A Simple Request
791 Words
“Hello, Francis.”
I tried to keep my voice calm, collected—*me*—but it came out warmer than I meant. Warmer than I wanted.
“Hey, Marie.” His tone was easy, casual, but I could hear it—that slight uptick at the end. Curious. Maybe even surprised. “Everything okay?”
I swallowed the flutter in my chest. “Yeah... everything’s fine. Actually, I wanted to ask you something.”
A pause. I could picture him now—eyebrow raised, that half-smile playing at his lips.
“Sure, what’s up?”
I took a breath I didn’t realize I was holding. “I was wondering if you—if you needed a ride to the gym later?”
The words tumbled out before I could shape them properly. Too fast. Too forward.
Silence stretched longer than it should’ve.
*God, what was I doing?*
Then he laughed. Soft. Amused. It should’ve annoyed me, but it didn’t.
“That’s kind of you, Marie. But I can drive myself, you know?”
“I know,” I rushed. “I just thought... I’ve got some free time. It’d be nice to spend it together. Outside of work.”
He chuckled again—lighter now. “It’s been a while since someone’s offered me a ride. That sounds good. I could definitely use one.”
Relief bloomed in my chest before I could stop it.
“Great. I’ll pick you up around noon?”
“Sounds perfect. Thanks, Marie.”
“No problem,” I murmured, ending the call.
As the line clicked off, I leaned back into the chair, my fingers resting against my lips. It was just a ride. A simple offer. And yet, my chest felt tight in the way it does when something inside you shifts.
For weeks, I’d kept him at arm’s length. Professional. Polite. Guarded. And now? I was peeling back the armor—one ride at a time.
Just a ride. Nothing more.
---
The minutes crawled after that.
I dressed in a sweater and jeans, casual but clean, like I hadn’t overthought it (even though I absolutely had). I tried to lose myself in emails, but my eyes kept drifting to the clock.
At 11:45, I grabbed my keys.
The air felt electric, my pulse unsteady.
As I pulled up to the gatehouse, I spotted him standing there, arms folded across his chest, gym bag slung over one shoulder. He looked up, met my gaze, and smiled.
My heart stuttered.
“Ready?” I asked, forcing calm into my voice.
“Yeah. Thanks for this, Marie. You didn’t have to.”
“No trouble at all.”
The blush that crept into my cheeks betrayed me.
He got in, the door closing with a soft thud, and suddenly the air between us felt... different. Closer. Charged.
We didn’t say much on the drive.
He looked out the window. I focused on the road. My fingers clenched the steering wheel just a little too tightly.
“So,” I said, desperate to fill the silence, “how’s everything?”
“Busy, as usual,” he replied, glancing at me. “Feels like there’s never enough time.”
I nodded. I understood that feeling too well.
When the gym came into view, I pulled into the lot and parked.
“Well, here we are,” I said with a soft smile. “I guess this is where I leave you.”
He looked at me—really looked at me—and smiled back. “Thanks again. I really appreciate it.”
My stomach twisted.
Why did that feel so much like goodbye?
“Anytime,” I said, hoping my voice didn’t crack. “See you later.”
He hesitated, hand on the door, and turned toward me one last time.
“It’s nice,” he said. “Spending time like this. Outside work. I appreciate you making the effort.”
My throat tightened.
I wanted to say something back. Something meaningful.
But the words wouldn’t come.
Then he stepped out. The door shut.
And I was alone again.
---
Driving away, I should’ve felt accomplished. Or proud.
Instead, I felt... hollow.
A strange ache settled over me, whispering that maybe this moment—this *ride*—wasn’t as innocent as I’d convinced myself it was.
At the next intersection, my phone buzzed.
I glanced down.
A message.
Unknown number.
> *“You’re not the only one giving him rides.”*
I froze.
The warmth drained from my body. My fingers tightened around the steering wheel.
That flutter I’d felt earlier?
It turned to ice.
And just like that, the road ahead—once clear, full of possibility—blurred with doubt.
- Writer
