Josie and Pace met in summer of '24 through their younger sisters, who conspired whilst jet-skiing to get the two together. While Pace was hesitant to be set up by his sister, he eventually reached out to see if Josie wanted to go for a casual hike around Tubbs.

Quickly discovering a shared sense of humor and ability to tread water, the nascent couple went on multiple dates, several of which were aquatic. Throughout this time two things were on the rise—Pace's realization this relationship was different than any he had been in, and Josie's score in a months-long game. But all was not well.

Pace was loathe to admit to himself that the type of woman he needed looked a whole lot like Josie, so he called things off over a call in August. Josie, manifesting latent prescient prowess, told him 'I think you're scared, because you know this is going to be big.'

Fortunately for our star-crossed lovers, the two continued talking (to the great confusion of both parties) due to the dual influence of murder mysteries and cat pictures. Over a two-month period, Pace recovered from the poisonous machinations of overthinking, while Josie patiently waited for the convalescent to recognize he was definitely into her.

The following months passed in a beautiful blur. The manifest glory of their friendship far outweighed the fear of the uncertain. The couple returned to Tubbs to begin dating again in earnest in October, then ended up doing just about everything together—concerts, Halloween parties, Thanksmas, Christmas movies, snow shoeing, Leavenworth, sushi making, and lots and lots and lots of sushi eating.

The rest of the story reads like a hike. Josie and Pace journeyed through a multitude of landscapes, drawing closer together until a mountaintop engagement revealed this story is just the opening chapters of a lifelong story, detailing the adventures and ascent of two people who are being remade by each other into the image of God.