‘Don’t Worry, I Can Tell Them Apart Now.’

Nico: 

The day I met Erica was the worst day of my life until I got to the party. It was senior year, I was interviewing for a job in New York City, and I knew I bombed it. I almost missed the bus back to Boston because there was really bad traffic. I had to get out of the cab and run to catch the bus.

Erica: 

You had new shoes, right?

Nico: 

I was wearing my suit and new leather shoes, so I had blisters. My feet were bleeding and I was sweating and just marinating in it all the way back to Boston, worried I’d be late. It was a blind date party. I had no idea who was invited, but I was really hoping to be set up with Erica. We were both in the same yoga class that semester, and I always thought she was stunning, but never had the courage to talk to her.

Erica:

Honestly, I don’t really remember him being in that class.

Nico: 

Yeah, the class technically met twice a week, but I had a scheduling conflict and could only make it once a week.

Erica: 

Turns out, one of Nico’s best friends was in the class too. They’re both tall, with dirty blonde hair. I just didn’t pay much attention and kind of thought they were the same person.

Nico: 

I guess being invisible somehow worked out in my favor?

Erica: 

Pretty much. When Nico finally got to that party it was really like we’d never met and I was just like, where has this guy been?! He’s so cute! We had the best time, and two weeks later, we officially started dating. Now it’s been over six years!

Nico: 

Funny enough, the other blonde-haired dude from yoga ended up capturing the pictures of our proposal this summer.

Erica: 

Don’t worry, I can tell them apart now.

Nico Johnson and Erica Santos, both members of the School of Arts and Sciences class of 2015, got engaged in August 2020.

Our Tufts is a series of personal stories shared by members of the Tufts community and featured on both Tufts Now and Instagram.