Her friend went silent on the other end of the phone for what seemed like an eternity. "Are you serious? The guy looks as prim and proper as if he's about to anchor the six o'clock news." "That's exactly why I wanna see what's under that suit," she quipped.
Her friend scoffed, "There are plenty of folks on the news every night. How come I haven't heard you wanting to undress any of them?"
Tina had no response to that.
As much as she craved a bit of excitement, she never brought up the idea of testing the waters with Phillip again.
It was as if Phillip was devoid of any desires or passions, which really took the fun out of the chase.
Phillip treated Tina with the utmost respect, carving out a day each week to spend with her, no matter how busy he was.
They'd check out photo exhibits, catch a movie, go cave exploring... even shopping, activities he wouldn't normally be caught dead doing. Tina appreciated his efforts, she really did.
One unexpectedly rainy afternoon, a female friend invited her to lunch. The gathering included two guys, one of whom was clearly flirting with her friend.
The other guy lit up upon seeing Tina, eagerly engaging her in conversation at the table. However, it didn't take long for him to reveal a level of chauvinism that reminded Tina uncomfortably of her dad's outdated attitudes. It totally killed her appetite.
With her friend fully engrossed in her flirtation, paying Tina no heed, she grew increasingly irked by their public displays of affection. She made up a flimsy excuse, "Gotta go feed the kids," grabbed her purse, and left without looking back.
She spent some time sipping coffee, playing with dogs at the pet store, and killing time in an arcade.
When she was ready to leave, Tina realized her purse, along with her phone and wallet, was gone. The arcade's surveillance was blocked by a dance machine, of all things, offering no clues.
The arcade owner, a round figure adorned with a chunky gold chain and an attitude as wide as his waistline, was less than helpful.
Her day had been utterly
unpredictable, and now, without her
phone or cash, caught in an
unexpected downpour without even
an umbrella, she found her
frustration reaching its peak.
Tina borrowed a phone from the service desk and called Phillip, her voice tinged with the frustration wrought by this cursed weather and the thief.
"My phone's gone. Can you come get me?" she said, the background noise on his end betraying his presence at some social gathering.
Realizing this, she was about to
suggest he send a driver instead et
when the noise on his end abruptly ceased, replaced by Phillip's calm, collected voice, "Where are you?"
After giving him the mall's address, it was clear by the time Phillip arrived, the place had closed for the night.
The mall, now dark and deserted, felt eerily desolate in the storm.
Feeling cold and utterly defeated, as if the universe was conspiring against her, Tina had nowhere to take shelter.
Just when she thought things couldn't get any worse, a rude kid on a bike splashed her with mud and didn't even bother to apologize.
As she found a somewhat sheltered spot to wait out the rain, her shoulders and the dress she was wearing were drenched, adding insult to injury.
Then, through the deluge, a tall, dark figure approached, making his way through the rain towards her.
Phillip handed Tina his umbrella,
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draped his suit jacket over her shoulders, and took the umbrella back calling for a driver to pick them. up at a nearby exit.
Tina stepped closer, resting her forehead against his chest.
Phillip paused briefly on the phone, then after finishing the call, slipped it back into his pocket and wrapped his arms around her shoulders.
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