It all began in February 2022, when fate (and a swipe right on Tinder) brought us together. We started texting often, both convinced it wouldn’t lead anywhere serious. Then April rolled around, and Jayden needed a prom date. Without hesitation, Will offered to take her — something she never imagined a 20-year-old would want to do. Before the big night, we went on a few dates and started getting to know each other better. When prom day arrived, Will made it absolutely perfect — full of laughter, dancing, and memories we still cherish. Over the next couple of months, we kept going on dates but never made things “official.” That changed on July 4th, 2022, just after a trip to Will’s grandparents’ lake house in Arkansas. That fall, we both moved to Manhattan, Kansas, to start college together — Jayden in the dorms, Will in his own apartment. While we enjoyed our time at K-State, we often found ourselves wanting to go home to see our dogs. By May 2023, we decided college wasn’t the right path for either of us. Will moved back to Derby for work, and Jayden returned to Emporia to start a job of her own. The months that followed were filled with countless drives back and forth. Jayden visited Derby whenever she could, and Will made trips to Emporia on weekends. In September, Will moved to Emporia but continued working for his Uncle Bob in Derby until he found a new job closer to home. That December, he began working for Jayden’s parents — a job he still loves today. By May 2024, we had officially moved in together, continuing to grow in love and partnership. Then, just one day shy of our third anniversary, Will planned a hike in Arkansas. Standing over a breathtaking valley, he asked Jayden to marry him — and the rest is just the beginning of our forever.