Phillipe

by Becca Fanning

  He blushed. “Friends can go to the movies, too.”

  “You’re right. I just want to be clear on what this is.”

  “It’s a date,” he blurted out. “I mean, I’d like it to be a date, if that’s okay with you? I’m really enjoying this and I’d like to see where it goes, but Patrick …”

  “Patrick doesn’t need to know, not until we know where this is going.”

  He nodded.

  “So, what’s playing?”

  They came out of the movie theatre holding hands and Phillipe walked her back to her car. “What are you going to tell Patrick?” he asked.

  She laughed. “You make it sound like we’re cheating. Don’t worry, it’s really none of his business who I was with or why I was with them.” She squeezed his hand. “I had a really good time. The movie was amazing.”

  “Yeah, it was pretty good.”

  They stopped at her car and she pulled her hand free to dig her keys out of her purse. “I’d like to do this again,” she said. “Maybe lunch this week?”

  “Lunch is a lot easier for me than dinner or movies because of work.”

  “Okay, I’ll look at my lab schedule for the week.” She unlocked the door then smiled at him. “Thanks for tonight.” She stood up on tip toe and kissed his cheek.

  He bent over and gave her a quick kiss on the lips, the stepped back and said, “Sorry.”

  “No, it’s okay.” She was smiling. “See you later.”

  “Yeah.” He watched her drive away and then muttered, “Why did you do that?” But he was smiling the whole way to his car on the other side of the lot.

  Chapter 6

  Brigid had an exam on Wednesday and Friday so she and Phillipe had lunch together on Thursday. They met up at a little café and had sandwiches and coffee and talked about the movie they’d seen Monday night, and what they were buying people for Christmas, and swapped funny, mildly embarrassing stories.

  As they were packing up Brigid said, “These little lunch dates are becoming my favorite thing.”

  “Mine too,” Phillipe said.

  “Better than video games?” she asked with a smirk.

  “Much better,” he said and then he kissed her.

  She smiled. “I guess we know where this is going.”

  “I know where I’d like it to go. We can just let this thing lead us for a while.”

  “Sounds good. I have to get some studying done. I’ll call you after exams are over.”

  “You’ve got this. You’re going to ace it tomorrow.”

  “Thanks.” She kissed his cheek. “You’re a darling.”

  “I’ve been called a lot of things but never that.”

  She laughed. “I’ll see you soon.”

  “Yeah, you will.”

  Brigid rubbed the bridge of her nose then read over her exam one last time. She had answered every single question, though she wasn’t sure they were all correct. She’d triple checked all the equations. She couldn’t check them again if she wanted to, the numbers were starting to dance on the page and her eyes ached. Good enough. Thank-god that’s the last one for now. She gathered her pencils and the exam, and walked to the front of the room. There were still a handful of people writing but the room was a lot closer to empty than it had been ninety minutes ago.

  She collected her purse from the check point at the door, triple checked that nothing was missing, then walked out of the exam room. Her friends were gathered about twenty feet away, lounging on the one bench in that hallway. Their laughter made her smile and she joined them.

  Amber, one of Brigid’s oldest friends, perked up. “There you are, Miss Perfectionist. So, what score are you getting this time? A hundred? Ninety-five?”

  She shoved her friend. “You’re just jealous.”

  “We need to go out and have some fun tonight,” Maya said. “Loud music, booze, the whole deal.”

  “I’m in,” said Amber.

  There was a chorus of, “Me too,” and “Count me in” from the other girls.

  Amber elbowed Brigid. “Come on, it’ll be fun. We need to blow off a little steam.”

  “Okay, okay! I’ll come.”

  Maya grinned. “Yes. Everyone get a ride to the mall, we’ll meet there at seven and catch a couple cabs down to the club together. Deal?”

  “Sounds like a plan to me,” Amber said.

  “I need a coffee,” someone said.

  “And carbs,” Brigid added. “Let’s go.”

