Nick's Version: After moving to Houston for work, I began working with Loren, who is friends with Raisa. We would go to happy hours with the team after work; Loren would invite Raisa occasionally. Meeting Raisa, I would make small conversation but nothing major at first. Sometime later, I decide to make a move, and as they say, the rest is history. Here we are coming together as one.
Raisa's Version: After graduating from college, Nick worked for the same company as my best friend Loren. And oftentimes Loren would invite me out to happy hour with her team on Thursday evenings. I recall meeting so many of her co-workers that I didn't notice Nick initially. If you know Nick, you know he's more reserved and not very boisterous, thus I thought he would have just become yet another good friend. Little did I know that his subtle approach and calming presence would capture me years later.
Nick's Version: It was a Halloween weekend, and I got an invite to go out by Loren to some parties. We had a great night; everyone was having fun. After the night ended, I headed back to Loren's as some people had ridden with me but parked at her house. I went inside to use the restroom before leaving. I had noticed that Raisa had lagged behind after everyone else had left, so I decided to walk her to her car. Once there, we talked a bit, then I asked her for her number and eventually went out on a date.
She'll tell you I asked her out on a date for the next day; I don't quite remember, but hey, why waste time? Lol.
Raisa's Version: It was Halloween night 2014 that once again I was going out with my best friend Loren and her co-workers. Nick arrived at Loren's place (very punctual lol) so he was sitting alone in the living room while Loren and I continued to get ready and wait for the others to arrive. As I was curling my hair, Loren's boyfriend Robert (now husband) said "hey you should consider going out with Nick he seems like a nice guy". While I came up with every excuse not to, he added "remember I've seen the other guys you've been with and they didn't work out for a reason". After a mean side eye followed by a heavy eye roll to Robert, we laughed and I told him he was actually right. Later that night Nick happened to ask me out on our first date on the very next night and the rest is history.
Nick's version: We planned a trip to Cancun for our 5th dating anniversary. This seems like a good time to pop the BIG QUESTION. I wasn't sure how to do it and get someone to take pictures. As we were enjoying our trip, my all-inclusive wristband broke. So as I was walking to the front desk to get a replacement, I noticed a photography shop inside the resort. This was great; now, I could get someone to take professional pictures. I told them I wanted to get photos of Raisa as I asked her to marry me. Now everything is set up for the engagement. Of course, I just told her it was a random photoshoot. It had rained, so I thought the photos weren't going to turn out great, but they did. First, the photographer had asked her to turn around to test the lighting, then gave me the signal to get down on one knee. Once she turned around, the look on her face would tell you how surprised she was.
Raisa's version: Nick and I decided to spend our 5th dating anniversary in Cancun, Mexico. I had no expectations about him proposing during this particular trip since he didn't propose while we were in Paris, France for my 30th birthday the previous year, which seemed more ideal from my point of view LOL. While in Cancun, Nick wasn't acting out of the ordinary so I didn't suspect anything. On our last full day, we woke up early to do water sports. As we entered the catamaran boat, Nick's all inclusive band had broken so he decided to go to the front desk for a replacement. When he returned with his replacement band, he told me that he set up a photoshoot for us before dinner. I was ecstatic! An opportunity for me to dress up and be photographed for no reason, count me in LOL. I just so happened to have a black gown in my suitcase and could already picture my look. It began storming 30 minutes before our photoshoot. And as we walked out the door, the storm ceased. We were on a beautiful rooftop terrace and the photographer instructed me to start the shoot by turning around (with my back to her and Nick) so that she could test out her camera since the sky was cloudy from the storm. So once she instructed me to turn around on her count, there Nick was on bended knee! I had so many thoughts racing through my head. So is this a real photoshoot? Should I be smiling at the camera? Wait, did Nick just ask me to marry him? Of course I said yes