I reached out to Sabrina, and she was receptive to the idea of meeting in person. I think in her mind, it was just to become friends. When I got back from Utah - Sareet, Jay’s Father, called with a proposition. “Case, I’ve got two tickets to the Lightning Game. I will give them to you for free, but you have to take that girl you were going on about back at our place.”

“Sareet, I’m way ahead of you.” 

Our first date was at Amalie Arena on February 23rd, 2023. We did not pick up on the fact that the couple sitting next to us were also friends of the Majumdars. Throughout the evening, our neighbors sent status reports to Sareet. Looking back on it, I guess I stumbled through well enough! After a few more dates at different places around Tampa, I asked Sabrina to be my girlfriend. After three to four, “no, it’s too soon for that,” Sabrina finally gave in on June 11th, 2023.

Sabrina and I enjoyed visiting my parents at an AirBnB they had rented for the summer up in Highlands, NC, and we learned from each other that (outside of Florida) North Carolina is both of our favorite state! Sabrina’s parents got engaged at the Biltmore Estate, and she visited Asheville frequently on family vacations and for violin camp. I went to Camp Rockmont, located in Black Mountain, NC, and had visited Asheville with some Berkeley friends for a hiking trip after college. 

I grew tired of my job in Tampa. Project Management simply was not the right career for me! I knew that sales was my calling, so I asked my father, Kier, for the opportunity to interview with his firm: Engineer Sales. “Case, if you want to work for me, you have to interview with my business partners, and you probably have to work in South Florida. FPL and NextEra are our biggest customers, and we need the most help in that territory.” I agreed, interviewed, and was offered a role by Kier’s business associates. I started work in West Palm Beach on April 1st, 2024. With Sabrina still in Tampa, we had to do the dreaded long-distance thing. 

After a few months, I was able to convince Sabrina to move from Tampa over toward the Atlantic Coast of Florida. Sabrina decided that this opportunity called for career pivot of her own. Previously using her Microbiology Degree from University of Florida for lab research with the Veterans Association, Sabrina elected to chase her passion for creativity as a new Marketing Assistant for John’s Island Real Estate in Vero Beach, FL. Sabrina has grown to love her job and her coworkers, and she has found her role challenging and rewarding. 

Sabrina and her parents came to Vero Beach apartment hunting in July of 2024, and I joined them for lunch at a nearby Outback Steakhouse. While Sabrina had left for the restroom, I seized the opportunity. I asked Enrico and Irene for their daughter’s hand in marriage. Yes, I am well aware that this is not the most romantic location to ask for a future in-law’s blessing, but I did not know of the next time I’d see them both together in person! I could not let this opportunity slide.

Enrico raised an eyebrow and replied, “Case, if I recall correctly... When my daughter introduced you to me as her new boyfriend, you both stated that you would ‘take it slow.’” It had only been about one year since this initial conversation.

We had a heartfelt discussion following this opening remark. Enrico and Irene noted that Sabrina is their only daughter, and that will be sad to let her go… but they did share confidence in me as the right marriage partner for Sabrina. They could tell I make their daughter very happy, and asked me to take good care of her. With their blessing, I got to planning. 

Sabrina and I had been discussing the idea of marriage with each other for some time, and Sabrina was like a bloodhound, sniffing out every surprise and idea I could think of. 

“Case, are you planning to propose to me on a golf course?”

Welp, there goes plan A…

“Case, don’t you dare propose to me after my half-marathon. I’ll be all sweaty!”

Plan B? Cross it out.

“Case, that photoshoot you said you were planning for my birthday? You’re going to propose to me during that, aren’t you?”

Plan C? In the bin!

I finally concocted a new master plan, one that even my little bloodhound couldn’t sniff out! I coordinated with Enrico and Irene to surprise Sabrina for an “Early Valentine’s Day” dinner reservation on February 12th. My plan was to propose to Sabrina, and then have them there to celebrate with us at dinner. My plan was pretty well thought out, and it didn’t seem like Sabrina had any idea. The night prior to my big question, Sabrina called me.

“You’re going to propose to me tomorrow, aren’t you?” “What?! What could possibly make you think that?!” “Well, my mom asked me where the facemasks are at our house in Tampa, and she only ever uses them when she’s going somewhere. She’s coming here to surprise me after you propose, isn’t she?”

There was no plan E.

As we were leaving the apartment for dinner, I knelt. Out of all the scenic places in Vero Beach, I selected the most romantic locale: the parking lot outside her apartment.

We caught the moment on her Ring Camera, and Sabrina’s parents were watching live from a nearby Walgreens. Sabrina was on to me from the start, sniffing out every single cute idea my guy-coded brain could come up with… but I did at least surprise her in that moment, and we have the video to look back on forever.