2022-01-14 - Backroads and Byways

Road trip day! Erin had opted to rent a vehicle for it, one with plenty of space in case they wanted to impulsively stop and get some sleep. There were plenty of pillows and blankets and her suitcases and bags along with a bank-load of snacks of pretty much anything imaginable. There's built in GPS of course, but there's also an Atlas/Map. She pulls up in the drive at Jack's place and honks once before turning off the ignition and climbing out. The vehicle is a 2021 Lincoln Navigator. Erin knew his preference for Ford and figured this was the classiest, closest to his favorite make. "Let's get this show on the road!" The words are called out and she is beaming a bright smile.

Dressed in some of her normal wear, it's a soft sweater dress with heels she can kick off along the way, and her hair is left down in a tumble of chocolate waves over her shoulders.

He'd already agreed to go, thus the vehicle wasn't a deal breaker despite it being not one of his own. His personal truck, the one he's fixing and the one he's moving out after having enjoyed it once it was completed. The Nagivator works even if its not a Ford at all. He'll still proudly bring a long a for cap and any t-shirts regardless. He's coming out with his own duffel bag that serves enough as a suitcase as anything else. Big but shy of a sea bag/military duffel bag. And its full, of things needed. One arm carrying that as he lugs it to the Navigator, holding it to give her a one armed hug, "Yeah, too much time wasted already." Not much umph or enthusiasm in the words, a sign he meant it with sarcasm and was in good spirits but no rush. He not so dressed up, in a manner, as her. Jacket, tee and jeans the same, nearly his work attire but this tee and jeans are in near mint condition of course. He'll move for the back to open the hatch and throw his bag wherever there is room. "Who's got first leg?" Or is he driving or sitting shotgun, its her rental after all.

There is plenty of room, Erin hadn't overpacked or anything, so his bag could go anywhere he'd like. Close so she could get into it or in the back. She leans into the hug he gives her, a smile as she tilts her face up to his. "Too much time wasted." Taking that a completely different way than intended, likely. Like the time they had wasted being apart. She dangles the key fob for him, "You're driving, not me. I like to ride passenger. You get every leg, I'm in no rush. Just know that whenever you want to stop, we stop. It'll be fun." She's really looking forward to the trip. "I put you as driver, so we're covered." With that, she moves to the vehicle, passenger side and stands there a moment. "Ready?"

Jack doesn't mind the hug lasting a little longer to make up for that wasted time. "You know it," he concurs before getting his bag loaded and taking the fob. Not opposed at all, "No rush, but I like to drive." No questions asked by here, he overstates the obvious there. Then some beeps or whatever, using the FOB to open all doors, but even then he comes around to get hers. Classy that way, her in dress and heels with that sweater, a guy like him just has to get the door. "Oh, we're covered all right," as if that means something or should, even if it isn't some direct metaphor that makes sense. But he's moving to his side to get in, "Been ready for making up time." As if that's what she was asking as he rumbles the new, bigger engine to life. Not a Ford, but she treated he's not pointing that out even if it runs through his mind. "Where I come from, driver gets to pick the station," which is more teasing, but he'll switch to older rock for the moment. Which is closer to 80's ish, maybe a commercial at first. Then some picking of an electric guitar as Thunderstruck by the DC (AC/DC) comes to life. She can change it though before or when that happens to her liking.

With her door opened for her, Erin gives Jack a grateful smile before climbing in and fastening her belt as he closes the door. Watching as he goes around the vehicle to drive, she smiles more when he gets inside. "Oh good, I like to ride, so this will be perfect." She eyes him suspiciously about being covered and glances back to his duffel, "Oh good, we'll be covered then." Assuming things. As he chooses the station, she gives no arguments, there may be some age gap between them, but she wasn't so particular in her choice of music and she makes no adjustments to the radio except maybe to turn it down a little to be conducive to conversation. "I guess it's East. We'll see where we end up."

He is buckling in and then looking her way a moment, she finds a metaphor for covered and it sink in to Jack. "Really covered," he agrees as she finds more meaning in the words. Confirming her assumptions just maybe as he pulls out and starts heading for the main road east out of town. "Good guess, be a short trip the other way." Unless the other was North or South of course. "We'll take the 8 until we can link up with Route 12, follow that where it goes." He says, maybe having seen that Route 12 is mostly a straight shot that avoids the larger interstate 90, giving them more view of the country than zipping as fast as they can. "Anything we see that interests us, we take a detour." No telling what manner of restaurants or attractions they might discover, new or old. Its only a few turns and crossroads until they can get to the 8 near town. Its the one used before to get the parts he needed when they went somewhere before. "We'll stock up on road snacks out of town unless you came prepared."

"Aha." Erin's assumptions confirmed, she laughs a little. "Safety first and all." Or something. Settled in, she turns slightly to face him, already kicking off those heels to leave her feet bare. A quick roll of her eyes. "Yeah I guess you're right, it'd be a really short trip going west. Unless this was some sort of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang car, but I don't think they rent those. And surely if they did, in these modern times it'd be a Ford." As he heads towards the route he'd planned at least to get out of town, she watches him and the road in equal measures. "I brought some. Too many I think. I read a meme that said It doesn't matter how old you are, buying snacks for a long road trip should always look like an unsupervised 9 year old was given $100. So I took it to heart. We can always get more if they aren't too your liking, but I just grabbed randomly."

