She came down from the mountains of West Virginia. He journeyed from the plains of Illinois. Somehow, fate brought them together along the sunny shores of Southwest Florida. Tori was a busy junior at FGCU, balancing her studies, sorority life, and a budding career in events. Michael had just graduated from WIU and moved to Florida to chase his dream of becoming a boat captain, working at the local marina. Like many modern love stories, theirs started with a swipe—on Tinder. After weeks of daily texting and dodging schedules (Tori even had to send a screenshot of her packed calendar to prove she wasn’t just ghosting him), they finally went on their first date: a round of mini golf at Congo River on Fort Myers Beach. The deal was that the loser bought dessert. To no surprise at all, Tori won….by 1 point. (Mike denied it for a whole year but finally caved when he won the next time they went) After some Mini golf, tacos, a little tequila, and some ice cream later—something clicked. At the end of the date, they climbed into Mike’s truck, the night still warm with laughter and possibility. As they sat there, Tori looked over and asked with a smile, “So… are you gonna kiss me now?” Just as their first kiss began, a man—clearly ready to end his shift—knocked on the window, reminding them the golf course was closing. They burst out laughing, a little startled, but totally smitten. Even with the unexpected interruption, they both knew: this night was different. This was the start of something truly special. What followed was a whirlwind of weekend road trips between Port Charlotte and Fort Myers, growing closer with every mile. And then… the world shut down. COVID was their first major hurdle, but it only made their bond stronger. Even as life got more complicated—Michael landing a dream job working on a superyacht that took him across the East Coast—they made it work. Long distance, late-night calls, and traveling to Maryland, South Carolina, and across Florida became their norm. Eventually, they knew it was time to build something more permanent. They moved in together in Fort Myers, tackled adulthood side by side, met each other’s families, and even weathered a devastating hurricane. Soon, they set their sights on a new adventure—Tampa. A new city brought fresh challenges: new careers, new friends, and more shared memories. Five years, countless adventures, and one unforgettable journey later, Michael got down on one knee—surrounded by both of their families—and asked Tori to keep writing this story with him. On March 1st, 2025, she said yes.