For years, Geoff's friend Dan had told him "I have a friend in Chicago you should meet - he's nerdy, he lifts, he's an actor. You'll like him." "Great - introduce us!" Silence.

Finally in the summer of 2015, Dan mentioned that he was coming in town for this guy's surprise birthday party, and asked to stay with Geoff; in return, Geoff got an invite to the birthday party. Deciding it would be uncouth to go to a party for someone he'd never met, Geoff tracked Gabriel down. Over the course of a week, they texted each other constantly - dog photos and silly GIFs. When they finally met on a gorgeous summer Saturday in July, they realized they had more in common than Dan could possibly have realized, and something clicked.

In November of 2016, Gabriel was working in the Finger Lakes of New York at Merry-Go-Round Theater, doing a production of SMOKEY JOE'S CAFE. Geoff headed up there for his birthday week and to help Gabriel drive back to Chicago. On his birthday, after some *ridiculous* french toast at a bed and breakfast, Gabriel drove Geoff up to Ithaca, and they hiked the gorges. As they crossed a bridge over the main gorge, a couple hiking in front of them stopped and asked them to take a picture. Geoff happily obliged. When he gave the woman her iPhone and turned back to Gabriel, he found him on one knee, with a gorgeous bracelet in his hands. He said some things. They were beautiful things. Geoff doesn't remember a single word of the beautiful things Gabriel said except "will you marry me." Geoff *does* remember saying "Yes" about 10,000 times in a row.

As they left the gorges, Geoff asked Gabriel if there was maybe another waterfall or place to hike nearby - he needed a "moment or two to collect himself" before they went back to civilization. They drove to a nearby waterfall that fell into a rock pool, and walked the short distance to a picnic area alongside. There, Geoff dropped to *his* knee, reached into a pocket, and pulled out the bracelet he had brought, unbeknownst to Gabriel. He said some things. He doesn't remember what he he said, except "Will *you* marry *me*." He remembers Gabriel saying "yes."

Turns out that they'd both been plotting this exact same plan - get a bracelet. Go for a hike on Geoff's birthday. Get their engagement on - since the day Gabriel had first left for New York. Geoff's mother knew. Gabriel's parents knew. Their best friends all knew. The only people who didn't know Geoff and Gabriel's dual plan were Geoff and Gabriel.