On August 18th, 2020 Addie and Payne first met on the campus of Sam Houston State University, in none other than, you guessed it... the COVID testing line! Payne was starting his second season as a Graduate Assistant Coach for the Bearkat Men's Basketball team, while Addie recently graduated from SHSU and was coaching as a volunteer assistant for the volleyball program while awaiting PT school. After months of DM'ing on and off... some may claim they were left on "read" (Payne)... Addie finally came around and accepted an official first date to "The Big E-Z Crawfish & Oyster Bar". Addie and Payne started dating from that moment on, and never looked back. After spending 5 months together in Huntsville, TX, their long distance relationship would begin. Addie was accepted to the University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences in Austin, TX, while Payne made his way from SHSU to Weatherford Junior College as an assistant men's basketball coach. After a year, Payne found his way back to SHSU as the director of basketball operations. Payne was later named an assistant coach at New Mexico State University. After 2 & 1/2 years of dating across multiple Texas county lines, the two realized that they were ultimately in it for the long haul (even if it meant heading west to New Mexico!). With graduation soon on the horizon, and the moving truck loaded for Las Cruces, NM.... FINALLY Payne asked Addie to be his wife in Mckinney Texas, on June 22, 2023, surrounded by family & friends.