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Troy came walking back toward me, holding out his hand. “Give me your phone.”
“Why?”
“I’ll enter my number so we can keep each other informed. I’ll take this side of the mall.” He pointed. “You head in the other direction.”
I handed it to him, and he put his number into my contacts before we separated.
As I marched through the mall, I felt so disappointed in myself. How had I managed to lose poor Mr. Serrano on the first day of this task? Damn Troy had distracted me. But ultimately, this was my fault. I was supposed to be the responsible one. That was the very reason I was here in the first place.
About five minutes passed before my phone chimed. It was a text from Troy.
Troy: Anything?
I typed.
Aspyn: No.
Troy: Shit.
Aspyn: Where the hell could he have gone?
Troy: Fuck if I know. I tried the tobacco shop, but nothing.
Aspyn: Tobacco? He smokes?
Troy: He likes a good cigar.
Aspyn: Gross.
Troy: Not if it’s the right one. You never tasted a cigar?
Aspyn: Can you stop texting me and look for your grandfather, please?
Troy: I’m using voice to text. Still looking while I talk.
Aspyn: Anywhere else he likes to go?
The dots on the screen moved around.
Troy: Victoria’s Secret.
Aspyn: Cut the shit.
Troy: LOL. I’m serious. That just came to me. He could have gone there.
Aspyn: Why in God’s name would he be in a lingerie store?
Troy: My grandmother used to wear this body spray from there.
Oh. My heart clenched.
Aspyn: He still buys it?
Troy: Sprays it on his sheets.
Aspyn: Oh my God. That’s the fruity scent I always smell in his room.
Troy: Yep.
I stopped at the mall directory to check where Victoria’s Secret was located.
Aspyn: That’s on my side of the mall. Heading over there now.
Troy: Okay. I’ll keep looking on this end.
As I entered the store, I accidentally sideswiped a pile of colorful, clearance underwear, causing them to fall to the ground. I picked them up and dropped them on the table in a messy pile before rushing to the register.
“Excuse me. Can you tell me if an elderly man in a wheelchair was in here by any chance?” I asked the cashier.
To my surprise, she nodded. “Yes, actually. He left about a minute ago. He bought a bottle of Love Spell body mist.”
“Did you happen to catch which direction he went?”
“No, I’m sorry. I wasn’t watching.”
Damn it.
I texted Troy as I walked out of the store.
Aspyn: They said your grandfather was in here buying the spray! He left just before I got here. I’m still looking.
Troy: Did you leave with any new underwear?
Aspyn: Very funny.
Troy: Because your panties have been in a bunch all day. You could use some new ones.
Aspyn: Don’t text me again until you’ve found your grandfather.
Swearing under my breath, I shoved my phone in my clutch.
After wandering my side of the mall for another twenty minutes, I came up empty-handed.
Suddenly, I noticed Troy walking toward me. Looking frustrated, he held his hands up in defeat.
He stopped when he reached me and ran his hand through his hair. “I need to get him a damn phone.”
“He doesn’t have one?”
“He’s got an old flip phone, but he never takes it with him.”
“We’ll find him.” I sighed, noticing genuine concern in his eyes.
This is all my fault.
I swallowed. “I mean, he’s got to be somewhere in here, right? He wouldn’t have left.” Then a lightbulb went off in my head. “Let’s ask mall security to page him.”
He snapped his fingers. “That’s a fucking great idea. Why the hell didn’t I think of that?”
“Because you’re not very bright?”
He glared, and we took off together in search of help. But before we had a chance to find anyone, Troy tapped my arm and stopped walking. He pointed to a flower shop.
Through the glass, I spotted Mr. Serrano, sniffing a large bouquet of flowers the attendant had just handed him.
Troy rushed through the doors as I followed.
“Why the hell did you take off?” he yelled. “We’ve been worried sick.”
Mr. Serrano didn’t even flinch as he continued to smell the yellow roses. “I figured I’d leave you two to go on with your arguing.”
Troy tightened his jaw. “You could’ve told us you were leaving.”
“Did my leaving help you two stop bickering?”
Troy sighed. “Well, yeah, but…”
“Then mission accomplished.”
“You nearly gave us a heart attack in the process, Mr. Serrano.”
“How far do you think I could’ve possibly traveled in this chair?”
“Anything can happen in a place like this,” I said. “You could’ve been robbed or taken advantage of very easily.”
His expression softened. “I’m sorry to upset you, pretty lady.”
“Why are you buying flowers anyway?” Troy asked.
“These were your grandmother’s favorite—yellow roses. But they’re not for me. They’re for you.”
Troy’s eyes narrowed. “For me?”
“Yeah. For you to give to Aspyn and apologize for being such a knucklehead.”
I held up my palm. “That’s really not necessary.”
