The butterfly effect is crazy—because what if we never chose to work at Chili’s in Orange?

Marcos had just graduated from UC Santa Barbara and moved back home to Anaheim. He’d been working at Chili’s in Santa Barbara, so he decided to keep the momentum going until he found something new. He debated between transferring to the Buena Park location or the Orange one…

Kendra had just finished her first year at Boise State University but ultimately decided the best choice was to move back home and continue school in California. Her mom had recently moved from Chino Hills to a new house in Orange. Kendra had also worked at Chili’s while in Boise and figured she’d do the same here—but was torn between the familiar Chino Hills location or being closer to home in Orange.

Fate (and HotSchedules) took over from there.

One day, while Kendra was working the takeout counter, her manager walked in with a new hire. He seemed nice, definitely nerdy, but overall… not too bad. That new hire was Marcos.

Over the next few months, they worked side by side and quickly became two of the few people either of them could actually tolerate at work. Marcos would constantly check HotSchedules to see if Kendra was on the schedule, and Kendra started calling him her “work husband.” Their coworkers noticed the flirtatious banter and were determined to get them together.

Not long after, they all went out one night—and Marcos and Kendra were rarely seen apart. At one point, Marcos was dared to kiss Kendra. He didn’t hesitate. That first kiss sealed the deal. From that night on, they were inseparable—spending nearly every day together, often until all hours of the night.

Four months later, Marcos officially asked Kendra to be his girlfriend.

Then came 2020. COVID hit, but that didn’t stop them. If anything, it brought them even closer. They decided to move in together right after celebrating their one-year anniversary and soon welcomed their new best friend, Cooper, into their lives.

Fast forward five years. Kendra graduated from UC Irvine with her Master of Arts in Teaching and her Secondary Education Teaching Credential in Math. To celebrate this huge accomplishment, they planned a trip to Costa Rica with Kendra’s family. But Kendra had no idea that Marcos had another big plan in mind.

In classic Marcos fashion, he waited until the very last day of the trip—just four hours before their flight home—to propose. That morning, they explored a nearby town, picked up souvenirs, and grabbed one final drink on the beach. Marcos suggested they take a walk on the sand since they hadn’t done that yet. Kendra, hot and sweaty, preferred the pool, but reluctantly agreed.

As her family watched from a distance, Kendra (still unaware) joined Marcos on the beach. After about five minutes—and several complaints about the heat—Marcos got down on one knee and asked her to marry him.

It was a whirlwind of emotions, but the perfect ending to an unforgettable trip.

Now, after years of love, laughter, and a little bit of Chili’s magic, Kendra and Marcos are so excited to celebrate this next chapter with all their favorite people by their side. They can’t wait to say “I do” surrounded by their closest friends and family, and begin the rest of their lives together—full of love, adventure, and neverending Chili's dates.