Their story began in the fall of 2010: freshman year PE class at Agoura High School. Jake still remembers the first time he met Dana. She was funny, laid-back, and a total bro—wearing basketball shorts down to her ankles. Their friendship grew stronger than they could have ever imagined, and for the next 12 years, they were inseparable.

Before heading off to college, their friend group took an unforgettable trip to Europe. Although college pulled them in different directions—Jake to Indiana, Dana to USC—they remained as close as ever. They visited each other’s colleges, met up multiple times while studying abroad, and spent nearly every holiday and summer night together. Over the years, Jake and the boys became like family to Dana, with her home on Amber Circle as their home base. No matter where they were, being with each other always felt like home. 

After college, Jake, Charlie, and Richard moved into an apartment on Armacost Ave, and soon after, Dana and Fran moved into the unit next door. They shared a wall, had sleepovers, dinners, and made endless memories as semi-roommates. 

Somewhere along the way, Jake’s feelings for Dana started to shift. They were overwhelming—pursuing Dana was a risk, and Jake feared jeopardizing their years of friendship and the bond they had built. For about a year, they danced around their feelings—both falling for each other but too scared to embrace it. 

During a friends-and-family dinner at Lisa’s, Jan finally said out loud what Dana was too afraid to admit: “What are you waiting for? You clearly have feelings for each other.” She laughed it off, but deep down, she knew Jan was right. It was the push they needed to finally acknowledge their feelings. 

In November 2021, Jake and Dana finally took the leap. Their friends were completely shocked. To everyone else, it was an unexpected twist, but to them, it was the inevitable next chapter in a story that had been unfolding for years.

Looking back, they can’t think of a single memory over the last 15 years without each other in it. Through it all—exploring Europe together at 18, summers in Bullhead, snowboarding in Mammoth, countless Vegas trips, traveling through Greece, Thailand, Italy, Hawaii, and beyond—their favorite memories are the adventures they shared together.

Fast forward to now—their families live just 800 feet apart, growing as close as the two of them have over the years. In Jake’s words: “Asking Dana to marry me is the best decision I have ever made. She’s been my partner in crime, my confidante, my everything for nearly 15 years. Our families, our history, it’s all woven together in this beautiful, unbreakable journey. Dana isn’t just the love of my life; she is my life, and I can’t wait to spend the rest of it with her.”

From years of friendship to life partners, their story had been written long before they even realized it. And this November, they’ll make it official—stepping into a future they’ve been building from the start, and celebrating the love that’s been there all along.