  Brigid’s family wasn’t religious but they were still moderately conservative in some areas so it had taken Brigid years to accumulate even a small collection of clothing that would be acceptable to wear to a girls’ night out at a dance club. She’d be the most covered out of all her friends, but she didn’t really mind. She wasn’t looking to attract the interest of random guys at the club, and Phillipe didn’t seem to mind that she didn’t show off miles of skin.

  She plastered on enough makeup to make her mother cringe, pulled her dark-brown hair up in a high pony-tail, and grabbed her purse. Michelle drove her to the mall where her friends were already waiting for her.

  “Good, you made it,” Amber said to Brigid. She waved to Michelle then turned back to Brigid. “I thought you were going to back out.”

  “I’m not that much of a goody-two-shoes,” Brigid said, knowing she had a reputation as the one who hardly swore, hardly drank, and hardly dated. She used to date a lot more and she was tired of the hassle of it.

  “Could’ve fooled me,” Amber said, grinning.

  “Oh, hey, the cabs are here,” Maya said, pointing. “Ready?”

  They drove downtown and got out across the street from the club. While Amber was paying the driver, Brigid surveyed the building. The name of the club, in big bold neon letters above the door, caught her attention, not because of how gaudy they were, but because she knew it. This was the same club where Phillipe worked.

  Maybe I can get us in without a wait, she thought. Wouldn’t the girls love that?

  Her eyes darted to the front door and sure enough there he was, dressed all in black with his arms over his chest. There was a group of girls, probably more college kids celebrating the end of mid-terms, at the front of the line. She could see them huddled together. Then two of them approached Phillipe. She was too far away to hear what was being said but she could clearly see the way they pawed at his arms while they talked. She frowned.

  “Ready?” Amber said.

  “I don’t know,” Brigid replied.

  “I knew you’d back out. Come on, the cabs are leaving. You have no choice.”

  She allowed her friend to lead her across the street, her eyes on Phillipe the whole time. The girls were pressed up against him now and she could see they were wearing a lot less than she was. There was no point in taking her friends up to the front of the line now. Chances were he wouldn’t even be happy to see her here.

  Michael came out to find Phillipe being smothered by a couple of girls, his face stone-hard, his eyes staring out across the street, refusing to look down at the girls. “Ladies, I’m going to have to ask you to step back,” he said.

  They pouted but didn’t argue.

  “You okay, man?” Michael said, quiet enough that his words wouldn’t travel to the patrons in line.

  “Fine. They wouldn’t back off for me. One of these days, man …” His shoulders tensed and he forced them to relax. Women like that made his skin crawl and made it hard to keep control. It was worse than the violence.

  “You’ll lose your job.”

  “It’ll be worth it.”

  “Want me to cover the door and you can do a line walk?”

  “Yeah. Thanks.”

  Michael took up position in front of the door, his arms crossed so his wedding band was clearly visible, and Phillipe stepped out onto the sidewalk. He rolled his shoulders and set off at a brisk walk, the line of patrons on his left and the traffic on his right. They did these walks a few times a night to clear out underage kid
s taking up space in the line, or people who were on their second or third club of the night and were too drunk.

  He was two thirds of the way down the line, barely paying attention to the people waiting, when the sound of young women laughing made him cringe. He looked over and sure enough, another group of college girls in skirts and boots.

  The blonde in the black dress stepped to the side, revealing a petite brunette. At first glance she was just another girl out partying, but then he realized she was familiar. He stepped up to the rope. “Brigid?”

  She looked up, her eyes wide. “Oh, Phil. Hey.”

  “What are you doing here?”

  “Celebrating the end of exams with some friends. Are you working tonight?”

  There was something in her voice that told him she’d known the answer to that for a while now. “Why didn’t you come up to the door? I would have let you and your friends in right away. You don’t have to stand in line.”

  “Hey Brigid, who’s this?” It was the blonde.

  “Oh, this is Phil.”

  “How many of you are there?” he said, pulling his phone off his belt.

