From a parking-lot pickup line to a drive-thru fender bender, this Whataburger Love Story is all gas, no brakes

The first time Jillian and Nate Childers-Melgar of Albuquerque, New Mexico met, they had no idea where their relationship might be going. 

In fact, Nate didn’t know where he was going at all, so he pulled over to get his bearings. 

“My neighbor was yelling at him for being parked in our private parking,” Jillian said, “so I was like, no, I know him, and I just got in his car.” (She did not know him.) 

Jillian’s car was in the shop, so she offered directions in exchange for a ride. Their meet-cute blossomed into a romance. 

‘We’ve hung out every day since, and now we're married, so it worked out for us,” Jillian said. 

Earlier this year, as their wedding approached, they mailed Whataburger an invitation and shared a funny story that’s become one of their favorite memories together. 

A defining late-night drive-thru mishap 

Early in their relationship, Jillian found out Nate had never had a Honey Butter Chicken Biscuit. So the couple went on a late-night run to the Whataburger drive-thru. 

“We were in line, just goofing off and chatting, and then we started kissing,” Jillian said. “Then, the car kind of jerks from hitting someone else's car.”

Turns out, Nate had accidentally taken his foot off the brake and rolled into the car ahead of them at the drive-thru. 

Both drivers got out to assess the damage, and the other driver asked Nate, “what were you doing?” 

“He was pretty mad,” Nate said. “I don't know if it was a smart move, but I told him I was kissing my girl.” 

“I couldn’t help but giggle the whole time, because I think it's hilarious,” Jillian added. 

Fortunately, there was no visible damage, and the couple was able to drive away with only a little embarrassment, a lesson learned, and a funny story.