I Do, Do You? (T.H.)

Chapter 8 • "She Was The Love of Your Life"

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"Just promise me, you won't ever leave me hanging just like she did?" - Tom, 2015
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Flashback

"It wasn't even a big deal, Hailey!" The two of you came home rushed after a planned date she and Tom had for the past few months.

They haven't had enough time for each other because Tom's been filming a new movie and now that they finally had the date they've been looking forward to, it was crashed by his ex-girlfriend.

"Well, it is to me. It's fine if she was in the same restaurant as us but you just had to call her to sit beside us! What's with that?!"

"I was just being nice. Are you mad or are you jealous because you know she's an ex-girlfriend for a reason, right?"

"I don't even know anymore!"

The two fight all the time, but it was the first time they were full on screaming at each other. It wasn't a pleasant sight.

"Hailey, Katie is an ex-girlfriend, okay? We're broken up. Bloody hell, she's the one who left me! For no goddamn reason so you don't have to worry about anything!"

"She was the love of your life."

"I thought that, too. But then I met you!"

That made Hailey stop talking. Tom sighed, "Hailey, I love you, and only you, okay? Katie doesn't even come close. We dated for half a year then she left me, just like nothing happened. I was broken but then you made me whole again."

"Tom, I-uh, I'm sorry."

"It's okay, I would react the same if it was you but you don't need to worry about anything, okay? Especially about Katie." Tom walked closer and held both her hands, kissing the back of each simultaneously. "Just promise me, you won't ever leave me hanging just like she did?"

Hailey smiled, seemingly sure, "Of course, Tom. I promise. I love you."

That promise. That promise that was made to be broken.

--

The four of them met with Lisa who hasn't been talking to Hailey the whole day. Hailey thought it has something to do with what happened the night before so she decided not to approach her or she might get the wrong idea.

Jenna and Harrison were discussing about the decorations of the wedding venue. It's going to be in an isolated island with a really nice view that you can literally smell the nature around it.

Hailey saw Tom just looking at the view before him so she decided to talk to him. "Hey."

Tom didn't need to look to know who it was. He knew that voice too much. "Hey."

Clearing her throat before speaking, Hailey turned to look at Tom, "Thank you uh for taking care of me last night, they told me. I'm sorry for the way I acted."

Tom just shrugged, "Don't drink again. Especially if you don't have people around you who don't know how to handle you."

"I know, I'm sorry. I'm glad you were there, though."

"Well, I'm not always going to be there." Ouch. Hailey thought.

"Did I say anything weird last night? I mean, aside from the boyfriend thingy, and the vanilla one. I'm really sorry about that, by the way."

"Nothing. Just your usual."

Hailey sighed, an awkward silence suddenly engulfing the both of them. Then he spoke again, "Did you tell Lisa to ask me out? Because she did."

Oh. That broke Hailey's heart. She knew Lisa was going to ask him, she even took part in it, but she didn't know what she'd actually do after it. They've been broken up for years, so she doesn't have any right over Tom.

"She just told me she likes you, and I just said that she should go for it. I mean, assuming that you're not dating anyone right now."

Tom finally looked at Hailey, "Well I'm going to go on that date with her tonight and I'm just telling you because I might be back in our room a bit late, or not at all."

"Okay." Hailey simply answered, not even wanting to overthink about what he said.

However, Tom's next question had Hailey taken aback, "Are you okay with it, though?"

"Okay uh, okay with what?"

"Me going on a date with Lisa while you know, we're here."

Hailey wanted to say no, but she felt guilt washing over her because for one, Tom didn't need to ask for her acceptance of it but he still did. Even though he's mad at her, he still thought about her feelings. "Of course, Tom, it's your choice. I don't have a say in it. You can date whoever you want, I want you to be happy."

Tom threw a smile at Hailey, the first he ever did when they saw each other again. The first time in three years, even.

--

The night came and Hailey was tossing and turning around her bed. Tom had been out for hours for his date with Lisa and she couldn't sleep thinking about what's happening in the date. She'd come to the terms that maybe Tom won't be back until the morning.

Just then, Hailey heard voices outside the cabin. She looked at the window and saw Tom and Lisa talking.

She put her ears on the door, trying to listen to what they were talking about but she couldn't hear anything. They were too far away and Tom had his back on her.

They were talking for a while, laughing until Hailey saw Lisa lean in towards Tom, she was leaning in for a kiss, Hailey was so sure about that.

When Tom placed his hands on Lisa's face, that's when Hailey lost it. She turned around and stopped looking, going back to her bed.

Hailey didn't know how long it passed and that she was just staring into space. Just then, she heard someone clearing their throat, finally having your full attention. It was Tom, looking at her weirdly.

"It's 3 in the morning, why are you still up?"

"I couldn't sleep." Because you were out on a fucking date! Hailey thought.

"Because I was on a date?" Tom curiously asked.

"Shit, did I say that out loud?" What the fuck Hailey!

Tom chuckled, walking over to his bed, placing his things on the nightstand beside it. "No, but now I know that's what you're thinking."

It was the first time Hailey heard Tom laugh, just like how he smiled earlier. Hailey smiled at the thought that she's making progress with Tom.

"You look like you had fun." Hailey sat up straight, looking at Tom.

"I did, actually. Why did you think so?"

"Because you're willingly talking to me. You told me on the first day not to talk to you unless needed."

"Do you not want me to talk to you?" Hailey suddenly panicked inside and Tom noticed it, he knew Hailey too much.

"No, no, I uhm, I want you to."

However, Tom's cheery state suddenly became serious. He did say that to her on the first day. He realized he's letting his walls down, not knowing what was happening to him. He didn't want to.

She broke you heart, Tom. She broke you. Tom kept telling himself. He didn't want to get too comfortable because in reality, his feelings for Hailey never left, he was just in denial.

"I'm going to bed." Tom ended the conversation abruptly, raising his blanket up so he wouldn't be able to see you.

Hailey frowned at his behavior, thinking that she did go too far, being comfortable around him when she shouldn't be.

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