"I gotta say, everything in your bio is solid if you're willing to pet my doggo." - Aaron

"Hi. I'm late the party, but I'll pet your dog." -Ashley

-------------------------------

The love story begins with two right swipes and one extremely delayed reply. In March of 2021, a charming man named Aaron sent a message to Ashley—complete with an adorable mention of his doggo. At the time, Ashley had sworn off Tinder, declaring to herself (and her friends) that she was done with digital romance.

Fast forward two months. Fate (or sheer curiosity) had Ashley dusting off her Tinder account, only to discover Aaron’s message, patiently waiting like a knight in shining notifications. Cute guy? Check. Cute dog? Double check. She sent a reply, and within 24 hours, Aaron answered. From that moment on, the story began to write itself.

They spent weeks talking, laughing, and realizing they had stumbled onto something special. The first meeting was set for Sturgis Falls, but the universe had other plans and they were unable to meet. Luckily, Ashley was asked to housesit for a friend in July in Cedar Falls. Seizing the opportunity, they decided to set up a day and time for their first official date.

When Aaron walked through the door that evening, he made an immediate beeline for the dog—unaware that Ashley’s nerves had skyrocketed. Ashley had a weakness for men who were nice to animals - and right then, she was feeling weak in the knees. In a moment of pure rom-com brilliance, Ashley excused herself, dashed to the bathroom, and found comfort in a small stash of liquid courage left behind by her friend.

The date itself was a blend of classic Ashley awkwardness and undeniable chemistry. Whiskey Road for dinner, games at TapTap, and conversation that flowed as easily as the drinks (thanks largely to Aaron’s chatter since Ashley was too awkward to speak more than 3 words). By the end of the week, they'd crammed a lifetime of firsts into a few short days—a HomeGoods run, naps, and an Anchorman marathon included. Then came the bittersweet goodbye: Ashley back to Ida Grove, Aaron staying in Cedar Falls, and a long stretch of HWY 20 between them.

For the next few months, their relationship played out like a love letter to Iowa highways and late-night phone calls. Aaron—a man who believed in waiting for the perfect moment—waited until October 28, 2021, to officially ask Ashley to be his girlfriend. Of course, not without confessing that he was already hopelessly in love with her.

Their bond continued to grow stronger through road trips to St. Louis, brewery tastings, shared naps, and countless moments that made falling in love feel inevitable. By spring of 2022, Ashley knew it was time to leave Ida Grove and start a new chapter closer to Aaron. After a whirlwind of applications, interviews, and a river of tears, she accepted a teaching position in Independence.

In May 2022, Ashley packed her life into boxes, watched Aaron eat a hot dog at 5 AM, and moved to Cedar Falls. It didn’t take long for the pair to settle into their happily almost-ever-after. Within the first month, Aaron helped Ashley bring her first cat Wilson home. Very quickly she adopted a second cat, Penelope. Ashley and Aaron spent their days cooking, exploring local food spots, and building a life filled with laughter, love, and just the right amount of cat fur.

In February 2023, Aaron and his loyal sidekick, Ace, moved in with Ashley. Together, they filled their home with cozy nights, shared dreams, and visions of a beautiful future.

Then came October 28, 2023—their second anniversary, and unbeknownst to Ashley, the day her fairy tale would take its next magical step. Aaron, ever the schemer, suggested they visit Wilson’s Orchard in Iowa City. By late October, the apples had all but vanished, leaving rows of bare trees and fading leaves. But Aaron had no need for apples. In the quiet of the orchard, he got down on one knee and asked Ashley to be his forever. It was everything she had dreamed of and more—proof that happily ever afters do exist.

And so, two swipes, one late reply, and countless miles of Iowa roads later, their love story became the kind of tale that makes people believe in magic.