He gives her a ride

“How about I drive you up there?” Lou volunteered.

Vyki was really caught off guard by the question, “Wha?”

“The place looks great, Molly is resting, it’ll be a while before anyone else gets here, you can’t drive and I’m an excellent chauffer,” Lou said standing up, straightening his suit for effect. “Let me give you a lift, m’lady,” he tried with a cockney accent.

The idea of going out in public put a rush of fear into Vyki; the idea of complete strangers ‘making’ her and being ridiculed & laughed at, or worse…

Lou could see the confidence and comfort drain out of her as she seemed to pull into herself and take a step back. He knew Paul was a bit of an introvert and rarely got out much to Molly’s consternation; Lou figured Molly would appreciate getting Vyki out of these four walls. “C’mon; what’s a good adult party without great adult beverages?” he queried with a gentlemanly arm.

Vyki knew they needed them, but she wasn’t sure about getting out there. However, something about Lou’s overwhelming calming persona seemed to make it a little less scary. Reaching out to grasp his arm she sheepishly replied with a simple “K,” as he guided her back to the front door.

As he let go of Vyki to open the front door for her, she saw Paul’s wallet in the tray by the keys and realized she’d needed something to pay for things. The bulky leather bi-fold would never fit in her tiny pouch, so she slid out her card and put it in the pouch as she slinked out past Lou. Stepping over the threshold past him, a question popped in her head, “hey! I thought you said you don’t drink?”

As the door closed behind him and he activated the automatic deadbolt, Lou explained, “oh, I don’t, but that’s just a personal choice. I have no issues if others make a different decision; everyone finds joy in their own path.”

Vyki giggled at the cheesy statement as she grasped his bent arm, “oh, really? And what’s your path to joy?”

“Well, it’s a winding, twisted road that requires all sorts of exploration,” he said as he walked her to his car.

“Oooooo, fancy!” she said with a sarcastic jab as he opened the door for her. It was oddly comforting and calming.

“It’s not every lady that I cart around in such a grandiose ride,” Lou banters back as he closes the door and walks around.

After he gets in, Vyki finally asks to satisfy her curiosity, “okay, jokes aside, why are you driving a minivan? I thought you has some sort of sports car?”

Lou chuckles as he admits, “well, since I live so far out & don’t drink, I figured I’d probably be doing designated driving for more than a few people.”

“Wow!” Vyki was surprised. She hadn’t really considered needing one since it was at her home, but she was impressed by him thinking about others like that. “Guess its lucky you just had this spare around then,” Vyki giggled to continue the banter.

“Well, it is my sisters,” Lou confessed, “but she was more than happy to borrow the ‘Stang for a date night, so it was a win-win.”

They continued to friendly back and forth for a few minutes before they reached the local liquor mart before Vyki realized it.