Chapter Text
Chapter 1
It was finally 5pm, Tuesday. End of the working day. Time to go home and relax. You shut your computer down, made sure everything was off your desk and headed out, saying goodbye to your work colleagues, joking how you weren't in until Monday now, laughing at their pretend jealous faces. Hey, you were allowed a break too, and most of the younger ones had already been to the recent festivals and gigs that were typically on at this time of the year.
You walked down the stairs to exit the building and caught a flash of light at the stairwells window. You cursed under your breath when you saw it was raining, but decided not to let this ruin your happy mood that you didn't have work for the next 5 days. It didn't look heavy.
Just as you reached the doors to the building, another flash of lightening made you jump and a crash of thunder rumbled off in the distance. The rain was coming down in fat drops much harder than it had looked a few seconds ago. It had been hot and sunny this morning when you'd left for work, so you hadn't brought an umbrella or even a raincoat. All you were wearing was a flowery black sun-dress with your smart black suit jacket over it (to look at least a bit professional even though work had a pretty relaxed dress code) and slip on black shoes. Your canvas black shoes that you would likely have to throw away when you got home because they would be soaked and ruined. They were your favourite pair too!
“Thor is pretty pissed,” you said aloud, not really expecting anyone to know your reference. “Could those drops of rain be any bigger?” One of your colleagues, who had also stopped by the entrance to huddle under the canopy, laughed lightly, pulled up his shirt collar and strode out to walk the short distance to the car park. Bastard could have offered me a lift, you thought bitterly. It was at least a thirty minute walk to your flat. Oh well, may as well get on with it.
You stepped out into the rain and almost instantly got drenched as each raindrop was intent on hitting you in the face. Eventually, after about 7 minutes, you reached a crossroad that was notorious for keeping pedestrians waiting for ages, your arms crossed to try and protect you even a little from the apparent deluge, strands of your hair sticking to your face.
You suddenly got the sensation of being crowded, but put it down to the after work rush of people trying to get across this road as quickly as possible. It was only when you realised that you were no longer getting wet that you looked up and noticed that someone was holding an umbrella over you. You turned around and were struck by gorgeous blue eyes and charming white smile. Flicking your gaze over the rest of him, you notice he is clean shaven with short brown hair, white shirt beneath a blue blazer and black trousers. His no-longer-needed pair of sunglasses dangled in the neck of the shirt.
He just exuded sexual appeal. You may actually have made a small whimpering sound, but thankfully, the sound of the rain beating onto the umbrella drowned it out.
“Hello,” the man, tall man, well over 6 foot, said. He was holding the large umbrella over the both of you.
“Hi,” you replied. A drop of water ran from your forehead into your eyes blurring your view. You wiped them quickly.
“Look, I know we don't know each other, but I couldn't keep walking behind you in the same direction without offering my umbrella to you.”
You wipe another rivulet of water from your face. “It's fine, really. Thank you, but I'm already soaked,” you said.
He clenched his jaw slightly, as if berating himself, and you idly wondered what it would be like if he were to bite you. “I knew I should have offered...” He gestured behind him, indicating that he'd been thinking about it probably 5 minutes further back. “Be that as it may, I really wouldn't feel right knowing that a young beautiful woman such as yourself is getting even wetter when I'm present with a perfectly good umbrella.”
Oh! The innuendo! you thought to yourself. You had no doubts this man made many women wetter in his presence. “Uh, really it's fine,” you say with a kind smile. “I've not got very much further to go.”
“How far are you going?” he asked.
All the way, if you let me! Dear god, when was the last time I had sex? “Marylebone Road,” you said gesturing in that general direction.
“I'm going to Baker Street tube station,” the man said, his smile wider now. “Please, let me walk with you since you're heading my way anyway. If it makes you feel better, you can take the umbrella and I'll walk in the rain.” Then he said something that if you'd been having any doubts, changed your mind instantly. “Your shoes are still salvageable.”
