'I'm parked by baggage claim, let me know if you need any help'
I smiled at my phone as I walked towards the conveyor belts that were churring out suitcases. I spotted my teal suitcase and pulled it down. I rolled my suitcase over to where the rest of my family was standing, watching for their bags.
"Hey mom, Austin is actually here to pick me up. I'm not sure when I'll be home, I know were at least getting dinner.'
Mom turned to look at me puzzled, "Austin? Well okay, I'll call in a gate pass when we get home. Keep me updated."
I gave her and my dad a hug and pulled my suitcase behind me towards the double doors. This is nuts! What in the world am I doing?! I took a deep breath and stepped outside, peering up and down the pick-up lane.
Then I spotted him, it felt like I had been hit by a ton of bricks. All the air had been knocked out of my lungs and I quickly pulled in another breath. Savannah air was hot and wet and sticky, it feels like it clings to you. But it smelt like home, a place I was so glad to be at.
Austin quickly noticed me and began to walk towards me, a huge smirk growing across his face. He was wearing his green Army uniform; he must have just come from work. I've seen a lot of attractive army guys in uniform, but Austin was by far the most attractive. In the moment, I felt like I was living in a different reality, as if our roles were reversed and I was here picking him up from a deployment. I smiled and began walking towards him.
"Chlo, wow, you're even more beautiful than I remember."
I wrapped my arms around his muscular body, my cheeks were bright red at this point.
I pulled away and looked up at him, "Austin, you're like triple the size you were in high school."
He threw his head back laughing, "Yeah, well I guess that happens when you dedicate most of your free time to the gym."
"Ha, free time in the gym? Who am I talking to? Definitely not the Austin from high school that spent his lunches in the library with me!"
He grabbed my suitcase from my hand and lifted it into the bed of his black Ram.
"Now this is a nice truck! Seems you actually listened to my dad occasionally," I laughed. My dad was obsessed with his truck, constantly adding new upgrades and keeping it as clean as possible.
He turned to me confused, "Your dad went with me to buy it. He didn't tell you that?"
"No! When?"
"Three years ago, I ran into him at the dealership one of the days that I was just looking actually. We swapped numbers and he met me the next day to help me decide on which one I should get."
"Speaking of my dad, lets please go before they get out here."
He walked to the passenger door and pulled it open, offering a hand to help me climb in. His truck was just high enough that I had to do a little jump to get in.
"Sorry about that, I'll order some running boards tonight."
He's going to order running boards just for me? Seems a little crazy considering that we have no idea as to how tonight will go. And just as I had calmed myself down, the endless possibilities began to fill my head again. Then the next thing I knew, he was pulling off from the airport, heading towards I-95.
The car ride from Pooler to Savannah seemed to take forever, well it seemed like forever due to all of the construction and the addition of a wreck along the way
The car ride from Pooler to Savannah seemed to take forever, well it seemed like forever due to all of the construction and the addition of a wreck along the way. The sky was still bright blue, with a few white clouds scattered around. For May in Savannah, the weather was beautiful. Most of our conversation had centered around what we had been up to the past few years.
"So, what are the plans for tonight," I asked, glancing over at him.
"When was the last time you were here?"
"That's not what I asked! But Christmas break."
"I'm just trying to get ideas for future dates! But we're going downtown tonight."
"Are you changing your clothes? Is what I'm wearing okay," I began to question, I looked down at my white denim ripped shorts and black crop top.
"Oh, you're fine. And yeah, I am. I'm just going to stop by my parents' house and run in to change. Otherwise, I'd have to take you onto base."
"Sounds good then."
He laughed and focused his attention back on the road as a smirk grew over his face. I looked down at my hands in an attempt to hide the smile on mine. We were just getting back into the main part of Savannah and almost to his parents'.
As he pulled up in front of his house, his older sister walked out of the house with her two young children. Maya walked over towards the truck, with an infant carrier slung on one arm and a toddler that was slowly making her way down the sidewalk.
"Austin! I didn't know you were coming! Sucks we have to leave now, I've got to get the kids home and fed. Wait," she grinned as she realized who I was. "Chloe! I heard you graduated!"
I laughed and looked towards Austin, "How much have you been talking about me? But, yes, and I'm finally home for a little bit."
"Oh, well I've got to go, I hope to see you again soon! I knew you two would find your way back to each other eventually," she winked at me and walked off, calling the little girl behind her.
"I'll be really quick, just stay in the car, otherwise we'll never make it back out of the house," I laughed, not knowing 100% by what he meant, but assuming he meant his parents jumping all over us, or him jumping all over me.
I giggled and picked up my phone to fill Emma and Skylar in on the progress. Neither of them had known he was picking me up straight from the airport, well Emma found out as I left them at the airport. By the time I had finished texting them and glanced back up, Austin was already walking back to the car. He had his uniform slung over one arm and his boots in the other. He was wearing a baby blue t-shirt and khaki shorts. It almost looked like the shirt was a size too small, but it was just the way the t-shirt pulled around his biceps.
As he opened the door, I felt my face turn red. I quickly glanced out the other window, but apparently not fast enough.
"I see you checking me out, my window tint isn't that dark."
"I can't help it."
He smirked and took off towards Downtown Savannah. Shortly after, we arrived at Forsyth Park, where he parked and walked around to help me out of the truck.
"Now that I'm in the moment, I feel like what I planned is really cheesy. Don't laugh please," he said as he ran his hand through his hair and glanced around.
What could he possibly be talking about, I thought we were just going to walk around and end up at a restaurant. He grabbed my hand and began to lead me through the park. We were parked by the tennis courts and walked all the way down, past the monument towards the fountain, then farther towards the section that had more trees. This side of the park was covered in people playing with their children or SCAD students who had strung hammocks between the trees.
As we got past the fountain, a little picnic set up came into view. Not just a little picnic, like the kid that you hire someone to set up for you. My hand flew up to my mouth and I squealed.
"Austin, no, this isn't cheesy at all, it's quite sweet actually."
"I'm glad you like it; I was worried there for a second."
He pulled me over to the picnic and I sat down on a pillow. Two weeks ago, I thought Austin had completely forgotten about me, let alone our pinky promise, yet here I was.