Justin and Erika first met briefly through mutual friends back in 2018. It wasn’t until a year later when those same mutual friends brought the two of them back together. At this second occasion, Justin and Erika exchanged contact information as both were trying to make new friends in the city. From that point on, they became close and would spend more time together, as friends. They would frequently get together on evenings after work, mostly meeting at a bar on the Upper East Side of Manhattan, Merrion Square Pub, to which they nicknamed ‘Murph’s’ after the owner of the bar. Their relationship blossomed over their many nights together at Murph’s, where they would talk for hours on end to one another over drinks at the bar. Topics of conversation ranged drastically from work to family and most commonly, sports, cautiously navigating their Yankees and Red Sox rival sports fandom. Following these nights together was an hour commute home for Justin back to Queens, but this never deterred him from doing it over and over again to spend the time with Erika. Towards the end of 2019 and into 2020, the two of them continued to grow closer and closer and began to take their relationship to the next level. Then, the unforeseen occurred when the Covid-19 pandemic brought New York City to a screeching halt. At this time, Erika returned to her hometown in Western Massachusetts, while Justin returned to Long Island to be closer to family. Despite the long distance and quarantining restraints, Justin and Erika still talked all day, every day, through text, phone calls and FaceTime. At the end of the Summer of 2020, Justin sublet a studio apartment on the Upper East Side of Manhattan while Erika returned to her former apartment just a few blocks away. Back together in the same city again, their relationship accelerated and milestones began to be hit. In the Spring of 2021, Justin moved into Erika’s apartment with their two friends, Emma and Pat. After a couple months, Justin and Erika moved into their own apartment together on the Upper East Side, a place the two of them could call a home of their own. However, that home was not complete until they adopted their dog, Murphy, in Fall 2021. And no, that name is not a coincidence! Murphy tied the home together and Justin and Erika love him deeply. Erika starts every morning with a long walk with Murphy through Central Park and Justin is still trying to teach him how to play tug of war. On Saturday, September 2nd 2023, Justin proposed to Erika on their 22nd floor balcony. A fun session of phone calls, texts and FaceTimes ensued to spread the news and then it was time to hit the ground running on wedding planning! Through years of unique circumstances, Justin and Erika’s relationship survived and thrived. This upcoming Summer, Justin and Erika are excited to make their love official!