Thanks to my friend xenofile for helping to write this one.
*
They finally met for dinner in a town about twenty-five miles from her home, after months of frenzied texting. He was a truck driver who seemed to head through her neck of the woods at least once a month, and had begged to meet her every time. She was married but unhappy, her husband an indifferent lover and not particularly attentive outside the bedroom either.
At first their conversation over dinner was incredibly awkward. They had originally met in an online gaming environment, so they talked about that for a while. He tried hard to charm her, help her get over her obvious nervousness. They ate, and had a few beers. He had asked her to meet him in a diner near a truck stop off the highway, nothing fancy, although he would have taken her to the most expensive place around if he had the money for it. The beers helped them both relax.
"I just can't believe I finally convinced you to meet with me," he said quietly, gazing at her across the table. "I'm sorry it took separating from your husband to make it happen, though."
"Yeah, well, you know how long that's been coming. I just can't deal with him any more."
"Well I hope you don't think I'm a total jerk for being glad," he said with a rueful laugh, stroking his soft brown goatee thoughtfully.
She smiled back at him, her blue-gray eyes sparkling. "No, you're not a jerk. You tried hard to tempt me all this time, but I know you are really a good person at heart."
She could feel the beers having their effect, just a little buzz taking the edge off the strangeness of being on a date for the first time in almost twenty years. She had sipped the second one slowly, not wanting to get out of control in a situation like this. She watched him surreptitiously, noticing his engaging smile. He snuck glances at her as well, her dimples and long brown hair attracting him all the more now that he could see them in the flesh.
When the meal was done, he paid the bill and then asked if she wanted to come see his truck. As they walked toward where the truck was parked, he took her hand. It felt so strange, another man's hand in hers . . . but it felt good. She felt free, independent, desirable for the first time in a very long time.