Colten and Rachel joined the military around the same time in 2019 and first met at one of their early guard drills. They kept in touch over the years, but the friendship never quite took off… yet. Fast-forward to EAA AirVenture 2023, where fate reunited them while working the air show. On night one, Colten practically begged Rachel to come to what he confidently described as a “college party”—which, in reality, featured a grand total of three guests, an impressive amount of Apple Pie Moonshine, and a mysterious jar of pepperoncinis. By the end of the night, they’d talked for hours and even taken a quick swim in the Fox River. Little did Rachel know, this was merely a preview of all of Colten’s “great ideas” still to come… From that point on, the two became practically inseparable (and only slightly insufferable). Rachel was mildly convinced Colten would ghost her once the airshow wrapped up—but plot twist: he did not. And thank goodness, because otherwise you wouldn’t be reading this right now. Since then, they’ve spent the past few years adventuring, laughing, collecting memories, and spoiling their puppy, Siren—who is fairly certain she runs the household. They can’t wait for all the years (and all the stories) still to come.