Becca
Is the tow truck there yet?
Rachel
And Iām freezing!
Becca
I wonāt be the annoying big sister and say I told you so.
Rachel
Uh, I think you just did.
Becca
Well, I told you it was going to snow tonight!
Becca
I warned you not to wear a dress!
Becca
And I told you not to meet some creeper from a dating app!
Rachel
Yes, my car skidded into a snow bankā¦
Rachel
And yes, a cocktail dress wasnāt the best choice for below freezing temperatures.
Rachel
But that has nothing to do with my date cancelling.
Rachel
Besides, itās perfectly normal to use dating apps.
Becca
What was your dateās name?
Rachel
Not his user name, right?
Rachel
š Iām kidding.
Rachel
His name is Wyatt.
Becca
Thatās not funny.
Rachel
No, I really donāt know.
Becca
You were going to dinner with this man and you didnāt even know his last name?
Rachel
I figured Iād just ask to see his license and birth certificate.
Becca
You are unbelievable.
Becca
Text me when the tow truck gets there!
Rachelās phone rings and she sees itās the tow truck company calling.
Tow Truck Driver
Hi, this is Cedar Valley Towing.
Tow Truck Driver
Just wanted to let you know Iām two minutes out from your location.
Rachelās taken aback by the voice on the other end of the line.
And it makes her think of honey.
Tow Truck Driver
You staying warm?
Rachel laughs, despite the chattering of her teeth.
Tow Truck Driver
But youāre doing alright?
Tow Truck Driver
You arenāt hurt?
Rachel
Just hit that curve too fast.
Rachel
At least the three-foot tall snow drift broke my crash.
Tow Truck Driver
Cracking jokes is always a good sign.
Tow Truck Driver
I see you up ahead.
Head lights flood Rachelās rear window and she sighs with relief.
Tow Truck Driver
Nope, just me.
Rachel
Ha! Youāre funny.
Rachel watches in her rear-view mirror as the truck pulls in and stops a few yards away.
Tow Truck Driver
Iāll come around to your side and help you get situated.
Rachel ends the call and stays inside until someone raps on her driverās side window.
She opens her door and the frigid air hits her like a thousand sharp needles.
All she can make out is a tall, hooded figure in the dark.
She opens the door further and moves to stand up.
The driver holds out a hand as if to say, āwait.ā
Tow Truck Driver
Whatās that on your feet?
Rachel thinks she hears a low chuckle.
Tow Truck Driver
In the snow?
Rachel
It wasnāt snowing when I left the house a few hours ago.
Tow Truck Driver
Maāam, do I have permission to help you into my truck?
Tow Truck Driver
Iād like to carry you.
Tow Truck Driver
Iām worried youāll break your neck walking in those.
Tow Truck Driver
And if you take them off and go barefoot itās going to hurt like hell.
He probably thinks sheās an idiot.
But there hadnāt been a cloud in sight when she got dressed.
Rachel
I can walk. Really.
Tow Truck Driver
At least take my hand, maāam.
Rachel takes the driverās leather gloved hand and stands up.
She steps forward and her leg immediately slips out in front of her.
The driver catches her, his strong arms wrapped around her middle.
Rachel feels heat rush to her face once again.
She grabs onto his forearms for balance.
Tow Truck Driver
Are you alright, maāam?
Rachel
All things consideredā¦
Tow Truck Driver
Maāamā
Rachel
I think weāre past formalities. Iām Rachel.
Tow Truck Driver
Rachel, it would sure save us time if I could just carry you.
Tow Truck Driver
You donāt know me from Adam, but I swear, Iāll be a gentleman.
Rachel tries to make out his face, but his scarf is obscuring her view.
Not that it really matters what he looks like, butā¦
She is about to consider letting him haul her around.
Rachel
Okay, you can carry me ā oof!
The driver scoops her up in his arms like she weighs next to nothing.
Her shoes fall off in the snow.
Thereās that chuckle again.
Tow Truck Driver
Iāll come back for those in a minute.
Tow Truck Driver
Donāt worry.
Tow Truck Driver
Weāll have you in the truck and warming up in two shakes of a lambās tail.
Rachel smiles at the expression.
Rachel
Youāre not from around here, are you?
Tow Truck Driver
Good guess. I moved up from Texas about three months ago.
Tow Truck Driver
Wasnāt quite prepared for my first Montana winter.
