We're getting married!

Blake and Samantha first met in Kindergarten, where she had the biggest crush on him. One day during reading circle, she even kissed him—only for Blake to immediately tell on her! Despite this, her crush on him persisted for years. Unfortunately, after 5th grade, her family moved to a new school district, and they lost touch until social media and smartphones reconnected them. In high school, Blake would occasionally flirt with her via social media, but at that point, Samantha wasn’t interested in anything more than friendship. After graduation, Blake joined the army for four years, and they kept in touch through frequent FaceTime calls, trying to hang out whenever he was home on leave, even if only for a few hours. Just before he finally returned home, Blake confessed that he was in love with her. Samantha wasn't ready for a serious relationship then, and looking back, they both realize that Blake wasn’t ready either. Three years passed, and Blake never gave up. Their friendship grew even closer as they hung out whenever possible and talked all day, every day. Samantha noticed how much he had matured during this time and was genuinely impressed. Things became challenging when Blake went through the police academy, where he was extremely focused and motivated. As a 911 dispatcher, Samantha was thrilled when Blake was assigned to sit with her during his required dispatch training. It was a rare opportunity to see each other since their busy schedules often kept them apart. After Blake finished the academy and began settling into his new routine, Samantha decided to tell him that she was in love with him, too. After he got off work one day, she confessed her feelings, and Blake simply asked, "What are you doing tonight?" She replied, "I was hoping we’d hang out." Blake went home to change out of his uniform and returned with Rita’s. They did what they did best—watched movies, ate ice cream, and talked. At the end of the night, they shared their first kiss in 20 years. One year later, Blake proposed at sunset on top of a mountain on Samantha's grandparents' property in West Virginia, and it was perfect.