love via, just not tonight

I'm scheduled to work until 7.

Vince (one of my favorite colleagues) is going to his friend's to watch the Emmy's; his friend lives directly 13 blocks south of me.

"Let's share a Via," Vince suggests.

"Great; I'll treat."  It's $3 for a second person.

At 6:45 I'm ready to leave.  

"Wait for me; I just need to close a register. We'll be out by 7."

Two customers later, Vince is ready. It's 7:20.

I go on my Via app and realize that for me to book two riders, we need to get off at the same stop. That's not going to happen.

"Vince. You need to order your own Via; chances are we'll be assigned the same car."

"I don't have Via."

"I'll send you my code. Your first ride will be free."

"Okay."  We wait while Vince downloads the app.

The we wait a bit longer so Vince can add money into his new Via account.

We both book our rides at the exact same time, assuming we'll be in the same car since we are leaving from the same location, at the same time, on the exact same route (up First Avenue).

My ride is 2 minutes away; his is 11.  How'd that happen?

So Vince doesn't book his ride and instead waits with me for mine.

I get a text.

"Your Via is 2 minutes away..."

Vince leaves for the subway.

My next text is, "Via #4292 is here!  Find driver.....so we can roll."

Despite standing exactly where I've been told to stand — SW corner of Madison and 50th —my driver can't find me. 

And so she (yes, this driver is a she) rolls without me.

I take the subway home.

At least it isn't raining.

I get an apology and a $5 credit from Via. Not much of a consolation.

But I'm still in love, just a little less than yesterday.