The love story begins with a common thread, Kelly. Kelly is Kevin’s younger cousin, by one day, and a good friend of Kirsten’s from middle school. They met each other for the first time at a bookstore in Bethesda. They dated for a while and then took different paths.

On July 4, 2021 Kevin tried to rekindle the relationship. For the next two years, they enjoyed traveling to watch the Flyers, bringing the heat in the kitchen through baking, and challenging one another in board games.

On the evening of December 31, 2023, Kevin and Kirsten watched the Flyers beat the Kings, 4-2. Kevin then, after a 10 year chase, scored the winning goal of capturing Kirsten’s heart and proposed.