"May I join you?" she asked after approaching my table. She was wearing an off-white bodycon dress that fit like a second skin. It was apparent she wasn't wearing a bra, not that it bothered me. She had firm, pert breasts that made pleasing bumps in the right places. She was slender and not terribly curvaceous, but she looked good in the dress. Her face was pleasant, though not what I would call beautiful. Still, she was attractive—too young and attractive to be coming on to a thirty-something me without warrant.
"Are you a hooker?" I asked.
"No!" She blushed, either from embarrassment or rage. "Why would you say such a thing?"
I raised my eyebrows in response.
"I'm not!" she insisted. "May I sit?"
I nodded. She slid into the booth across from me.
"No wedding ring," she observed out loud.
"Divorced," I replied.
"Girlfriend?"
"You interested in the position?" I knew she was after something. I just didn't know what.
"Maybe, if you're not a serial killer."
"If I was you wouldn't find out until it was too late." Her eyes sparkled in amusement.
"Okay. This didn't go the way I imagined it. Should I just go, or can this be salvaged?"
"Too late to stop now. It's just starting to get fun. Please," I encouraged her, "continue."
"I don't really have any cards to play," she sighed.
"Well, how about the truth? You obviously want something from me. You were concerned I might have other attachments that might hinder your plans. What's the deal?"
"I was hoping for dinner, at least. Maybe share a room if things go well. I need a place to stay. I'm homeless. My mom kicked me out."
"In that case, inner's on me," I answered. "You do drugs?"
"Weed sometimes. When I can get it. Nothing harder."
"What about that drink? You can't be over twenty-one."
"My ID says I am," she countered.
"Show me your
real
ID," I ordered. She dug it out of her wallet and slid it across the table. She wasn't old enough to drink in this state, but she was old enough to keep me from getting arrested on statutory rape.
"Sarah," I read aloud. "Nice name."
"Thanks. It's about the only thing my mom gave me that I like."
"She gave you some pretty good DNA from the looks of it."
"That means my chances of room sharing have gone up," she said with a grin.
"Your chances are excellent," I said. "I just need to make sure your mother isn't going to show up with the police banging on my door."
We were interrupted by the waiter coming to take our order. I noticed that
he
noticed that Sarah wasn't wearing a bra. I tried not to hold it against him. They were nice breasts, and they were pretty clearly visible, just begging to be looked at.
"You have nice breasts," I said. "The waiter liked them, too."
"I'm glad you like them." The look she gave me indicated she meant it. "They could be yours if you want them."
"I want them," I said. "I'm just not sure I can afford them."
"Don't worry. I'm not trying to con you out of anything. I just need to get out of this town. I won't be a burden. If you take me, I'll do my best to make you happy, I promise."
"But we barely know each other. How can you make such a promise?"
"You don't think I can?" She looked hurt.
"Oh, I'm sure you can. I'm just not sure why you would be willing to."
"Don't sell yourself short," she said. "You're not bad looking. You have nice eyes. Kind. You're the kind of guy who would appreciate having a sweet young thing like me. That's why I picked you."
I looked around the restaurant. The bar was to my right, it was where Sarah was perched prior to coming to my table, sitting so that the bartender could appreciate her fine breasts. There was a gray-haired old man a few seats down. He wasn't in the competition. There were a few other diners, a middle-aged couple to my left and beyond them a family with three well-behaved kids. It was early, before five on a weekday, so it was understandably sparse, but Mystic was a tourist town, so I guess I was surprised that there wasn't more traffic. I guess the Holiday Inn wasn't the happening place. Regardless, to her point, I was the only game in town, but I kept that thought to myself.
"Any guy would be a fool
not
to appreciate having you," I said. "I just think you could probably find someone closer to your own age."
"I thought about that," she said. "But they all still work at McDonalds or are going off to college. I need to get out of this town. Away from here. Away from my mother and her loathsome boyfriend." Her face darkened.
"And now we get to the drama," I muttered.
"The pig forced himself on me. He was drunk. Mom was at work. She's a nurse and has to work night shift sometimes. When I told her about it, she got furious—at me! Called me a whore and told me to pack my stuff and get the hell out. So here I am. I considered hanging out at the truck stop. I'm sure I could've picked up a ride from some lonely trucker. But I thought the odds of finding someone I would enjoy would be better if I hung out here at the Holiday Inn."
"I can't believe you're telling me this story with such composure. This guy raped you and your mother called
you
a whore? Why didn't you go to the police?"
"Thought about it," she said, "but the thought of having to go through the processing, the trial, and the way my mother reacted made me think better of it." She took a swig of her drink. "My mom and I never really got along. I'm the mistake she made when she was my age—and has been stuck with ever since."
"I'm sorry to hear that." I really didn't know what else to say. I didn't know how she could relay such a story—live such a story—and be so matter-of-fact about it.
"I didn't mean to be depressing. Don't feel sorry for me. I've dealt with it. It wasn't like he took my virginity. He's just an asshole.
This,
" she gestured to herself "is me taking control of my life. I am choosing my destiny. I know I'm throwing myself at you, and maybe that's not fair of me, but I really will do my best to make you happy."
"You don't even know my name."
"Details," she said dismissively. "We have nothing but time."
A server brought our salads just then, and offered to refill our drinks, to which I happily agreed.
"Aren't you going to introduce yourself?" she asked, before taking a bite of her salad.
"Bob," I answered. "Bob Kahn."
"Well, Bob," she said after swallowing, what do you think? You take me with you on the road. I'll be your girlfriend. It's a win-win.
"What if I'm a sexual pervert?"
This time
she
raised her eyebrows. "Bob, everyone's a pervert."
"A sweet, innocent, thing such as yourself?"
"You're really not a very good judge of character, are you?"
"Nope. I'm probably just the gullible mark you're looking for."
"Bob, I'm not conning you. Yes, I'm using you, but I'm giving myself to you in return. I think that's more than fair. And, I'm being completely honest and up-front."
"When you say it like that it makes it sound like a simple business transaction. I was hoping for something more."
"More?"
"You did say you'd be my girlfriend."
"Ah! You're right! I did say that. I thought I was clear about satisfying your every sexual desire."
"Being a girlfriend is more than just sex." I countered. "It's caring about the other person's wellbeing. Loving them."
"You're a tough negotiator, Bob. I think I see what you're getting at. You don't just want me to claim to be your girlfriend, you want me to actually
be