Kayla and Derrick met on the Tinder dating app in January 2021, and a love they’d never experienced started with just one swipe. At the time, Kayla lived in Durham while Derrick lived in Greensboro, NC (53 miles away). Derrick’s search setting was set at <20 miles radius. Based on this setting, they should’ve never met - but God had much better plans. Quickly they began messaging each other constantly. Derrick had several in-depth questions and conversation starters he asked Kayla. Kayla was captivated by his written communication and attention to detail. Derrick, a Computational Data Science and Engineering Ph.D. candidate (NC A&T), immediately impressed Kayla with his grasp of complex problems - and became her human calculator. Kayla's quirky sense of humor and desire for adventure intrigued Derrick. Within 12 days of connecting, Derrick asked Kayla on a date to Stoney River in Chapel Hill. Their 2nd date was a baking competition at Kayla's house on Valentine's Day 2021. Unknown to Kayla - Derrick is a masterful cook and baker. He showed up with all ingredients to cook his original Sweet Potato Cake with Cinnamon Honey Buttercream - FROM SCRATCH. Kayla watched Derrick move confidently around the kitchen in awe. Kayla created an Apple Cake from scratch - but the clear winner was Derrick. Kayla and Derrick were clear on desiring a Christ-centered relationship that matured into a Christ-centered marriage. They began their relationship on March 6th and said "I love you" on March 7th. Both dates are celebrated as their 'Dating Anniversary'. Traveling has always been a passion of Kayla's, and Derrick was open to accompanying her. They began their travel legacy in April 2021 with a trip to Denver, Colorado. After completing this trip, they both recognized that their connection & chemistry were encouraging for a future marriage. In 2021 they traveled to Colorado, Maryland, Florida, NYC, Jamaica, Virginia, and Pittsburgh. They love to experience new environments, push past their comfort zones and learn more about each other. In 2022, they also traveled to Asheville, Austin, and London - where they were engaged. The trip to London was centered around seeing Adele live in concert. The day after the concert, Derrick - a lover of architecture - suggested they visit a chapel before dinner. Once walking into the Fitzrovia Chapel, Kayla was surprised to see a professional photographer, videographer, and violinist. Derrick proposed to Kayla in the chapel, decorated with candles, flowers, and pictures from their relationship. Kayla passionately said “yes” and their love story continues.