In April 2021, Stephanie created a Hinge profile, ready to rejoin the dating scene after a year in quarantine. She came across a profile that mentioned Costco memberships and tattoos, two things she had listed on her own profile as things she’s “weirdly attracted to”. Stephanie and Armando both swiped right, and their story began. Their first date almost didn't happen - traffic killed their plans to go to the city, so Armando pivoted, pulling up to Stephanie's house in a Challenger while her mother stood in the front yard eyeing him suspiciously. They ended up at Redwood Regional Park, walking beneath the trees in the kind of conversation that feels both brand new and strangely familiar. Hours later, they were still sitting on a bench outside a boba shop deep in conversation, only heading home once the sun was starting to set. By the next week, they'd gone on three more dates, three days in a row, already inseparable. After a month, it felt like they’d known each other a year, and Armando asked Stephanie to be his girlfriend. They were different in delightful ways. Armando appreciated life's luxuries while Stephanie preferred to ball on a budget, but beneath those differences lay a shared commitment to family, justice, and never taking life too seriously. Their dates became opportunities to adventure together in the Bay Area and beyond, from metal concerts in LA to bookbinding workshops in Japan, and always excellent food afterwards. At home, he embraced her newest crafting obsession, and she indulged in his love of rewatching Lord of the Rings (extended edition and all). They became domestic partners and adopted Papi Jasper, an orange cat who rules their home with equal parts charm and chaos. Three years after they started dating, in a peaceful retreat in Sonoma, Stephanie asked Armando to become her One True Boo, to keep choosing each other for all the adventures still to come. Six months later, during their first international trip together, Armando asked Stephanie to marry him. They both wear engagement rings: an elegant ring for Stephanie, chosen together, and a replica of the One Ring for Armando, a playful reminder of his precious.