You noticed that the light changed in favour of the walking kind and with a nod, you started walking ahead of him. He took one long stride to catch up with you, holding the umbrella mostly over you, his right shoulder getting damp. “I'm Tom, by the way,” he said making polite conversation.
You tell him your name. “Nice to meet you,” you said taking his hand so he could give it a shake. It was slightly awkward considering you were both facing forward. Your right hand bumped against his chest, nearly knocking his glasses away. You registered a lightly muscled chest as it brushed him. You apologised with a blush and he just laughed saying it was alright.
Tom was chatty. He told you about a play he was going to see that his friend was starring in tomorrow night. You told him you love that play, that you'd seen an older production of it many years ago in school. He told you about how he was going for an audition in a few weeks for a long running play himself and how excited he was to be getting back to theatre. Before you'd taken the breath in to ask, he told you he'd been in television, but theatre was his first love and if he could get into this play, he'd be set for at least a year and a half and not have to worry about paying the rent as television work was far and few between.
He then asked you about yourself. You mentioned that you were nothing special, told him what job you did and that you blissfully had a few days off to relax. Tom told you not to be so down on your work, that if you didn't do it, nobody would. He was a very happy and positive person. You'd never known anyone to be so upbeat. It was refreshing. And it helped he was easy on the eyes.
It wasn't long before you stopped walking. Tom nearly carried on but managed to stop before he carried the umbrella away. He swung round and looked at you. “Well, this is my road,” you said with a hint of disappointment in your voice, that your walk had ended.
Tom looked around as if he didn't know where you were. He smiled. “Oh, so it is.” He smiled ruefully and took in a breath. “Do you want to keep my umbrella?”
“Oh, no, it's okay. I wouldn't feel right. It looks sturdy and expensive. A luxury in London. It looks like it would do well in the wind.”
Tom laughed. It was a hearty laugh. Genuine. “It has seen me a few winters and windy days,” he admitted. “I'll tell you what; you keep the umbrella, and...” He reached into his trousers pocket and pulled out a piece of paper and a small blue pen that looked like it had been pinched from Argos. He handed the umbrella to you and lifted a knee so he could use it as a base to write. “This is my mobile number. I have it on all the time.” He handed the paper to you, but didn't take the umbrella back. “Why don't you give me a call. We can make an arrangement for you to give it back to me, say, tomorrow evening?”
You placed your free hand on your hip. “Aren't you seeing your friend in that play?” you asked playfully.
“This is true, but it only starts at seven thirty. Maybe we could meet for an early dinner?” His eyes widened with excitement. “You could come to the play too! I have a spare ticket.”
You contemplate his offer. You would love to see the play again, and it was obvious you found this man attractive. Maybe it wouldn't be such a bad thing to go on a date with a chivalrous young man. It had been ages since your last one, which had ended in disappointment.
You smiled coyly at him. “I'll think about it.” You make a show of putting the paper with his number on it in your handbag so he knows you won't just throw it away as soon as he turns his back. “But wait! Don't you need this?”
Tom steps back and lets the rain pour on him. He holds his hand palm up gauging the strength of the flow. “Nah,” he shrugged. “It's getting lighter.” He smiles, or has never stopped smiling since you met, and waves. He walks away from you. “Call me!” he shouts back to you, and throws a cheeky look your way.
You chuckle to yourself and turn up your road. You move the umbrella back and look up at the stormy sky. There is a patch of blue and the evening sky is trying to poke through. “Thanks Thor,” you say out load, but to no one in particular.
You decided to text him rather than call him, but waiting until about 10pm to do it. Ok, you're on for tomorrow evening. What time and where?
He answers fairly quickly. Ah, I knew you wouldn't be able to resist the lure of the theatre! 6pm outside Leicester Square tube station? We can have dinner at the steakhouse next to it and then walk to the theatre after.
Ok. I'll see you then.
Brilliant! Tom x
He finished his message with a kiss, how cute. He reminded you of an excited puppy! And now, you were equally excited. You had a date. And you couldn't wait.
TBC