  “Uh, seven of us. Why?”

  He put the phone to his ear. “Michael, I’m bring seven VIPs up to the front of the line. I don’t care, these ladies aren’t waiting.” He hung up and lifted the rope. “Follow me.”

  He wrapped an arm around Brigid’s waist and they led the little parade up to the front of the line.

  “You’re lucky, there’s just enough space. I was just about to let that group of girls in.”

  “Thanks,” Phillipe said. He smiled at Brigid. “Go on in, enjoy your night.”

  “Thanks,” Brigid said. She smiled at him and hurried in after her friends.

  “Hey, why did they get to go in? We’ve been here longer,” one of the girls whined and that made his good deed feel all the sweeter.

  The club was loud, almost too loud. Sometimes Brigid wished she could shut off the shifter side of her senses. She followed her friends to the bar and ordered herself a cola. When Amber glared at her, she asked for a shot of rum in it. They downed their drinks quickly, too quickly for Brigid’s liking, and headed for the dance floor. At least here it was easy to relax. Brigid liked dancing and there weren’t too many creepy guys on the floor tonight.

  They danced through half a dozen songs or so, it was hard to tell really with the way the music all blended together, and then headed back to the bar for another round of drinks. They ended up in front of the other bartender, a woman not much older than they were, dressed in snug black clothes. It was obvious from the way she leaned on the bar or walked with her hips swaying that she was used to the men in the bar staring at her, and that she seemed to enjoy it on some level.

  The smile she directed at Brigid and her friends was thin compared to the one she’d just flashed at the young man ahead of them. “What’ll it be?” she asked.

  They rattled off their orders and she filled them, sliding each glass over to the proper person. “Anything else?” she asked.

  “Not right now,” Maya said. “But we’ll be back!”

  Brigid was the last to grab her drink so she caught the way the bartender rolled her eyes as she turned away. Doesn’t like us because she thinks we’re ditzy? Or because she thinks we’re competition?

  They managed to find a table against one wall and squished in together. They had to shout at each other to be heard.

  “Who was the guy at the door?” Maya shouted.

  “That’s Phil,” Brigid said. “My brother’s friend.”

  “He had his arm around you pretty tight,” Amber said. “Is there something going on between the two of you?”

  “Don’t be stupid,” Brigid said. “You think I’ve got time for that?”

  “Yeah, little miss perfect grades doesn’t have time for boys. All she has time for is books.” Maya laughed. “Too bad. I’d totally fuck him.”

  Brigid bristled but kept her gaze on her drink so Maya wouldn’t notice.

  “I know, right?” Amber added. “He looked like he was about to burst through that shirt. You have his number, right?”

  Brigid shrugged. “Somewhere. Probably on the fridge with the other family friends and shit. Why do you even care?”

  Amber was staring at her. “Um, did you see him?”

  “Yeah, he comes over to hang out with my older brother.” She was trying to play it cool but between the scantily clad women at the front door hanging off of Phillipe and now her friends going on about him, it was hard. You could just tell them. But one of them might tell Patrick and then he’ll lose it on me. What’s his problem anyway?

  “Oh my God. I know we’re too old for slumber parties but we’re having study night at your house the next time he’s over, okay?”

  Brigid rolled his eyes. “Patrick doesn’t like me bothering him when he’s gaming and he’s always made it clear that his buddies are off limits.”

  Maya tugged the top of her shirt so more of her cleavage was showing. “I’m sure there are some guests he wouldn’t mind entertaining.”

  “Ew. That’s my brother you’re talking about.”

  “I need another drink,” Amber said. She waved over a waitress and they all ordered something, except Brigid who was still sipping her rum and coke.

  “Light weight,” Maya said, elbowing Brigid. “You’re adorable, you know that?”

  “Love me?” Brigid said, giving her friend big doe-eyes.

  “Enough to take you home,” Maya joked. “Seriously though, you’re the cutest thing ever.”

