Unexpected Encounter: A Second Chance at Love

"Don't even ask—" Tina groaned in frustration. "Dad is literally threatening me to go out for dinner with this guy I have only met once."

"A date?"

"Sort of," she sighed. "I really don't have the energy to argue with him anymore. You know how good he is when it comes to words, he will shut me up in no time. It's better if I just go out with him and get over it."

"Yeah, uncle is very stubborn," Rachael chuckled.

"He is very manipulative too," Tina remarked. "I mean, can't really blame him. He is a politician."

"I think it's nice he is making you do this." When Tina did not say anything, she added, "Alright, come over and feel free to raid my wardrobe."

"I am already on my way, I'll be there in fifteen minutes."

After hanging up the call, Rachael tossed her phone aside.

"What did she say?"

"She is going out with someone so she wanted to borrow a dress."

"Date?" Andrew raised his brows.

"Sounded like one," she answered. "I thought things were good between her and Ben again." When Tina agreed to join Ben for the care ride back home, she had thought things were okay between them and that they had made up.

Before he could comment on it, Rachael added, "Well, it's for the best I guess. If Ben is really not interested in taking things further, it's best for Tina to move on."

"It's not that he is not interested, honey. He is just a little reluctant." Andrew grabbed his phone from the bedside table. "I am sure he will come around soon."

"Whom are you calling?" she inquired as she approached him.

"Ben." He dialed his number. "Let me inform him about this dinner thing."

"What if you tell him and he just let it pass?"

"Then we stop telling him when Tina goes on another date." He tapped the tip of her nose.

Rachael pouted her lips and wrapped her arms around his waist. "I really want them to work things out. They look very cute together."

"Hmm, but there is a limit to how much we can push as third parties in a relationship, right?" She nodded. "Don't stress about them too much, they will do what they feel is best for them." He kissed her forehead.

...

[Samuel's apartment]

"What happened to you?" Joshua inquired. "Why do you look so gloomy?"

Ben was about to answer when his phone started ringing. When he saw the caller ID, he quickly answered it. "Boss—"

"Are you still at Samuel's place?" Andrew asked.

"Yes boss, we just finished discussing the plan," he replied. "Is there anything you want?"

"I don't want anything, I just called to inform you that Tina is going on a date with someone tonight."

Ben pursed his lips and frowned. "With whom?"

"I don't know," Andrew remarked. "But I do know that she is coming here to change. So basically, you have around fifteen minutes to come here if you want to."

After hanging up the call, Ben got up and chucked down the remaining alcohol in his glass. He then quickly grabbed his keys from the table and rushed out of the apartment.

"Hey, where are you going?" Samuel got up too. "Is everything okay?"

...

[Collins Mansion]

"Why did you tell him that it's a date?"

"Didn't you tell me it's a date?" Andrew tossed his phone aside.

"Yeah but it could be just a normal dinner. I mean—"

"It is a date," he cut her off. "Maybe Tina thinks it's not but for the man, it is a date."

Rachael sighed and helplessly shook her head. "Alright, I will go down. Tina will be here soon."

When she tried to walk away, Andrew wrapped his arms around her waist and hugged her from behind. "Why do you always try to run away from me these days? I feel very neglected."

"When did I run away from you?" She chuckled. "I am literally with you all the time."

"Hmm—" He kissed her shoulder. "But that is not enough. You have to start spending more time with me."

"If I start huddling around you all day, what if you get bored of him?" She pinched his hand. "What if you start losing interest?"

"Seriously?" He grabbed her shoulder and flipped her around. "You really think I will lose interest in you?"

When she chuckled, he raised his brows. "Babe, I don't think you know how madly I am in love with you. Like I am desperate for your love, for you, for us. It's crazy, okay? I am crazy for you."

Rachael hooked her arms around his neck and moved closer. "I know you won't, I was teasing you."

"But what you just said was kinda hot." She bit her lower lips and ran her fingers through the back of his hair. Her eyes locked on his. "Too bad Tina is coming over otherwise you would have gotten so lucky."

"What are the chances that I get lucky after she is gone?" He tightened his arms around her waist.

"Get me some cheesecake for dessert and then I'll think about it." She placed her hand on his chest and pushed him away. But before she could move, he pulled her closer.

"You want dessert?" When Rachael nodded, he added, "Do you know what I want for dessert?"

He moved closer and whispered in her ears. "You, I want you for dessert."

Rachael closed her eyes when he kissed her earlobes before trailing kisses down her neck.

He slipped his hand inside her t-shirt and caressed her bare soft skin. "Can I have my dessert before dinner?"

As his hands started trailing upwards, Rachael's phone started ringing.

"That must be Tina." She pursed her lips to suppress her laugh when she saw Andrew's annoyed expression.

"We really need to throw our phones away," he grumbled as he stepped away, freeing her from his embrace.

"Don't worry, you can have a double dessert tonight." She gave him a peck on his lips before grabbing her phone from the bed.

….