This story begins way back in August of 2020, when Samantha and Colin met over an online Xbox game called Destiny 2. The two began talking and gaming together off and on until, one day, contact stopped.
Right after New Years in 2021, Colin sent Sammy an Xbox party invite - in what he claims was him checking why his invites weren't working. Samantha joined, not quite remembering who he was, but noticed his gaming handle looked familiar enough.
Soon though, the two started gaming together every day, introducing their friends together and even falling asleep on phone calls almost every night. They ended up creating a group chat where they properly introduced each other, and Samantha told one of her old friends she thought Colin was cute!
Samantha and Colin's friends teased them constantly over the next couple of months bout how they liked each other but never told the other person. Each one claimed the other didn't like them. Not too much later, Colin began to pursue Samantha. And even though she wasn't ready for another relationship at the time, she had to admit she really did like him.
Then, one day in late February 2021, Samantha decided to take the six-hour drive from Radcliff, Kentucky, all the way up to Solon, Ohio, where Colin lived. The two spent several days playing games together, talking, and just enjoying each other's company. On March 01, 2021, they became an official couple.
Over the course of almost a year, the two took trips to and from each state as often as they could, making the most of each trip. But as the year was closing, Samantha decided to make the biggest step she ever made at that point in her life. She packed up all of her things, including her guinea pig Hippy, and drove to Ohio to move in with Colin and his family.
Samantha was going to Culinary School online at Auguste Escoffier, so it was easier on her to move. Colin, however, was going to school at Lakeland Community College for sound engineering. He even took her to his classes a few times before he graduated in May 2022.
In July 2022, Colin and Samantha got their first apartment together. With the help of Colin's family, they got settled in almost immediately. They even adopted baby Arizona a month later!
Eventually, on April 7, 2024- the day before the total eclipse-, Colin asked Samantha to marry him with the help of his closest friends. Samantha happily said yes, and the two began planning their wedding not long after.