“More Than a Ride”

“Did I tell you how much I like the new haircut?” Alex asked, as he followed Abby into his room at the boarding house.

“Um... yes, like about 5 times now,” Abby giggled. He was fidgeting all the way home from the hospital she’d noticed. Something was definitely on his mind and it wasn’t just her hair.

“Oh, sorry,” he chuckled, shutting the door behind him and looking around the room. She’d straightened up the place, moved a few items, but overall the room still looked the way it did the last time he’d been here.

“So,” they both said in unison, then laughed.

“Sorry, you go first, please,” Abby told him, nervously.

“I um...,” Alex sighed, trying to work up the nerve to tell her what he was thinking.

“You...um... you don’t have to say anything, Alex, really,” Abby interjected, “I’ve already packed my suitcase, I’ll go put it in my car.”

“No, no...wait,” he told her, “That’s not what I was going to say. Please...” he motioned for her to sit on the bed. She looked at him, a bit confused, then did as he requested. Alex gulped, sat down nervously across from her in an armchair. “I...uh... just wanted to thank you. So...thanks.”

“For...what?” she asked, “I mean, if it wasn’t for me, you would have never been in that hospital in the first place.”

“Yeah, but the doc said you saved my life, slowed the bleeding and all, and um... well, you’ve been a real... friend to me, visitin’ and all, and giving me the ride home.”

“It was the least I could do, really,” Abby replied. “Um... so...” she paused, biting her bottom lip, “I guess I should let you get some rest now.” She stood up, reached for her suitcase.

“Where...where are you...um... gonna be staying now?” he asked, nervously. “I mean, you aren’t going back to that house... are you?”

She smiled, “No, I’m not going back there...ever. I thought maybe I’d drive in to Coffs, see if I can find a room there.”

“Oh. Coffs, huh?”

“Yep, that was the plan. At least until I can get things squared away with... with Dwayne’s estate, that is.”

“Well, um... you know, you’re more than welcome... strictly as friends... I could, um... sleep on the floor...”

“No you won’t sleep on the floor, Alex, I won’t let you,” Abby scolded, “This is your room, your bed... and you’ve just gotten out of the hospital, the floor is the last place you should be sleeping right now.”

He nodded, stood up and walked with her to the door, “You’ll call, let me know you’re alright and that you’ve found a place?”

“Of course,” she told him, smiling. She turned to leave and he reached out and grabbed her, spun her around.

“Abby,” he breathed her name out.

She looked up at him, saw the tears in his eyes. “Alex, I...”

Before she could finish her sentence his mouth found hers and she dropped her suitcase.

TBC...