Ride

Sara nibbled on the side of her finger, phone heavy in her left hand. She couldn’t believe she was actually going to do it. This new app, Ride-a-long, was blowing up as a quick way to earn cash but driving around random people just seemed ... strange. Her best friends suggested it, more so to try to help her meet someone. It was 2009 and her friends were all on the dating app train. Not her, she kept to herself and preferred it that way. She glanced around her 2010 Lexus RX 350, proof that she was doing just fine on her own. Her attention turned back to the app, she took a deep breath and opened it. Three bubbles popped up on the map, three possible riders. Sara clicked on each one, not seeing which one made more money but which one felt right. She lingered on the last one, something drawing her to him: Tim.

Clicking “accept,” she began the route. The closer she got, the less frazzled she felt. She didn’t know why but Tim was special. She pulled up, scanning the crowd for him. She saw a hand towering over heads. He began making his way over to the car. Time slowed to a stop. He was so perfect. Instantly she felt something she hadn’t in a long time. She knew: her life would never be the same. She finally found him. The one. The first boy she would ever kill.

Sara’s knuckles were white from gripping the steering wheel. She watched him through her rearview mirror. Her eyes darting from the road to the mirror, his never leaving his phone. What was it about him that was so special? She saw the light ahead turn yellow and slowed. The cars behind her honked their horns, but she didn’t care; she needed to study him more.

Her eyes went back to the mirror. His big blue eyes met hers. He smiled. Sara blushed, on cue. She gave him a sly half-smile and went back to watching the road.

“Hey,” sang out a deep voice. Sara glanced back at the mirror, palms sweating. “Hey,” she replied. She watched a smile flash across his face. She could see how many women would consider him handsome. “Let’s see how wide we can make you smile,” Sara thought wickedly.

Tim began to chat endlessly about himself. His full name (“Timothy Sears, but my friends call me ‘Sears,’” insert finger guns), his occupation (freelance photographer), where he’s going (to shoot refugees in a country at war), that he’s a loner, no real family, and a few distant friends. Perfect. He didn’t realize he knew nothing more than her name.

Suddenly, the sky looked darker. 2:45. Way too early for sunset. Storm clouds moved in. Finally, a moment of silence from Tim, broken by “Fuck! This better not affect my flight!” and then angry grumbling. “Perfect! Just perfect! ‘A tornado warning is in effect!'”

Sara turned on her wipers as tornado sirens started. Five minutes from the airport, Tim read the alert: “Fuck!” was all she heard, but she knew. “Well, we can just forget the airport. My flight’s been cancelled due to weather. We may as well turn around,” Tim said.

Perfect.

“I’ll have to mark the trip complete, or the app will start screaming at me. It’s still new so there’s no way to update it. I can go to a public place and “drop” you off, and then you can book me again ... or try to?” Sara left it as a question, hoping he would take the hint.

“How about I just hire you like a taxi? Who needs an app anyway?”

Sara smiled: music to her ears. “Sounds good to me!” she replied cheerfully. “So, where to? I need to mark something as your drop-off location. Let’s pull over so we can figure out what our next move is without getting into an accident.” She turned down a side street and pulled in front of a house that looked abandoned.

“Now, wha—” and before she could finish her sentence, a big foot, attached to a long leg, invaded the front seat. “It seems rude to keep trying to make plans from back there. Plus, I’d like to get a better look at you.” His eyes moved over her hungrily, landing on her full breast and thick thighs. She met his lust: “You can’t really get a full view while I’m sitting.”

“How about we find a nice hotel somewhere, and order room service? This storm’s not going to let up anytime soon. So, we may as well get ... comfortable.” She felt the intent dripping off the word “comfortable.” At least he isn’t crass, she thought. There was only one of them who would be satisfied tonight, and Sara had no doubt who it would be. He pulled up an app on his phone and settled on a posh hotel. Sara knew she’d stick out like a sore thumb. “Booked it! Do we need to get you some clothes? You’ll be soaked once we leave. Don’t need you dripping all over the place.” “No,” she said through gritted teeth, “I have a bag in case I have to stay somewhere overnight.” It wasn’t the only bag Sara had in her trunk. “Could you drive any slower??!”

Visibility is bad, the roads are slick. I don’t want to go skidding all over the place.” Her composure surprised her. “We should be there soon. I’ll drop you off at the door and park.”

“This is a four-star hotel! Do you honestly believe they’d let you park your own car?” He was making it so easy on her. “This storm looks nasty; I’ll make sure there’s a sofa sleeper ... if you don’t end up sharing my bed.” It took everything in her to conceal her shudder. “I’m sure we’ll work something out,” she replied.