It is a tale that could inspire classic love songs and foster inspiration for ballads and poetry, that could shake and redefine the very essence of “what is love”, “what is a relationship”, and “what constitutes a soulmate”. And about seven years ago, their love took root from a single place: Grindr.

Back in February 2018, Brayden and Nicholas began chatting over this online app. At the time, Brayden was a substitute teacher, and Nicholas was in his second year at Holladay Elementary after teaching and living in Tulsa, Oklahoma for 5 years. They first met at a phở restaurant in Short Pump. Brayden was enamored by Nicholas’s smile, his eyes, and how articulate he was. Nicholas found himself taken by Brayden’s wit and charm (which is what Brayden will tell himself).

Mutual attraction and interest soon turned into a budding romance, and on March 20th, 2018, Brayden asked Nicholas to be his boyfriend. Their days began by meeting for dinner once a week and then spending time with each other during the weekends, alternating between houses. Nicholas would rest his head on a pillow on Brayden’s lap and watch him play a game on the PS4 (Nicholas-approved games such as The Witcher 3). A few times Nicholas tried biking with Brayden during his runs, and Brayden would quibble about Nicholas either being WAY in front of him or WAY behind him during these runs. Nicholas indulged Brayden by reading a few of the things that he wrote, and Brayden drew a couple of comics for him. Coincidentally one winter, they took separately planned trips to New York but found time to meet in Harlem for brunch.

The early years were simple and sweet, and “simple and sweet” has a way of growing into love and trust with time, compromise, and continual support through changes. This love was nurtured through Brayden transitioning into a full-time math teacher and changing schools, through Nicholas working his way into administration, through the deaths of two of their family members (Bagheera and Lily), through Brayden’s struggles with his running career, through living together, through Nicholas’s continual challenges with crazy parents and students, through raising Rocco (their puppy), through the annoyances brought about by Covid, and much more (but I think you get the point).

During the summer of 2023, Brayden proposed to Nicholas (with Rocco in attendance as well as several dear friends). Of course, Nicholas was expecting this to happen but did not know when. He had probed Brayden about his proposal plans prior to them moving into their house, but Brayden gave an aloof answer while secretly coordinating/telling both families and close friends. After a moment of not realizing that Brayden was kneeling - Nicholas was looking over his head - Nicholas was stunned and elated. On the next day, their new home barbecue jointly became a celebration of their engagement. And of course, Rocco was excited for his dads.

On November 1st, 2024, Brayden and Nicholas married in Charlottesville, VA. With the sunlight dancing through changing leaves still on the trees and their bond reinforced, it was all quite surreal. The ceremony itself was small and simple but made more lovely and intimate by the attendance of their immediate families.

Now as husbands, Brayden and Nicholas look forward to what changes await them in the future. However, none of those changes are as scary or challenging since they have each other.