Dean Cupp and Katelyn Hallmark know the romance that sparked between them at California State University, Bakersfield was one of those things that are simply meant to be.

Dean remembered who Katelyn was right away when he saw her in his communications class on a hot autumn day in 2016. Brilliant brown hair, striking hazel-green eyes and a smile as warm as sunlight. She had always stood out to him as different than other girls he’d met.

The two had met before, briefly, when Katelyn and his twin sister Morgan were both on the cheer squad with Golden Empire Youth Football. They went to separate high schools — Dean and Morgan attended Stockdale High School and Katelyn attended Independence High School.

Seven years had gone by since that first meeting. Dean didn’t think she would remember him but decided to give it a chance by saying hello. As it turned out, Katelyn remembered Dean. However, she was dating someone at the time, and Dean was single and not looking for a relationship. The two settled into friendship and didn’t think of much more.

Towards the end of the semester, a newly-single Katelyn baked a fresh batch of brownies one evening and invited Dean to come over and try them. She knew that the key to this man’s heart would be through his stomach. That invitation unfolded into daily conversations, laughing over memes and the texting of countless Bitmojis.

When Dean and his sister Morgan left for Arizona that summer to work with family, he and Katelyn exchanged messages daily and Skyped often. Dean and Morgan returned after a long summer away, and Katelyn arranged to pick the twins up at the airport to bring them home.

Dean realized he should have seized the opportunity to win Katelyn’s affections in that moment. The two communicated daily, made each other laugh, and enjoyed conversations with one another. Those were the ingredients of a spark. Katelyn felt it, and she hoped Dean had too.

But Dean admitted, “I’m terrible at reading signs.” After getting dropped off at home, he gave Katelyn a quick thanks, hopped in his car and left to get lunch alone — something Katelyn still gives him a hard time over.

Dean had a chance at redemption when it was his turn to pick up his sister Morgan from Katelyn’s house one evening.

Dean can still recall his trepidation when he arrived.

“I was super nervous,” he said, confessing that situations like those easily threw him. He knew he liked Katelyn, and he hoped that she returned his affections.

His twin helped the pair when she left them to collect her things for the ride home. The moment alone gave Dean and Katelyn the chance to share their feelings and their first kiss.

The two began to go on dates and spend more time together. Dean planned to make Katelyn his girlfriend on New Year’s Eve by demonstrating his grilling techniques, but there was no propane to power his grill. He grilled on the stove instead, and it was a culinary disaster. The burgers he attempted weren’t good, but he still managed to win Katelyn over as she agreed to be his girlfriend.

They’ve been together ever since.