It all started with a conversation in a yoga studio about two people that were perfect for each other. Jamie had been on the hunt for the right guy, keeping one of her clients informed of failed dates and frustrations she'd had. The topic then came up during Warrior pose where Jamie's client and Demi, Dino's best friend’s wife, decided the two must meet.

After several failed meetups and one failed first date, Jamie and Dino finally met at the Great Entertainer in San Mateo.

They went on a few more dates after that, each one feeling more comfortable than the last and they started getting to know each other in an effortless way, like they had always been friends and were just now realizing it. And then—just as things were beginning to feel like they could be something more—the world shut down.

When Covid hit, everything changed. The world went into quarantine, and like so many others, Jamie and Dino found themselves stuck at home, unsure of what the future would hold. But instead of drifting apart like many couples did, they leaned into the uncertainty together. They spent the next several months cooking meals together, binge-watching shows, and navigating the strange new world side by side. Their relationship, once a casual adventure, quickly turned into something deeper—something solid.

After settling into what their relationship looked like during Covid, an opportunity arose for Dino to move to Arizona, leaving the future uncertain again. After nearly a year of being long distance and visiting every other month, it became clear they didn’t want to go back to living separate lives. So, they made a big decision: and Jamie moved out to Arizona.

It was a leap. A big one. But it felt right.

Now, they’re settled into their new life in the desert, a place that was as new and unfamiliar as the early days of their relationship. But in a way, it feels like home. The hot Arizona sun and sweeping views are a perfect metaphor for their journey: unexpected, a little wild, but beautiful all the same.

From being stood up, to quarantine love, to packing up their lives and starting anew in Arizona, Jamie and Dino’s story is proof that sometimes, the right person shows up when you least expect it—and, in their case, sometimes a few false starts are exactly what you need to find the one who’s meant for you.

AirBnb

Residence Inn Phoenix Chandler/South