Backup Girl [Tom Hiddleston] {EBT book 2/4}

Burberry budget

Kate sat at the table, spoon half way to her mouth. She had just asked Tom what they were doing for New Year's eve.
"The Lanesborough? For real?"
"Yes and not only that, your name was on the invite."
Kate took a deep breath. "I need to shop." She had planned on going to the Donmar with Tom, but since NYE was tomorrow she would have to find a dress today. No pressure.
"Take your time, darling. You have all day." He stopped and frowned. "Would it be weird if I gave you a credit card?"
"Yes, Tom. Yes it would."
He laughed, "you don't even want to think about it? I make, well, an uncomfortable amount of money just for doing something I love. And I don't spend a lot of it, so I, um, have a lot of it. I love you and we live together and what's mine is yours, so... would you think about it?"
"OK. I guess if we're living together we have to talk about all this, huh."
"We don't really, just say yes and let me pay for everything."
It was Kate's turn to laugh. "Not going to happen, Hiddleston. But I'll think about it."

Kate waited on the corner for Natasha, a takeaway coffee in each hand. "Sorry, Kate, I'm late, I know, sorry." She apologised, kissing Kate on the cheek.
"Don't be, you're doing me a favour! I'm starting to think I need to hire a stylist." She looked over at her friend. "What's your hourly rate?"
Natasha laughed. "For you? Coffee will get you half a day. For lunch you get the whole day."
"Excellent. Now help, please."
Natasha led her down the street and they stopped occasionally to look in windows, not quite finding what they were looking for straight away. Natasha was also a singer and musician and they had met when they worked together on a couple of Disney tracks. Kate had called her as soon as she decided to move to London.
"Ah, here we are. You can never go wrong with Burberry."
Kate stood in the middle of the store for a moment. Without turning her head she could see at least 10 gowns she wanted to try. Maybe I should take the credit card. She chuckled to herself.
"Now, do I have to coordinate with the cast or can you cover it? How is it going by the way?"
"I'm getting a new one tomorrow so it's not a problem. It's healing nicely apparently. I see the surgeon again tomorrow and he wants to try something lighter with a tiny bit of give in it, and if it's OK next week then I can try playing a bit. I'm going mad not being able to."
"I can imagine. Ooh, what about this one? You look fantastic in blue." Kate nodded. "Go get your gear off and I'll keep looking and bring it in."
Kate undressed to her underwear in the fitting room and Natasha appeared with 5 dresses on hangers. "Girl's gotta have options, Kate." She winked when Kate's jaw dropped.
3 of the 5 were varied shades of blue so Kate tried those first. One other was red and the other white and she wasn't sure they'd go with her skin. The first blue dress she tried was long, fitted, strapless satin with a sleeveless lace and crystal accented overlay. It was perfect. She opened the curtain to show Natasha. "Holy hell woman, that was made for your figure. It's even the right length!" She chuckled, knowing Kate's short stature was always a problem with dresses.
Kate paid for the dress and the next stop was for shoes. In between Natasha asked about Tom.
"Actually, can I ask your opinion on something? Tom wants to give me a credit card."
"Why is that a problem?"
"It isn't, it just feels a bit, I don't know."
"Like you're giving up some of your power? Or it means if anything happens you'll feel like you owe him."
"Yes and yes, I think."
"I don't know him like you do, but I don't think he's like that. Men aren't that complicated in general. He's offering because it's one less thing you have to worry about. He's taking you to events where he wants to show you off, he knows you want to look fit to be on his arm, and he doesn't want you to send yourself broke doing it."
"Hm." Kate raised an eyebrow. "I hadn't thought of it like that."
"I think Jimmy Choos are in order," Natasha grinned.
Kate went with simple silver shoes to go with the dress, so as not to take away from the detailing. She also bought a silver satin shawl to protect her shoulders from the London winter.
After lunch with Natasha they went their separate ways and Kate walked home. Home. It was her home now, too. Her things would be arriving next week. She had known going back to freelance work would mean inconsistent income, and so had Tom. She would tell him she would take the credit card.
3pm. He'd be rehearsing with Hadley soon, taking his time to get ready. Grabbing her coat, hat and gloves, Kate went back out and used her keys to lock the door. Our door.

There were already fans gathering outside, Tom always went out early to meet them and sign autographs. With her coat and hat on they didn't recognise her and she snuck in through the stage door, almost running in to Hadley who was on his way out. "Sorry, Kate, I didn't see you. Everything OK?"
"Yeah just thought I'd wander over and say hi to Tom. Is he around?"
"In his dressing room, tell him to call me when he's ready would you?"
She was getting to know the theatre well, and knew where to find Tom's dressing room. She knocked lightly on the door and he opened it. "Hello darling," he smiled. "I wasn't expecting you."
"I know," Kate sat down on the couch. "Sometimes I get to surprise you. I wanted to talk to you about something. It won't take long."
"OK, we've got plenty of time. What's on your mind?"
"Would it make you happy if I took the credit card?"
"Only if it makes you happy. Then, yes. I don't want you to send yourself broke attending events with me. That's not fair. And I'm happy to support you. I know you're too independent to take advantage of it."
"OK. Then I will. I might have been a little stubborn this morning."
"Don't ever change Katherine, I love you the way you are."