"His eyes are so intense I want to look away . . . or never look away, I can't decide."
Kasie West, The Distance Between Us

...

Conversation had it's lulls and the country music with 80s Rock filled the spaces. The Mustang, with it's newer tires gripped the road as if it was right off the assembly line. Daryl was impressed with himself and his abilities for restoring older model automobiles.

"I would let Lori go." Daryl seemed to say out of the blue. The opinion was without any ambiguity. It was clearly understood. The frankness startled Rick.

"Harder than what you think."

"It ain't that hard. Holding on to someone that ain't trying to hold on to you? I don't see how it is hard. Tiring. Hard? Nah."

"You ever been in love Daryl?"

"You think because I ain't been with someone since High school, I can't speak on it?"

"This is different."

Daryl had no other words as he eyed Rick on the passenger side. The road sign stated that Hendersonville was another 25 miles. The excitement was stirring in the pit of his stomach. He will finally get to meet Sasha Benton.

"Why are we riding out this far again? Engine sounds good." Rick rolled his window up half way.

Daryl thought this was a good a time as any to come clean.

"I met someone."

"Yeah?"

"Yep."

"She lives this far out?"

"Naw. Something happened with her transportation. I didn't want to come alone."

"You needed a third wheel?"

"Yep."

"This far?"

"Yep."

"How did you meet someone this far out of the way from King's County?"

"Tindr."

"What?"

"You wouldn't know anything about it. You've been married during the social media revolution just about."

"We ain't that far off in age, Daryl."

"No we ain't but I ain't never been married either."

"You ain't ever dated anyone you mean."

"Ain't true. I've dated a couple of people you and Shane don't know shit about it."

"Carol?"

"Carol ain't my type. She is a friend. Always will be. She is more like a mother or sister to me. She ain't my type."

"What about Beth?"

"Too young. She ain't my type either."

"Denise?"

"She is lesbian. Been creeping with Tara in the automotive shop for some time now."

"Yeah?"

"Yep."

"I would have never guessed." Rick marveled at his inability to spot a lesbian as if they were leopards unable to conceal their spots.

"I got you tagging along just in case she don't look like her picture. I can just drive the fuck off."

"If you would have told me this upfront I-"

"That's why I didn't tell you shit. She's African American just so you know. I don't want you making things awkward."

"Black?"

"Just so you know."

"Black?"

"That's my type."

"Since when?"

"Always. You're the only one that know for certain that I ain't gay."

Rick was really surprised by this information. He would have most likely believed Daryl was a closeted gay man.

"Black women?" Rick asked as if it couldn't become any clearer. Rick had nothing against interracial dating. It wasn't something he entertained because he has always loved Lori. There was a time he had a slight crush on a Jessie Anderson but it was just that, a crush that he out grew. He had no experience outside of Lori and now that he was about to be divorced he still couldn't bring himself to think about another woman regardless of race.

"I like everything about them. I like their feisty nature. They all ain't feisty. Sasha, she ain't real feisty. She's more laid back."

"Black women are feisty?" Rick wondered if that was code for attitude.

"They smell different. The feel is different."

"You ever been with your own kind?"

"No."

"Then, how can you compare?"

"You been with anyone other than Lori?"

Rick didn't respond. Daryl knew the answer. Most of King's county knew the answer. No. He was stuck on Lori.

"Suzanne was my first." Daryl admitted.

"I thought Shane was lying, spreading rumor..."

"I would sneak over to her house. Climb through her bedroom window when her Mama was out working third shift."

"Suzanne who wrote that crazy story?" Rick would never forget the very sexual story that was read in front of the college prep class in front of the substitute teacher that day so many years ago.

"The Fog Above The Trees."

"You remember the title?" Rick was shocked.

"You remembered the story. What's wrong with knowing the title." Daryl eyed Rick for a split second putting his attention back on the road.

"She was your first?" Rick asked.

"Yep."

"Where she at?"

"New York. Married. 2 kids. I reached out to her a couple of years ago on Facebook. She's happy. She ain't looking backwards."

"Facebook."

"Social media revolution."

...

"This is our chance Michonne." Sasha declared.

"They look like Serial killers, Sasha." Michonne insisted as they stood a few feet from Daryl and Rick.

"The store owner knows his friend. Did you just missed that interaction? They still talking over there." Sasha nodded towards where Daryl and his friend were standing in the store entryway talking to the store owner.

"This has the makings of a scary movie." Michonne embraced herself even tighter.

"His name is Daryl Dixon. I have been talking to him online for the last 3 months. He seems to be a nice guy and he has his own place. We need a place to stay. He's offered. He's willing. He drove lots of miles to come."

"Who the hell were we in the car with? Who was the fool that left us stranded here? What if we get stranded again-"

"You keep your damn mouth shut we won't. Any questions, let me answer. You have a smart mouth Michonne."

Daryl walked back over to where Sasha and her cousin stood. He was surprised how the cousin seemed so un-friendly compared to Sasha. The cousin appeared to be a mute. He wasn't deterred by being sized up by the woman with dreads. If looks could kill he supposed he would be dead if it wasn't for Sasha giving him life. Sasha's beauty was almost too painful to be in the presence of. He was happy that she was actually more beautiful in person. Daryl was relieved that he wasn't cat fished.

...

There was this sense of something but I can't put it in to words. When I laid eyes on her. I don't know why I noticed her ass in those jeans and her breast confined by the vest she wore. She kept staring right back at me and I didn't like it one fucking bit. That scowl was disconcerting and I tried to convey to her a look that I wasn't the one to fuck with if she and her friend were scheming to kill Daryl and I at some point in this impromptu road trip. I wished I had my badge to have her think twice. If only I had my colt.

...

There was this sense of something that I couldn't put into words. When I laid eyes on him. He had a bowlegged gait. He kept staring at me even when he was suppose to be talking to the store owner. I had my mean don't fuck with me face on and he wasn't deterred by it. He had to be a killer. It was in his eyes. I would bet that him and his friend were scheming to rape Sasha and I somewhere between here or miles down the road. I wish I had my duffle bag where my Taser was, lying under my folded blue panties. My knife was in my purse. I wish I had my blade.