Bud and Erica first connected in September of 2022. Both were on dating apps and having not very much luck finding a true connection with anyone. Erica, ready to give up entirely, was persuaded by her brother to give it one more chance. The first and only person she messaged after that discussion was Bud, asking why so many "Marylanders" like him love the state flag so dang much, silently wondering if Bud was even his real name. Within a month, they had planned their first trip together, to a Penn State home game; neither of them realizing that it would be the first of many, many more adventures taken together.

Bud asked Erica (and Athena!) to move in with him on the 1-year anniversary of their first date, and asked Erica to marry him on June 7th, 2024; the 14-year anniversary of Erica being declared cancer-free. It's no coincidence that their wedding date is also on June 7th, and promises to be an important date for both of them for the rest of their lives.