room and the car, he decided he was going to let her. For the next six hours, he was going to enjoy her company without questioning or chastising himself. There was no harm in allowing himself to have fun with her. And so what if he recognized the fact that she was beautiful? Lots of girls were beautiful. Acknowledging that didn’t mean anything.
For the rest of the trip, he was going to stop overthinking everything. It was only six hours, after all. Not even a work day. Trivial and insignificant in the grand scheme of things.
Chase slid into the seat and closed the door behind him, turning to look at her. “You’re sure about this? You don’t need a Valium or anything before we get started?”
She kept her eyes forward but held up her hand, flipping him off, and he clucked his tongue as he started the car.
“First a curse word, and now an obscene hand gesture? I’m appalled.”
Andie sighed. “I know. You’re a terrible influence.”
He laughed to himself before backing them out of the parking space, and as they headed down Route 17 back toward I-95, Chase noticed a large billboard on the side of the road, advertising some local news channel. There was a woman in a business suit with her arms folded, her hair perfectly coifed and her makeup flawless, smiling haughtily down at the cars that passed.
“That annoys me,” he said as he gestured out the window, and Andie turned her head, looking in the direction he was pointing.
“What, billboard advertisements?”
“No,” he laughed. “Did you see that woman’s name? Daisy Richards.”
Andie looked at him. “I don’t get it.”
“Did that woman look like a Daisy to you? A Daisy should have pigtails and a teddy bear, not a career in broadcasting and a designer suit.”
“So, the name Daisy pisses you off?”
“No,” he said. “I think it’s a great name. For a five-year-old. Doesn’t really work when you’re talking about a grown woman. I don’t like it when names don’t translate.”
Andie was quiet for a second before she said, “Kind of like Esther? It’s a great name for a grandma, but doesn’t really work for a baby. Or a teenager.”
“Yes, exactly! Or how about Destiny? That’s a stripper’s name, not a baby’s name.” Andie smirked as he added, “Could you imagine having a grandmother named Destiny?” He shook his head. “Nope. Doesn’t work.”
Andie turned to face him, looking thoughtful. “You know what, though? It seems like the ‘translation problems’ only happen with girls’ names. Most boy names automatically translate. Like you’d call a little boy Jimmy, and then he becomes James when he’s older. Or like Mikey. Adorable for a little boy, creepy for a grown man. But then he becomes Michael. Now, Michael? That’s a man’s name.” Andie wagged her finger at Chase as if she had just bestowed some great knowledge upon him.
“What about Chase?”
“What about it?”
“What kind of name is it? A boy’s name? A man’s name?”
When she didn’t answer right away, he added, “A ridiculously hot guy’s name?”
Andie laughed under her breath. “Idiot.”
“And I mean, the name Andie?” He trailed off, baiting her.
“What about it?”
“Well, for a boy it translates. Andy is the kid, and Drew is the man. But for you?”
She turned toward him, her arms folded.
“I can’t make the call, not knowing your real name and all. I mean, if it’s Andrea, that works. That’s versatile. Definitely translates,” he said with a nod. When Andie gave him no response, he said, “Not it, huh? Okay…how about…Andriana?”
She smirked at him before turning back to face the road.
“Not Andriana,” he said to himself. “Hmm, let’s see. Oh, I got it. Andrewina?”
She threw her head back, her laughter ringing through the car, and he found himself fighting his own laughter just so he could listen to the sound of hers.
A day ago he had thought that getting her riled up was enjoyable. But it was nothing compared to making her laugh, or seeing the way her entire face lit up when she smiled a genuine smile. When he could get her to let her guard down like that, even for a second, it almost felt like a reward.
As her laughter died down, Chase looked over at her. She was looking out the passenger window, a small smile on her lips, twirling a piece of her hair between her fingers.
“If you won’t tell me your name, tell me something else about you,” he said, the playfulness leaving his voice.
She turned toward him again. “What, another favorite?”