We met at a house party, while dancing to "Get Low," when we both were seniors in high school on our college visit at Appalachian State University. At 18 years old, Gerald returned to Greensboro after that weekend and told everyone that he had met his future wife. While we were able to secure a friendship in college, we were both focused on other ventures and did not truly begin our romance until years later. We reconnected through mutual friends and with a little help from social media. Gerald sent a direct message on Facebook, asking for a chance to take Nikia out on a date. It took a little time before our schedules aligned and on our first date, we met for an early dinner, really enjoyed each other's company and decided to go to a second restaurant to continue our conversation over drinks. Years of friendship and a mutual attraction made for an easy transition into a relationship and we would continue dating for a few years. Nikia's son, Donovan, eagerly wanted to attend football games to watch Gerald coach and have an opportunity to join him on the field or in the booth, which allowed Donovan and Gerald to quickly bond. After discussing it with Donovan, Gerald thought the perfect time to propose to Nikia was on May 5, 2023 after graduating with her Master's, in front of their immediate families. He proposed at the JC Raulston Arboretum, the site of several dates and nature walks, which is a place that holds a lot of memories and significance for the couple.