As the rain began to beat harder against my windshield, I couldn't help but wonder if this job was really worth it. As much as I hated traveling, I hated flying even more. As the Western Regional Manager for the company I worked for, traveling unfortunately came with the territory.
Since I preferred driving whenever it was possible, I'd taken the jump on the weekend, leaving home on Sunday for the long twelve hour drive out of Utah, across the border into Arizona, specifically Phoenix, which is where I was headed.
I'd managed to make it nearly to the border when the storm broke. Hoping that I would drive out of it, I'd passed the last comfortable place to rest until reaching Flagstaff, still a couple of hours away. Worse, the sun was about to set, leaving me driving at night, which I also disliked, but driving in a pouring rainstorm on top of everything else. With the constant, "thrum, thrum, thrum" of the windshield wipers, the beating rain, I also of course had to pee.
I'd barely caught a road sign a few miles back indicating there was supposed to be some sort of rest stop up ahead. I'd missed the mile marker however, so had no idea how far away it really was. As I peered through the windshield into the gathering darkness, I hoped for some additional sign that it would be showing up soon. Thankfully, a few minutes later, just about the time my bladder was screaming, I saw it, pulling in.
I hadn't brought along any kind of coat with me as it was mid summer. I hadn't thought I'd even need one. As I sat in the parking lot momentarily, the rain, if anything grew even worse. I knew as I sat there that I was going to be drenched soon either way. Opting for the lesser of two evils, I dashed from the car into the bathroom, well soaked before I got halfway there.
"Oh well, at least I'm not sleepy anymore." I said to myself as I stood before the urinal. The relief of pressure was exquisite as I stood there draining my bladder. Though not nearly as good as an orgasm of course, I couldn't help but smile as I grew more and more comfortable with each passing second. After washing my hands, I fished a still dry cigarette from my pack, stepped outside into the night, protected beneath the overhang and lit up.
"Do you have an extra one of those?"
Scared witless at the sound of someone's voice, I jumped. "What the fuck?"
"Sorry, I didn't mean to scare you," she said trying to hold back a laugh.
Turning to face her, I saw that she was even wetter and more disheveled than I was. Taking another quick glance out into the parking lot as I fished out an extra smoke, I saw that my car was still the only one there in the otherwise totally deserted parking area.
"Here." I said handing her the smoke.
"Light?"
But I was already ahead of her on that one, cupping my hands around the small flame as I held it out for her. I watched as she took a deep long pull.
"Thank you."
"You're welcome. How the hell did you get here anyway? There aren't any other cars in the lot?"
"Hitch-hiking. Got a ride from a trucker this far. Been hoping another one would stop."
I'd somewhat expected to see some half-crazed boyfriend standing in the shadows. But after a few moments, I realized she really was alone.
"Where are you headed?" I asked curiously.
"Tucson. My brother lives there." As though that explained everything.
As she took another drag on her smoke, I noticed her for the first time really. Though her dark hair was wet, plastered to her body, it was long. She had a pretty face, which could obviously be made prettier with a little makeup. I was glad she wasn't wearing any, or very little anyway as she'd have really looked a sight with mascara running down her face.
"Where are you headed?" she asked me point blank.
Still looking at her, I decided she was probably younger than she actually looked. "Ah oh." I thought quietly. "Jailbait!" And worse, probably a run away. One thing I didn't need was any trouble.
"How old are you?" I asked, evading her question.
She laughed, blowing out smoke as she did. "Old enough. Older than what you're probably thinking."
I was about to ask her the question again, when she dug inside her purse, producing her driver's license.
"See for yourself." I looked, surprised to see that she was almost twenty-five.
"Phoenix," I said, answering her previous question.
She smiled. "Mind if I catch a ride with you?"
"Ok, sure...why not? But let me finish my smoke first. By the way, what's your name?"
"Tanya. What's yours?"
"Jack."
"Nice to meet you Jack, and thanks for giving me a lift."
I saw her shiver against the rain. It wasn't cold really, but the desert nights could still get chilly, especially if you were standing there wet.
"You have a change of clothing?" I asked her.
"Used to," she said, suddenly shy, obviously uncomfortable.
I didn't ask, but I did continue to look at her, waiting patiently to see if she was going to add to that.
"I'd picked up a ride inside Montana with another truck driver. After a couple of hours driving, he told me that it was worth at least a blowjob. Told him I wasn't interested. A minute later, he pulled over, kicked me out, driving off before I could retrieve my duffle bag."
"I'm sorry. That must have been horrible for you," I told her. "Can't believe there's people out there like that, that would try and force people to do things like that," I said a bit awkwardly.
Once again she laughed. "Oh, I wouldn't have minded giving him one, but he was fucking ugly."
I'm sure the look on my face was priceless.
"Well, don't worry. I wouldn't ask you to do anything," I assured her.
This time she smiled. "Well, you're not ugly either."
"I do have a few clothes that you could wear, until yours dry out a little," I offered, changing the subject.
"Do you have a blanket or something instead?" she asked.
Fact was, I always carried one in the trunk of the car, just incase of an emergency. Maybe this wasn't exactly that, but at least I had one.
