Willow

Chapter 1

"I have one more, then I will be home." Lily told Kristen as she turned onto the busy road. "One." "One. Promise. This one is on my way home." "Be careful." "I always am. This is at that classy martini bar down on Washington." Lily knew Kristen was going to lecture her yet again.

"Classy doesn't mean anything, creeps still hang out at those places. You know, I hate you doing this." "I need the cash." "I get that, but I hear all these horror stories." "Kristen, it's Uber, not an escort service." Lily groaned as she rolled her eyes. Kristen was always playing mother hen with her, not that she usually minded.

"You would make more as an escort and it would probably be safer." "No one wants this body." Lily laughed. "Shut up. Just come home safe." "Will do." They hung up just as Lily pulled up in front of the bar and looked for her rider.

She noticed a guy standing on the curb, looking out over the road, before checking his phone again, as he approached the car. "

"Eric?" She rolled down the window and the guy nodded. "Yep." It was all he said before he got into the car and shut the door, a littler harder than necessary. He looked ticked off. 'Yay me.' Lily thought to herself as she took a deep breath and tried to not let him get to her.

"Would you like to listen to a certain station or type of music?" Lily smiled in the rear view mirror. "I would prefer none." He growled. Ok. She looked in the mirror again and he was looking out the window, so she pulled out into traffic, before trying some small talk.

"How was the bar? I have been wanting to check it out since it opened, but have not had a chance yet. It looks fun." "It was fine." He did not even look back at her, just kept is eyes out the window. Ok, guess he is having a bad night. She let him be and paid attention to the road hoping to just get the night over with.

She drove for about ten minutes in silence, when suddenly he asked her to pull over into a gas station. Normally she would never make a stop, but when she looked in the mirror, she could see his face, and he was not mad at all, he was sad, very sad, and she did not give it a second thought.

"Sure can." She smiled as he met her eyes in the mirror. "Thanks." He looked away and hopped out the minute the car stopped. Watching him through the window, she wondered what his deal was. Everyone had a story, and most nights, she heard them all. That was why she loved this side gig so much.

Something about him though was different, but she could not figure out what. And when he returned, he looked even sadder, almost defeated.

"Bad night?" Lily asked as he got back in the car, and she noticed him drink straight from a bottle of whiskey before he answered. "Yes." He took another drink and she could see his pain clearly on his face. Poor guy. She watched as he took another drink, trying to find the right words.

"Just a bit of advice, two Ibuprofen and a glass of orange juice before bed will cut off the hangover." She tried another smile in the mirror, and this time he stopped mid drink to look at her. When their eyes met, he held it for a minute, before looking away.

"I appreciate that." He mumbled. "Been there, many times." She looked at her phone on the dash to make sure she was going the right way, and trying to avoid looking in the mirror at him. The harder she tired though, the more she wanted to look. And before she could stop herself, she found herself looking in the rear view mirror again.

"I am sure you have seen it all in here." He put the cap back on and leaned his head back, holding the bottle in his lap. "I have only been doing this about a month. Needed the extra money, but yes, I have seen some things." She turned down a street and slowed to look for the road.

"Third street on the left." He said from the dark backseat, and she was thankful since it is so dark. "Thanks. I have never been over here before, nice neighborhood." "It is. Quiet and everyone keeps to themselves." He exhaled loudly and she could feel his pain from the backseat.

"I know it is not my business, but are you ok?" "I will be." "I am a great listener if you need." Suddenly she felt stupid saying it, but he just seemed like he could use a friend tonight. "I'm good." "Ok." She glanced in the mirror and caught his eyes again, but he again looked away quickly.

"I am not flirting by the way, just being nice. I find people like to talk to me in here." "I appreciate that. I am not in the mood to be hit on." "Not my style." She said cheerfully, but secretly, it would have been if he was not so sad. She glanced up again and noticed how good looking he was, but it was more than that. Something about him made her curious.

"Big maple tree at the front of the lawn on the left, that is mine." "Perfect." She looked for the driveway and pulled in, putting the car in park. She watched him look up at the house, then shake his head, before exhaling out. She felt so bad for him, and had no idea why, he just looked miserable.

"You are welcome to sit for a few if you need, I am not in any hurry." She tried, hoping it would help in a small way. "You are working. I won't keep you." "You are my last customer of the night. And no big plans, so I can sit for a minute." She turned to look at him and smiled. She had no idea why she offered, but he needed a friend, and she wanted to help.

After a few minutes of him sitting back there, he finally spoke. "My girlfriend dumped me." He said as he put his head back against the headrest. "That sucks, I am sorry to hear that." Wow, that was unexpected. She was expecting it to be more tragic.

"It does suck, a lot." "How long were you together?" "Three years." "Double ouch." Ok, that was worse. "Long sad story, but I am the jerk and it is all my fault." "Usually it is the guys fault." She gave him a bright smile as he looked up her with surprise.

"Yeah, because us men are assholes." "90 percent of the time, yes." She teased. "You don't even know me." He sat up and cleared his throat, but she did not give him a chance to continue as she put her hands up.

"Not here to judge you. I just know from experience." She smiled bigger and he grinned back. Wow. "So, just like that, I am the bad guy." His grin got a little bigger and her hurt started to beat faster. "I never said that. You seem like a decent guy. Dressed well, nice house, unless you live with your mom, then red flag." She rolled her eyes, causing him to give a chuckle.

"No, this my place, and I live here alone, now." His grin faded. "OK, then do you have a dog or a cat?" "Neither." "Another red flag." "Why is that?" "Good guys have pets." "Not fond of pet hair." "Pet hair is like fairy dust. Everyone should have some." This time he laughed, and it made her feel good.

"What do you have, a cat or dog?" He asked. "I had a dog, but he recently passed and now just two cats. One cat belonged to my boyfriend, but the cat hated him, so I took him." "Cats hate everyone. They are shady creatures." "Good judge of character though. If the cat does not like you, you are trouble." She tucked her legs under her, so she could face him more.

"Of course." He laughed again. "Always take advice from a cat." He added. "I usually do. Dogs love everyone, so they are terrible at judging. Have to use the cat, they know." She liked teasing this guy, he seemed fun.

"Next time I will borrow a cat before I date a woman." "You should, or just get your own, they make great pets. Low maintenance and good therapy." "Pass." "Nothing like a cat cuddle to make you feel better. Plus, women find men with cats sexy." She teased again.

"Alright, I will think about it." "You should." Their eyes met again and this time, he tilted his head slightly before laughing. "Thank you for the chat. And for the record, I was not the one at fault this time. I fall into that 10 percent." He opened the door and she could not help herself.

"You cannot put yourself in the 10 percent, a woman has to do that." "You women have too many rules." He took out his wallet and handed over a folded bill. "You do not have to do that." She smiled up at him. "Please, take it. The one on the card was for the ride. This was for the conversation. Thank you." He nodded and got out as she rolled down the window.

"Seriously, if you are going to drink that, take the Ibuprofen and OJ before bed, you will thank me later." "Yes, I plan on it drinking the entire thing. Thanks for the advice. Be careful out there." "I will, you too." She waited while he stumbled up the walkway, opened the garage door, and went inside.

Nice guy, but probably was his fault. She giggled to herself as she backed out and drove home.

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