Across the Fence

Chapter 5

Tom

3 weeks later

I haven't heard from or seen Ashley in almost a month. She is either avoiding me or she has been busy with work. Either way, I need to see her, even if she wants nothing to do with me. I look out my window that faces her driveway, Her car is parked there, I take a deep breath and decide to go for it. I put on a hoodie and some trainers, to make it look like I'm going out for a run. I head out the front door and do some stretching in the front yard, waiting to see if she will come out. Then all of a sudden I hear what sounds like a scream coming from her house. I waste no time running to her front door and barging in.

"Ashley? Where are you, are you alright?" I yell as I walk from room to room. Then I stop in my tracks when I enter her kitchen and see Ashley and two other women sitting at the dinning room table. Laughing hysterically, but grow silent when they see me standing in the kitchen, breathing heavy.

"What's wrong, Bigfoot, You look like you've seen a ghost?" I roll my eyes at her.

"I thought I heard you scream, I wanted to make sure you were okay." She giggles and pats her friend on the shoulder.

"No, worries, my friend Rhonda here, sometimes laughs like a hyena when she finds something really funny." I give the women at the table an apologetic smile.

"I'm sorry to have intruded on you ladies, I have a run to go on, so I'll show myself out." Ashley gives me a quick once over and waves at me as I turn to leave. Then I hear soft giggling as I walk out the front door.

Ashley

Is that who I think it is? Rhonda says, flailing her arms about. I give her a disgusted look.

"Oh come on, not you too, yes Tom Hiddleston is my neighbor, It's not that big of a deal." Tara, my other friend, snorts loudly.

"Not that big of a deal? Have you seen him? He is sex on legs." I get up and refill my coffee cup.

"He's actually kinda of an ass really, a good looking ass, but still an ass." Both of my friends crack up.

He looks like he's kinda into you, Rhonda speaks up, if you ask me, Ash, I mean he came running in here, when he thought something might be wrong with you." Please can we just stop talking about my neighbor, if you two want to drool over him, leave me out of it." Tara shakes her head at me.

"You are really a stick in the mud sometimes aren't you? Maybe it's time you move on, Mark would've wanted  that, honey." I sit back down looking defeated.

"Yes, but not that guy, Tom annoys the fuck out of me." They both nod their heads at me.

"I know we haven't known you that long, but long enough to know you're scared, scared you might find a man you actually could fall in love with." I stand up and gather our coffee cups up and put them in the sink.

"Okay, Ladies, I have things to do, we'll have to do this again sometime." They both roll their eyes at me and put their jackets on.

"Just think about what we said, You deserve to be happy." I smile at Rhonda and give her a hug, then I hug Tara.

"I will, okay." I give in, and wave goodbye to them.

A couple of hours later, I just came back from walking the dog, when I see Tom sitting on the steps of his porch. I walk over to him.

"Hey, Tom, I just wanted to tell you thank you for coming over and checking on me earlier. That was very thoughtful." He looks at me suspiciously.

"Wow, what has got into you? Are you being nice to me?" I cock my head to one side.

"Come on, I'm trying here, why don't you come over, I made a pot of soup." Tom smiles and agrees quickly.

"That sounds lovely, let me change clothes then I'll be over.

I'm surprised how relaxed I am with Tom as we sit and chat after finishing our soup.

"I think that had to be some of the best soup I have ever had." I laugh and smack his shoulder.

"Okay, Lets not over do it, it's just something I threw together." He smiles at me as he gets up and grabs his and my bowl and starts to wash up the small load of dishes in the sink.

"Tom, you don't have to do that, you're a guest." He motions for me to sit down.

"It's the least I could do, doc." I can't help but admire the view from where I'm sitting, his long legs are slightly spread apart, his ass looks tight as he bends over the low sink, I find myself staring at him a little to long, pulling myself out of my trance as he turns back to face me.

"Do you have a towel I could dry my hands off with?" I stand up and move to the drawer next to the sink and pull out a dry dish towel. As I hand it to him our hands brush together slightly. I'm not sure what is was, but I actually feel a small twinge of electricity run down my fingers, he must have felt it too. Our eyes meet and his face starts to move closer to mine.

I swallow hard when I realize he's going kiss me.

"Ashley, tell me to stop." I shake my head and look into his eyes as his lips brush against mine, I move back slightly, and look up at him, clearing my throat.

"Well, I better go, thanks again for supper." Then he's leaves, as I stand there holding my fingers against my lips.