T h i r s t

f o u r

I pat his chest and walked over and grabbed the passenger seat handle, gesturing to him to hit the button.

He moved out of his trance and unlocked the car, getting in after me.

"Wow, it's like sitting inside a giant, metal ashtray." I commented once he'd closed the door, and he apologized, lowering the windows.

"I wasn't complaining." I informed him and folded my arms on the edge, resting my head on them. I couldn't see his reaction.

I watched the hospital disappear behind us as he pulled out of the parking space, not complaining this time either.

"What did you mean when you said you didn't do this very often?" I had to look over this time.

He let out a small sigh, but something told me he was expecting that question.

"I don't often ask out . . . women like you."

"Technically, you didn't ask me out, I did. And by women like me you mean women . . . prettier than you?"

He snorted, but didn't let it grow.

"Younger than you? Smarter? Having better health care?" I rambled.

He sighed, tapping the wheel. "I don't often ask out women outside a bar."

"And that's . . . a bad thing?" I was really confused.

"No. People go to bars usually with the intention of meeting someone and . . . you know, going home with them. This is just . . ." He looked over at me and sighed. ". . . different."

"Oh, right, because you're sure I won't go home with you?."

He smiled, shaking his head. "If you weren't being so difficult . . ."

"We'd still be at the parking lot of a public hospital. Take a left, here." I instructed, and then we sat in silence for a while.

"Can I ask--what's with the clothes?"

"Oh, I run home."

His eyebrows rose. "At night?"

"Yeah."

"How far?"

"2 miles."

"Alone?" His tone hardened.

"Yeah." I shrugged, matter-of-factly.

"Don't you hear alarms going off in your head?"

"I do, but it's because I'm in a car with a man I met a couple of days ago." I sighed and looked away. "I don't do this often either."

"No kidding." I think he was smiling.

"But really, you shouldn't be running alone."

"I can take care of myself, I'm not stupid."

"Said the woman in a stranger's car."

"I have Mace." I shot back. "And I could out run you."

"Why are you so suspicious of me?" He chuckled. "I'm taking you where you wanna go."

I couldn't help a laugh either. "Like I said, I don't do this very often either."

We were still recovering from that spell as he pulled into traffic, and we locked eyes. He raised his hand, to tuck my hair behind my ear, I think, but then moved it behind to touch the headrest.

I let it slide. What could be holding him back? Was it the age gap? Commitment issues? Ex?

"Another right up here." I said, pointing to the diner. He pulled over right next to it, and I got off on the curb.