Rachel
You get used to it.
They approach the passenger side of his truck.
The tow truck driver deftly opens the door, barely shifting Rachelās weight.
Tow Truck Driver
You climb up there and get comfortable while I hitch up your car.
Tow Truck Driver
Thereās a blanket behind the seat if you want it.
He gently closes the door and trudges back toward her car.
Rachel lets out a sigh as the heater warms her frozen toes.
This isnāt exactly the romantic evening she pictured butā¦
Thereās something about this guy.
His velvet voice, that slight twang when he speaks.
And his mannersā¦polite isnāt exactly the right word.
But itās more than that.
He makes her feelā¦safe.
Safe and excited, all at the same time.
Rachel shivers, goosebumps prickling her skinā¦
And she knows itās not just from the cold.
Finally, the driver side door opens and he climbs up into his side of the cab.
He sets her heels on the middle console.
Tow Truck Driver
Here you are, Cinderella.
Tow Truck Driver
Whew, itās nasty out there and just getting worse.
Tow Truck Driver
You feeling any better?
Rachel
Much warmer, thank you.
Tow Truck Driver
Well, then, letās get this show on the road.
He starts the truck and pulls out onto the highway.
Itās still too dark in the cab to get a good look at him.
Tow Truck Driver
So, what were you doing out and about in this storm?
Tow Truck Driver
Wearing high heels no less.
Rachel
I had a date tonight, but he cancelled.
Rachel
I was almost at the restaurant, so I went ahead and ate.
Rachel
By the time I finished there were already a few inches on the ground.
Tow Truck Driver
Thatās too bad. About the date.
Tow Truck Driver
Whyād he cancel?
Rachel
His text said he had a work emergency.
Tow Truck Driver
What does he do?
Rachel
His profile said small business owner, but I didnāt get the details yet.
Tow Truck Driver
Profile?
Rachel
Yeah, I met him on a dating app.
Tow Truck Driver
You didnāt get much info about him before yāall went out?
Rachel
We flirted a little over text, but I think heās a bit reserved.
Tow Truck Driver
Well, if he wasnāt a sparkling conversationalist, whyād you want to go out with him?
Rachel
Youāll laugh at me. My sister did.
Rachel
It was his āAbout Meā section.
Rachel
The way he talked about his family and his dog.
Rachel
He even ended it with this corny joke and it was pretty cute.
Rachel
My sister says Iām a hopeless romantic.
Rachel
But there was just something about him.
Tow Truck Driver
Iām sure he was just as disappointed to have to cancel.
Rachel
What makes you say that?
Tow Truck Driver
Because I think I was supposed to be your date tonight.
Rachel flips on the dome light, softly illuminating the cab of the truck.
As he pulls his scarf down, she recognizes Wyattās handsome face from his profile.
Wyattās smile is so bright, Rachelās pretty sure he could light up the whole highway.
Rachel
I canāt believe it.
Wyatt
I hated bailing on you, but it really was an emergency.
Wyatt
My other driver called in sick, and I had three calls while I was getting dressed.
Wyatt
Can you forgive me?
Rachel
Of course. These things happen.
Rachel
I thought you got cold feet.
Wyatt
No, nothing like that.
Wyatt
I just knew the weather was going to get worse.
Wyatt
I would have explained more, but I had to get on the road.
Rachel
So, this is your small business?
Wyatt
Yup. I bought it from my cousin. Iām trying to build it back up.
Rachel
Are you going to be working all night?
Wyatt
I figured Iād drop you off at your house?
Wyatt
Then the shop can call you tomorrow with an estimate.
Rachel
Thanks, I appreciate it.
Rachel
Maybe we could meet for coffee tomorrow?
Rachel
Have a makeup date?
Wyatt
We donāt have to wait until tomorrow.
Wyatt points to a thermos in the cup holder.
Wyatt
I keep extra cups in the middle console.
Rachel
Look at you, all prepared.
Rachel
You always share your coffee with strangers?
Wyatt
This is a first. Besides, weāre not really strangers.
Rachel
True. Exceptā¦whatās your last name?
Wyatt
Well, Rachel Hill, itās nice to meet you.
Just as Rachel decides that heels were the best choice sheās ever madeā¦
Her phone buzzes, pulling her out of the thought.
Itās a text from Becca.
Becca
Did he ever show up?
Rachel
Fantastic, actually.
Rachel
His last name is Davis.
