We met over ten years ago, back when we were still teenagers. Even though we were in different grade levels, we always found time for each other, especially on the weekends. We also got lucky that our families lived just a mile apart, making it easy to spend time together whenever we could, whether that meant hanging out at home or heading out for a spontaneous Dairy Queen run (because Will is always down for ice cream).

During the fall, many Friday nights in high school were spent watching Will play football, which quickly became a special part of those early years. Summers were filled with days by the pool or at the beach, soaking up the sun, making memories, and, of course, sharing plenty of sweet treats.

As life changed, we continued to grow, both individually and together. Will attended Catawba College while I finished my last year of high school, and later transferred to UNC Charlotte, where I attended after graduating. Eventually, I moved to Greenville to attend East Carolina University for physical therapy school, putting about three hours between us. Even with the distance, we learned that being apart only made us stronger, teaching us patience, commitment, and how to truly show up for one another.

Now, we’re onto our biggest adventure yet, in the process of buying a house that needs a lot of love. After everything we’ve shared, we’re excited to take the next step and start this new chapter together.