We’ve known of each other for years—two athletes crossing paths in school, never realizing our future was already intertwined. We were even Facebook friends and didn’t know it!

One day, Lashonda noticed a post Darrius shared about his nonprofit. She commented, and he responded, saying he’d been watching her shine from afar. That little moment sparked something special. From there, we started liking each other’s pictures, one after the other, until Darrius finally slid into her inbox.

At the time, Lashonda was preparing to move back to Alabama, and for three months, we talked nonstop—learning, laughing, connecting. Darrius was consistent, always showing up, always genuine.

In March 2021, we officially became a couple, and from that moment on, we’ve been building our love story, one beautiful chapter at a time.