"Emma, we're here," Zach says softly as he nudges me slightly. My eyes flitter open and I raise my head over his shoulder to look out the window. We finally land in Tennessee, and I'm excited to see Lor.
Hand in hand, Zach and I walk out of the jet and down onto the private landing area. A car is waiting for us, and I'm instantly grateful that we don't have to trudge through the airport and baggage claim and the throngs of people. What a first world problem, right?
My phone rings off the hook once I take it off "airplane mode." I smile, I have 22 unread messages from Lor. It's comical, really, the progression of texts I got from her.
"'Emma WTF'
'WHY DOES TMZ KNOW ABOUT THE ROCK ON YOUR FINGER BEFORE ME,'" I laugh, reading the first few texts to Zach, who laughs with me and looks over my shoulder at the phone. I keep reading.
"'You're coming early! YES!'
'Wait, are you just coming to get away from the reporters?'
'I don't care, I need you to help me with this damn party'"
Zach laughs even more and I playfully shove him. "Hey, funny guy, did you tell Dan we were coming?" He opens his mouth to prove me wrong, but he closes it, deep in thought, because I'm definitely not wrong.
I laugh as he turns his phone on as well. We both spend the car ride replying back to work messages, and missing most of the beautiful, fresh scenery that is the outskirts of Memphis, Tennessee. I finally look up and out the window and admire the raw beauty. The mountains, green pastures and bright yet soft sun. I roll down the window a bit and feel the wind on my face. This is pretty rare in urban LA, and I'm glad I get to have this break. The past few days have been life changing, literally, I'm glad to be across the country, with Zach, and spending the week with my best friend.
I haven't been to Lor's house since before my graduation. Zach and I came to their house warming party the fall before. It was a big step for them, moving back to Memphis after spending so much time in Washington, but Lor's parents had sold their house in LA and moved back to their hometown, and Lor wanted to be close to them.
It's a quaint, beautiful two story house in the suburbs, totally Lor's style. It's awesome that we're such good friends, because we're so different, and now living on different sides of the country. Zach follows behind me as I walk up the little steps and ring the doorbell. Lor opens the door, holding little Lewis, and she nearly turns me deaf with her yelp.
"Emma! Zach! I can't believe you guys are here! You have some explaining to do! Here—Daniel!" She hands me Lewis who smiles and giggles at me while she walks into the house and calls for Dan. Zach chuckles behind me and takes my suitcase.
I carry Lewis for a while and look around the house. It's decorated with lots of blue tones and photos of her family, Lewis, even us. Lewis plays with my hair, and I think about my baby boy. I'm getting married, moving into my dream house with the love of my life, without my son. With all the excitement, it's finally hitting me, and it's a rough blow.
Luckily, he squirms a bit so it gives me an excuse to put him down on his play mat. Lor walks over to me while Zach and Dan greet each other.
"You ok?" she asks me quietly. I nod. We don't exchange another word about it, which I'm glad about. I would talk to her about it later, but not now, with Zach nearby.
"Emma, let me see that ring!" Lor says to me louder this time, I smile at her and extend my hand. It's these moments where I'm glad I got my nails done last week.
"Ugh," she gushes, "it's gorgeous! Zach, you have really good taste."
We join the men, who are sitting on the couch, already drinking beer.
YOU ARE READING
The Struggles of Growing Up-Completed
Romansa*Second book to the Struggles Series. Please read The Struggles of Being a Teenage Wife first* Emma Rembrandt has been through a lot in her past teen years. She didn't know that the death of her father, and years later his best friend's death, wou...
