Read Emancipating Andie for Free Online

tension leave her shoulders before he spoke again. “Okay, so I have to ask, what’s the story behind Andie?”
    “What’s the story behind Andie?” she echoed, the confusion evident in her voice.
    “Yeah. I mean, it’s a strange name for a girl, don’t you think?” When she didn’t respond, he added, “So what’s the deal? Were your parents hoping for a boy or something?”
    “It’s not my name.”
    Chase turned toward her. “Andie’s not your name?”
    “It’s a nickname,” she said listlessly, as if she had just reached her limit in dealing with an inquisitive child.
    “So you prefer people to call you Andie? What’s your real name?”
    “None of your business,” she blurted out before he had even finished his question.
    He lifted his brow as a stunned laugh fell from his lips. She was clearly discomfited by her own little outburst; Chase watched as her expression turned sheepish for just a second before she straightened it. She kept her eyes on the road, taking a small breath before awkwardly clearing her throat. Her fingers twitched on the steering wheel before she pressed another button, increasing the volume of the radio.
    Chase sat back against his seat, turning his head slightly to stare out the passenger window. He didn’t like the feeling he had right now; he felt almost… remorseful .
    It was foreign to him, feeling contrite. Normally, if someone couldn’t handle his sense of humor, his way of thinking, his opinions, then that someone was automatically off his radar. That was just how he was. But for some reason, with Andie, it didn’t work that way. It made absolutely no sense. He didn’t even know her, so it should have been that much easier for him to write her off. But the fact that she was upset, that she seemed uncomfortable right now sitting next to him, actually bothered him.
    It’s because she’s your friend’s girlfriend , he thought. Of course you give a shit if you’ve upset her. Colin wanted you to make this drive easier for her, not torment her the entire time.
    A few minutes later, Chase became aware of the volume being lowered on the radio, and he looked over to see her thumb on the button, turning the music down. She glanced at him but said nothing, bringing her eyes back to the road.
    He had no idea if she meant that to be an invitation or not, but he decided to take it as one. Chase took a small breath before trying again.
    “So,” he said, turning to face her, “what’s the plan?”
    “What do you mean?”
    “What are we going to see?”
    She looked at him, her brow pulled together.
    “On this drive,” he clarified.
    “Um…highway? Some farms? Lots of other cars?”
    He stared at her with an amused expression until she said, “I don’t think I understand the question.”
    “Aren’t we making any stops to sightsee?”
    “No.”
    “None?” he asked with a combination of surprise and disappointment. “That seems like a waste. There’s some cool shit on this drive.”
    She lifted one shoulder in a half shrug, and Chase turned further in his seat to face her. “What about Assateague Island? Or we could stop in Atlantic City for a few hours. Or actually, you know where I’ve always wanted to go? Tybee Island. There’s supposedly this kickass lighthouse there…some great photo ops.” He waited for a response.
    She gave him none.
    “Or,” he said slowly, “we could make a stop at Crystal River. I hear they have the largest population of manatees in the country.”
    She turned to face him then, looking at him as though he had lost his mind, and he pressed his lips together to fight his smile. “I mean, if that’s more your thing.”
    “We’re not stopping to sightsee,” she said matter-of-factly as she turned back to the road.
    “Why not? That’s what a road trip is all about.”
    “Because we’re not on a road trip. The wedding is on Friday. If we follow my original plan, we’ll stop somewhere in South Carolina tonight and get down to