Meet her at the Road (Vanilla)

I quickly fired back a text that I would meet her at the road, and to just turn around and look for the cell phone.

"Can I get a kiss for luck at least?" I asked Kaila, who nodded with a hopeful smile.

"Yeah, that would be great."

She stood, and brought her arms around my shoulders, pulling me into a tight embrace. Her lips met mine with a long, lingering kiss. She didn't go for the sexy, instead her kiss radiated a warmth that I wasn't quite expecting. Her cheek pressed against mine, and she inhaled deeply as she kissed, seeming to try to experience it fully.

"Just stay safe, and I'm not bailing you out if you do get arrested." Kaila pouted against my lips.

"I dunno, Maria likes putting handcuffs on me..." I pushed back, and turned up the brightness on my display a bit, using it as a light source. The sun had nearly set, and the darkening sky seemed somehow a little more ominous that I'd like, with some light clouds beginning to gather in the dimming light.

"Maybe she could cuff us together..." Kaila suggested with a wink.

"I like where your mind is going... but... as usual, my dear wife, you're getting a little ahead of yourself here. Still a little on the shit list. Have you given any more thought to your tattoo?"

"You were serious about... well, I always thought... I'd look good with a sleeve." Kaila spoke before putting her hand on my shoulder and spinning me so that I faced the door. "But you're totally holding my hand, I hate needles."

"If you actually will do it, I will totally hold your hand for it."

"Wait, you didn't know I drew? Get over here, and somebody find me some paper..." Helen waved at me happily. "I could have sworn I mentioned this..."

"Great! You have a project! I'll see you in a few, but... you know... don't wait up." I waved over my shoulder as I exited the cabin into the dusk. The screen door slapped shut behind me and the sound of amused laughter began to emanate again from the cabin behind me

My feet tromped down the small wooden porch, back onto the damp earth of the clearing. The chill in the air was palpable, as was the slight breeze off the ocean, wafting through the trees and bringing the soft scents of pine and oak to me. I could see easily where I was going, but the light of the phone made me fairly visible, at least I hoped so.

It took only a few steps to reach the road, and I held the phone over my head, scanning in both directions. After a much lengthier than I would have expected pause, I heard the sound of an engine coming from my right, higher up the road. She must have missed the turn in the dark, or her GPS must have given her some bad information.

The sight of a small white sedan came into view around the corner, it's headlights on bright and nearly blinding me once again. I squinted, trying to avoid looking right at the car as it rolled to a stop next to me.

The window rolled down, and I was greeted by a very familiar face, now wearing a smile as she appraised me.

"So... if I said, hey, uh you here about our date... would that just sound really... really...."

"Oh yeah, that would sound bad." Maria nodded, and I took in her face. She'd really cleaned up extremely nicely, and I was shocked to see the large earrings that dangled from her lobes. "So... uh is... Mrs. Corsini still..."

"Nikki? Yeah, she's inside."

"Ok... just, uh..." Maria inclined her head towards the empty seat in the car. "Mind if I drive? I mean, the last thing that my mother will believe is that I'd be ok being driven around in your car."