Lauren’s good friend Jordan was hosting a Super Bowl party in 2023. Lauren was a little anxious about going to a party alone, but something (fate, maybe?) nudged her to go anyway. Trying to break the ice, she spotted an old Washington Redskins helmet sitting on a table and put it on her head. When she went to say hello to Jordan, she noticed he was talking to a very cute stranger — his roommate, Holden. As soon as Holden stepped away, Lauren immediately asked Jordan everything: Was he single? Was he a good guy? And most importantly, why had Jordan never mentioned he had such a cute roommate? At the same time, Holden was asking around the party about the girl wearing his childhood helmet. Wanting an excuse to talk to Holden again, Lauren suggested the group play “squares,” a Super Bowl betting game that requires zero football knowledge. Holden offered to help her set it up and organize everyone’s bets. It was a big Super Bowl — Rihanna’s halftime show and the Kelce brothers facing off — though Lauren had no idea that “Kelce” would soon become a household name in her life. When the game ended, Lauren won the final score bet. She collected her winnings from everyone except Holden, who claimed his Venmo “wasn’t working.” The next day, Holden texted her asking if he could pay his debt by taking her out for drinks. They met up the following weekend and spent hours talking and laughing, bonding over shared interests (including crossword puzzles). Their relationship took off quickly and stayed strong through school, long distance, new careers, and everything else life threw their way. Lauren moved to Raleigh in January 2024, and Holden followed that summer. On September 26, 2025, Holden surprised Lauren with a proposal in a rose garden in Raleigh, NC — the perfect start to their next chapter.