Tuesday Night Trivia at The Hangar Pub & Grill. For Tom, a mid-week excuse to throw back a couple of beers with his buddy Sean and flex their knowledge on some UMass nerds. For Paige, an underwhelming server shift slinging chicken wings and cheap beer with a smile despite the 8-way check splits and 10% tips from those same nerds. For both, the least likely day or time of their weeks to find themselves in a remotely romantic situation in which they might meet 'the one.' However a few smiles, please's, and thank you's grabbed Paige's attention and she began strategically whispering to some of their mutual friends the ultimate compliment Paige Chiaretta can say about a man- "He seems nice." Tom and Paige ran in the same large social circle of current and former Hangar Pub staff, and that circle's weekly get together was Sunday nights at Rafters Sports Bar across the street. They began crossing paths there regularly in 2018, and by April Tom had heard from multiple sources that this Paige girl is into him. When they finally had a friendly conversation that didn't involve a food or drink order, it went well for both of them. So Tom decided to drop his smoothest, most seductive line that Paige would never forget... "I'm gay." They shared a lot of laughs and exchanged numbers that night, Paige saving Tom in her phone as 'Gay Tom' naturally, and a first date was soon to follow. Tom knows he is very lucky he found a similar sense of humor, and a sense of confidence in Paige that brought them closer and closer together until they became an official couple on June 2, 2018.

In any relationship, the girlfriend will drop plenty of hints years ahead of actually being ready for a proposal to give the slow processing speeds of their boyfriends time to catch on. But before their first weekend beach getaway since moving to Charlotte, NC, Tom had the upper hand. Paige really did not anticipate a proposal anytime soon since things were still settling into place eight months after their move to Charlotte, such as Tom's weekly travel for work and their just purchasing a condo together two months earlier. Nevertheless, Tom planned the most romantic trip he could to Wilmington, NC, which happens to be the land of One Tree Hill - the transformative drama that shaped Paige's young life. After waking up in Wilmington that Saturday morning, Tom and Paige decided to head out for a little walk to get some breakfast. Tom was prepared to pop the question on the way back, and the ring was burning a hole in his pocket. Any guy can tell you, the pressure does not set in until that big awkward ring box enters your pocket. Unfortunately, the secret plan was immediately thrown off by an abrupt downpour that left them stranded and unable to get to their breakfast destination. They sprinted back to the hotel and Tom was forced back to the drawing board. Later that afternoon, Tom was still persistent to take advantage of the weekend trip. The couple set out to explore along the Riverwalk - an infamous One Tree Hill spot. Naturally, Paige was on a high. The sun was shining for the first time all weekend. Tom saw his moment. He propped up his phone on a nearby trash can and set it to record. Paige was under the impression this was just a casual little photo op, until she looked down with a 'deer in the headlights' expression at Tom who had lowered himself onto one knee and mustered up the words, "Will you marry me?" Paige couldn't decide between the traditional 'yes' or 'no' options under pressure, so she blurted out "SHUT UP!" Despite the surprise response, it was evident by the tears and smiles that Tom got the response he wanted. Just to be safe though, he asked again and the answer was a quick and confident "Yes." The rest is history and that spot on the Wilmington Riverwalk will always be a special place that they never forget.