Yes, we met on a dating app. Bumble, to be precise. I, Christine, had gone out to dinner with Lisette and Shane, my closest "couple" friends. I felt frustrated with being the third wheel and was determined to set a date with the cute guy I had just matched with on Bumble. After brief small talk (with an opening line of, "so what kind of nerdy things are you into?"), I asked if Patrick would be down to meet up. Patrick was impressed with this, and agreed to a date. We had figured out that we both enjoyed sushi and wanted to try this new place that had just opened up. So on June 2, 2018, we met at City Market Sushi. I remember walking in and thinking "thank goodness, he is cute!". We laugh today at my conservative ordering- just one sushi roll for me (the first and last time I ever ordered just one roll)! Patrick thought this must be a sign that the date wasn't going well, but then I invited him to join me and my friends for drinks at another bar. This had been a plan with my roommate-- if the date wasn't going well, then it was a great reason to end it. It if was, I could invite him along. Patrick had work early in the morning, so he went home after a drink and some cornhole, and we very quickly set up our second date.

I think it is safe to say that many of us had been waiting for Patrick to pop the question for some time now. We had been a couple for 5 and a half years at this point. When Christmas 2023 came and went without a proposal, we started joking with each other about it. Everytime Patrick did something nice, I would ask, "is this it???". On February 9th, I had come home from work to a very clean house, flowers, and a bottle of wine. I thought this was just Patrick being sweet and trying to remind me that he loves me even though there was still no proposal. I even continued our joke and asked if I should check the dogs collars for a ring hanging there. We went on and had a lovely but typical Friday night at home. We worked out, showered up, and Patrick had cooked us a delicious meal. After watching a movie, I asked if he would like dessert or if he was ready for bed. He said he wanted dessert, so I left and came back with some fruit I had bought earlier in the week. Patrick said oh wait, I forgot I bought something for dessert. He left for a few minutes and returned with these very cute chocolate tea cups with some kind of cake and cream inside. As I am eating it, I notice Patrick is watching me. Was he waiting to see if I noticed a specific flavor? I asked "so what is in this?". Slightly annoyed he says, "I don't know Christine! I think there is cake in it!". Based on his strange response I examine the dessert more closely and see my mom's engagement ring in it. I said, "THIS IS IT???" and this time, Patrick said "This is it." It was absolutely perfect.