One spring morning in Chicago, as the sun broke through months of winter cold, Alon waited in the cozy hotel lobby. Gaby arrived, her eyes and smile gleaming, and tentatively tapped him on the shoulder, unsure if he was the man of her dreams—the one she had been texting for the past few weeks on a dating app.
Two kids far from home with little responsibility, they dove into a whirlwind of dates. Alon took Gaby to his favorite restaurants, while she introduced him to her uncles, who watched their budding romance with knowing smiles. Their phones buzzed with constant messages, sweet and silly, until one night at Sluggers bar, after cheering on the Cubs, Alon finally pulled her close and asked her to be his girlfriend.
Gaby took Alon to her hometown—Mazatlán, Mexico—where she introduced him to her fun and loving family, her favorite restaurants, her close group of friends, and the joy of fishing in the Sea of Cortez. After a few trips to Mazatlán, Alon had fallen in love with more than the red snapper and mahi mahi…
A few months after Alon had asked Gaby’s father for permission to move in together in Chicago, he found himself asking again—this time, for permission to move with her to LA. Having never received approval for any of his requests but proceeding anyway, when Alon finally asked for permission to marry Gaby, everyone knew exactly what to expect—a sigh, a big smile, and, without surprise, a yes.
