cara mia || tommyinnit

xxxiv

"Tommy, I—" Chiara began before getting cut off by two hands, quickly pulling her into a tight hug. Tommy practically weakened as he held the girl as if he were afraid to let go.

"Sorry," he muttered softly into her hair. "Force of habit."

"Don't be," she answered as she wrapped her arms around his neck. This was not the greeting she had expected to receive.

It seemed as if neither wanted to let go before she began first, stepping back and taking off her shoes at the door. Tommy took off her jacket before guiding her to his kitchen, where he began making tea for himself and coffee for her.

"You remembered I hate tea," she softly laughed, watching him.

"Hard to forget anything about you," he quickly replied, still focused on the drinks. He slid down the counter to look for creamer. "What are you doing here?" he finally asked, still looking at the cabinets, and turned away from the girl.

Her posture straightened. "I had a lot to say, and it didn't feel like a text or voice call would do. Plus, you blocked me on Instagram, so..."

He knew that jab was coming. "I'm surprised you noticed. Figured you were too busy with another blonde." He watched some spoons in his sink and saw her tightened up through the window's reflection.

"Ouch," she spoke sarcastically. "Touché, Simons."

"Congrats on the tour," Tommy mentioned dryly as he turned on his heels and walked away to open the dishwasher that had just finished its rinse cycle. She stayed silently still as smoke softly blew out of the machine, and he began pulling the dishes out. "Funny, I had to hear it from the internet, but that wouldn't be the first time social media learns something about you before I do."

Chiara sighed as she put some clean dishes away with the boy. "Tommy... I came here to say sorry about that and about all of it. I wasn't being fair or truthful to you, and I should've consulted you before doing anything."

He moved back to the tea that had just finished steeping and took the tea bag out. He then poured the freshly made coffee into a glass of cold milk and added flavoring for her before stirring.

"Did you fly alone? You hate flying," he asked as he ignored her explanation and placed a few ice cubes in her drink to finish it off. He grabbed both cups and straightened his posture after being hunched over the counter for so long.

Her mouth went dry. "I didn't. I flew with... well, coming here was Kit's idea, but—" 

She didn't even finish before he abruptly stood up. That was all Tommy needed to send him over the edge.

He set the cups down on the sink and flexed his free hand out. "You have to be kidding me." He was practically laughing at this point as he covered his mouth in anguish.

"You didn't let me finish—"

"Do I need to?" His voice shattered through the house as he wiped around to finally look at the girl. "I bet he helped you with what to say, too, huh?" Her silence was the only confirmation Tommy needed as his head fell into his hands. "This is what's wrong with us, Ara. We've been dating for less than a year, and it's already hard."

"There's nothing going on between Kit and I."

"But there was. There are photos of you from the paparazzi together. He was at your house, apparently, and he's everyone on your social media! If I was hanging out with my — nonexistent, I might add — ex, wouldn't you be upset?"

Her breathing was staggered. "Yes, but—"

"No buts!" He sighed, trying not to laugh at his choice of wording as he roughly placed her coffee cup in front of her. He took a seat at his dining table, and Chiara sat adjacent to him. They sat in silence, and the only noise made was the few taps of her finger and the small sipping of tea coming from Tommy.