  “And I’m a light weight, listen to you,” Brigid said, laughing.

  “Oh, look at that one!”

  They all turned as a six-foot tall, lean, muscled guy in jeans and flannel went by. All around her the girls were sighing and giggling. Brigid just rolled her eyes and sipped her drink.

  When the next round was gone, they headed back onto the dance floor. They were tipsy and giggling but that was half the fun. When their feet started to hurt, they called a couple cabs, split up based on who lived closest to whom, and headed home for the night.

  The exit was just off to the side of the building, away from the line at the front, so Brigid didn’t have the chance to see Phillipe on the way out. Instead she covertly pulled out her phone and sent him a text.

  We’re on our way out. Text you when I get home.

  She wasn’t as sneaky as she thought and Amber asked, “What ya doing?”

  She shrugged and put her phone away. “Just letting Michelle know I’m on my way home so she doesn’t worry.”

  “Your whole family is just so peachy, isn’t it?” Amber said.

  “Oh, we have our issues,” Brigid said.

  “Well then you hide them better than most people. You’re so freaking perfect.”

  “And you’re so very drunk.”

  Phillipe’s phone buzzed but there was a group of rowdy twenty-somethings at the front of the line that he had to keep in check and by the time it was clear to send them in, he’d forgotten about it. He watched them file in through the door and thought, I hope they don’t give Brigid and her friends trouble. Then again, I could do with busting a few heads tonight.

  He took a few deep breaths and forced himself to relax. Wouldn’t do to be losing control at work. Far too many people around.

  The tail end of his shift was busier than usual and by the time they closed the doors, he was beat. He helped stack the chairs as the waitresses and bartenders ran wet cloths over everything. The glasses were carted to the back to the washer and Michael was sweeping the floor. It took them half an hour to put the place to rights, but even that was too much after a night like this.

  “How was it inside?” Michael asked Coraline as they were all getting their stuff together in the back room.

  “Fine. Lots of the younger crowd lately, though. They all want these fruity little drinks. Or cheap beers. The girls don’t know how to tip and the guys all think they’re t
he hottest thing in the room.”

  “Mid-terms,” Phillipe said. He had his back to them.

  “What was that?”

  “It’s mid-terms. Probably all out celebrating that they finished exams.”

  “How would you know?”

  “Buddy’s sister is a student.”

  “Wait,” Michael said. “Is that who you escorted in?”

  Phillipe nodded. “Thought I’d do her a favor, been friends with the family a lot of years.”

  Coraline was on high alert. “You VIPed someone?”

  “My buddy’s sister. No big deal, right? We all get to do that once in a while. Have I ever taken advantage of it?”

  “Of course not,” Michael said. He yawned and stretched. “Okay, I gotta get home or the wife is going to start calling.”

  At the mention of phone calls, Phillipe suddenly remembered the text he hadn’t read.

  “Which girl?” Coraline asked.

  “Hmm?”

  “What was she wearing?”

  “Oh, I don’t know. Skirt, boots, blue top. She was with a group, six, no seven. A blonde I seem to remember seeing around my friend’s place before, the others were new to me.”

  “Uh, the blonde was in like killer heels?”

  “I don’t look at women’s shoes. She wasn’t wearing boots.”

  “Was she super tall?”

  “Yeah, she was the tallest in the group.”

  “Then she was wearing killer heels. Tight red dress?”

  “Yeah. And a smaller girl in a purple dress. Didn’t really notice the others.”

  “I saw them. Blue top you said? Must be rum and coke.”

  “If you say so. I didn’t see them again after I let them in.”

  “She something special to you?”

  “I’ve got plans tomorrow, actually have to get my ass to bed. Good night, Coraline.” He knew his avoidance of the question was telling but he didn’t care.

  The corner of her mouth arched up in a smile. “I can make sure you get to bed on time.”

  “No thanks. Told you, I’m not interested. See ya.” He gave a little wave and headed out the door.