We met in the summer of 2019, just after Eric had moved to Charlotte. Eric wasn’t exactly looking to meet anyone, but Kyle had other plans—and somehow convinced him to go on a first date at the AMC in Park Road Shopping Center. From that night on, we were inseparable. Through a pandemic, a move to Cincinnati, and a return to Charlotte, we’ve supported each other every step of the way.

Kyle always joked that marriage would happen in “six years or by 2030, whichever comes first,” but on October 1st, 2024—well ahead of schedule—he surprised Eric with a proposal on the bay in Húsavík, Iceland. And yes, Eric was actually surprised (which is saying something). There was no doubt: Kyle is Eric’s person, and this is the beginning of our forever.