I first met Melissa while working at NCUA. We had a training in Omaha, Nebraska and I happened to share a table with her since both my coworker Juan Carlos and her coworker Lexandra were mutual friends. At that point, I had been single for two years and my focus was everywhere but on a relationship—until I sat down at that table in Omaha. I was instantly struck by her—an attraction so obvious that Melissa later joked she caught me glancing her way more than a few times. Funny enough, I actually invited her to a couple of work-social gatherings to get to know her better, but for various reasons, she declined. Despite these minor setbacks, the more we talked, the more captivated I became—not just by how kind and intelligent she was, but by the way she seemed to embrace life so fully. There was a joy in her smile and in her eyes that felt impossible to miss. And when she hand-wrote me a list of food spots to try for my upcoming trip to Oahu, I knew she was a truly special girl. Over the next few months, I started messaging her every day at work. I learned that she loved cats, which already felt like excellent judgement. I learned that she also dealt with the loss of a parent. It meant so much to realize she understood my experience and the complexities of grief. That shared perspective brought us closer, creating a foundation of trust that made me realize I wanted something more. I’d been using the fact that we were coworkers as a reason to be hesitant, but looking back, I think I was just a little shy to make the first move. Fortunately for me, she did it for me in a way by inviting me to watch Lexandra's hockey game. We talked literally the entire time. By the end of it, I worked up the courage to ask her out and thank the stars above she accepted. From then on, it's been a dream. The joy I feel with her and my love for her grows every single day. I look forward to life now with a new sense of wonder because I get to share it with someone as special as Melissa. Everything about her makes me smile. Her excitement for all aspects of life big and small, her wonderful smile, her competitive fire. Doing the seemingly mundane and simple things with her like reading together, planning our next food trip, taking a bath, or something of that nature feels like heaven. Even when I’m not with her, she's always the first person I want to call and share my day with. I just feel so lucky and blessed that I get to share it all with the woman that I truly love. It's not the beginning of my life, but it is a truly wonderful new beginning for us.

I knew of Ricky through my work bestie, Lexandra, but we didn’t really connect until we happened to sit next to each other at a work training in Omaha. From the start, something just clicked. He was so kind, funny, and incredibly smart, with the most endearing smile—and somewhere between our conversations and his memorable presentation on Kool-Aid, I was won over. Later that day, Lexandra and I were recapping everything, and I mentioned how sweet I thought Ricky was. Without missing a beat, she said, “Oh my gosh, you should date him!” Knowing Ricky was a huge hockey fan—and that Lexandra played recreationally—we thought a group outing to one of her games would be the perfect excuse to spend more time together. As the day approached, I remember feeling a little nervous, especially realizing there’d be no buffer between us since Lexandra would be on the ice. But the moment Ricky and I sat down, everything felt effortless. We talked the entire time and barely watched the game, and in that moment, I knew this was the start of something special. After the game, Ricky asked me out for coffee, and our first official date was the day after New Year’s 2025. During our first few dates, I quickly saw just how kind, thoughtful, and empathetic he is. The anniversary of my dad’s passing is always an emotional time for me, and Ricky showed up for me in the most meaningful way—letting me know he was there for support and even giving me a candle to honor my dad. Learning that he had lost his mom, we found a deep, shared understanding in our heartbreak that bonded us closer. By Valentine’s Day, I was already falling for him. Ricky asked me to be his Valentine and took me to my favorite restaurant, Eddie V’s. He even tried to get intel from Lexandra about my favorite flowers—though she not-so-subtly told me exactly what he was up to. I shared a few ideas for her to pass along to him, expecting something simple, but being the romantic he is, Ricky created a custom arrangement with all of my favorite flowers. He even got to the restaurant early and had the table decorated with rose petals. It was one of the most thoughtful, romantic gestures, and he made me feel so incredibly special. Since then, Ricky has shown me every day what love really looks like. He’s thoughtful, caring, and somehow manages to make even the simplest moments feel special. I love his enthusiasm for life and the way he finds joy in the little things. Whether we’re traveling to new places, cooking together, or facing off in board game showdowns (which, for the record, I usually win), I always have the best time with him. I love him more than words can express, and I’m so thankful I get to spend the rest of my life with my best friend.