Just in Time (A Tom Hiddleston Fan Fic)

Chapter 2: How It All Began

As I ready to leave my townhouse to meet up with Ben and Tom for dinner, I check my reflection one more time in the entryway mirror.

I've chosen a bohemian dress in earth tones. It's casual but fitted, and it comes just above my knee. To cover the spaghetti straps, I'm wearing a cropped denim jacket and paired it with natural leather stiletto boots. At my height, a girl needs all the help she can get.

Sylvie says that I look like my mom. Where my mom has sandy brown hair, mine is naturally light red. It's not that color right now. It hasn't been for years. I maintain my hair in a summery California honey blond shade 365/24/7, and no one who knows me in a professional capacity knows my true hair color.

My mom's eyes are blue, but mine tend toward a gray color and, depending on my mood and what I'm wearing, they can appear almost slate or pewter. My fair complexion is the same as hers, and my frame and build are similar to my mom's, except that I have a bit more flair to my hips. Nothing to worry over, as I keep in shape with regular kickboxing and rock climbing.

I shake off the comparisons in my mind. After all, if I am like my mom, I'm relieved it's in looks only.

I check the little bit of makeup I've applied, tuck a lock of my recently-curled hair behind my ear, grab my keys and purse, and I walk to my car parked out front. Because I try to live life simply, I don't generally buy expensive things. My furniture and home decor are modest and some are things I've found in second-hand shops or at swap meets. My taste in clothing is generally simple, with only a few items that are expensive. My car, however, is a different story. Standing in the driveway for a moment, I can't help but smile at the 7-series BMW that awaits me.

"Hi, baby, did you miss me?" I say, as I run a hand across her fender. I slide into the drivers seat, and I'm immediately wrapped in the most supple leather I've ever felt. It's almost like it's caressing me. Yes, the first time I sat in my car's driver seat, I knew I had to have her. That, and the fact that she can go from zero to sixty faster than any other production model in her class, and I was sold.

I back out of the driveway and head toward the restaurant that Ben has chosen. I know Ben chose it because it's his favorite, some little English-style pub that's not trendy but stylish. I think Ben picks it because it reminds him of home. What reminds me of home are lots of peanut butter sandwiches and shopping bags used as suitcases.

When I pull into the valet area, I see Ben and Tom exiting their car and walking toward the entrance. Ben is in front, with Tom lagging slightly behind. Tom is dressed in a black slacks, a light gray jacket, and a white button up shirt open a couple of buttons at the neck. What catches my eye is the way his ass looks as the jacket vent opens in back when he puts his hands in his pockets.

No, Tom, just stop walking and stand there for a few minutes...or hours. Just until I get tired of the sight of your derrière, I think.

Just then, Tom does stop and look over his shoulder at me. I don't know if it's because I have mental telepathy or if it's because the valet has been holding open my door and asking, 'Miss, are you alright,' like fifty times. "Yes, I'm fine. Thank you," I say as I swing my legs from the car. By the time I stand, Tom is in front of me, extending his hand.

"I thought for a moment they were going to have to bring you a to-go order in your car," Tom says, taking in the sight of me from head to toe. "That would have been a shame since I wouldn't have seen you in that dress," he says with a slight smile. "If I had been brought a to-go order, I would have only accepted it if you had delivered it wearing carhop roller skates," I say with a small smile of my own.

Tom laughs and turns to hold out his arm, just like the perfect gentleman. I take it, and we walk toward Ben who is already just inside the pub.

"What's the hold up, Kenni?" Ben asks. "I just had to finish up a phone call," I say, lying. I try not to lie because I find it just digs a deeper hole in the long run. But what was I going to say? 'Sorry about that, Ben, but I was too busy ogling your friend's ass to get out of the car.' "Sorry I made you wait,' I say instead.

We're escorted to a table toward the back of the pub. Ben leads the way, and when I offer Tom to go before me, he says simply, "Ladies first."  I follow Ben and feel a bit like a piece of salami between two slices of bread. Two large, handsome slices of bread.

As we reach our table, Ben thanks the hostess and flops down into one of the available chairs. I start to take a seat, and Tom steps forward to pull it out for me. "Thank you," I say as graciously as I can, though grace is not usually in my repertoire.

"What are you doing, Tom? It's just Kenni. It's not like she's your date," Ben says, burying his face in the menu. I won't tell on Ben, but I could remind him that the first few times we went out, he opened doors and pulled out chairs for me. He only stopped when I reminded him that we weren't dating and that he could relax. Starting then, he treated me like one of his chums, nothing more and nothing less.

Then, Ben started dating Sophie, and our friendship actually became deeper because he felt comfortable talking to me about her and getting my input from a woman's perspective. I'm lucky in the fact that Sophie does not consider me a threat, and even wanted to include me in their wedding, though I couldn't make it due to production schedules.

With a furrowed brow, Tom looks at Ben like he may be thrown out of the English Gentlemanliness Society for his comments. "It's okay, Tom. It's not like Ben is particularly an ass to me. He is, in fact, an ass to everyone." Tom snorts a small laugh while Ben simply lowers his menu and gives me a look like, 'Stop it, you.'

I pick up my menu to see the offerings. I don't know why I'm looking. Having been here before, I know Ben will have the fish and chips and I'll have a Ruben sandwich which I won't be able to finish, so Ben will be more than willing to help. Tom is the wild card in this.

When the waitress arrives at the table to take our drink orders, Tom prompts me to go first which elicits an eye roll from Ben. "Oh, I don't know...I'll have a...let's see..." I prolong my order because I know it's driving Ben crazy. "Oh, for the love of Pete, she'll have a Guinness, I'll have a Guinness, and Tom can have whatever he wants!" Tom looks aghast at his friend's conduct, then he orders a Guinness as well.

"So, Kenni, why don't you tell me about your show?" Tom asks. "Yes, Kenni, why don't you tell Tom how you lure men to their proverbial deaths with your sit-com siren song," Ben says with his usual sarcastic wit. I choose to ignore Ben...for now.

"Well, the show is called 'Just in Time'. It's set in an office, and the central characters work in human resources. Each episode, we have a different actor or actress take the role of Chris, the Human Resources Director. This, of course, is more of a cameo appearance, though we do try to line up the episode's star with the plot line. For example, when Ben here played the role of Chris, we wrote the episode to be about an internal investigation of who was eating everyone's lunches from the break room fridge," I say. "You know, to play off Sherlock. And as for your proverbial death," I say, directing the conversation at Ben, "I seem to remember that you garnered a few more female fans in the U.S. from your little guest spot. What is it that your female fans call themselves, Ben? I can't seem to remember." Ben scoffs at me because I know he doesn't care for the name his fangirls have chosen for themselves. As a light blush graces his cheeks, I know I've won this round.

The waitress returns with our drinks, and we order our food. Tom is quiet, and he seems to be taking in the interaction between Ben and me. While Ben is quite vocal and can tend toward boisterous, I see that Tom is observant and astute. I like this about him.

"So, Tom, what do you think?" I ask, holding my breath a bit.

"I think it sounds like a lot of fun. I'd love to play Chris in an episode," he replies.

And therein lies the rub. As much as I'm beginning to like Tom, I have a strict personal rule that I don't mix business and pleasure. Oh well, I guess I'll just add another male friend to my list.