"Nope," he disagrees with her, "Ford wouldn't bother making a chitty chitty bang bang car." A gelopi that flies? Jack is certain of that. He's not imagining a cooler flying car though either most likely. They're moving that way, out of town, putting Gray Harbor behind them for now. She had snacks, they can just drive and let the speedometer collect some miles now. Turns and hills, climbing up from the coast to work into the Rockies proper off that coast, and then beyond. Their voyage begun. "That's a big meme," he ponders, about what she said. "I think you're using the internet to justify that you just wanted a lot of snacks. Its okay, I get it." Straight faced in his way, but he's really teasing more than anything else. "As long as some of that kid in a candy store includes some sort of meat product, I think you covered my primary basis." He'll probably take sweater stuff, and even salty chip stuff just the same when it comes to it though.

"You hold your Fords in high esteem. I'm amazed you even do maintenance work on my Maserati." Erin teases, stretching out a little. "There's a lot to be said for old Ford trucks though, I have to admit." A little color in her cheeks when she admits to that. As they go and they begin putting miles behind them and Gray Harbor isn't even seen any longer, she takes a deep and relaxing breath. She doesn't even bother looking back towards the town that held most of the residents captive whether they knew it or not. "How does it feel? Getting out of town? It feels sort of liberating for me." A glance back to the floor where there's a few recyclable tote bags made of cloth with the snacks inside along with an ice chest for the colder things. "I have beef jerky and some slim jim things. Even got some beef jerky dip stuff because.. kid in a candy store. And look!" Reaching into one of the totes. she pulls out a little box. "Candy cigarettes. We can be cool" she teases. "Wax bottles too. Weird little things. You name it, it's probably in there." She opens one of the boxes and offers over a candy stick, white with a pink end. "Smoke one with me." There's a grin as she takes one for herself also. "I had a little too much fun. There's several flavors of licorice too. You get the black ones though, I don't like those."

"I know engines, I'll work on anything," he admits, settling in with one hand hooked over the wheel by his wrist only, just using fingers if needed for some turns. The other is on her side, or on any console/shift in the middle for comfort. There is a grin at his lips, "Older cars have a certain comfort to them, you can't replace that." Sure, bucket seats, heated, all adjustable, personal air control, whatever is good, but its not the same as a big old bench seat in a pick up either. He looks at the mirror and nods, "Feels good, but in the back of my mind, the shop is always there." Like a child of his, that shop, its been his focus for a long time too. But good to be on the road, going somewhere, anywhere, just tires on a long road going where ever it goes. He looks sidelong her way, seeing the box pulled out, listening to the list of treats and snacks. He takes the end of the candy cigarette, probably one of the last places left its sold as cigarette vs candy stick. He takes it and bites right in though, "Sure, one for the road." Then he sort of looks at it, he might not be a connoisseur of candy or sugar. "I'm good with the black ones. Get some of those out."

"You're the best mechanic I know. No one else I'd trust my baby to." Erin admits easily. "I do like your truck and we could have taken it but I didn't think you'd want to pack on the miles. When we go to the Woodward Dream Cruise we'll take your truck. It's gorgeous." Turning more to look at him as he bites the candy stick, she bites hers also then asks after finishing the whole thing. "You are attached to your shop. I like how much it means to you." She turns a little more to reach back and get him some licorice. Black and red. Opening the black ones for him, she puts then on the seat between them after folding up the console to give him more space. She opens the red ones for herself. Strawberry flavored. "There's even green apple and some others. I like strawberry." As if to prove her point, she takes one and bites it while putting the candy cigarette sticks away in the tote again.

A nod as she comments on how good he is, he's humble in that he won't say how good he is, just he knows what he's doing. "Thanks, pride in work shows I guess." Jack looks at some of the signs ahead, keeps them on the course. Nothing changes, just he keeps his eyes out from time to time, aware at least. "Its my livelihood, good thing I enjoy doing it." He'll reach over when the black licorice are set down somewhere between them, those he likes. "Those sound fruity." Apple and strawberry, but he looks over at her, "We sharing? I'll trade some black to try these apple licorice you're talking about." He's sure she doesn't mean to trade and would give him some, but fair is fair.

"It does, Jack, and you've done great on your truck and now your car for the track." Erin smiles, reaching inside for another strawberry candy, biting the end. "When I was a kid, I used these as straws until they got too soft, then I'd eat it. Strawberry ones go great with strawberry kool-aid. When Grandmother allowed me either or both." Like him, she watches the road also, watching the signs, the passing scenery, enjoying their time. "Of course we are sharing," she smiles, reaching into the apple package for those green apple ones. You keep the black, caring is sharing or something." Her smile tilts lopsided, "I am glad we did this, thank you. I know leaving town is a big thing for you."

