Thomas and I met at Thomas's Kirkwood apartment in August of 2020. I stopped to visit Thomas' roommate at the time and that is where we were first introduced. We remained just friends for a while and would see each other at different social gatherings.

Sometime around September-October 2021, what had been merely friendly interactions, gradually became more flirty. We began talking more over snapchat and sending each other tiktoks, and in January 2022, Thomas asked me to come spend the day watching football with him.

According to him, he was joking, and he did not expect me to come at all. But I thought this was his way of asking me on a date, so I agreed. I drove two hours from Ames to Iowa City and we spent the day awkwardly sitting on opposite ends of his couch talking and watching football. Halfway through the day Thomas's roommate also joined us. At the end of the day, Thomas walked me out to my car and we said goodbye.

Now, if you asked Thomas, he would say I left in a big hurry and that he was going to ask me out, but he was building up the courage, but from what I remember, before I got in my car to go, we stood awkwardly for what seemed like an eternity while I was waited for him to officially ask me out, but he did not, and it was January and I was in a hoodie and jeans, so I was very cold and I left thinking he just wanted to be friends and feeling very foolish.

The next day Thomas asked me out over snapchat. I was very frustrated that he hadn't asked me out in person, but I liked him a lot so I still said yes.

Thomas and I spent most of our relationship doing long distance with him Cedar Rapids and me in Ames. We spent four long months apart while I was studying abroad in Ireland. After I graduated from Iowa State, I got a job in Marion and moved to Cedar Rapids.

In November 2023, on the 18th hole at Twin Pines golf course, Thomas asked me to spend the rest of my life with him, and I said yes.