It all started with ice cream and a part-time job.

We were both teenagers when we first met at our local Dairy Queen. It wasn’t glamorous, there were sticky floors, endless blizzards to make, and burgers to flip, but it became the start for something unforgettable.

Laura was already working there when Devin joined the team. He walked in on his first day with that nervous, but excited energy, not knowing anyone, trying to figure out where everything was. Laura, with her easy smile and confidence, offered to train him in grill and chill. That’s how it began.

At first, it was just work talk. Shift schedules, learning the ice cream swirl, and trying not to mess up someone's complicated order. But between the rushes, we started joking around. We’d sneak chicken strips when the manager wasn’t looking, laugh over accidentally dropping crispy chickens, and trade glances across the counter when a difficult customer walked in.

Then came the longer conversations. After shifts, we’d hang out with friends, talking about school, music, and life. Devin started showing up early just to see if Laura was working. Laura found herself hoping their names would show up on the same schedule.

Before we even realized it, we weren’t just coworkers anymore. We were something more.

Years later, we look back on those DQ days and laugh. Who would’ve thought that a summer job, some ice cream, and a few too many blizzards would be the start of something so sweet!