"Licorice as straws," he questions back, considering putting licorice in coffee. Black licorice maybe, fruity licorice not so much, but his eyes move between road, licorice and where his drink would go if he had one with him. Jack does lift a brow, "Might be good." A sidelong look her way, "Kool-aid and strawberry straws, maybe, I don't know." Just to share opinion on that, his hand lifts over to giver her thigh a squeeze, reassuring her its all good, he's teasing only. As she reaches for apple ones, he'll turn that hand palm up to accept one when she finds it. "Caring is sharing, did you just make that up? Another meme, like kid and a candy store?" Or maybe he has heard it. There is a slow down to turn on a road from Route 8 to get on the main route they'll follow, old 12 that goes to Detroit in its own fashion. "Its a big thing for you, you're important to me. Hope you're okay with that."

"Something to try sometime, licorice of any flavor in a variety of things. Even the green apple would be good in fruit punch, I think." Erin smiles at him when he even seems to be considering it. Not like he was before, that she remembers, into trying new things. As he touches her, she brushes her fingers over his hand before placing an apple one there in his fingers, brushing hers over his before withdrawing her hand so he can eat. "We do have drinks, name your poison." The ice chest holds them. As they slow down, she looks ahead, noticing other cars going their direction too, probably different destinations. "I am very okay with being important to you. I hope you don't mind being the same, I'm glad you are in my life more full time again."

"Black licorice, black coffee," he says at first naming his licorice concoction poison preference (to try, he's never done it), over green apple and fruit punch that is. "But you figure this out," he says, combinations, "I suppose I can try some of these ideas you come up with." Like, could be a thing, licorice bar, non-alcoholic drinks paired with various licorice. Or, just them, his voice doesn't raise but stays its constant, are somewhat his constant. Erin gets more out of him than most do, so there is hints of real expression mingled in clouded stoicism. A step up for her. "Cold soda is good," cause black coffee out of shop pot or beer would be out of the question for sure. His voice seems thankful, his fingers grasp back lightly as they fold over the licorice to try, brushing hers in return as they close over the candy. He pops it in then mm's just a very little, "Not bad." Not good either, but of him, that's way better as he's honest enough to say he doesn't like something. "I don't mind, we'll just do that thing other people do, show it to each other more." PDA? More Hugs? Something, just more than accepting it he means, on his end of things. Active engagement somehow with this importance they acknowledge.

Erin says, "I'd try it for you. Black licorice and black coffee together." Erin is give and take like that. He'll try things for her, she'll do the same for him. "We can figure things out together, one doesn't have to alone. It's more fun that way." As they get on 12, she knows the trip is truly just beginning. It was a long way to their destination but she had no worries about it. Turning, she reaches into the cooler and pulls out a drink for him, whatever it is that comes out first. Dr. Pepper. "Share or want your own?" She doesn't seem to mind either way. Maybe the beer could be when they stopped for the night or something. "If you get tired of sweets, there's always the jerky and chips. Several varieties." When she's settled back in the seat either with one or two sodas, she looks more at him again. "Yeah I do want to show it to you more. I feel like have a lot to give and I want to give it to you. To share it with you." Affection? Probably. Maybe more."

"Give it a couple hours," he considers, "We'll get some warm coffee and fill up the tank." The tank could go much longer, just its a good time to exercise legs probably, that and grab warm coffee from whatever they find by then. Unless they see some attraction or stop before, who knows. More arbitrary time stop to try for black coffee through black licorice straw though. She discusses sharing and fun, then is pulling out one Dr. Pepper, figuring out if another is needed, "Do the sharing thing, we're trying it. You can figure out what licorice works best to drink it with even." Its a thought then Jack nods over at her, giving her leg another little squeeze of affection. Its a good place for hand other than just console or shifter. "Some jerky too," doesn't need a lot, just an occasional bite as the meander the older highway. "You can give it to me," all that she wants to show that is. "We hang a lot around cars when we're together, we can do other things too more."

"A couple of hours sounds perfect. We can stretch out then." Erin watches the traffic ahead of them some and the scenery around them. Nothing immediately catches her eye though. Maybe once they were out of the state at least. Opening the soda, she holds both it and the cap in one hand, "I think cherry would be best with it. Cherry Dr. Pepper maybe? " Good thing the bags are resealable, she opens a cherry one and withdraws a single strip of the hollow candy before slipping it inside the bottle and offering it to him. "Let me know what you think." While he sips, she gets jerky, which is also in a resealable container, placing it between them after opening it and withdrawing a piece. Once he's taken a drink of the Dr. Pepper, she leans in to offer a piece of jerky to his lips, taking it literally when he says she can give it to him. "I love watching you around cars. You're so in your element at the shop. Even hiking though, you were in your element."

Jack gives a nod, stretch out when they find a good stop then. Adding on miles, he shifts and gets more cozy in his seat. It wasn't hard in the large buckets of the navigator with all it had to offer. "Sure, give it a go," he replies about the cherry licorice straw for the Dr. Pepper. He takes what she offers and looks down long enough to cast a dubious glance at it, candy straw for some soda. Its a brief dubious glance, he still focuses on road as much as he should, but then he takes a drink. "Eh," he says, after, but gives a little nod, "Ain't bad. " His admission its good. "Its not about the element," returns Jack as if there is some wisdom to come for him appearing in his elements. "My shoes fit, I'm comfortable in them" Proverbial in a manner, his comfortable in his shoes. "Secret to a good life or something. It ain't always good, you make it better kid."

