Dan and Genna’s story began in September 2018 at Micro Strategies, where Dan had just started as a fresh-faced IT Support Technician. In his second week, he was called upon to fix a rare MacBook issue in the company’s PC-dominated office. A coworker smirked and warned, “Just so you know, that’s the boss’s daughter.” But Dan didn’t flinch; he took the challenge in stride and headed to her cubicle.

Upstairs, Genna waited with curious anticipation as Dan calmly tackled the MacBook issue. She was struck by his quiet confidence and ease as he worked. Their quick exchange left Dan pleasantly surprised—Genna wasn’t nearly as intimidating as he had imagined—and Genna found herself intrigued by this straightforward, capable new technician. After a quick, friendly chat, Dan had solved the issue, leaving her with a smile and a fresh impression.

Over time, Genna began seeking Dan out anytime her Apple devices acted up. Their cubicle-side conversations went from short tech chats to longer, more personal exchanges. One afternoon, she spotted him in the office kitchen, his arm in a sling and a raw sweet potato in hand. While everyone else’s lunches were a hurried mix of salads and sandwiches, here was Dan, baking an entire sweet potato in the toaster oven. Intrigued by both the sling and the snack, she approached him, sparking a conversation that soon had her laughing so hard her stomach hurt. She saw more to Dan that day—a down-to-earth humor and a kindness that made him more than just the “IT guy with impressive muscles.”

When COVID hit, their connection didn’t skip a beat, even as they worked remotely. Between Microsoft Teams messages and Zoom calls, their friendship blossomed, with a hint of something deeper lingering in the background. In November 2021, Genna noticed Dan had viewed her LinkedIn profile, and on a whim, she reached out. As luck would have it, they were both scheduled to be in the office on the same day and eagerly planned a catch-up. They chatted effortlessly, their conversation flowing, and Dan casually mentioned he’d be in New York that weekend for a UFC fight, just across the water from Genna’s place in Hoboken. He entered his number into her phone, hoping for an excuse to see her.

That Saturday, Genna was at a friend’s birthday party, her confidence boosted by a few drinks, when she finally decided to text him. But unknown to both of them, Dan had entered his work number incorrectly, and her message floated away into the ether. The days of silence that followed left each of them puzzled and just a bit embarrassed, and they both quietly assumed the other had lost interest.

Fast forward four months to February 2022. Genna found herself with a computer problem she couldn’t solve, and with no other options, she messaged Dan. Their chat quickly evolved into a late-night conversation that went on for hours, rekindling the warmth they’d shared. Amidst the laughter, they uncovered the truth about the missed text, laughing off the misunderstanding with a mix of relief and excitement. From there, their conversations grew deeper, more frequent, and before long, Dan invited her to join him and his friends for the St. Patrick’s Day Parade in Morristown. That day became their first official date, and from then on, they were inseparable.

Their love story took another step forward in June 2023 when they moved into a cozy townhouse in Morristown, ready to build a life together. But soon, Genna threw in an unexpected twist: a friend had found a tiny kitten in a dumpster behind a local bar, and Genna convinced Dan to let her foster the little stray “just for a couple nights.” Dan, reluctant but willing to try, agreed. Yet, within days, the scrappy brown and gray tabby—whom they named Pixel—had charmed her way into their lives. What started as a temporary arrangement quickly turned into a “foster fail,” and Pixel became a permanent (and beloved) part of their home and hearts.

On May 9, 2024, while in Arlington, Virginia, for his brother Kevin’s graduation, Dan proposed. Promising Genna they were simply taking a “casual” stroll to brunch, he led her through the quiet paths of Arlington Ridge Park. Of course, she couldn’t help but notice the outline of the ring box not-so-subtly protruding from his fitted Lululemon pants, but she played along until he finally got down on one knee, transforming their walk into an intimate, unforgettable moment they would later celebrate with family.

 

From their first encounter over a MacBook repair to building a life and a home, their love story continues, filled with laughter, unexpected twists, and a shared belief that sometimes, fate really does work in mysterious ways.