Chapter 15

*Tina's POV*

I rolled my eyes as I opened the door and met Kelly at the other side.

"You know this doesn't have to be a regular thing," I said as she breezed past me and made her way to my couch.

"You know you don't have to keep wearing those outfits that show your fat butt cheeks." She plopped on my sofa with hysterical laughter.

I rolled my eyes at her typical immature response.

It was the evening of a Friday and we had closed from work earlier than usual. I relished that opportunity and I wanted to take advantage of it.

"This is what I wear when I'm home alone and not working." I gestured to my grey tank top and black thong. "And besides, the temperature at this time of the year sucks. Don't tell me you don't wear something like this during the evenings."

"No." She shook her head as she focused on the television. "T-shirts and shorts does the magic for me. I don't need the whole world knowing how big my books are or how fat my ass is."

"It's not in public!" I snapped at her. "It's in the comfort and privacy of my own home!"

I sat beside her and snatched the remote from her.

"A privacy which you are invading this very minute." I scowled at her.

"You don't want me coming around?" She mock pouted, putting her hands to her chest in dramatic fashion.

"Tina doesn't love me anymore!" She put her hands to her forehead and wailed, her head dropping onto my shoulder.

"Cut the crap." I pushed her head away, laughing. "Why are you really here? And please don't tell me you want to eat and I should follow you."

"No, it's not that," she replied, sitting up. "I want to go shopping and I actually want you to follow me."

"Seriously!" My eyes nearly popped out of their sockets.

"Yeah, my clothes don't really fit anymore," she said with a huge sigh.

"No kidding." I stared at her chest.

"Quit it." She smacked my shoulders.

"Ouch!" I winced. "That hurt!"

"That's what you get for staring at my boobs." She stuck out her tongue at me. "My eyes are up here."

"You stare at my ass and make silly jokes about it every single time, you hypocritical bitch!" I glowered at her.

"Apples and oranges." She shrugged. "So are you coming?"

"Well.." I hesitated, but her pleading eyes were bearing into my soul.

"Please?"

Fuck.

And that was how I found myself in a boutique with her thirty minutes later. She had picked a handful of clothes and was trying out in the private stall while I waited. Sometimes, I wondered how she did it. How she managed to look scary and violent in one moment to charming, sweet and persuasive in another. She reminded me of my former colleague, Jenna. They were both foul mouthed and naughty. The only thing that set them apart was Kelly's feisty character. She could really go gung-ho on your ass if you stepped on her toes. She was one of a kind.

"Okay, here goes," I heard her say from within the stall.

She emerged moments later wearing a thin strap purple top and dark black jeans. I felt envious on how the outfit hugged her curves and looked so natural. Sometimes I wished we could switch places. She was such a natural bombshell. She could look good even in a potato sack. A dark thought entered my mind. What if Alejandro had considered her before I started working in the company. Had he asked her out before? I quickly shook the thoughts away. I don't think so.

"Hello?" Kelly snapped her fingers ,bringing me back to the present. "Earth to Tina!"

"Huh?" I blinked. "Oh yeah, you look great." I raised my thumbs up.

"Are you sure?" She gave me a skeptical glance. "The clothes fit me?"

"I'm very sure about that." I nodded. "Wasn't that the point of me coming with you to this shopping trip?"

"True." She laughed. "Thanks, babe. Let me try another."

She disappeared into the stall as a message entered my phone. I stared at the screen and a warm smile appeared on my face. It was from Alejandro.

'I hope you haven't forgotten' the message read.

I giggled with a typical eye roll. Since Monday, he had been giving me subtle reminders about the dinner date at his house.

'No, I haven't. You make it kind of difficult to.' I typed in reply.

'You can't blame me. The nature of my work has made me a 'by the book' kind of person.'

'Please, don't remind me.'

'I'll try. See you soon.'

Our texting ended. It was so cute how he typed that last message like we didn't work together. I felt my heart flutter a bit. I was so looking forward to seeing those green eyes again. My mind flashed to Monday, remembering his warm hands around my waist and dangerously close to my butt. Damn, if only his hands had gone lower...

What the hell am I thinking?

Fortunately, Kelly bailed me out of my wandering erotic thoughts when she emerged out of the stall in another outfit. For the next twenty minutes, she had tested several outfits and most of them fit her naturally.

We made our way out of the booth and Kelly paid for the clothes. Just then, two men entered the boutique. I raised my eyebrows in surprise. They were dressed in police uniforms.

"What the hell is this?" Kelly said when she spotted them.

Their eyes landed on us and they made their way over.

"Which one of you is Kelly McPherson?" the taller one, a blonde, asked.

"I am," Kelly replied, casting suspicious glances at them.

"My name is Officer Zack Walker." He procured an ID from his pocket.

"This is my partner, Ted Stones." He nodded to his colleague.

I had a bad feeling as I knew where this was going.

"Mrs McPherson, you're under arrest for a charge of violent conduct and assault," The blonde officer said, confirming my fears.

"What!" Kelly shrieked. "You can't be serious!"

"I am," Zack replied. "I'm afraid you have to come with us."