Pulling out her smartphone, Summer glanced down at it. “It’s almost 2:30.” Cocking her head to the side, she regarded Larke with a narrowed gaze. “I can help you out a bit better than that, then, although I warn you, if this is some kind of confidence trick, you’re like to regret it. Come on, I’ll drive you and make the gps figure it out.”
“Confidence trick?” he scoffed, furrowing a brow. “I’m not sure what you’re implying, Miss Summer, but it would be an insult to my honor. It’s a bit denting that I come off as the sort of man to-” he trailed off frustratedly before straightening his posture. “It’s quite alright, miss. I think I’ll hail the cab, if that would suit you. I’d hate to impose myself or be an inconvenience of any kind.”
“Hey! I wasn’t trying to be insulting! A girl has to be careful in the city, that’s all. But you seem a trustworthy sort.” She shrugged, glancing away. “But if you’re going to be that way, I … wish you good luck.”
Always with my big mouth, she thought dully. I try to make a joke, and it just falls flat on its face.
He rubbed the back of his neck uncomfortably. Now he seemed to have pissed off, or at least put off, a total stranger. “I understand, Miss,” he admitted with a nod. “Sketchy folks around here. If I were you, I’d be a bit more careful who I offered car rides to,” he said more quietly, glancing around at other park denizens.
“Oh, well, I cheat.” She flashed him a smile that dared him to question. “Now, you said you had an appointment. Yes or no?”
“I-er- yes Miss.” he fumbled, quite certain he didn’t dare to question. “At 2:52, actually.”
“Well that’s interestingly precise!” Reaching behind herself, Summer extracted her keys from the strap of her purse, and beckoned. “Let’s go. You set the gps while I get us out into traffic.” She let him to a little targa-topped burgundy car, popping both doors. “And on the way, you can tell me a little more about yourself.”