Driver

Part 9

Idyn took Taki to an all night that café taxi drivers used and helped her inside. Some of his drivers who had late jobs would stop off there too. He had done so himself when he had still been on the road so he knew the cafe staff were used to people coming in in all states late at night. As expected they didn’t look twice when Idyn helped Taki into a booth. He then approached the counter and ordered a bottle of water, a cup of black tea for her and a cappuccino for himself.

Walking back to the table with the bottle of water he sat it in front of Taki and said “try sipping that. Just don’t rush it.”

Taki tried to open the bottle but couldn’t manage it. Without a word, Idyn took it off her and gave it back minus the lid. “Thanks” she muttered.

“No problem” he said.

For a while he just let her rehydrate. She sipped the water and when the tea came she drank a little of that too.

“I need to use the bathroom” she said.

“Just through there” he said pointing past her. “You need help?”

Taki shook her head. “I’ll be fine thanks.”

Idyn watched her struggle to her feet. She was a little unsteady but she made it into the bathroom. If she didn’t appear again in five minutes he would go looking for her.


 But within a couple of minutes she was back. She had cleaned up her face he noticed.

“Okay?” he said.

“You could have told me I looked like that” she accused.

He grinned “I didn’t notice anything” he lied.

“Yeah right” she said. Then after a pause she said “I’m sorry I kept you waiting so long. Will you get paid over time for tonight?”

Idyn hesitated for a moment. This was his opportunity to tell her the truth. He had not liked keeping it from her but he was worried about her reaction. Hoping she was feeling too sick to be angry at the moment he held his breath and said “I don’t need to worry about that. Actually I’m not just a driver, I own the business.”

Taki’s eyes widened “you’re kidding?”                      

“Afraid not” he said.

“Why are you driving me?” she said.

“Well the first day my driver called in sick and there was no one to fill in. It was either me or lose the job to another company.”

“And after that?” she said.

He smiled “I kind of liked driving again. It’s been a while since I was out on the road.”

“You mean you didn’t want to inflict me on anyone else” she said. Her tone was harsh but he could tell her anger wasn’t directed at him. It was self-focused.

“Not at all” he said.

“Yeah right” she scoffed making it clear that she didn’t believe him.

“Really” he said and when she met his gaze across the table his eyes were unguarded. He let her see that he liked her. It was his decision to continue to drive her and he didn’t want her hating herself because of it.

As he watched a flush crept up her neck and she looked away. For a few minutes they were silent and Idyn hoped he hadn’t done the wrong thing.