Some stories begin with a perfect sunset. Ours began with a 45 minute line outside Stampede, a country line dancing bar in Temecula, California. On June 8th, 2023, Noelle made the hour-long drive with friends, just looking for a fun night at the only 18+ college spot nearby. She had no idea her future was about to step - actually cut - right in front of her. Just as she finally reached the front, a guy slipped ahead of her like he owned the place. Without hesitation, she tapped his shoulder and said, "Who do you think you are, cutting the line right in front of me?" The boy with the bright blue eyes turned around, flashed a smirk, and said, "Hi, I'm Tommy." That was the moment sparks flew, though at the time, neither of them would have admitted it. Inside, they shared a fast first conversation. Tommy asked what she did, and when she told him she studied Sports Medicine at Point Loma Nazarene University, he fired back confidently, "Kinesiology?" Noelle couldn't help but smile. Then he disappeared into the crowd... until hours later, when he spotted her on the dance floor and boldly asked for her number. Before she walked away, she asked what he did. When he replied, "I'm a math teacher at the local community college," she was convinced he was lying - this man was way too charming to grade algebra tests for a living. As the conversation went on, she found out his last name was Ibarra and he spoke spanish? at a line dancing country bar? Now she was intrigued. When Noelle was leaving that night, she found him surrounded by a group of girls. She simply tapped his shoulder, gave him a smile, and walked out without looking back. A few days later, Tommy sent a photo of himself in a fire uniform, and, well... that was game over. Two weeks later, they had their first date: four hours talking in a little coffee shop, walking Sunset Cliffs, and ending the date with Tommy dropping Noelle off at - of all things - summer school statistics. And they have been inseparable ever since. our first picture together on our first date