Short Story:

Lakin and Brandon met through Bralynn (Brandon's sister, Lakin's best friend)

Long Story:

Once upon a time, in the frozen food section of Walmart, Lakin and Brandon's love story began. Brandon's sister (Bralynn) had started working at Walmart with Lakin and they became really good friends. Lakin always wanted to meet her family members, and she had met them all, except for the notorious Brandon. One day in early February of 2019, Bralynn had texted Lakin on her lunch break and told her that Brandon was at Walmart visiting her at work, and told her to come back so she could finally meet him. Lakin got in her car and headed back to work. She clocked back in and searched the store for them until she saw them in the frozen food section. Brandon will say that she immediately started complaining about one of her coworkers to Bralynn (typical activity Bralynn and Lakin did frequently) before she even acknowledged him (Lakin is sure that she greeted him first). They spoke very briefly and then they didn't speak again until March.

Mid-March, Bralynn invited Lakin to a get-together out in the middle of absolutely nowhere (Atwood, KS haha). Once they got there, Brandon greeted Lakin immediately and they began to have a conversation. A few too many drinks later, it was way passed time to go home. They ended up staying at one of Bralynn's friends house, and they talked all night long.

They then began to text back and forth, and every time Lakin saw Brandon's name pop up on her phone, she got butterflies. However, there was one significant obstacle in their budding romance—Brandon's sister. Both Lakin and Brandon were hesitant to share their true feelings with her and themselves, fearing that it might complicate their relationship. The fear of judgment and potential awkwardness kept them from taking the next step. This went on till late May.

Lakin then, still really liking Brandon ALOT, went on vacation with her family. She asked her mom and sister several times if it was weird to like her best friends brother, and how she should go about that. They told her that she needed to be honest. But, it didn't seem to really matter, as Brandon GHOSTED Lakin while she was on vacation- no texts, snapchats, or anything from this man for a whole week. She thought she would go back to Kansas, and he would want nothing to do with her. However, as Lakin returned from her vacation, she found a message from Brandon, expressing his thoughts and emotions. He admitted that he missed her and wanted to explore the possibility of a relationship.

Obviously, Lakin was thrilled by this, but was still terrified of having a conversation with his sister, her best friend. Brandon and Lakin talked for weeks about how they should tell Bralynn they had feelings for each other. They decided they should do it before his 21st birthday, which was quickly approaching. The Friday before his party, Bralynn and Lakin were working on shoe modulars at Walmart and for some reason it just blurted out of her, "Hey Bralynn, I really like your brother." Bralynn immediately said, "Really?!" in a very excited voice. Lakin felt very relieved. Bralynn was not only supportive but also thrilled that her brother had found someone who made him happy.

Brandon and Lakin then became more serious about dating, and became OFFICIAL in July 2019. (Lakin found out a year later that Brandon had already talked to Bralynn about their relationship, but since Lakin was the one who wanted to tell Bralynn, they let her think she was the one who said something first).

Brandon and Lakin went to Destin, FL with her family for vacation. It was their second day there, and Brandon asked Lakin to go for a walk down to the ocean to swim and get away for awhile. Lakin had asked her family if they wanted to join, and they all immediately said no. Lakin thought, "OMG, he is going to ask me to marry him". the whole walk down to the ocean, Lakin could not stop thinking about it, however Brandon was being very calm and did not seem nervous. Lakin thought maybe it wasn't going to happen then, just because of the way he was acting (he was acting normal). When they got down to the ocean, they swam for a little while, but it was getting dark and cold so they got out to dry off. They were standing there, watching the sunset chatting, when suddenly Brandon turned to Lakin and said, "Hey, I have a question." Lakin then seemed to black out as she does not remember the speech Brandon gave her until she heard that WONDERFUL AMAZING question, "Will you marry me?", and he was down on one knee. Lakin of course said, "F**K YES!"(Lakin had waited 4 years to hear this). On their walk back home, Lakin finally got her emotions under control. They got back to the house they were staying in, and she could see her whole family sitting in the living room. Lakin put her finger up to the door, scaring her mother, until they saw what had happened. All her emotions came flooding back, standing in a room with the people she love most. Lakin found out later that most of her family and his family knew the plan, without anyone ruining it for her!