Ruben and Tina grew up just miles apart in beautiful Kingman, AZ… yet it took them 30 years to finally talk to each other.

Tina moved to Kingman in 5th grade from Detroit, MI, and at first, she thought her life was over. BUT THEN! Her sadness turned into excitement when she opened her best friend’s older sister’s 1993 Kingman Junior High yearbook!

That’s when she first saw Ruben, who had been voted “Best Smile" in 8th Grade. To Tina, he was the most handsome creature she had ever seen.

Since Tina was 4 years younger, Ruben, aka Mr. Best Smile, didn't get to see her amazing smile, until they were in High School together. While they now ran in similar circles and shared many of the same friends, Ruben was a shy teenager, too nervous to make a move!

Still, Tina didn’t lose hope. For years, she and her Mom, Cherie, went to Specially Yours, the hair salon owned by Ruben’s Mom, Cathy. Cathy knew Tina had a crush on her son and once told Cherie, “If he ever becomes single, he’ll like her.” (Spoiler Alert: Cathy knew her son well, and she was right. ❤️)

Time passed, and life carried them in different directions.

They each ran wild, living their own adventures.

Then, in 2013, fate brought them together again at the Life Is Beautiful music festival in Las Vegas. The universe quite literally made them bump into each other—but once more, nerves got in the way, both were too chicken to say something and off they went for another ten years.

Finally, on April 15, 2023, everything changed. Both happened to be visiting Kingman the same weekend. When their eyes met, their hearts raced. Ruben whispered to himself, “I’m not letting her get away this time,” and sent Tina a margarita. That night, they confessed their long-held crushes on each other.

Since then, they’ve been inseparable—building a life together with their adorable bulldog, Boogie.