I groan, stretching my back on the worn-down stool, and look down at my watch on my hairy wrist. It's almost midnight, and I have to be in De Luca by morning to pick up my final delivery. I run a tired hand through my thick brown hair. The ends tickle my ears. It's been a while since I've gotten a haircut. The silver strands are a bit rougher and remind me why I'm retiring. I'm getting too old for this shit, sitting alone in the cab, day after day, with no one to talk to but myself.

At first, it had been thrilling. I was driving across the sprawling countryside visiting small towns, vast coastlines bustling with people and roads stretching out as far as the eye could see. Now I find it taxing. I've seen it all a dozen times over. I know all the best shortcuts to cut hours off my trips.

My boss keeps reminding me to keep to the schedule and not show up early. Saying it gives other drivers an unfair standard. Plus, it's harder to nail down a lucrative deal if I can make it in half the time.

"Do you want any more coffee, hun?" Rita asks from behind the counter, returning me to the waking world. Yes, I've definitely spent too much time alone.

"Thanks," I hold up the diner's plain white mug for Rita to refill.

"You doing alright there?" Rita fills up my mug. The older woman has a nose for picking up on people's woes, and it doesn't help that I've been coming here for the last twenty years. She probably knows me better than I know myself.

"Yeah," I mumble, scratching my beard, not in the mood to chat.

"Alright," she picks up on the subtle queue. "Let me know if there's anything else I can get you." She shakes her white curls and walks off. When we'd first met, she'd only had a sprinkle of greys, but working for long hours on your feet can really age a person.

My eyes drift around the quiet diner. A family of five over in the back corner is making a pit stop at the restroom. The dad's yawning, and the mother looks frazzled as she ensures each of her children has used the toilet before heading out.

Near the windows in the booths, a young couple sits entangled in each other's arms, staring at each other lovingly. There's a suitcase by their feet, making me believe the two of them are eloping.

I look away, feeling a hollowness in my chest. Being forty is looking pretty bleak. Maybe I should look into these dating apps everyone talks about. I cringe. Who would want a retired truck driver? What would we talk about, let alone have in common?

Sighing, I take a sip of the hot coffee, praying it'll keep me awake for the rest of the night. I rub my tired eyes, my gaze landing on an angel. That's the only thing I can think of that makes sense under these old lightbulbs because, despite the yellow cast, she's glowing. She has to be an angel with her fine blonde locks cascading down her shoulders. She's small but not too dainty. Her blue zippy looks old and a little snug. I can see the top slopes of her milky white breasts squeezing up through her thin white tank top.

I rub my eyes one more time to ensure I'm not dreaming, but when I open them again, she's still sitting there looking like a heavenly creation. Shyly, she thanks Rita with a soft smile as the older woman places a plate of cherry pie in front of her.

Her expression saddens as she says something to Rita, but the older woman laughs and pats her hand. My whole body trembles as her cheeks blossom with pink. I watch as she hesitantly picks up the fork and takes a small bite of the sugary cherry pie. Her eyes widen adorably as she chews. She quickly goes back for an even bigger bite. I can't help but want to moan with her as her eyes close in ecstasy. My manhood presses eagerly against the zipper of my jeans. I have to fist my hand to keep it from going south. I've never been tempted by such an innocent-looking creature before.

I grit my teeth when headlights flood the diner in a yellow hue. I shield my face with my hand.

"Fucking jerks with their high beams," I mutter as the light disperses.

I look back to where the glorious angel is sitting, but she's gone. The cherry pie is only half eaten. I have the urge to run and find her, but I reason with myself. Maybe she just went to the bathroom. I'll wait till she returns before I approach her.

I'm muddling over what I could possibly say to such a beautiful vixen when the bells above the door chime and three youngsters walk in. I instantly dislike their cocky attitudes as they approach the counter.

Rita greets them but doesn't care much for them by the sour look on her face. I can't hear what they're saying, but the oldest looks pissed when he doesn't hear what he wants. He storms off, and the other two follow behind him.

Rita huffs and makes her way over to me. For as long as I've known the woman, I've never seen anyone ruffle her feathers quite like that.

"More coffee?" She asks, but I cut her off.

"You okay?" I ask.

She smiles at me tenderly. "Yeah, sugar."

"What did they want?"

"Oh them," she points towards the truck pulling out. "Nothing but a couple of ill-behaved boys. Said something about their sister running off. I didn't believe a word of it, but I wouldn't blame her if she did. Coffee?"

"No, just the check Rita."

My mind goes to the young woman sitting on the stool just moments ago. Her pie now deserted. I have a sinking feeling she's not coming back.

I pull out my wallet and hand Rita a twenty before she can finish writing the bill for three coffees.

"Hudson," she starts, but I don't let her finish.

"It's the least I can do." I stand, "have a good rest of your night."

I head out into the night. The air is warming with each passing day as summer approaches. Soon the nights will be sweltering, and the back of my rig will be hotter than hell.

I take one last look at the diner, hoping to catch a glimpse of my angel, but she's gone. I climb into the cab, turn on the news channel for any road updates, and head onto the interstate. Trying to ignore the ache in my chest as I get further away from the small town of Ashford.