Bianca and Ricardo “Ricky” met in 2018 on the dating app Hinge, where their story began with a simple message. Bianca had shared her bucket-list dream of going on The Amazing Race, and Ricky confidently replied, “Sign me up!” That message kicked off a week of non-stop conversations about travel, food, and all the places they hoped to see someday.

 

After realizing how much they had in common, they decided to meet in person. Ricky suggested a local Thai restaurant (Bianca’s favorite food) and insisted on picking her up himself because, as he put it, “chivalry isn’t dead.”

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As the day approached, Bianca started to get cold feet and almost canceled, but her best friend Stephanie encouraged her to go. The moment Ricky pulled up and stepped out of the car with that big, easy smile, every bit of nervousness melted away. From the second they met, everything just clicked.

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Over panang curry, spicy noodles, and Thai tea, they discovered they’d both grown up in the same neighborhood of San Diego. It was hard to believe their paths had never crossed before. Maybe fate was just waiting for the right moment to bring them together.

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When dinner came to an end, they hit their first little “roadblock.” As the check arrived, Ricky reached for his wallet and paused. He patted his jacket, checked his pockets, and admitted, “I forgot my wallet.” Bianca thought he was joking at first, until she realized he wasn’t. She gave him the classic “are you serious?” look, and after a frantic few seconds of searching, he managed to pull out a few crumpled bills from his pants just in time to save the night.

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Once the laughter settled and the panic passed, Ricky flashed a smile and asked, “So… you wanna keep hanging out?” Bianca didn’t hesitate to answer “Yes.”

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They grabbed ice cream from a nearby shop and headed to the beach. The night was calm, the waves gentle, and their laughter echoed along the shoreline as they walked and talked for hours, completely losing track of time.

 

When Ricky drove her home, he turned to her with a hopeful smile and asked, “So… will I see you again?” The answer was obvious.

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That first date, meant to be simple, became the beginning of something extraordinary. Since that night, they’ve had their own Amazing Race together, traveling through Cuba, Mexico, the Netherlands, Poland, Germany, and Hungary… with countless adventures still ahead.