Austin and Shelby connected through an online dating app, and after a few weeks of chatting, Shelby agreed to go on a date with him on October 3, 2021. For their first outing, Austin took her axe throwing, followed by dinner at a local ramen spot, Ika, and topped off the evening with ice cream at Ted and Wally's. From that moment, their love story began to blossom Both being pet parents, Austin has a black cat name Z, while Shelby has a pit/boxer mix named Linnea. Shelby adores Z as if he were own, frequently showering him with toys and treats. They knew that they were meant for each other when Linnea met Austin and refused to leave his side, leading Shelby to jokingly claim that Austin loves Linnea more than her. After nearly a year of dating, Austin persuaded Shelby to move back to Omaha, where they now live. Two years later, they have their own home, a new kitten named Marigold and are looking to add a puppy to their family. Shelby surprised Austin with a scavenger hunt proposal, organized with the help of his family. Their love story is one of a gamer and a bookworm, and it continues to grow.