirely us. Of course, I said yes!