How much I hated change and how quickly I got used to it! My usual spot was free again, so why was I now disappointed
The moment I sat down, my phone rang. Tess. What the fuck did she want so early in the morning?
"Hey," I answered, despite my severely under-caffeinated brain's protests.
"Morning!" Tess sounded unusually chipper. Did she get laid?
"Can I call you back?"
"Philip, I had an epiphany! I want you to redesign the logo into the shape of angel wings! The colors will also have to change..."
I tried to take a sip of my coffee but the lid came off, spilling hot brew into my lap. I muted the call and screamed at the table, "Fuck, fuck, fuck!"
"Philip? Are you still there? We really need to discuss the changes, can we schedule a call?"
Something clicked in my head and I did the unthinkable.
"Tess, I'm done! I'll find you a replacement and email the details." I hung up the phone before she could say another word.
"How did that feel?" He was sitting across from me again, yet I hadn't even seen him come in.
"What do you want from me?" I demanded. The coffee stain in my pants was slowly getting cold.
"You wouldn't believe me if I told you," he said mysteriously.
"Then with all due respect, please fuck off!" I was on a roll today.
"What will you do with your newfound freedom?" he asked, utterly unfazed.
I considered physically pushing him away but didn't want to cause a scene at Ginny's.
"How about joining me for a walk?" he said, cheerfully. I was about to start screaming when I took a moment to assess my situation.
There was a smoking hot guy, at least a decade younger than me, vying for my attention. I was the one who started eye-fucking him from the very first moment, so why was I resisting him so much?
A quick scan of my troubled mind came up with no plausible answer. Why the fuck not? What was the worst that could happen? That he proved to be a serial killer?
I walked out of Ginny's feeling infinitely lighter. I didn't know where this was going to take me but it was one hell of a rush!
***
The park was still beautiful this time of year. The ground was full of leaves and I could see my own breath.
My companion hadn't said a word since leaving the coffee place, which had given me significant time to think.
I would have to take a new client latest by the end of the month. I had plenty of savings but they were for a rainy day, so I didn't want to eat into them too much.
"What do you like to do for fun?" he asked, out of the blue.
"This walk is nice," I said, not wanting to think anymore.
He looked at me in surprise. "You are enjoying the moment? That's unusually fast!"
"Excuse me?"
"Sam," he said, holding out his hand.
"Philip," I returned the gesture automatically.
"You aren't from the City?" I asked.
"What gave me away?" he said, staring at his shoes. He offered no further explanation.
"So what brings you here, then?" I tried again.
"A bucket list," he whispered.
"Holy shit!" I said with a gasp. Flashes of how mean I had been, zipped through my head.
"It's a brain tumor," he said, looking at me carefully. I didn't know what to say or do.