Before The After (Tom Hiddleston Fan-Fic)

Chapter 32

Kate's Perspective

I opened the door to my hotel room with a swipe of the keycard, holding it open for the nice gentlemen who had helped carry the dozens of powder blue bags of baby garb. I thanked the two gentlemen for their assistance, fishing into my wallet for a tip after they'd put everything in the living room. Their gratitude was partially lost on me as they let themselves out, my eyes glazed over already from the days events.

"Just tell me you'll think about it, please," she begged, her eyes welling ominously. "Please."

"This is fucked up, Jessica," I spit out, shaking with rage. "Even for you, this is completely fucked up."

My brain was reeling and my ankles were sore from all the walking and standing. I sunk onto the couch with a low groan, wishing I'd been less of an idiot and never went out with her in the first place. Had I really expected that we could be friends? Had I really been that stupid?

Should've just stayed in bed.

I prayed to whatever god that would hear me for five minutes of silence.

But apparently five seconds seemed much more reasonable.

"Sweet!"

My eyes popped open. "Fuck."

Tom was home. Not I expected he wouldn't be, and not that him being home was a bad thing. Well, right now it kind of was bad; and right now I wished he weren't home, seeing as I had a shit load of very terrible things to report to him about one of his best friends. My ex-girlfriend.

Oh, god.

The lanky giant came bounding into the living room with a large grin on his face, his eyes twinkling with mischief. Kneeling down beside the couch, Tom moves to kiss me, but I thwart this advances with a hand to his chest.

"What's wrong?" His puppy dog eyes lose their magical glow for a moment, and suddenly I don't want to tell him about Jessica anymore.

"I'd be lying if I said I didn't want you back, Kate, and I don't want to lie to you."

"I'm with Tom, Jessica," I tell her dutifully, though I can sense the calm before the storm as we stroll down the aisles of the baby boutique. "We're together, and I love him."

She had been on her best behavior til now, and her advances were too bold to not address them. "It was... interesting while lasted, but I don't regret it."

"And that's it?" Jessica asked me, trailing behind me through a row of baby clothes. I picked up a particularly adorable onsie and smiled. "You've just, what? Moved on completely?"

I scoffed, rolling my eyes. "Well, what were you expecting, Jess? For me to wait for you to want me back?"

The question stings her. "I did want you, Kate."

"You wanted a career," I corrected quickly, ignoring the way she deflated beside me. "I was a glorified booty call. Which was fine since I was kinda using you for sex, too."

"I love you," she confessed abruptly, the words tumbling out of her mouth. The shocked look on my face spurred her on. "I love Tom, Kate, and I would never betray him like this if I didn't think that you still loved me."