Finding You

Chapter 23

My phone lights up in the center console of my car while I'm on my way to pick up Bella from the Ritz-Carlton.

I quickly grab it and hold it up so that I can watch the road and see my message at the same time. Saturday, 11:06am.

Soph Kennedy
Your birthday is in 3 days!!! 💃🏼

I smile widely and put my phone down on my lap as I stop when I reach a red light, and pick it up again.

Ally Crawford
The 26th, yep

Soph Kennedy
What are we doing for your special day?

Ally Crawford
We don't need to do anything
A night in sounds perfect ;)

Soph Kennedy
That's bullshit, we're not doing that

Ally Crawford
And why not? 🙄

Soph Kennedy
Because you're turning 21, it's illegal to
stay in for your 21st and you are absolutely
batshit crazy if you think I will let that slide.

I roll my eyes and type quickly before the traffic light changes again.

Ally Crawford
We can talk about it later.

I put my phone back into the center console as I make my way towards the hotel that my family's staying at. As I park in front of the 33-story building, I take out my phone and message Bella, telling her that I'm here.

In no more than 10 seconds, Bella walks through the doors in an Oxford hoodie, a pair of black ripped skinny jeans and white converse. The chunky white scarf she has around her neck covers mouth and part of her nose.

"You're so lucky that I was already done, or I would've made you come up and wait for me while I finish getting ready. You agreed for lunch. This is breakfast," Bella rolls her eyes before hopping into the passenger seat.

"Whatever. How did you come down so fast? Didn't you guys get the Presidential Suite?" I ask, confused. If they did, she would've had to come all the way from one of the top floors of the building.

She moves the scarf and tucks it under her chin before speaking. "Yeah. I was already in the lobby when you pulled up. No-one is upstairs and it's a little boring all alone," she shrugs before continuing, "So, where are we going?"

"I was thinking about this place called Clinton St. Baking Company. I went there once with Liv and it was really good," I suggest, keeping my eyes focused on the road.

"Alright, sounds good," she agrees, and the rest of the car ride is spent in comfortable silence.

In no more than 15 minutes, I pull into a parking space just big enough for me to slip into. We briskly make our way over to Clinton, clutching onto our clothes as the bitter November wind makes my insides tremble.

A waitress is readily standing at the entrance of the restaurant. She greets us and leads the way to a table for 2, where we're handed our menus and left to decide.

"What did you have here the last time?" Bella asks, causing me to look over my menu.

"I had the chocolate chunk pancake stack. It was good," I reply.