It all started in the most unexpected place… Olive Garden. Romantic, right?

Leonard and I had been working together at Olive Garden for a little over a year before we truly connected. He was pretty quiet and kept mostly to himself, which was very unlike me, because I’m extremely bubbly and talkative.


If you ask him what his first memory of me is, he’ll say it was me correcting his salad portions shortly after he was hired (lol). However, the first memory that truly stayed with me happened during a shift when I was having a bad day and wasn’t feeling like my usual self. Leo noticed something was off and, called me over just to check on me and offer support. It was such a small moment during a busy shift, but it really showed me his kindness and the way he quietly pays attention and cares—even though he barely knew me.


We started chatting more and exchanged playful banter at the side stations. He made me laugh on the hardest days, and it was impossible not to feel drawn to him! I was developing a BIG crush. How could I not? He was charming, witty, and handsome.


At the time, I was bartending and we were short-staffed, looking for another server to help behind the bar. I told my manager, Josh Baca, that I thought he was cute and asked him to put Leo in the bar with me. Although Leo made it clear he wanted nothing to do with bartending, Josh followed through anyway and put him back there with me (thank you, Josh). That’s when things really started to develop. What started as silly conversations in the side stations turned into late-night pool games after work that neither of us wanted to end.


We were both in the middle of pretty big, transformative chapters in our lives—not sure of our direction. Life felt a little messy, but despite the chaos, we kept getting pulled back to each other. Eventually, we took the leap and started dating, making it official in May of 2022.


Over the years, we’d fallen deeper and deeper in love. We’ve learned so much through communication, showing up for each other, and growing as a team. Day by day, it became clear to us that this was the person we wanted to build a life with—the person we wanted to choose forever.


Leo proposed during one of our favorite traditions: his annual birthday camping trip. We were surrounded by the people we love most, out in nature where we felt the most at peace. It was the kind of moment that felt simple, sacred, and so us.


I’m so thankful for the life we’re building filled with fun memories, growth, and a whole lot of laughter—grateful for the unexpected moments that brought us here.

—k