Our story began on September 9th, 2022. It was my last day working on season 11 of American Horror Story, its first season in NYC. The studio was located in Astoria, Queens, at Kaufman Studios. I checked my phone and saw a notification from Tinder that read "Jillian likes you". On my way home, I checked the notification and swiped, and we matched. I sent her a message and waited for a reply. Jill responded not too long after, and we spoke that night. Our first conversation was great. It was different than other first conversations. We discussed our plans for the future, our goals, and aspirations. I knew from that moment that Jill was someone special. Her joy and kindness radiated from her words and her positivity. We exchanged numbers and texted each other. We spent the next couple of weeks getting to know each other better, sending video messages, and good morning and good night texts. After a couple of weeks, we discussed meeting in person, but the timing didn’t work out. Our first attempt to potentially meet couldn't happen because Jill had a wedding to go to that weekend. An effort to meet next weekend was met with another wedding. A third effort to meet again was met with (If you're thinking," It couldn't be another wedding, right?", spoiler alert -- It was) her having to go to another wedding. And that was our last conversation, which ended with a very competitive Denzel Washington GIF-Off. We wouldn't talk again for a while after that conversation. For the first time, I didn't take it personally or feel disappointed as I thought I would or how I usually would. And if you know anything about Jill, she knows a million people (this could be quite literal), and she shows up for everyone in her circle.

Months passed, and Jill had crossed my mind as she had a few times before, and I watched the video messages she had sent me. On February 7th, 2023, I texted her. Part of me thought that she wouldn't respond, but when she did, I was pleasantly surprised. February 7th is my grandmother's birthday, which also happens to be Jill's father's birthday. And as our relationship has gone on, we have had a lot of dates that coincide with someone in our respective lives. There is a lot of symmetry in our relationship.

On February 25th, we had our first date at Trader Joe's. Grocery shopping, or shopping of any kind, can test a relationship. But we survived. We walked to her apartment on what happened to be the coldest day of the winter that year. But that didn't even matter to us. We walked and talked the whole way, connecting even more. I made honey soy garlic chicken, yellow rice, and honey balsamic Brussels sprouts. I was super nervous while I prepped the food and prepared the meal. But we kept talking and listened to music, and even danced together.

On March 22nd, 2023, I asked her to be my girlfriend, and she said yes, and we were officially dating. On July 11th, 2025, we got married in a small, intimate ceremony on the roof of our apartment. It was a beautiful ceremony full of love, happiness, and joy.

It started with a swipe! We met on Tinder in 2022. September 9th, 2022, to be exact. As fate would have it, I logged on to Tinder in my apartment in Astoria, NY, while Patrick was at the precise moment, wrapping up his last day after working on American Horror Story: New York City at Kauffman Studios in Astoria, NY.

Was it his kind heart? Or his beautiful soul that I fell in love with first, I am not sure. I just knew he was special because his profile was so special that I saved it under his contact information. After all, I love rereading it from time to time.

"I'm a screenwriter. I like to cook and make people laugh. I'm looking for someone to cheer me up and cuddle with after the Mets lose. Also looking for someone to send funny videos, memes, gifs, and good morning/night texts to. Someone to go to museums, restaurants, the movies, lie on grass, & watch the clouds/stars with. Someone to talk about anything/everything/nothing at all with. Someone to cook with and cook for. Someone to share moments with. Good and bad. Send me a message if interested."

How could I not be interested! This was my soulmate in writing! BUT HOW could it be? I instantly liked him and waited for his response, but as luck would have it, I had the honor of celebrating many weddings in the fall of 2022. My schedule was absolutely packed with celebrating the love of my loved ones, which I loved!

Thus, the amazing texting conversations we had and our epic Denzel Washington GIF OFF were lost in the shuffle, but not forgotten! When I returned to NYC from the final wedding, I realized I needed to take time to focus on loving myself before I could love anyone else. (Can I get an Amen!?) However, after deleting the app, Patrick's number was the only one I did not delete. Something told me to hold on to his contact, and I am so glad I did!

The holidays passed, and in the New Year of 2023, I was happily minding my own business, proclaiming how content I was and how I wanted to remain by myself so no one could mess it up. I truly had found my bliss with Queen, Rory Cat in Queens, and I wouldn't let anyone mess with that purrfection!

Then, on February 7th, 2023, a very special day being my Papi's birthday, and Patrick's Grandma's birthday, Patrick reached out with a "Hey, how are you?" I was smitten with his perfect grammar and spelling! I recalled our last conversation, the witty and fun Denzel Washington GIF OFF that has become our relationship lore. So, I thought, if this is a sign, I should text, "Hey there, long time no text, how are you!?"

AND we haven't stopped texting since :)

I believe Patrick and I rematched at the exact right time, maybe 'twas meant to be! One could say it was fate, providential, or luck, but I am incredibly eternally grateful that our paths recollided.

Our first date was 2/25/23 at Trader Joe's in Long Island City, on the coldest day of the year. I was so nervous, I was sweating and welcomed mother nature's AC. Patrick and I grocery shopped, which is the actual test of whether a relationship can go the distance. We survived, and thrived! Patrick made me dinner—soy garlic chicken with Brussels sprouts —and Rory Cat endorsed him as an incredible Cat Dad in training.

On 3/22/23, we officially started dating, and we married on 07/11/2025. We had an intimate, back patio wedding at our apartment in Astoria, NY. It was the most magical day, and our only regret is that we didn't get to celebrate with ALL our loved ones! Which is why we are SO excited to add 07/10/26 to our love story and celebrate with you all in Iowa in 2026.

I thank my lucky stars Patrick reciprocated my swipe, and I count myself the luckiest lucky ducky in the whole world.