D + A

When Alyssa moved back home, she took a job in a medical office not knowing that it would lead her straight to the love of her life. There, she met Karen, who just so happened to be Derek’s mom. The two quickly became friends, sharing stories, laughs, and plenty of breaks. One day, Karen injured her back, and Alyssa offered to help with some landscaping while she recovered. She showed up at Karen’s house ready to work, and standing in the driveway was Derek. That day, an unexpected spark quietly began. For about a year, Alyssa and Derek stayed friends. They both dated other people, but fate clearly had other plans. Derek’s brother Ryan let it slip that Derek wanted to take Alyssa on a date — to which she firmly said no. In fact, she said no every single time Derek asked… for an entire year! But Derek, ever persistent, never gave up. Eventually, Alyssa agreed to go to dinner — but made it clear it was not a date. (Spoiler: it definitely was.) From that “not-a-date” on, the two have been inseparable. What began as friendship, patience, and a few well-timed coincidences grew into the kind of love that feels meant to be. To this day, Ryan jokes that their mom orchestrated the whole thing calling the relationship an “arranged marriage.” But Alyssa and Derek know better. It wasn’t arranged at all — it was just fate.