Molly and Nick’s story began in a place where most love stories don’t: middle school.

A time of braces, bad haircuts, and questionable fashion choices. They didn’t date then—thankfully—but adulthood gave them a second shot (and much better fashion sense).

Middle school may be where their path's first crossed, but Molly’s memory of their initial meeting is… fuzzy. One day, this dark-haired, funny kid suddenly appeared, and everyone inexplicably called him “Pickles.” Years later, Molly asked Nick why—only to be met with a wildly disappointing explanation.

Though they occasionally crossed paths in the hallways, they mostly stayed in separate orbits. Freshman year of high school brought the occasional lunch together, but beyond that, Nick was just “the goofy boyfriend of Molly’s friend.” Molly thought he was fun to be around, but that was it. Meanwhile, Nick quietly thought Molly had a great smile—and still does.

After high school, they both headed to Purdue University, where, astonishingly, they never ran into each other. Not in class, at the library, or even at the Neon Cactus. (To be fair, Nick was more into house parties than piano bars.)

Post-college, their lives truly diverged. Molly moved to Atlanta, Nick to Chicago. Years passed, filled with their own adventures, lessons, and plenty of questionable dating app bios. These years shaped them into the people who, unbeknownst to them, would be the perfect match.

Fast forward to July 4th. Molly, home visiting her parents, decided to post a cheeky Instagram story of a Menards store (caption: “IYKYK”). Nick, assuming Molly had moved back to the area—and maybe just really passionate about saving big money—slid into her DMs. One message led to another, and soon they were exchanging texts, inside jokes, and hilariously specific memes. There were also Lizzie McGuire references—because if you're going to bond over childhood nostalgia, what better icon than Hilary Duff? The jokes might not have made sense to anyone else, but they revealed just how much these two quirky personalities clicked.

At the time, Molly was still in Atlanta, so they decided to stay “just friends.” That plan lasted until Molly made plans to visit Chicago, and Nick told her he’d “be honored” if she joined him for an evening. Their first date, set against the backdrop of the Delta variant, was simple: red wine and conversation on Nick’s balcony. From there, the chemistry was undeniable.

Despite the distance, they built their relationship through countless calls, visits, and late-night meme exchanges until fate (and an exciting new job) brought Molly to Chicago in spring 2023. Since then, they’ve been inseparable—best friends, favorite people, and partners in crime.

Now, they can’t wait to celebrate the next chapter of their story with all of you—the one that proves true love can bloom anywhere, even in the awkward chaos of middle school dances and overused Axe body spray.