How do you solve a problem like Maria?

"Hmmm... looks like about... time for us all to probably get dressed." I mumbled finding the remnants of my clothing.

Maria sat up from where she lay, her hair tangled and a bit wild. She reached down, and began pulling on her panties.

"Ooof, that felt... well, at least I'm not going to squish as much now."

"What finally convinced me he wasn't a swinger. Absolutely nothing to clean up with." Nikki chimed in, arranging herself. I couldn't help but admire the way she managed to make just putting on a top look sexy, but somehow Nikki managed to do it without even trying.

"Ok... so... I'm not saying yes. But how far would I have to drive." Maria asked from behind me as I began trying to get into some semblance of order, which wasn't easy with the sweat that kept dripping into my eye and hurting like hell. I had had to use the corner of my shirt to wipe it, and while it helped for a moment, I found that I still had to blink occasionally. I cranked the front window down, and the minor relief from the back windows was nothing compared to the near cool blast that emanated.

"We're right outside Big Sur." I commented, popping open the glove box and avoiding the cascade of tapes and various other things. I was just looking for some scrap paper, but it was surprisingly hard. I finally came up with a torn "Best of Queen" tape cover, and jotted the address on the back in between the liner notes.

"I'm now tempted to say yes, just because of the good taste in music," Maria noted when I handed her the note with the location. She was now pulling on her vest, concealing her body fully from my view once again. I almost missed it, but seeing her returning to that cool unapproachable exterior after what the three of us had just done was downright... dammit, I didn't need to be getting turned on again.

"So what time can we expect you?" I offered.

"Wait, I..." Nikki held up her hand and seemed about to object, before seeming to think better of it. "If you're gonna call George, now would be a really fukkin good time." She spoke to the ceiling before waiting a beat.

The silence was punctuated only with the sound of Maria adjusting her hair and tightening the bun once again behind her head.

"How bad does my makeup look?" Maria suddenly asked. I pointed to a slight smudge on the side of her face, which she quickly took care of with a lick on her thumb and a rapid rub. "Eh, not too bad though, right? Just kinda looks like I had a workout or something?"

"I don't know, how do you usually look?" I asked.

"Not like this..." Maria replied, smiling very broadly. "Ok... so... if I was to say... tell my mom I had a date, would you at least pose for a selfie or two to convince her? You know, looking not like a beach bum?"

"Wait, you want to tell your mother....?" I began.

"Otherwise I won't get child care. You want me to show up, you have to help me a little."

"Ok, fine, I've got a sweater that I can use to cover up the hickeys." I said thoughtfully. "We take a couple photos by... what's a good place around here that has good views?"

I fired up the engine of the Van once again, carefully backing it so that I could go back up the small access road. It seemed almost like a jarring change when the sound of the engine broke through, bringing me back to the real world.

"Well, if it's in Big Sur... I know a great place that is so romantic. It's this Inn called Highlands..."

"Oh no... no way, you can't meet him there." Nikki objected.

"Why not?"

"Because my cousin's wedding is happening there tomorrow and they're all staying there."

"So... you wait at the cabin while we do a quick shot." I suggested. "It'll be what, half an hour? We can even do a dinner so your mom has an excuse for your don't wait up text."

I piloted the van up the small dirt road, out of the former construction dump site. It was rather easy going, and soon the mall came into view ahead of us, the chain that marked off the road blocking our path.

"Can you at least... pretend to be a cop, or something?"

"Well, I was in the Army..." I began.

"Close enough for her." Maria nodded. "Ok... uh... Stop by the house, grab some clothes, kiss Sofia good night...Uh... Seven thirty? And why are you stopping."

"Well I'm not going to ask a woman I just screwed to get out and do the work." I pulled the parking brake and hopped out of the van, unhooking the rusty chain, which was a lot heavier than I had expected. It was a long few moments to lower it to the ground, get back in the van, drive over it, then get out and do the exact same thing in reverse. When I was finally finished, I found that Maria had already left the van and was standing right behind me, watching me work.

"Ok, so... here's your ticket." She handed me a small folded white piece of paper that in no way resembled a ticket. She pulled a pair of mirrored sunglasses from a small pocket in her vest. "I'm looking forward to the ride."

I could practically hear the damn Who song as she put them on and sauntered away from me. She glanced back at me and lowered them with a classic wink before returning to her cruiser and getting in.