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

Broken

Kate paced the loungeroom waiting for Tom to come home. She had already vomited everything left in her stomach and it was a fight not to run to the bathroom every 2 minutes. She wasn't sure if she could actually go through with this, but she had to. She promised herself she could pass out when she got to the hotel. She was reconsidering her previous idea of just leaving him a note and going when she heard his key in the door. It was all she could do not to run and throw herself in to his arms.
"Hello my darli- Kate? What's wrong?"
"Sit down, Tom."
"Just tell me what's wrong."
"Please, Tom. Sit down and I'll explain."
"Kate you're scaring me," he said as he sank down to the lounge.
"I'm sorry. I never ever want to hurt you, and this isn't going to make any sense right now but one day it will," she drew a shaky breath. "I'm leaving tonight, I'll do the tour with Ed and then I'm going back to Australia. Tom, I'm not coming back."
"I don't understand."
"I need to go back. I decided last night and it's not fair to stay here knowing I'm leaving and not returning. After the tour I'll go straight home and I'll organise for the rest of my things to be sent to Australia."
"Are you... are we... over? I can't understand where this has come from. Yesterday we were talking about children and puppies and now- is that what-" Kate shook her head. "Just tell me what I've done and how to fix it!"
"My darling sweet Thomas, you haven't done anything. You're the most amazing thing to happen to me in my life, and you will always be in my heart."
"Then why? Kate please don't do this, just stay until the tour and we can talk about it," she could see tears glistening in his eyes. "Please don't leave me." He said so softly it was almost inaudible.
"I can't, I'm sorry. It's not fair on either of us for me to stay when it won't change anything. I have to go, Tom."
Kate stood up and walked to her suitcase near the door. Tom hadn't noticed it when he came in. "You've packed already? Please Kate. Please don't do this. We can work it out, we can get through it. Please." He was standing in front of her, his eyes boring in to hers and he pulled her forcefully in to him.
"Tom," she sobbed in to his chest. She was amazed she had held it in for this long, but knew she was about to crumble. "I have to go, Tom."
She pulled away and using all the strength she had left, went out the door to find a cab. She was no sooner on the footpath than she had a message from him. 'I'm only letting you go because you were so upset when I tried to stop you. I won't stop fighting though. I love you. I'm going to text you in the morning to check you are OK.'
Kate got in to the cab and couldn't hold it in any more, she fell forward and sobbed in to her knees. By the time she arrived at the hotel she had herself just together enough not to draw attention, and she was taken straight to the room booked in Luke's name. She sat down on the bed and sent Luke a text, collapsing backwards on to the bed. Unable to keep her eyes open any longer, she kicked off her shoes and curled up under the blanket.

"Thomas," Luke answered the phone warily.
"Where is she Luke? What's going on?"
"Who?"
"Please don't play dumb with me I'm about to lose my mind. What the fuck is wrong with Kate? I know you know something."
"I know she's going back to Australia after the tour, and I knew she was going to tell you tonight. That's it. You're hurt, and I understand, but there's nothing sinister going on here."
"Where is she?"
"I don't know, but she's safe."
"Luke, where is she?" Tom was not quite yelling, but only just.
"Tom, do you want me to come over there?"
"Fuck no. I want you to tell me where she is!"
"I can't, and you know I can't."
"Is she scared of me?" He asked softly.
"No Tom, not at all. She's heartbroken and wants to be on her own. She knows if she stays with you you'll talk her out of it."
"That was the plan, yes."
"She doesn't want to be talked out of it. She wants to go, and as much as it kills you, you're going to let her."

That night neither Kate or Tom slept restfully. Kate woke at 2am and rolled over, searching for Tom's warmth. Remembering why she was alone she got up and spent the rest of the morning watching television on the couch. Tom found it impossible to calm his brain and drift off, tossing and turning until he fell asleep around 4am from exhaustion. At 7am Kate sent a text to him. 'I am ok, I'm in a hotel. Please don't worry about me. I'm sorry.'