Author's note: Readers should know that many insightful improvements were made by the talented editor, neuroparenthetical, to this piece. I hope you'll enjoy this edited version more: a result of his very close read and recommendations.
Airport Pickup: Ride of a Lifetime
*The Airport*
At the familiar ding of a text notification, Sara bit her lower lip, attempting to mask the giant grin that involuntarily appeared as she read:
"Don't get in a car with anyone but this person. I don't want you being taken by a rogue dyke roaming Reagan Airport pickups."
The women had been exchanging witty texts for several weeks after meeting on a lesbian dating app, and this would be their first in-person meeting. It was Sara's first time attempting to date since her divorce, and everything about the process felt new to her.
Ding. A photo of a rather phallic-looking houseplant appeared, and above it, a stately, framed rectangular mirror, reflecting a figure descending a flight of stairs.
Sara took in a men's dress shirt, with rolled cuff sleeves, revealing her favorite body part on a man -- a well-sculpted forearm. This particular forearm was sporting a men's silver watch. The torso's head had inadvertently been cut off in the photo. Sara squinted, scrutinizing the photo, and wondered if the figure might, in fact, be a man.
Another ding heralded the arrival of a second photo. This was no man. The woman in the picture had the warmest brown eyes--eyes that seemed to both smile and twinkle mischievously simultaneously. Sara found herself completely captivated. Behind the anonymity of her phone, she was free to openly stare, pondering the oddly familiar soul they served as a window unto. Sara zoomed in on the woman's face on her phone, stroking her cheek through the screen, with a neatly manicured pinky. In the photo, the woman's brown hair was pulled back neatly in a pony tail. Her slightly puffed hairline bore a striking resemblance to that of an 18th century gentleman.
And a proper gentleman she seemed - in action, not just appearance. She was battling mid-day traffic to appear in the Arrivals pick up line, for Sara's sole benefit.
Sara jammed her cell phone into her handbag, took a deep breath, and approached a tall, athletic tomboy who was holding a purple-ribboned bouquet of freshly cut flowers. The woman leaned confidently against her SUV, taking in the full measure of Sara as she made her way over, weaving around other travelers.
"I'm Alex," the woman said. "Nice to meet you." She offset the formality of the introduction with a knowing wink. They had exchanged tastefully risquΓ© photos just the night before.
The women's eyes met, and Sara's pulse began to race. She attempted to regulate her breathing and to speak normally, as she thanked Alex for the flowers.
By contrast, Alex appeared completely composed.
"I'm sorry it took me awhile to find you," Sara said. "I didn't realize that there were two different locations for pickups..."
Alex was not interested in the details of the airport's layout. She was entirely focused on the present. Sara's voice trailed off as Alex unlooped the elastic from Sara's left ear, informing her matter-of-factly that she would be kissing her.
Perhaps Sara should have been shocked by Alex's impudence...should have resisted such an advance in the first two minutes of their meeting. Sara reflexively thought back to diplomatic lines used to rebuff unwanted advances - "back" because she hadn't had to use any since she was in her twenties. Much to her surprise, she didn't want to use one now. Alex's boldness thrilled her. She found herself leaning in, wondering how she could already be hoping that Alex wouldn't stop at just one kiss.
Sara trembled slightly in anticipation, as Alex's face neared her own. The scent of the confident tomboy's cologne met her nose before lips touched lips. Spicy pine notes interlaced with a hint of tobacco and a citrus blend--smells individually entirely familiar, yet washing over Sara now in a novel combination.
As their lips met, Alex brushed a stray strand of Sara's hair from her face, tucking it behind her ear and resting her hand there. Sara felt an electric spark jump from Alex's lips to hers, and then travel the full length of her body. The nipples under her thin green blouse suddenly stood erect, straining against the black lace bra that contained them. Sara felt betrayed by the strength of her body's responseβall to a stranger who had taken, not bestowed, a single kiss, knowing that it would not be theft.
Was this all about Alex, or was this about being with someone newβanyone new--for the first time? Sara tried to remember what it was like when she first connected with the last woman before she'd gotten married. Perhaps intuiting a break in their energetic connection, Alex released Sara, stepping back. She opened the car door for her, relieving Sara of her luggage and the bouquet.
Looking over her shoulder, Sara marveled at how effortlessly Alex swung her overstuffed luggage into the trunk while managing her flowers as well. She enjoyed watching the thought and care Alex was giving to her items' storage, even though she herself would have thrown both in the backseat haphazardly.
Sara shifted in her seat, angling herself towards the driver's seat and thinking about how nice it was to be taken care of again. She was admiring the car's immaculate leather interior, when Alex's door closed with a resounding thud. They were officially alone, together.
Sara was pondering Alex's collar bone, not quite visible from where she was sitting, when she felt Alex's hand part her knees slightly, climbing its way to her mid-thigh, an inch from her skirt's hem. Sara startled initially, before relaxing into Alex's touch.
Alex extended herself across the console, Sara leaned towards her, and their lips met again.
While she couldn't entirely intuit how Sara was feeling, Alex was already wet. She inquired about re-routing to a hotel nearby, where they could get to know each other better.
*The Hotel*