"Not too bad huh?" Erin reaches for it to try it also, not bad, can't taste much of the cherry as of yet. She places it in the drink holder, candy straw still inserted, the lid to the bottle somewhere nearby it. "Not bad," is her own agreement with his conclusion. If he takes the jerky.. or even if he doesn't, she'll withdraw her hand (with or without the jerky she'd offered to his lips) and reach for a piece for herself to nibble on. "I like that about you, Jack. How comfortable you are with yourself and how confident you are when you are doing your profession." The car ahead of them just stays that same speed, be-bopping along, so they remain somewhat nearby. As the time passes, the vehicle pulls off on an exit and Erin laughs softly. "Do you ever get emotionally attached to the car ahead of you on long road trips?" A playful look given his way. Clearly she's teasing. Maybe it's another meme!

He's nodding his head, then as she's about to pull the jerky back, he gets a quick bite in, as if still deciding on the cherry straw and Dr. Pepper. Deciding to get the meat even with the taste of mostly soda lingering in his mouth. "Yeah," he questions about her liking his confidence in an almost 'that so?' sort of way. "Well," he says, quietly as if about to say nothing and then, "You do what you want regardless, I like that about you, confident in who you are." A slight exchange. Jack was good following the car ahead of them. He's in no rush, never is much even where a car to go slow on a regular road, so out here whatever speed someone sets ahead of him, he's good just following along. No need to even tail them. "If I took lots of long road trips, I could answer that better." Not sure about memes either way. "Why, you curious where they were going? Going somewhere or returning home from a trip of their own? Maybe they went up the coast past Gray Harbor, site seeing or camping."

He gets the bite of the jerky and Erin smiles at him, "Yeah," she answers much as she would had he asked 'that so?'. "I think I do what I want regardless, but I want to also consider you in my decisions now. We're a pair now?" Kind of a question, just seeking some sort of agreement maybe. His question about the car just makes her shrug. "I don't know. I just know what we are doing, sort of out of the ordinary for both of us. Do you ever see others and wonder about them? Where they've been? Where they are going? If they've ever been to Gray Harbor before getting the hell out?" The last is asked with a hint of amusement. "We could play the license plate game. Or muse over other vehicles around us and their lives, pretend we're them and say where they have been. Or even where we think they are going." Just silly stuff. Silly isn't so bad."

That's a thought he turns over, but then agrees, "Yeah, we're a pair." He gives it a pause, he's good with that, "A pair of Jacks?" Said to joke, but affirmation, "You and me kid, we're a pair." In some contemplation about wondering about others and where they've gone or been, Jack shakes his head. "Nah, not so much. Its better for me to focus on what I'm doing I think. But I could give it a try." More so about the first time she asks prior to the idea of the other cars on the road. But the amusement from getting the hell out of Gray Harbor and the cars has him considering it more. "Sure, lets try that." There is a car looming into view, or a truck, a red truck is next up in front of them. They can get a little closer and see what it is, they already are catching up to it.

His agreement makes her smile and Erin nibbles a little on the beef jerky as he considers, taking a sip of the drink through the candy straw. "A pair of Jacks," she laughs at the name he gives. "JErin. Ship it." Just teasing back some too. They drive on then he agrees to play the off-the-wall game and she grins at him as he gets closer to the red truck. Inside.. there is a driver, a little old lady. In the passenger seat is.. a clown. Erin stares for a moment before looking away. "That's the weirdest thing I've ever seen. Well maybe close to weirdest. I have absolutely no clue to what it could be but the first thought that popped in my head is John Wayne Gacy. I think that's the Gray Harbor in me talking though. What about you?"

A nod, Jack agrees, "JErin works. The Jack of Erins, its good." Or whatever kids hashtag these days. A look to her slightly but then a focus on the red truck in front of them. "Sure, could be John Wayne Gacy. Better we don't follow when they turn off." Whatever country road they take off the old highway. Jack looks around not seeing one, so he gives his take. "Well, that's his mom. Clowning doesn't pay much but that's his lifestyle, he just side gigs at kids birthdays. And not too many in this neck of the woods." Explained so, he reaches for beef jerky but keeps going, most talkative he's been, imagining that truck. "On his way to a gig now, the pony ride people cancelled, he has nothing on the agenda, so he took it when the family called. They'll be some teary eyed kids when they don't get balloon animals and the jokes aren't funny, but he'll get enough money to buy some twinkies so his mom gets a little break support him still living at home." A bite a chew, half chewing as he finishes, "Or something like that."

"I mean.. Pair of Jacks works, but that makes it Mr and Mrs Jack.. so.." Erin teases him back. As he gives his version, she finds herself enchanted with his ability of story telling and gets into it. "You tell good stories, Jack. I'd listen to you telling me stories in bed before we sleep. I really like your version. I've lived too much darkness in Gray Harbor in my life. It's nice to see things through your eyes, the lightness of it." She eats another candy, a strawberry one again as she rides there beside him, eating up the miles. "I bet you didn't live at home as long as that clown did. Or as long as I did, with my Grandmother."

"Oh oh, that works too," returns Jack, for Pair of Jacks. As she returns to him about him telling stories, "Nah, nah, its darker my Gray Harbor, but a little light here. Something new on the horizon, us maybe." He shrugs at that one. "Yeah, I got out quick from my folks. All and all was just better to get out get my own place. Out of high school worked for a shop until I owned it. Old owner was about out anyway, so he helped a little and I took over. For a long time, I could only trust myself. A few others. Now you, you're different, more open." He talks openly now as they talk about themselves, their lives.

