Did anyone see fireworks 4th of July weekend, 2021? You’re welcome! This magical weekend, Zach decides after much debate to spend the weekend in Nashville with his good friend Joe Bidner. Meanwhile, Emily is busy meeting her friend Presley’s new love interest, Joe Hoots and giving him a CIA level interrogation over a candle-lit 3rd wheel dinner date at Two Ten Jack. Afterwards, she plans to meet a stranger off a dating app despite her grandmother Rosie’s warning about the danger of the situation. That only fuels her interest and desire to get back on the dating scene and collect interesting stories. However, after a couple drinks and spicy crab noodles, Joe’s phone begins to ring off the hook. After Joe hangs up, he asserts, “We’re gonna stop by a party and see my sister, come on Emily”. When the 3 arrive at the apartment, a tall, dark, and handsome man greets them in the lobby to let them in. Emily, purse above her head, examining the “The Players” salmon golf shirt and khakis, blurts out, “Hi, I’m Margaret. Who are you, my caddy?” After quickly picking his jaw up off the floor at her beauty and whit, he retorts, “Oh… yeah, I love walking around golf courses looking for foursomes to carry their clubs”. Hmm… not bad, she thinks. Only subconsciously does the bumble date fly out the window, which proves to be a blessing in disguise when the strange man begins calling repeatedly and demanding that she join him for a fire at his house. Red flag alert! However, it isn’t until making it to Nashville’s finest establishment, The Dogwood, that she sees a glimmer of Zach’s true potential. 3 days filled with a slip-n-slide, Emily’s roommate Katie asking for 2 forms of identification, a firework show, and countless silly games later, Zach has to head back home to Knoxville. As Zach says goodbye, Emily dramatically sings “Sand in My Boots” by Morgan Wallen, filling Zach’s moon eyes with fear and overwhelming sadness (mostly fear, though). The drive back to Knoxville turns the experiences into memories that could never be forgotten, even if Zach tried. A couple days later, Zach misses Emily so much that he rolls the dice and texts her, “Wanna FaceTime Ollie (Zach’s vivacious, floofy border collie) and me?” And the rest is history!