It was in 2020, during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, that Jess made the bold decision to move to Mesa, Arizona, to live with four strangers. Despite the uncertain times, they quickly became close friends, forming a tight-knit bond in their shared home. But among these new friendships, there was someone Jess hadn’t met yet—Cody, a person that would soon mean the world to her. Cody had gone to high school with one of her roommates, but it would take an unexpected evening for them to know each other as more than just a name..

One warm August night, Cody came over to smoke a cigar with Jess’s roommate, Devin. After his friend retired for the evening, rather than head home, Cody lingered, drawn in by the lively company in the living room where Jess and her friends were watching Lord of the Rings. As Cody joined them on the couch, there was an unspoken connection beginning to take shape. Later that night, after everyone had left, Jess felt a spark of curiosity and followed Cody on Instagram. Little did she know, the moment she clicked "follow," their story had already started writing itself. The next day, Cody slid into her DMs, asking her out for coffee, and with that simple invitation, the rest of their lives had begun.

Their first date felt like a scene out of a romantic movie. What was meant to be a quick coffee turned into four hours of effortless conversation, laughter, and stolen glances. They sat outside the café, completely lost in conversation, so much so that neither one noticed the sunburns forming on themselves. They wouldn't have cared anyway, as they had found something far more beautiful than the weather could disrupt. In that sun-soaked morning, a new chapter began, one filled with the promise of something lasting and real.

From that day forward, their love story continued to blossom, full of shared moments, deep conversations, and endless laughter. The rest, as they say, is history, but for Jess and Cody, it’s only the beginning of forever.