Erin does a double take when Jack agrees on the Mr and Mrs, but she studies him a moment to gauge his seriousness. As he doesn't elaborate, she decides he's joking back with her, so she gives something of a whimsical smile before lingering more on the subject of the darkness of the city in which they live. "It is a dark place, but it's home, whether we want it to be or not. I don't even know where else I'd go. Anywhere with you I think would be home also. I feel good here where we are." Then to make light of it, as they get a short distance further, not even a quarter mile, she grins, "And here. And here. And here." Laughter in her eyes. "I am glad you trust me, Jack. I won't let you down."

It may have been a joke, but he wasn't disagreeing and the punchline was missing. Its out there, the two are an item, a pair. Next step is in the future but he's not opposed to walking in that direction it seems, or maybe it does. "Yeah, its home, rather me than someone else be there." Like the town isn't going away. "You're thinking when we get back, we should figure out making a home." Or, living together? He nods and then she's joking here and here, "And there, we could be good there." He points to an old home that may have been part of some land ownership in the hills, small personal farm, orchard, something. Run down of course. "I don't think you would try to do that, I wouldn't either." A pause. he reaches to grab her near the knee, affirming. "Maybe that was our silence, you and me, its comfortable, in a good way. Too good to feel real maybe, but good. We needed time to think about it without offending each other. Then, now, here we are, on this trip of ours to Detroit."

Either way, Erin doesn't press further, even with a touch of wistfulness in her expression. She places her hand over his as she responds. "I think we could figure something out between us. I'm good with anything as long as it includes both of us. I feel I've wasted enough time already. I'm ready to move on with my life with you as a part of it." She looks over at the run down place with the orchard. "I could see us being happy there. Most anywhere, really. Growing apples or whatever those trees are. Harvesting. Being our own family since we don't have much left of our own." It's a thought, a dream, an idea. "I'd try about anything with you. I trust you also, Jack."

Reassured, her hand over his, as he rests his on her. "So there you go, but I'm offering, we figure out like moving in together somewhere. Just, we find a place, not search now on google or whatever, not during our trip. Our horizon is Detroit, we'll just focus on that for the trip." As if to keep them in the now at least. For him, away from past, and moving forward in some manner perhaps. "A few trees, a nice porch, peace and quiet." All things considered, as much peace and quiet as they could get. "I mean if I did consider racing more seriously, a little place with a garage to work on the car would be fitting." Then a look her way again, "Yeah, just us, we don't have much our own, but enough to be our own. No worry about families and all that, that sounds complicated sometimes." In-laws and trying to be nice either way around them.

"Moving in together would be perfect. I don't mind living at your place, or you into mine since it's near the beach, but if you'd like a new place together, I am agreeable to that also. One near your garage? I work at the hospital so anywhere in town is close enough to that for me. Besides, I love driving my car and that gives me an excuse every day." Her hand remains with his, even tracing it a little, finding callouses and scars if there are any and exploring them. "I'd love to help you with racing. Holding up signs with the times for your laps during the heats and practices, anything I could do to help." She agrees about their separate families and smiles, "This trip away, alone together, was a really good idea."

"That narrows it down," concurs Jack on where to live. "We'll figure it out when we get back." Back to his idea there isn't a rush. Jack listens to her admit she likes driving, and how that relates to where she lives. His hand turns, allowing her access to feel more his hand, especially the inside palm and soft parts that are more scarred and calloused with his work on cars especially. "Whatever we like to do, we figure out enough space for both of us. It'll be more comfortable." That's his logic. "Food me up," he says, maybe not wanting to move his hand from her, but wanting something to eat again. The palm of his hand opens a little more, like put something there; he's watching road, and her sometimes, can't dig for food. "Yeah, it does feel good to get out on the open road."

"No rush for now, we're on our journey. Out to discover!" Erin smiles, looking down at his hand as he opens it for her, and she traces the lines there as well, touching a scar or callous now and then, smiling as she does. "I like your hands." Lifting it, she places a kiss in the center of his palm before she gently lowers it again. He was hungry and she wanted to feed him something! Jerky first, one of the bigger pieces are offered over to the palm of his hand before she releases him and turns towards the back some, dragging out chips and some pickled hot sausages. And a bag of mixed nuts. "Anything here? Chips, we have salt and vinegar, barbecue, sour cream and cheddar.." she looks back and names a few more, so he had plenty of options. "Your choice!'

Jack listens then turns his head a little here way as she mentions out to discover. "That so," he ponders, "See what we find, ya?" His hand remains open for her to explore as she likes and then she kisses it. He lifts it and makes the gesture of tucking it into a pocket, "Save that one for later." A tease, but straight faced, some serious to it, little keepsake as they drive. Maybe he has his moments, just have to dig through the callouses that are Jack to get to them. As his hand falls back to hers, she eventually puts a piece of jerky into it before digging for more food. SO again he lifts it towards his face, "Thanks baby doll." A bit taken he enjoys. Then she's finding some chips, "Salt and vinegar, yeah, that sounds good." A mix or compliment to the jerky itself even.

