Connect How did your love story begin?

We were drum line buddies all through high school—just friends who shared laughs in marching band. With different priorities back then, love never crossed our minds. I moved away for college and we lost touch. But when I came back, we planned a dinner with an old friend… who mysteriously didn’t show. That night, something shifted. We started spending more time together, realizing we could be more. We still think our friend ditched us on purpose—maybe they just knew before we did.

What is your favorite memory you've shared as a couple?

One of our favorite memories is getting our first apartment—our first time living on our own and with a partner. It was a huge step, and every part of it—from learning to adult together to decorating and bringing home our cat—was filled with love. It wasn’t just a place, it became our home, and we’ll always cherish that special beginning.

What would you do with $20,000?

With $20,000, we’d take the first step toward growing our family. Due to medical conditions, Alexa may not be able to have children naturally. IVF is a blessing, but costly—and this would help us begin that journey. If not IVF, we’d love to adopt, another beautiful but expensive path. Either way, the dream is the same: to welcome a child into our lives and hearts as soon as we are ready.