HufflepuffHolland's Writing Collection

Love Yourself (Part 3) // Tom Holland

Pairings: Tom Holland +Reader (Y/N)

Description: Reader is slowly finding comfort in being away from Jeff and enjoying her company with the cute Barista from Starbucks.

Warnings: Strong language (curse words). 

-

"Hi, can I have a Venti coffee?"

"Sure, do you want that just plain-?" I smiled at Tom as he looked up and it registered that it was my ordering again. "Hey, you didn't call it a large this time."

"Yeah, I was practicing all the way down here. How'd I do?"

He laughed before nodding, "You did good." It's been three weeks since I had seen Tom in the coffee shop, and I've come back about four more times just to see him. I don't think he noticed me, considering I never went up to talk to him. I was still getting past what Jeff had done and couldn't find the courage. Well, until now. He went to grab a cup but stopped when I held my hand up, signaling for him to put it down. "What's wrong? Did you want a different size?"

I shook my head. "No, I don't actually want coffee. I just wanted an excuse to talk to you." His face turned a pale shade of pink before looking down and smiling at his hands. "I was across the street and didn't even realize I was this close to you. I was actually going to pick up my phone and use that number you gave me. I decided I'd much rather prefer to see you instead."

"I was wondering when you were going to call. I'm glad you came over instead, though. I'd prefer seeing you, too. You're lovely to look at." It was my turn to look down and smile at the ground, hearing him laugh a little. "If you want to wait for me, I'm off after I serve this costumer patiently waiting behind you." I turned around, forgetting that he had costumer's to serve and rushed out a string of apologies to which the man behind me waved off. "Sorry for making you wait, Sir. What could I get for you?"

Tom shot me a wink before turning his attention back to the costumer he was catering to.

"So," Tom started to say as we walked down the street, "what should we do? You hungry? I'm starving. Lunch on me?"

"I'll pay my bill, wouldn't want you thinking that this is a date or anything." He laughed out loud at this, even making the grand gesture of throwing his head back.

"You don't want to go on a date with me?" His hands flew to the left side of his chest, clenching where his heart would be. "That hurts, (Y/N)."

"Well – in my defense – you never actually asked me on a date." At this he looked at me with his eyes narrowed, thinking over what I said. He then stopped walking, causing me to pause just a few steps ahead of him. He snapped his fingers suddenly.

"Well, damn," he muttered, "you're right. Hm." He shook his head before continuing to walk, turning around when he noticed I wasn't next to him. "Aren't you coming?" I blinked a couple of times before jogging up to catch up to him. I thought for a second that he might have asked me on an actual date. Had he just been jokingly flirting with me? Was he flirting at all?

-

"Alright, my turn," Tom popped a French fry drenched in ketchup in his mouth before continuing, "Why did you have a hangover on a Wednesday?" I sighed, stealing a fry off of his plate. Should I tell him about Jeff? I'm assuming he sensed my hesitation by the way his hand stretched out between us, from past experiences I assumed he'd wanted me to take his hand, so I did. He looked at me puzzled, making me think I assumed wrong but as I pulled back on my hand to retrieve it, his grip on mine tightened, a slight smile on his face as he let his thumb stroke the back of my hand. "You don't have to say it if you don't want to."

I shook my head before giving him the smallest smile I could muster. "I had a really shitty day," I cleared my throat before starting again. "I had just gotten fired, just to have someone slightly younger and blonder replace me. I, um, went home to be comforted by my boyfriend of six years only to find out he had been cheating on me with someone younger and blonder, too. Funny how life's a cruel, full circle. Isn't it?" Tom's mouth was open slightly, closing it when he noticed my eyes on him. He looked at me sympathetically, causing me to shrug in response.

He stood up from his side of the booth and sat next to me on my side, slinging an arm around my shoulders. "What's his name?"

"My ex boyfriend's?"

"Yeah."

"Jeff."

"Jeff?" I nodded. "Well, in my honest opinion, Jeff's a fucking idiot." I chuckled a little, nodding my head. "You're a catch, and anyone who doesn't see that can join that idiot on the asshole train."

I smiled up at him. "Do you think I'm a catch?"

"Hell yeah." He answered confidently and no hesitation. "I'd be ever so lucky to have you." His voice dropped to a whisper as he looked at me. He smiled at me and I smiled back. "Can I walk you home?"

"Please."

-

"This is me." I smiled down at mine and Tom's intertwined hands and looked up at him with the smile still on my face. "Thanks for today.

"Anytime," he stepped closer to me, taking his free hand and pushing stray hair behind my ear. "I've found out very quickly that I love spending time with you."

"Me too." I whispered. I leaned in a little, my eyes closed. I was expecting Tom to meet me half way, but a clearing of his throat signaled he was still in the same position.

"I should go. Um, I've got work in the morning and I-."

"No, yeah. Um, thanks. Goodnight." I waved bye before quickly unlocking my door and sliding into the small opening I had left for myself. I ignored his called of my name and just locked the door, running upstairs.

-

"God, what the hell is wrong with me?!"

"Nothing's wrong with you! Don't be stupid."

"Did I misread the signs? Were there even any to begin with?" Ivy and I were sat on my bed in pajamas with a bag of chips each, the TV on in the background as I ranted about my day with Tom. It had been three hours since he dropped me off and it was one in the morning. I couldn't shake the smell of his cologne, it was clean but it was also mixed with the smell of strong coffee from being around it all day. His hands were soft, they felt like the satin curtains in my bedroom, they felt familiar.

"Of course there were," Ivy reached over to grab some chips from my bag while I did the same to hers. "Maybe he's giving you some space? Because he didn't want to kiss you after you told him about Jeff. Maybe he thinks you aren't over him yet."

"Well, I am!"

"Are you sure?"

"Yes, Ivy!" I sighed before preparing myself to gush over Tom, knowing Ivy would never let me live this down. "Today with Tom, it felt like... there was never a Jeff. It felt like the six years I wasted with Jeff was revived in only seven hours. It was new, but it felt so familiar to me." Ivy didn't say anything to me except smile really wide.

"I think you should let him pace himself. He'll get there."

I really hope she was right.