"That's very much so," Erin agrees with a playful grin. "Yes, exactly. See what we find, where we find it and try new things. Who knows? Maybe Detroit, Motor City is a place you will absolutely love, since vehicles and all. Just wait until the Woodward Dream Cruise!" She does seem pretty excited about that as she brings it up again/ "As it is, we'll find a car show or something of a smaller scale, if there's anything like that this time of the year." She gives him the jerky, he takes it, then she's taking the bag of chips and opening it, glancing towards him when he calls her baby doll. That was new and from the look on her face she liked it! After that's done, she reaches into the cooler, "Jerky and Salt and Vinegar chips calls for a beer." Root beer, apparently, she recaps the soda that the cherry straw has now melted into and puts it away, opening the bottle of root beer for them. "See anything of interest yet?" A glance to him as she bites into a chip.

Jack notes the grin and nods his head. "Just maybe, yeah," on car shows, "Could be my thing. We'll see what we find." Car shows along the way. They head south of Mt Rainer, so no beer tour visits, but root beer is just as good. "IF you want to try a car show at some point with a future build, we can put something in one." He's probably familiar with them, whether he's competed or not. No trophies in his place if he ever has, she would know/recall. Having gone south a little and turned easterly again, they've come to a lake. More north, they follow it that way with the lake on the left side. "If you want to take a stop and picnic with some of those chips and that beer, we could stretch our legs a little then get back on the road?" He offers, that, the lake is Mayfield Lake, and it so happens there is an off for the park coming up, a landing it seems like.

"I am up for any explorations and adventures. I don't get to get away like this too often and never before with someone I wanted to have these adventures with. We'll make lasting memories and maybe even start a photo album with each journey or adventure we take." Just an idea Erin throws out there. Looking at the road ahead and where the exit is coming, she nods, towards it, agreeing quickly. "Let's do it, we can go explore the area and stretch out. It'll be fun." She does seem excited, certainly in no rush to get to their Detroit destination. "I can change into something more comfortable too, certainly different shoes too." Her heels are in the floor, almost pushed underneath it.

"Oh, adventures," says Jack, considering his take on that concept of adventure maybe. A good way to look at it. "Yeah, someone we can each put up with," he teases, cause they're far better than putting up with each other in the context. More so. He reaches for a chip if they're out, to go along with the jerky. Salty foods seem to work good together, and makes one thirsty for soda, convenient. He crunches and then asks, "You brought a camera," he isn't thinking of phones, maybe his phone doesn't have a camera even? She agrees, he starts looking at the access road coming up, its a quick turn across oncoming traffic to make it, just a two lane highway that follows the landscape instead of cutting through, old Route 12. "Good idea, take a walk, eat some lunch, check out Mayfield." The lake at least, and the wooden sign proclaiming it for what it is approaches them, he signals and turns, giving a look at her legs as he watches on coming traffic, he can't help that she did wear a dress. "Not sure how big it is, walk a little around it, or part of the way, work up a lunch appetite."

"Adventures, all of them. See what we can do and see and get into." Erin teases back. As he mentions the camera, she smiles, "Always have a camera when we have our phones, but I do also have a 35 mm camera also. Phones are easier for selfies when someone isn't around to take a picture of us together." She eats a few chips with him and when he does take the turn she grins and unfastens her seatbelt only to climb over the seat into the middle area and start changing. Luck has it the windows are tinted, so shortly, she's down to a bra and panties, they match and are purple and are probably from some high class boutique. She does still have expensive tastes. Reaching for one of her sweaters, it's a little oversized and is incredibly soft to the touch. She pulls on a pair of yoga pants beneath then tugs on some comfortable looking fur lined boots. Once she's dressed, she pops up behind him and nuzzles him from that position. "We take a walk, eat some lunch, I brought sandwiches too, this will be fun." With a smile of mischief, she leans in further and gently tugs on his earlobe with her lips. "Lots of fun."

Nodding, Jack grins a little when she teases back at him about what they can get into, trouble or otherwise. "I don't think my phone does that," she may have seen it. His house phone is attached to the wall, his pocket phone is a flip. Not the new ones meant to protect a screen, the old one where texting was done on a dialpad. Its not smart at all. Oh, he looks, even looking for the gravel place to park near the lake. Tinted windows and no big towns to close, they're off the trail so to speak. Occasional traffic and semi's on Route 12, but most just pass on by. Its the sort of lake that might get some visitors this time of year come the weekend. Folks getting out of the city for a break and all. His mirror gives a good view after she's through the middle area between seats and into the back. He might mmm as he watches. Sweater is a big interest to him, the softness of fabric over curves. Yoga pants are good but fuzzy and soft for him is better. The way the sweater dangles loosely over the tighter pants and sort of playfully covers is good too. "Sounds like a regular meal is ready for lunch," he says then she is leaning over from the back more to nuzzle and nips at his ear. "Oh," he says, voice deeper, "You're talking my sort of fun. " His head turns a little, seeing if her lips move with ear or follow the turn, to cheek or neck, turning and undoing his seatbelt, slowly turning, as if to bring his lips to meet hers over the seat, so he can taste her a little too.

