A friend and I went to try a new taco spot in Charlotte—partly for the food, mostly because he wanted to meet the beautiful new bartender. I went along as support, but he’d had too much to drink and quickly embarrassed himself. While I played the apologetic friend, she met his questions with quick wit and a spark that immediately drew me in. Her fire, her humor, the way her eyes lingered just a moment too long—everything about her pulled me closer. I guessed her home country correctly, mentioned I was a Taurus, and her smile told me I’d said exactly the right thing. The flirting became unmistakable, and I found myself returning to the bar two days in a row just for the chance to see her again. When she finally worked another shift, we spent the time in a playful dance of 21 Questions while another friend Josh teased me about asking her out on a date. Before we left, she gave me her number, and something between us had already begun. Our first date was a Charlotte FC match, but the real highlight was the easy laughter and effortless chemistry. Soon she was meeting my friends, and not long after, she was in Arkansas with me—at an Arkansas football game, meeting my family, fitting into my world as if she’d always been meant to be there. That’s where our story truly started—quietly, unexpectedly, and beautifully.

💛 Where did you grow up, and what’s a childhood memory you cherish? *Alex: Northeast Arkansas. I will always remember and cherish all of the ski trips I went on with my family growing up. *Fabi: Southeast Venezuela. I’ll always cherish summers with my cousins at my great aunt's house, we were really happy with literally nothing. 💛 What was your first job, or a moment early in life that made you think, “this is who I am”? *Alex: I was lifeguard throughout the summers in high school and that’s when I knew I enjoyed helping people and watching out for the safety of others. *Fabi: My first job was as a cashier and waitress in RC Café, a local coffee shop in my hometown. Venezuela was hit by a humanitarian crisis, and watching my people suffer made me realize I wanted to serve and work for them, that’s how I decided to build my career in the nonprofit sector. 💛 What hobby or activity are you passionate about, and why does it matter to you? *Alex: I really enjoy most sports. Playing and watching. I like to play guitar and wish I played more. Sports are a like life, it’s a group effort and sometimes things go great and other times not so much. Regardless, staying optimistic and loyal are most important to me and I try to carry that over to my personal life as well. *Fabi: I’m passionate about dancing Cuban salsa. I didn’t know how to dance until I was 24, and learning helped me overcome many personal limitations. Dancing reminds me that I’m capable of everything. 💛 What do you value most about yourself or the person you’ve become? *Alex: My optimism and my passion. I always try to see things in a positive way. *Fabi: That I’ve been able to continue living and growing without my mom. 💛 What’s a fun fact or little-known detail about you that most people don’t know? *Alex: I’m claustrophobic. *Fabi: I’m an only child, my favorite football team is Arsenal, and I hate all white sauces - the only white thing I like is Alex!

💛 Describe our relationship in three words. *Alex: Passionate, laughter, teamwork. *Fabi: Fun, caring, transformative. 💛 If our story were a movie, what would the title be? *Alex: Accents in Love. *Fabi: How to Make an Arkansas Boy Like South American Coffee in 100 Days. 💛 What was the “aha moment” when you realized you wanted to be with me? *Alex: When you said yes to drive 11 hrs to Arkansas without question or hesitation for a football game. *Fabi: When I ran out of gas on the freeway while you were injured, I thought you’d scold me - but instead you helped me and even brought me coffee because you knew I hadn’t eaten. Until that moment, I thought only my dad would ever do something like that for me. 💛 What do you admire most about me, or what have we built together that makes you proud? *Alex: Your strength and drive are two of the most beautiful things about you. I’m in awe of the woman you are. You’ve been through so much in a short amount of time and I love your determination to overcome those challenges. *Fabi: I admire how thoughtful and caring you are, how you can put your own feelings aside and make others a priority, even when you’re not feeling your best. You have helped me stand up so many times, to find happiness again after my mom’s death, and to believe that life can be beautiful again. 💛 What are you most looking forward to in this new chapter we’re starting together? *Alex: Adventures filled with never ending laughter. Every adventure with you feels like magic. We always find our way back to laughter, back to love, back to each other. *Fabi: Having beautiful babies that look just like you — with curls!!!