Witness Protection Program (Tom Hiddleston)

Chapter 16: Kane and Darkness

“Should we go downstairs yet?” Tom asked Wyatt.

The young cowboy grinned mischievously. “Do what you want. I’m just going to wait around and watch the fireworks,” he replied.

“Fireworks? You’re seriously expecting fireworks?” Tom asked in a panicked voice.

The light in Wyatt’s eyes was comical. “Maybe. After all, you did kind of kiss her and she did kind of stomp on your face because of it, and she hasn’t been speaking to you since then.”

“We had a mutual misunderstanding,” Tom sighed. “It was more complicated than that.”

“I could tell,” Wyatt said in a bland voice. “She spent an hour crying when you two got home, and then she stayed up all night eating ice cream and watching movies with you in them.”

“Really?”

Wyatt sniggered. “No. Not the bit with the ice cream, and none of them were your movies, although she did put in Iron Man 2 at one point.”

“Robert does do some fabulous work,” Tom conceded.

Wyatt shrugged. “It’s all right.”

“And what about my work?”

Wyatt grinned. “You? You’re a horrible actor, man. You’re so bad even Kate hates you.”

They laughed together, and Wyatt leaned back in his chair, appraising Tom silently. “You know, man, you really are a good actor. I saw you in that one movie with the...the...the big ship and the guy with the eye patch and that one dude with long, blond hair. Kate dragged me to the theater to see it.”

“You mean Thor: The Dark World?” Tom laughed. “I’m kind of surprised you saw that one, to be honest. It’s the work I’m best known for, but you don’t look like the kind of guy who enjoys superhero films.”

“It may be your most famous work, but it isn’t your best work,” said a female voice from the doorway. “Your best work, I think, is the one where you show your naked rear end on camera.”

Tom froze. Rita was standing in the doorframe, looking just as beautiful as ever. Her smile was as radiant as the sun, and her long, blond hair was pulled up in a ponytail he longed to untie. He could imagine watching its lovely, golden tresses fall slowly, carpeting her bare back as his fingertips traced her sides slowly.

“Would that be Deep Blue Sea?” Wyatt mocked, winking at Rita. “Kate never shuts up about your beautiful, tight butt. In fact, I think I heard her say one time she really wanted to smack it.”

Tom flushed bright crimson, and Rita grinned. Her dimples pressed firmly into her face, making Tom hurt even more that he hadn’t talked to her all week. “Really, Tom. It’s okay. We’re just messing with you,” she explained. “Kate never said anything like that, although I bet she thinks it. Potatoes are almost done, you two.”

Wyatt whistled. “Wait ‘till you taste her potatoes. Rita’s a hell of a cook.”

“I know,” Tom complimented her. “I’ve had her spaghetti before.”

Now it was Rita’s turn to blush.”I had almost forgotten about that to be honest,” she admitted. “What are you boys up to in here?”

Wyatt shrugged. “Talking. Talking ain’t against the law, is it?”

“Not last I checked,” Tom added, “Although, I am not as familiar with American laws as I am with British ones.” He looked up at Rita and winked, to which she promptly rolled her eyes in disgust.

Wyatt rolled his eyes. “Geez. You guys are killing me. Just apologize to each other! I bought some kiwi the other day for you guys to eat while you sing Kumbaya.”