"That's okay, I have a phone that can handle it. I kind of like your dinosaur of a phone. It means you're not going on instagram checking out all the ladies." Of course Erin is teasing, but she is having fun, and there may just be some truth in that. "I definitely don't like to share. I really do like that about you. You're as much a one-person kind of guy as I am a one-man-woman. I never have to wonder with you. I appreciate that more than you know." It's stark honesty. After he parks and she's teasing him, she murmurs into the ear she was just tasting, "I like your sort of fun." Then he turns a little and she allows her lips to trace along to the hollow behind his ear before lowering to the strong column of his neck where she gathers skin in between her lips and sucks lightly, probably leaving a small mark but low enough to be hidden by his shirt. After a moment she follows back up to his jaw then along to his lips, meeting his with her full, soft lips intending a brief kiss so they can go for their adventure.

"Instagram," he ponders, looking at her as she teases, "What's that, stripper site. Yeah, online porn isn't my thing." Either he's being funny or he's not up to date on social media. Though he's nodding along, you say your dating someone, that's it, no side dates or whatever to test the waters or narrow it down to that one person. "I'm figuring it out, how much appreciation there is both ways." In match to her start honesty. She gets him a little hot, playing at his neck, leaving a mark even to be hidden under his shirt. The kiss is intended brief by her, he doesn't press that for the purpose of going on their adventure. He senses enough in her kiss that he pulls back. "A warm up for later, you ready to walk around this lake and see what we can find?" He'll open his door, make it easy for her to either climb through the middle again or jump out a rear door even. "Looks like a good day for it."

"It's a social media site with girls that pose.. seductively. Or so I hear. I don't have it either, but I hear a lot about it at work." Erin finds herself amused a moment, "Mostly from wives complaining about their husbands checking like on those revealing photos." It's said, she smirks a little before letting it go, even laughing about the online porn. "There's nothing wrong with sharing a little porn in a relationship, in my opinion. I do understand if you prefer not to, I could take it or leave it." His comment draws her eyes to his again after the kiss breaks, "You're all I need, Jack. I'm not looking for anyone else." Just to clarify that. "Mm, yes, a warm up for later." Meeting his eyes in the mirror briefly, she smiles at him just before he opens the door. She opens the door behind him and slides out, closing the door behind herself and looking at him as he joins. "It does look like a great day for an adventure." When they are side by side, she reaches for his hand to lace her fingers with his, "It looks like it may be busy during tourist season." She indicates a sign for rustic cabins. "Rustic, even. Sounds interesting, but I don't think we've been on the road long enough to stop for the night have we?"

"Are you on this one," he asks, looking her way, "I'd go look if you were posing." That's it, no one else it seems. But she doesn't have it either. "Better, I got you in my life, we can talk seductive posing later." A grin, there barely but she'll recognize it, on Jacks features, meeting her laugh. He'll hold food or basket or whatever they have to carry lunch things, or get it out as needed. As they move for a walk and she laces fingers with his, he looks over towards the cabins she points out. "I see, would be good during tourist season." But its not, which is good, better for them. Mostly open spaces between areas for camping or rentals. He does check out the cabins. Sees a sign for tents and yurts. He's not sure what that is though. "We could check on out, its our trip we do it in our own time. Or on the way back. Its quiet though could be a quiet day, good pause before moving on and trying to get all the way to South Dakota or something tomorrow?"

"I wouldn't pose like that for everyone to see. That's more.. a personal thing to me." Erin knows he knew her that well though so she nudges his shoulder with hers, a grin on her features, mostly responding to his he wears, even if barely there. It's something he doesn't give often, except more to her, and she does indeed notice. He has the basket, there's a thermos of lemonade inside it for their lunch too. He looks over the cabins as she mentions them and she gives them a more speculative look, "They look pretty basic," small, think small. "And there's a community restroom there," pointing it out, assuming that meant there were no private ones in the cabins. The lingering kisses from moments before still fresh on her mind and the taste of him still on her lips. "Yes.." her voice softer, "Let's camp here. For hours? For the night? Who cares how long, but we stay here until we want to drive again."

That nod from his head, before they share the levity of the topic, indicates he knows she wouldn't do that for everyone else to see. Looking from the cabins then to her, he considers and then nods. "Sounds like a plan," last minute, making it truly their adventure, his eyes turn back towards the nearby building where the staff or park ranger would be. Though dead of this time of year/day, they could be asleep for all he knew. Napping away. "All right, I'll get us hooked up with a cabin, looks like 2 or 3 are really close to the lake." Or more in the woods from the parking lot even. "If one of those works, I'll go put a card on it, we can unload and stay a little here." Lake Mayfield. It sounded like a plan.

Whatever Cabin she's agreed to, even if she suggests another all together, it won't take him but 15 to 20 minutes to run into the office and come out with a key for the rental. He can meet her at the vehicle to unload a little, unless she did. "All ours, as long as we like. At least the night, we can get a campfire up later, run into the nearby town." Mayfield, "Get food to cook on it later. But we should check out the accommodations first, settle in a little.

