Jayden and Maddi met at a Dunkin Doughnuts in Watertown NY in December 2021. This was Maddi's first semester of college and Jayden's first duty station. They ordered their drinks and food. Deciding to take it to eat in the car before they continued the date. Well, that quick bite turned into four hours of talking in the Dunkin parking lot. Afterward, Jayden decided it would be fun to go to the mall and because he hates shopping he had Maddi pick out all his civilian clothes (and let me tell you that was stressful). Next, Jayden attempted to extend the date asking Maddi to grab a bite to eat, watch a movie, etc... However, Maddi had just shot a deer about two days prior and had a game feast waiting at home. So, she declined, and went home. As soon as Maddi got home she got a text asking if she made it home okay? When they were texting Jayden asked her out on a second date for the next day.... which Maddi declined because of homework... Then, a few days later Jayden asked her out again and she declined yet again because it was finals week. It's a good thing he wasn't discouraged because he asked her out one more time. She accepted.

About a month after the two started dating Jayden had to leave for a month long training. This training included very limited contact; if any at all. But, roughly four weeks later Jayden was coming back to New York. He texted Maddi saying he wanted to see her as soon as he could. Therefore, they met again in the same Dunkin parking lot as soon as he got off the plane. They grabbed dinner, and Maddi went to her final class of the day while Jayden waited in the car because he didn't want to leave her just yet. They went back to his barracks to watch a movie where he said, "Maddi I have something to ask you... Will you be my boyfriend?.... Wait NO! Girlfriend, will you be my girlfriend?" Maddi replied with, "Of course I will be your boyfriend!"

It was official, and time to meet Maddi's parents. Maddi would meet Jayden's at some point about year and a half later when she visited the South. Jayden comes in the house and has his first introductions. Darren and Jayden immediately hit it off due to their gigantic nerdness. It was discovered Jayden and Darren both loved Dungeons and Dragons. Darren snitched on Maddi saying, "she won't play DND let alone make a character". Jayden thought he could convince Maddi. Maddi, at the time, was taking Brazilian Jui Jit Zu classes and Jayden knew enough to put up a great fight. He made a bet with her if she won a roll she didn't have to play and if she lost she had to make a DND character and play. She took the deal and thought it was a wrestling match. It wasn't he meant a dice roll. Too late, he liked her idea better; therefore, they were wrestling... in Maddi's living room, the first time Jayden was meeting her parents. Unsurprisingly, Maddi lost. But she wasn't done fighting just yet. So, she asked, " what happened to the dice roll?". Jayden took the bait, "Evens or Odds" which ever Maddi picked has long been forgotten, but let me tell you it was the wrong choice. She had lost... sorely and not once but twice!

Jayden left for the south, which is when he told his family that he had a girlfriend. To which I think they had two main feelings. This first being, disappointment about her being a DAMN YANKEE! The second, was shock because Jayden actually mentioned a girlfriend for the first time in 22 years. Well anyway, after that trip Maddi picked him up from the airport. -- Side Note: (Jayden was always saying "Hey Maddi I like-like you"). So, that night while relaxing Maddi says "Hey Jayden, I think I like like like you" to which he replied "Maddi I think I love you" then Maddi said "I think I love you too".

One night when we were visiting Alabama, Maddi fell asleep first, as per usual. Well Jayden trying to be quite as possible coming into the bedroom and notices Maddi wasn't completely tucked in. As he was fixing her blanket he leaned in and said "I'm going to marry you one day" and Maddi started giggling blowing her cover. She was no longer sleeping.

Throughout the entire relationship Jayden always told Maddi he was going to propose with a ring pop. Jayden took Maddi out to a nice dinner where he assumed she thought he would ask the question. He didn't. Next as per the ritual they made a Dunkin run, where he simply asked, "Do you remember what you ordered during our first date?", which of course, Maddi did and told him as he parked. He says, "I'm pretty sure this is where we parked our first date also" Still oblivious, Maddi said, "I think you are right". They go inside and order and as they are walking back to their parking spot Jayden takes Maddi's coffee which she thought was odd. Because whenever he steals a sip it is always followed up with "ewwww I'd rather choke". But before she knew it he was on one knee, in the very parking spot they had their first date on. He had a sweet little speech which neither remember since they both went in shock and as promised it was with a ring pop. After she obviously said YES!! He goes, "Here is your real ring" and she went into shock again. It was perfect.