Georgia & Me

Chapter 1

"That sounds exhausting" Beth remarks annoyingly as she sips her signature coffee.

"No. I actually find it quite exciting you know? I've never been to Georgia." I explain. Two weeks in Georgia doesn't sound appealing but meeting James' family is important to me. Now that we're engaged I feel it's time he introduced me, regardless of how "different" he claims they are.

"You're kidding right?" Beth snaps me out of thought.

"What? I could do it" I defend. I'm slightly offended but I know she means well.

She blinks rapidly at me with a blank face. "No." she chuckles. "I give it two days before you're crying over all of this" she says gesturing around us as she gets up grabbing her purse. "You hated Texas because you couldn't find a Starbucks. Keep that in mind"

"Okaaaay" I drag. "My coffee addiction isn't even a thing anymore."

"Oh it wasn't your addiction. It was just the expectation of having everything walking distance. You couldn't even commit to going to Colorado with David and I for a weekend because the nearest spa was 35 minutes away." she laughed. "Face it, you're a City gal"

I lay my cheap yet generous enough tip on the table and walk with her out the door. "Bye ladies" Trey chirps. "Bye Trey" Beth smiles winking for the both of us.

The icy air hits me automatically as it starts to drizzle. Seattle is home. I was born and raised here though my family moved to Nashville for more business. Mom and Dad do Real Estate, my brother Noah majors in beer pong and my sister Madeline does Cosmetology. I'm fresh out of Law School where I met Beth. She and I just got hired at the same firm, thanks to my James. He and I met in school as well and were partnered on the same case. From that day on we hit it off and he proposed to me this summer. James and I do live together, though I don't believe he's ever told his family.

"There you go.. spacing out again. Cold feet?" She jokes.

"Sorry" I shake my head laughing. "Just haven't finished Christmas shopping" I play off.

"Oh" she sighs "I just give everyone gift cards. No way someone turns that down" She shrugs.

"Yeah, except I feel meeting his family for the first time shouldn't include a thoughtless gift."

"Then buy them a puppy" she groans. "It's too fucking cold out here to think."

"Maybe because you're wearing the thinnest top in this weather, just to catch Trey's attention" I add.

Her and David broke up 2 months ago when he bought her a snow globe for her birthday. Beth isn't the only one with high expectations.

"You're just mad it doesn't fit you anymore" she laughs.

By this rate we've passed all the stores. I guess my shopping will continue tomorrow. I really should start earlier in the day but that requires leaving James sooner than I need to.

The sound of horns and distant chatter bring me back from my thoughts once again. We come up to where I parked the car and Beth and I climb in desperately attempting to shove our bags in the back seat. "Ugh. I cannot stand your backseat." she huffs.

"Walk then" I laugh as I buckle up and starting my car.

"In these shoes? In THIS weather? You're delusional" she replies.

As we drive through the city and pass all the shops, I overthink about the trip with James. We leave in 2 days and maybe I'm not as prepared as I thought I was. Dropping off Beth was the weight off my chest I needed. But for some reason I seem to feel the same weight as I approach my home.