We met in the summer 2017 at Two Fat Butchers in Front Royal, VA. I had been working there for about a year before Steven started to help out on the weekends with his friend Matt. One weekend we were working, I had brought out some BBQ sandwiches for them to sell outside at the grill. As I was dropping them into the warmer, Steven said, "Oooo what you got on girl? You smell good." I giggled and didn't pay much attention to him(I was wearing Bath&Bodyworks Dark Kiss perfume), but that was about all the conversation we had that summer. Fast forward to the summer of 2018, BBQ Grill was open again and I started to see more of Steven on the weekends working with his friend Matt. As each day and weekend passed by , we would talk more and more and eventually started to hangout after we got off work, where I would show Steven the beautiful parts of Front Royal, VA with the sunset. We would sometimes go out to eat, ride around listening to songs, and introducing new songs to one another or just talk for hours. One night after spending time together Steven finally asked me to be his girlfriend the night of August 14th, 2018.

For weeks I began to get suspicious that Steven may be getting ready to pop the question to me and I would stress about it because I never knew when to get my nails done. I didn't want to ask too many questions or think too much into each time we were going out somewhere, but if you know me...you know I overthink WAY too much and ask WAY too many questions. One weekend I was for certain Steven was going to propose was when he took me to see the Cherry Blossoms in DC for my first time ever. So, I made sure I looked cute, did my hair, makeup, and painted my own nails...Well it didn't happen that day. So, at this point I was clueless and began to tell myself he would be proposing in the near future. A few weeks later after the cherry blossoms, he told me to make sure I didn't make any plans on Saturday, April 29th, 2023. I of course asked why, which he replied, "We are going to be having dinner with Greg & Dallas". I didn't think too much into it because it's nothing out of the ordinary of us having dinner with them. I didn't ask any questions at first and just assumed we would be going to their house for dinner. Two weeks before the proposal, I was asking Steven what the full plan was going dinner so I could figure out if I needed to make anything to bring to their house which Steven replied, "No, we are going out to eat." Then I of course start my questions, for where? What type of place so I can dress accordingly? Which Steven began to get frustrated at my questions and got mad at me so what did I do... I called my best friend, Dallas, to ask her. I knew immediately when she answered, and I started asking her for the full details of this "dinner" that I caught her off guard and she had to think of what to say. She was very smooth with her answers and said we would be going to old town Alexandria. She wanted us to have dinner with them because they would be in that area and thought it would be nice...A few days later she asked if I wanted to get my nails done with her which I of course said yes. Especially since I was getting suspicious but also because I needed a good manicure. Again, I'm not trying to overthink everything, but I am suspicious because Steven started asking what I would be wearing, etc. I of course went shopping since I was informed to look nice because it was a "nice restaurant". Saturday, April 29th, 2023, the day I said I said yes to marry my best friend and love of my life, aka my BooThang! I had to work that morning (April 29th), so I came home and curled my hair, did my makeup and changed into the dress and heels that I bought. Steven was rushing me (per usual) and we finally got in the car to drive to Old Town Alexandria. After parking in the parking garage, I'm texting Dallas asking if she had lotion because my hands were dry, and she was texting me like they were right outside the restaurant about to go sit at the table. After getting out of the car, Steven left his hat and didn't bring a jacket which I was confused by because he always wears his hats and always has a jacket especially when we know after the sun sets, it's going to get cold. He said he didn't want to carry a jacket and didn't feel like he needed to wear a hat (I still brought my jacket regardless of what he said). As we are walking down the sidewalk, I am completely clueless on where we are because I had never been there before, so I am just following him. As we get to the end of the sidewalk, I notice a woman photographing a girl, which I assumed was for senior pictures. We turned right then mid-way up the sidewalk he has me follow him into the stone road and say's "we're here!" (clearly not a restaurant). As we get to the middle of this stone pebble road, he turns around to face me and gets down on one knee and asked me to marry him. I of course replied, YES! I soon then hear the clicking of a camera and realize that the photographer I had seen was there for us because Steven wanted to make sure this moment was captured.