Vanessa was coaching part-time at a local kickboxing studio, ATCK Fitness, when Kaylee joined the fitfam in Winter of 2022, seeking an outlet from teaching and life's other stressors. Overtime, a friendship developed. After a little more than a year, on St. Patrick's Day of 2023, Kaylee, Vanessa, and a few other ATCK friends started hanging out beyond the studio's walls. The group went to Boston Bowl in Hanover for their first outing. There, Kaylee and her friends told Vanessa that she was their "platonic girl crush." Afterwards, Kaylee and Vanessa started talking every day. The following Friday night, the group went rollerblading, which ultimately resulted in Vanessa and Kaylee planning a Derby Street coffee date for Sunday, just the two of them. The date lasted almost the entirety of their day and real feelings were becoming more evident with each conversation and every hangout. They increasingly hungout over the days and weeks to come. Rewind to bowling night: Vanessa had mentioned an upcoming vacancy at the good ol' North Ave apartment building. Sure enough, Kaylee ended up being unit 3's newest tenant in May 2023. Now neighbors, they inevitably saw each other every day! June 1, 2023: Their romantic relationship got its official label -- happy pride month! Living next door to one another and spending nearly all of their free time together, they quickly realized that paying two rents was silly. By the end of the fall months, Vanessa and her cat Mila had moved into Kaylee's unit and the three of them started their little life together! July of 2024: They expanded their little family, finally giving Mila a kitty sister -- they adopted rambunctious Raine from the Standish Humane Society! Fast forward to September 28, 2024: Vanessa surprised Kaylee with a walk on Carson Beach in Dorchester before their dinner reservation. Shortly into their walk, they stumbled upon a sappy scene -- a blanket, champagne, sea glass (from their personally handpicked collection) shaped into a heart, and "Marry Me?" spelled out with lit letters. *Shoutout to Vanessa's mom and sister for the set-up!* Kaylee's answer was obvious, taking the words out of Vanessa's nervous, stumbling mouth. (Thankfully, otherwise the ramblings may have cut into their reservation time, lol.) They celebrated the surreal moment at Loco Taqueria and felt like they were in a dream the entire time! About two weeks later, October 12, 2024: Kaylee proposed to Vanessa at Brewster Gardens in Plymouth, after stringing her along at a nearby fall fest. Kaylee had friends prepare a cute bench in the park with a "you will forever be my always" pillow, champagne, and glasses that said fiancée. (Fun fact: there were about 3 weddings that went by in the time that Vanessa and Kaylee were there.) While Vanessa acted surprised, she admitted to knowing it was coming. The true surprise, however, was the intimate engagement party that Kaylee planned following the proposal, surrounded by some of their closest friends and family! Kaylee told Vanessa they were meeting up for quick celebratory drinks with their friend at Players in Rockland, but once they finally made it inside, Vanessa uncovered the real surprise! Today: Kaylee, Vanessa, and their two adorable cats, Mila and Rainey, live in the same apartment that they "u-haul-ed" into, and spend their time happily planning their beautiful future together.