Erica and Justin's story proves that timing is everything.

In 2014, Erica was working in Shadyside, and Justin was traveling along the East Coast for work when they first started crossing paths in the North Shore at Pitt tailgates. Every fall they would see each other, but the timing was always off; they were dating other people, or Justin's work schedule did not align with the games Erica was attending that year. One season, one of the Pitt tailgate crew even mentioned to Erica "I could see you with Justin, have you ever thought about going on a date with him"? But again, the timing was not quite right - having just watched him shot gun a beer, she quickly replied "I don't think so".

But little did they know, each year they were growing into the person that the other needed the most. In 2018, as Erica tried to enter the Pitt/Syracuse game, Heinz Field's bag rule prevented her from getting in. Rather than making her stash her things somewhere else, or worse, go home, Justin suggested the two of them watch the game from a bar nearby. Appreciating the kind gesture, she agreed. Watching the game together turned into dinner, dinner turned into a night out, and the two have been together ever since.

In 2023, the pair traded in their Pitt tickets for Steelers tickets, and while at the tailgate (are we sensing a theme here?), Erica pointed to Mount Washington and asked Justin "is that Monterrey Bay? I'd like to go there soon". Little did she know, she had just guessed the exact location where Justin would ask her to spend the rest of their lives together. On January 20th, a few weeks later, Justin took Erica to the overlook and above the city that brought them together, he asked her to marry him.

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