1 year later
"No, no, NO!!!" Taylor screamed as a steady stream of smoke rose from the hood of her van.
After a year and a half of exploring Canada and all of its wonders she was finally heading to America to continue her journey but her van... Thunder, named after her German Shepard from back home, was determined to stay North of the border.
Pulling into the side of the road she hopped down onto the asphalt and then went around to look at the hood, the smoke was black and the smell was electrical, way out of her league so she walked to the back of the van and began trying to wave down a passing vehicle for help
Everything zoomed past, refusing to help a damsel in distress, occasionally the driver would honk or shout an obscenity in her direction but no one stopped to help
Eventually Taylor grew tired as the hot Canadian summer sun burned down on her and she dropped to the grass. So much for the Canadians reputation for being a friendly people, there was nothing friendly about driving past a foreigner that had broken down at the side of the road.
She was just about to give up hope when a voice spoke out from in front of her
"Need some help?"
Taylor jumped to her feet immediately, not needing another sentence to recognise the voice that had filled her dreams for the past year
"Travis!" She threw herself into his arms "Oh my God I can't believe it's you" She grabbed his face and observed him closely "You look different" she stroked his beard and then ran a hand through his much longer hair "You look good"
Travis laughed loudly as Taylor kept exploring his new look. Once satisfied she released him and then stepped back, giving Travis the chance to look her over.
It was just over a year since she had driven out of his life and now here she was again, broken down at the side of the road and it felt to Travis that only fate could have led them both there to the exact same location at the exact same time
"What are you doing here?!"
Travis used his head to motion behind the van to a red and white break down truck "I got a job, someone told me I was a bit mopey so I decided to get out and live a little"
"Someone sounds a bit judgemental"
"Na, they were right, I was living in the past" they shared a smile in a moment of comfortable silence before Travis popped the hood of her van and began looking it over whilst she dropped down on to the grass and watched
Travis from a year ago was sweet and shy and incredibly good looking but Travis of today was 100% man. His black T-shirt pulled tight over his shoulders and back showing and highlighting his taut, defined muscles and his black combat pants hugged his ass making Taylors mouth drool
"It's a pretty easy fix" Travis said after a ten minute examination and Taylor couldn't help but feel slightly disappointed about that "I can probably have you on the road again in about... half an hour" this time it was Travis' turn to sound disappointed
"Thank you"
"So what's your plan? Are you leaving straight away?"
"Well to be honest I was just passing by, it was Thunder here who decided to make an unscheduled stop"
"You're still travelling?"
"Yeah, I have 99% of the world left to explore. So this new life of yours... girlfriend?" Travis snorted a laugh, amused as always by her ability to shock him
"Na, One step at a time. I got a job, put my apartment up for sale, that's enough for one year, maybe I'll be ready for a girlfriend in 5 years or so"
"So dinner? Tonight? In the van so I can thank you?" She bit down on her lip and looked up at him from under her lashes hoping he realised it was more than just food she was hungry for, it was over a year since they had shared some innocent kisses and although he wasn't the last guy she had kissed he was the only one whose taste lingered in her memory
"Sure. I get off work at 6 and then I'll need to shower and change so I'll come over at 8?"
"Ok, I'll park where I parked last time I was in town"
"And I'll drive instead of cycle"
"It's a date" Taylor teased, adding a wink and giggling at no matter how much time had passed she still had the ability to make him blush
