Finding Carolina

Chapter 3

She sent her mom and Aunt Meredith a text letting them know she was okay and safe in St Louis. Then she picked out a pair of dark blue skinny jeans, a white tube top and her white converse, along with underwear and went to take a shower. The steaming water relaxed her muscles from driving for so long. After her shower she dried her hair straight and let it flow down her back. She changed into her outfit, and put on just mascara and BB cream after making sure her eyebrows were drawn in to perfection. She swiped the same pinky color on her lips and cheeks and she was ready to go.

There were three taps on the door alerting her that Emerson was ready. She grabbed her purse, made sure her wallet, keys and all other necessities were in there and opened the door.

"Wow."

"Do I look bad?"

"No, you look perfect."

She ducked her head and smiled. "Are you ready to go?"

"Yeah, let's get out of here."

He smiled at her and led her down the stairs and to his Land Rover. "Where would you like to go to dinner?"

"How about noodles and company?"

"Chipotle?"

"Buffalo wild wings?"

"Sold!" He fist bumped the air and put the destination into his phone. "You are a cheap date."

"Who said this was a date?"

"Figure of speech. Anyway, I call dibs on paying."

"No way! You got us into the baseball game, I pay!"

"Nope, my dad got us into the game."

"If you pay for dinner, I pay for the jerseys."

"You're a hard bargainer."

"I don't believe in the guy always paying for everything."

"Fine, you pay for dinner and I pay for the jerseys. No arguing. That's the final deal."

Courtney huffed and leaned back into her seat. She'd get him back. "Where do you think you're going next?"

"Nashville."

"You really have to stop following me."

"That's where you're headed?"

"Yeah, my aunt called this morning and requested I spend some time there."

"Seems like we were meant to go on this journey together." Emerson looked over at her. "Courtney, do you mind if I come with you?"

"What are you going to do with your car?"

"You mean what are you going to do with your car?"

"Absolutely not. My Jeep is my happy place."

"So is my Land Rover."

"Looks like we're driving separately."

"Fine, we can do that. Seems like a waste of gas."

"Not really, don't we have different final destinations?"

"Let's not think about final destinations just yet. Our trip just started."

Emerson pulled in to the parking lot of a Buffalo Wild Wings. Soon they were seated and eating wings. Courtney ordered fried pickles much to Emerson's enjoyment.

"Okay Emerson, quit eating my pickles."

"But they're so good!" Emerson gave her the puppy eyes and Courtney moved the pickles further away from him.