Chloe and Ryan first started talking in May of 2024 when they matched on Hinge. Chloe was about to graduate from her masters program and set her location to Dallas as she was moving soon, and Ryan was studying for a professional exam and had lived in Dallas for just over two years. They bonded over similar interests, values, and the littlest of things like their colleges having the same school colors. Once Chloe moved and Ryan took his exam, they had their first date. For weeks prior they had been audio messaging back and forth, and that definitely helped the connection bloom. After the first date, Ryan and Chloe began to explore Dallas from walking the Katy trail to trying so many coffee shops and restaurants. When Ryan left for a family reunion he sent Chloe a postcard, and when he got back officially asked her to be his girlfriend. Since then, they have enjoyed traveling to see the major places in Texas, going to visit both family homes, and a fun trip to Auburn where Chloe was indoctrinating Ryan into the SEC culture. While in Dallas, the two of them enjoy attempting to cook together, spending time with Oatmeal (who was in love with Ryan when she met him), and finding new things to do while loving the ones that have become “their spots”.

During the year Chloe and I were dating, we made several visits to the Arboretum, a botanical garden with amazing floral displays on White Rock Lake in Dallas. As one of our favorite places, I knew it would be the perfect location to ask Chloe a momentous question. Family is very important to both of us, so travel arrangements were made to get both of our families out to Dallas for Memorial Day weekend to surprise Chloe on the big day. On an otherwise unassuming, sunny spring day, I walked with Chloe and my parents by the flower beds where we enjoyed the Arboretum's natural beauty. Upon reaching a gorgeous view overlooking the lake, I got on one knee and asked Chloe to spend the rest of our lives together. Fortunately, she said yes. Chloe's grandparents then emerged from behind the bushes, and our families joined for the weekend to celebrate the happy occasion. To cap the weekend off, Chloe and I got to see her favorite baseball team, the Toronto Blue Jays, beat the Texas Rangers at home!