it's about time.

One evening early in the Summer of 2012, Kendall and Brett found themselves in line outside of 22 North, a popular beach bar on Lumina Avenue. Having crossed paths at social gatherings in the past, Kendall recognized Brett and struck up conversation. Once inside Kendall offered to buy him a shot of tequila to help break the ice, which he readily accepted. After a few more drinks, and as many hours of conversation, the night ended with a simple ten digit exchange. Daily conversations ensued and a close friendship began to form.

Despite Kendall’s move to Raleigh in September of 2012, the two remained close. Often asked what the status of their relationship was, the answer was always the same: “We’re just friends.” In October of 2012, Brett invited Kendall to the wedding of Jenna and his brother, Alan, as a friend. She agreed to join him, as a friend. She was introduced to his entire family, as a friend. But after a night of tearing up the dance floor and laughing endlessly, they both realized the other was most certainly more than just a friend. From that day forward, Kendall drove to Wilmington or Brett to Raleigh almost weekly, and on December 7th they decided to slap a new name on their relationship.

A job opportunity reunited Brett and Kendall in downtown Wilmington. They both got dogs and spent their evenings on strolls down the Riverwalk and visiting local bars, namely Blue Post, Satellite, and The Goat and Compass. They spent fewer and fewer days apart, and a year later decided to move to Raleigh together. Their first shared home was a dismal basement level apartment with a leaky ceiling and camel cricket problem - the picture of romance. After narrowly escaping black mold and an all out camel cricket assault, they relocated to what would become their first purchased home. After nearly six years of dating, some wondered if they would ever take it to the next level.

The proposal was meant to be an unglamorous yet wonderful surprise, and it was. Brett wanted the night to appear as one of their typical date nights - nice enough to feel special, but not so glamorous that Kendall would catch on that something more was planned. On October 6, 2018, Brett took Kendall out for ramen (not of the “Top Ramen” variety) and cocktails in downtown Durham, and upon returning home he had her enter the house first. She was greeted by a house full of candles. Spread across the kitchen table were ticket stubs, vacation keepsakes, and photos from their memory box, all organized by each year they had spent together. He had enlisted the help of their good friends and neighbors, Danny and Melissa, to secretly set everything up. After taking in everything she was seeing, Kendall turned around to find Brett on one knee. When he asked, “Will you marry me?” she dropped to her knees, crying in the exact way she had declared she never would, and hugged him tightly. Clearly the answer was yes.