I laugh and the sound echoes in the enclosed space.

Tessa was upset that I wouldn’t be around for my birthday, especially because it falls on a Saturday this year, so we went out for drinks earlier in the week. I told her what’s going on with Andrew and she was mortified we hadn’t slept together. Even more so when I told her it was at his insistence.

Me: Who knows. But I came prepared in case.

She responds immediately.

Tessa: No maybe. Make it happen sista. Big British D for the win!

I shake my head and slide my phone back into my purse.

A few minutes later, a white luxury SUV pulls up to the curb outside my building and Andrew climbs out of the vehicle. I start down the steps with my small suitcase, and Andrew rushes to grab it from me.

“I’ll take this.” He gives me a quick kiss then hurries to take the suitcase to the back and put it inside.

I understand why he’s hurrying. The wind is cutting, so I rush to the SUV and get inside. The heated seat has already been turned on and I relax into it.

Andrew joins me a few seconds later. “Have everything you need?”

I nod. I’m jittery and a little nervous. This is our first weekend away and a weekend away feels like a big deal for a couple, no matter how long they’ve been seeing each other. We’ve only been together for a couple of weeks. I hope I’m not going to discover some weird habits of Andrew’s that will turn me off.

I push away those thoughts, determined to enjoy myself and my time with him. I’m curious to meet his parents, see the two people who raised this man I’m falling for.

We drive for a couple of hours, chatting and passing the time, taking turns on who gets to choose the song on the radio, before it begins to snow. It’s not too bad at first, but then it really picks up.

I checked the weather before we left, and it said there was a chance of snow, but it wasn’t supposed to be substantial. The final hour of our drive ends up taking two hours because of how slowly Andrew has to drive to keep the SUV on the road.

My nerves are shot and my knuckles ache from squeezing my hands into fists on my lap, but I’m proud of myself for keeping my mouth shut and not telling him how to drive. I know my dad always hates when my mom says anything about his driving. To be fair, Andrew did a fantastic job.