A slight change of plan

"So... you want to get back to your wife, right?" Nikki asked as the Van began to chug up the long incline towards Monterey.

"Pretty much, I'm kinda sick of Imogene's shit these days," I nodded. "She keeps playing this damsel in distress thing, no offense."

"None taken," Nikki laugh was bold and loud. "You're at least completely obvious and open about yer intentions. Really refreshing. "

"Oh really? What if I just said, I think you're hot and all but I don't fuck married women. Especially not ones with big families."

"I'd say you're smart, and dat's pretty sexy." Nikki's cheekbone raised in an extremely tight smile as she appraised me. "So... since I already broke one rule, and obeyed the second... let's see... what was da third rule again? No mentioning dat your van totally smells like a Cathouse?"

"Not... all my doing, I will admit." I felt a small blush running through me.

"Oh... of all the guys I think might be ok, I just happen to grab a ride with a legendary Big Sur Swinger... wow, what are the odds?"

"I'd say you're totally wrong, but... you know, I guess if it looks like a duck, and quacks like a duck..."

"Oh man, now I've got a terrible old joke dat goes... I mean, something about duck, 20 bucks, fucked up duck... you know, something like dat... can't really remember it but... ack... stuck in my head now and I can't tell it to you to exorcise it because I don't remember it, just dat it was dumb."

"So, anyway, we're picking up Imogene, that's my sister, In Monterey, then driving her to Santa Cruz, which is about an hour away."

"Ugh, fucking taxi service. She at least covering gas?" Nikki groaned.

"Uh. Didn't even think about it. Now that you mention it... I really don't want to deal with my dad today. Talk about a boner killer, last thing I want today is to get yelled at for an hour when it ain't gonna change a thing." I commented.

"Well, then, don't. I mean, can you call her an uber or something?" Nikki shrugged. "Hell with it, I can at least cover dat, if you can spot me the cash to cover it. Let's see... looks like... A hundred bucks Give or take based on the address."

I dug in my pocket handed her my phone.

"Have fun. The address is about halfway up on the Imogene texts."

The two lane highway broadened into a full expressway once again, and I steered the bus onto a slight decline to the right. The sight of a nearly empty mall parking lot to our right gave me a easy place to pull the van to a stop, under a small concrete covering. The small structure was practically deserted since the closer parking spots to the mall itself were far more appealing.

"Ok... not gonna ask about those other texts that I accidentally looked at." Nikki Commented, consulting between the two phones. "So... looks like about A hundred and twenty bucks... and her driver will be a nice gal with a five star rating named June. Sending her the text.... done. "

"Well. Thanks. So. Wanna get back, or wanna take a look at the mall? If I recall right there's a great place for... ah shit... just realized this mall really sucks... but want to hang out at it for a while anyway? You know? As a hang out and thanks for keeping me from getting yelled at for no reason?"

I quickly sent Imogene a final message detailing her the information about her ride, and shut off my phone.

"What, like a date?" Nikki laughed. "Pretty sure I mentioned the husband."

"Yeah, pretty sure I mentioned the wife." I replied.