OUR LOVE STORY

Love isn’t always linear, but Ali can still remember in 2014 sitting at the front desk of Brandstyle Communications when Billy, and his business partners Hob and Michael, walked in. She thought he was really quite cute; he didn’t see her outside of being handed a water and thought nothing of the interaction. As required by the job, and Criquet just starting out, Ali started to like the brand’s posts on Instagram. As she quickly became a “loyal liker”, Billy started to notice “some cute girl” was liking their posts. Fast forward about a year, and Billy reaches out to Ali, via FB about an Ohio State vs Oregon bowl game. Ali, of course, pretended to be a big Buckeyes fan (while frantically scouring the internet to see what stats she could pull).

A friendship started from there.

Fast Forward another year (2016), Ali was visiting Austin with two girlfriends. She reached out to Billy and the two met up. That evening the two met up again, and exchanged a friendly kiss at an Austin institution, The White Horse Tavern. She still claims to this day… she is the one who made the first move. The two spent more time together that weekend, but Ali headed back to New York. 

The two remained friends, and occasionally caught up by text or a call over the years.

Fast Forward another couple of years (end of 2019), and Billy felt bored on Christmas Eve. So who better to text, than Ali? The two exchanged banter for quite some time, and decided it was time to go on a proper date in the New Year. Just after “making it official”, the Covid lockdown commenced. Luckily, the two were able to navigate the distance (Ali in New York and Billy in Austin) during that time… all while realizing this was it. They were in it for the long haul. 

The two share a love for New York City where Billy was born and raised, and the city Ali is quite literally obsessed with. Billy flew in and surprised Ali this past Summer where he proposed at one of their favorite spots, Long Island Bar, where they used to love going for an ever-so-slightly dirty martini and cheese curds when he would visit. 

That said, while it hasn’t always been easy, the two are deeply in love. Billy drives Ali insane sometimes, with his special ability to lose things constantly or book ‘the same’ yet different flight when traveling together. But he does go for a walk with her every morning before the two start their day, and also cooks her breakfast every day before leaving for work. And Ali, she also can be annoying. Between walking around and fluffing every bed in the house and karate chopping pillows, she is constantly trying to ensure the house is ready for an interiors shoot (if the chance should come about). But at the end of the day, there is nothing that makes her happier than having dirty martinis with Big Bill, cooking pasta together and falling asleep on his lap while he plays with her hair.

And now, that is certainly just enough about us. Can’t wait to see y’all!