From the start, there was a spark — but after just a month, life got in the way and they stopped talking. Still, the universe wasn’t done with them. Their paths kept crossing, and when they finally reconnected, it felt like they’d known each other forever. Their first date was at Arturo’s, where they enjoyed Mexican food and easy conversation. Afterward, they went back to Carlynn’s place to hang out and watch a documentary. Somewhere in the middle of it, she fell asleep on Ryan’s chest. On the first date. Mortified, she couldn’t believe he just let her sleep — but maybe that was the first sign that this was something different. Ryan, however, didn’t need a sign. He says he knew from the moment he met her that she was the one — he felt it in his whole body. The journey wasn’t easy. They navigated long-distance from Indiana to Chicago, which later became Omaha to Chicago when Ryan’s pro football career took him further away. They never wavered. From FaceTime dates to visits on his bye weeks, they found ways to make every mile between them feel a little shorter. Eventually, the distance closed, and they made a home together — now happily shared with five beautiful pets. What began as a swipe in February turned into the love of a lifetime… and now, a forever.