Chapter Numero Bruno
Shayna's perspective
Our story technically began at Brown University, where Alex and I first crossed paths at the international house, Buxton. We moved in similar circles, but mostly stayed in different orbits. I was double-majoring in club basketball and beer pong, with a minor in political science. Alex, Buxton’s token cheeky Brit, was on a full time frat star apprenticeship, a respectable pre-consulting track to McKinsey. After Brown, it took a rainy city, and One More Time on the same side of the pond for the timing to finally cooperate.
The Six-Month "No" Tour
Alex's perspective
Fast forward to 2020: Shayna graduated and moved to London, and I saw my second chance. For six months, I made it my personal mission to show her "my" city; introducing her to new friends, taking her to the best spots, and relentlessly trying to convince her that dating me was a great idea. For six months, Shayna—with that signature twinkle in her eye—politely (and occasionally not-so-politely) gave me a clear answer; "No." My persistence finally paid off at a bar called Twiga. Whether it was my English charm or the agave talking is still up for debate, but somewhere between the tequila and the mischief, she finally decided I was worth the risk—and I wasn't about to let the moment pass.
Five Years of "Yes"
Shayna's perspective
Since Twiga, we’ve spent five years turning “no” into an adventure - be it Stagecoach, Swiss mountains, or sights and bites across India. Our calendar rotates seamlessly between Diwali and Christmas, proof that while we come from different places, we’re perfectly aligned on what matters most. In these five years Alex quickly showed me that a woman’s place was not in the kitchen, mainly because he was already in it, being a phenomenal chef. He also kept reminding me that home was not a place, but a person. I kept reminding him it was also Fitness First Baker Street.
The Broughton Grange "Diving Lesson"
Alex's perspective
The "Long Game" finally reached its peak in July 2025 at Broughton Grange, my family home. After weeks of secret planning with both families, a nervous conversation with Shayna's parents to ask for their blessing, and several surreptitious photos of the open ring box next to a sleeping Shayna, I was finally ready. To get Shayna there without suspicion, I concocted an iron-clad decoy: a few hours of diving lessons in the pool to prepare for an upcoming trip. Little did she know that, on a perfect summer evening by the koi pond, the "diving lessons" would be replaced with a much bigger life milestone.