Hinge, a dating app, uses the slogan "The app that was meant to be deleted." If you've ever tried to engage with online dating, you know how laughable that idea sounds. It turns out the joke was on Rachel and Michael.

In October 2020, one of the objectively worst times to meet someone, Michael messaged Rachel on Hinge. When asked what drew him to her profile, Michael shared that he liked a picture of her on a swing because it was a sign that she loved to have fun, and he loved her smile. After messaging over the app, they exchanged numbers, and the conversation flowed effortlessly.

Then came their first date.

On the morning of October 17, Rachel and Michael met at Mural City Coffee (ironically on Foster Street) to see if they connected the same way in person as they did via text. They hit it off immediately.

After a couple of hours at the coffee house, they decided to explore Dirt Cheap together—a hobby of Michael's and something Rachel hadn't experienced.

Wandering aisle-by-aisle through the store, scavenging for finds, talking and laughing the whole time, the pair continued to build the foundation of what became their relationship. When they finally made it through the maze to the check-out line, Michael and Rachel had made plans for lunch at Cactus Flower Café, a local Californian-style Mexican restaurant.

Needless to say, Hinge quickly faded from existence on their phones.