The taxi slows and stops. Alaina briefly looks up from her phone to see the door open on a smartly dressed blond woman. She gets in and sits in the middle. Alaina hesitates to ask her why she’s sitting so close to her when the other woman sighs loudly, sticks her head out and sharply says, “Come in.”
A masculine voice replies, a bit petulant, “No.”
“Don’t be ridiculous and get in.”
“I’ll take another one.”
“Ma’am,” the driver interrupts when she seems ready to argue some more. “If your friend isn’t getting in, close the door, please.”
The blond woman glances at Alaina then looks back outside.
“Josh, please. Get in.”
Her tone has softened and the man ducks down to sit beside her.
“My place?” he asks hesitantly.
The woman nods, a little smile on her lips as she gives the address to the driver. The drive starts out in a tense silence but it doesn’t last.
“You could have told me,” ‘Josh’ remarks after a few minutes.
“You didn’t have to know,” the woman replies.
“Whatever you choose, I would have supported you. I’m not…”
He sighs and looks outside the window.
“It doesn’t matter, now,” the woman says softly. ”Nothing happened. It was nothing.”
Her tone sounds a little wistful. The man looks back at her.
“I’m sorry you didn’t think you could tell me,” he murmurs, “I’m not the type of guy to run away. Not from that, not when it’s important.”
The woman smiles sadly.
“I know.”
She takes his hand.
They keep quiet for the rest of Alaina’s ride, only disturbed by the soft music playing from the radio.
Alaina almost says something when she leaves but decides against it. They wouldn’t care; she’s just a stranger who shared a ride with them.