The cabins had caught on and Erin was all in, she glances over towards the ones he indicates and gives an eager nod, "Either of the two closest to the lake. Looks like they have a beautiful view too." He goes to make plans, she watches the waves on the water, small waves, not even enough to be white capped, then as he comes out, she smiles at him and joins by his side. "Let's collect our things." Sleeping bags mostly, a few of their toiletries maybe. "Oh yeah? A trip into town for a cook out later sounds like a good time to me." They get the things to the cabin and when she steps in notices the one bed on one side, the bunks on the other and she laughs. "I get bottom." A wink given his way, but she moves not to the bunks but to sit on the edge of the larger bed. "It's like a fort. We could hang our blankets over the side of the bunk bed and camp in the lower one, make it our clubhouse." Completely joking, but enjoying the moment anyway. "This is fun, Jack. Thanks for doing this adventure with me."

"Sure thing," returns Jack about getting there stuff. That and a cook out later. All in do time no need to rush if they're staying indefinitely. "That's what I like about you," he says without an answer when she claims bottom and winks. He doesn't complete it, either he likes her bottom or he likes she's just going to say what she wants and that's that. Straight shooter, or bottom, something like that. Stuff down he walks over near the larger bed, "We could try this fort idea," says Jack with the muster of someone who doesn't do forts. With her, it seems he was willing to try it at least. "A fort inside a fort," he teases back, the place was theirs, all alone. Practically the lake, maybe some fishermen later when they get off work or something from the area. "Hey, anything with you baby girl," he reaches a hand over, fingers at chin, thumb brushing near a cheek, affectionately.

Erin lifts and settles again on the bed, testing the solidness of it with a wicked smile towards him. "Oh yeah?" She tilts her head back a little when he approaches her, leaning gently into the caress he gives her before turning a little to press her lips softly to his fingers. "Anything?" The question comes but it's more rhetorical as she slips a finger inside the front pocket of his pants and tugs him a little closer, to stand between her slightly parted legs. "How about we put off lunch just a little while?" Her meaning is clear, of course, she had every intention of being as impulsive as they had set out to be when they started the trip!

It was in a little while, spent between them. Maybe after a little sleep even, hard to say. "I think sandwiches may help, get us moving again." Says Jack, finding a trickle of light as the sun is past noon now, the dust playing in the trickle from between blinds or curtains into that cabin. As if the dust hand not been so disturbed, out of tourism season, until they came in and claimed this space as theirs for now and the immediate future. "I'm starving now." As if that made him all the more hunger between them.

However long it had been, Erin is sprawled across him for a moment, the sheet wrapped around her, making her decent for the moment. "I'm hungry too. Starving.." Another look to him, "We need sustenance." A light nip at his shoulder, she grins as she lifts her head then leans down to brush her lips over his. After another moment, she struggles to a sitting position and tucks the sheet around her like she's at some toga party and strides over to get the picnic basket to bring to the bed. Climbing back on, she sits cross legged and places the basket between them. "There's lemonade too, and sandwiches. I think some smaller bags of chips also. And oh yeah! Reaching in the bottom, she tugs out a small handful of candies and places one in her other palm to offer it to him. "A kiss for you." A Hershey Kiss of course.

Jake pulls on enough shorts and pants to be clothed enough himself, sitting back into some of that light spill from the window that drifts over the bed. "Ah," he reaches to take the kiss, "Can't get enough from you." Of kisses apparently. "Lemonade, found me vulnerable spot." He may never say it, but as sweetness goes, lemonade he can't refuse. She may know, he may have never said. A hand over to the basket to get drink and a sandwich too. This is a good picnic spot as any, he pulls legs up to sit cross legged on the bed and look her way. "Now or when we get back and figure this out more, this is important." Something about being together more full time perhaps. "Right side of the bed has to be mine, part of the routine and all." Or he's just teasing.

It wasn't expected, his comment about the right side of the bed and Erin delights in the simplicity of it. "What if I share it by just sprawling on you every night?" Like she's going to object or something. She doesn't await an answer before she relents. "Deal, you get the right side of the bed, but you have to promise neither one of us will have to sleep alone, unless work calls or something." The words are said more tongue-in-cheek, but she leans in to brush her lips over his cheek with a real kiss, not the candy one. "Lemonade hm? I'll have to remember that. Should still be nice and cold, and next time I come by the shop while you're working I'll bring you one from the drive thru. That or your iced coffee you love." Tilting her head a little after getting herself a half sandwich, she considers, "If you are grilling out, maybe some of the local fish would be good?"

"Oh," he ponders, looking at her and taking a bite of sandwich. After Jack swallows, he affirms, "Yeah, you can come to my side all you like, just I'll always be there." Affirmation to both sprawling on him and being there more permanently. Another bite, them some lemonade. "Yeah, or we make our own, fresh squeezed and all that." Lemonade, then he's looking to the window. "Not a bad idea, learn to fish, see what we catch. Cleaning its pretty easy, fresh fish would be a good meal tonight." He's in for this plan as he gets to finishing up some lunch.

"Ok, we agree. Homemade lemonade, share the right side of the bed and .." Erin's eyes round a little. "I don't want to clean a fish. I'd rather buy already dead ones from the grocery store. I joked about fishing before but I don't think I could stand to feel one die." It's the first she's mentioned of her powers and she may be wording it wrong, but she smiles tentatively. "Maybe some other things with it, I watched a cooking show where they put fish in foil with some butter and seasonings and lemon slices and other things. It didn't sound bad. We can try." They get into their lunch though, lemonade, sandwiches and kisses, both chocolate and real.