Gabe and I first crossed paths while working at an Under Armour retail store back in 2017. I had just started at the Swan Creek location when he transferred to the Arundel Mills store a few days later. One day, I visited the Arundel Mills store with my sister, Drea, and saw him there. I remember thinking, "I know him from somewhere, but where?" Growing up in a small town like Pasadena, that is not an uncommon feeling. If you know, you know. A few months later, Gabe returned to Curtis Bay, and I began piecing together where I’d seen him before... He must really like the company to be working at BOTH locations. Before we began dating, our interactions were casual—meeting up with friends from work, going out to bars, and attending small gatherings like a Super Bowl party at Gabe’s house, where we took our first photo together. By late 2019, something unexpected blossomed between us. Then COVID hit, and we cocooned ourselves in a close-knit bubble, discovering and deepening our connection away from outside distractions. Before we knew it, we were spending every weekend together. In early 2021, Gabe finally asked me out on our first official date. We went out for sushi, and in a funny twist, the leftovers mysteriously vanished between getting into the car and returning home. I’m convinced Gabe set them on top of his car to open the door for me and drove off with them still on top of the car. Soon after, we decided it was time to step out of our bubble and share our lives with the world. Opening ourselves to the outside world brought its share of challenges, as any relationship does. We’ve had our share of incredible moments and difficult times that have tested us. Yet, through it all, we’ve chosen each other every day, understanding that while we may bend, we won’t break as long as we remain committed to each other. On December 23rd, 2023, Gabe proposed to me in the intimate setting of his apartment. True to our style, it was a private, heartfelt moment. We’re now savoring life together, embarking on this beautiful adventure.