JULY 2022: Before ever meeting, Sinclaire and Nick were told about each other. Ahead of Nick's move from Chicago to Palo Alto, each is told they "might be interested" in one another. Some family lore: Sinclaire's parents met in the Harvard library. Nick's parents met on campus during a student body campaign. Nick and Sinclaire officially met in a hot tub. JANUARY 2023: Having intermittently tried to escalate their friendship to something more through increasingly flirtatious texts, Nick takes matters into his own hands and plans a Taco Bell Cantina + Bowling night in Pacifica with friends (to hang with Sinclaire). Both acknowledge that this is the first night sparks truly flew. Sinclaire and Nick head to Santa Cruz for a weekend trip with friends. At this point, the "will they / won't they" energy reaches its pre-dating peak. Nick asks out Sinclaire the night they get back from their trip. JANUARY 19, 2023 First date! Nick pitched the idea of a hometown date to Sinclaire, offering three Palo Alto food options. As a sign of things to come, Sinclaire acknowledged the effort then suggested a fourth option--their now favorite restaurant DarBar. Part two of the date included a tour of Sinclaire's high school. JANUARY 23, 2023 Second date! Nick comes to Sunday family dinner to celebrate the Hancock family dog Kippy's birthday. Nick (notorious animal detractor and serial "don't meet the family too soon" guy) already knows he's head over heels for Sinclaire and accepts the invitation. FEBRUARY 2023: Sinclaire & Nick become boyfriend-girlfriend. Nick in a note to Sinclaire: "I’ve had a crush on you since the first day we spent together last July. There was a lot I didn’t know about you then and I know there’s still so much that I don’t know about you now, but I remember thinking then that I would be so lucky to have the opportunity to get to know you. If there is one word I would use to describe you, it would just be “good.” I fundamentally love and trust who you are." Sinclaire says I love you first. Sinclaire in a note to Nick: "I’m so happy you’re in my life and feel blessed our paths crossed in July. Time with you feels easy and natural. I could spend forever talking to you. You’re quickly becoming my safe space and favorite person. You make everything better. I want to share everything with you. Keep taking all my midnights. Kinda wanna keep you around forever." APRIL 2023: Sinclaire meets Nick's parents in Newport. For two notoriously slow-moving daters, things are escalating quickly. From Sinclaire's journal: "Enjoyed spending a weekend in Newport with Nick’s parents for the first time. I’d be lucky to be a member of their family. Nick loves them so much and they’re so wonderful. They really raised an incredible son." MAY 2023 Sinclaire goes to Paris with Nick's family. From Sinclaire's journal: "On the plane with Nick to Paris! Excited to spend so much time with his parents. Excited for our first international trip together! I’m zero percent nervous." (That last sentence is shocking given the nine day exposure to Mark Hardy). On the flight home, Nick says in prayer, "We're grateful to be even more in love than when we left." A very Bay Area courtship ensues. Sunday family dinners, concerts, innumerable walks around the Stanford Dish, and more Asian food than Nick knew was possible to consume in a year. BONUS: In a mere six months under Sinclaire's tutelage Nick goes from describing boba as "slimy little guppies" to a loyal weekly consumer. DECEMBER 2023 Nick and Sinclaire propose to each other at Half Moon Bay! BACKGROUND: Sinclaire raises the idea of a joint proposal, citing the verifiably true fact that they do everything together. Nick presses on the logistics for months (e.g. "do we both kneel?" "do we count to three and then ask at the same time?") Eventually, the two aligned and shared a beautiful moment.