Crossroads

Chapter Eight

Chris isn't the type to pry.

His wife though is another story.

And Shelley's continuous intimations that Tom's introduction of Emma to their circle may hold significance, made him wonder even when he didn't want to. He liked to take things at face value unless told.

But here are the facts laid before him:

One, their friend has not dated since he broke things off with Jade and no other woman has ever been introduced to them as well.

Truth be told, they did not expect any girl to suddenly come in to their circle since he did say that no third party (in Jade's part or in his) caused the breakup. Yet, it is notable how he has been single for quite some time and not for lack of opportunity.

Chris knew women threw themselves at him.

The "Brit" just fended them off smoothly which has led to, either he or one of the other guys commenting about Tom deciding to be a monk.

Eventually, he would just tell them off and explain that he was in no rush because he felt that whoever was the next one could probably be the woman he will marry.

And for the moment, he informed all of them that he has no plans of hurling himself into something THAT life-changing and also because he has been in relationships for pretty much his whole adult life, right now may be a good time to just enjoy being a bachelor.

"I haven't even gone a year without dating someone", Chris remembered him saying.

And then out of nowhere he introduces Emma "The Badass" Watson. The second fact.

"Can you blame me if I think something is going on?", his wife smugly told him as they discussed this, "Even Kiara is curious. And Kiara is NEVER curious."

"She IS an old friend of his", he reminded her and by her eyeroll, he would have been better off talking to a wall.

Granted that in their years of friendship, they have never even been introduced to Emma before Jade and Tom broke up AND granted that Tom never really talked about Emma in the same manner he regaled them with stories about all of his other cast mates but Chris is adamant in his stance that THAT is not something they should consider as a telling sign of her possible importance to the man's life.

No matter what his wife says.

He decided to just roll his eyes back at Shelley instead of voicing his opinion on how ludicrous her speculations were.

It is never good to put too much stock in things that are not "declared".

However... now, in another house party, he found himself observing Tom and recognizing something he had seen in himself when he met Shelley but did not know yet how big a part of his life she would become – Idiotic Happiness.

He sighed as he cursed himself at the possibility of losing this particular argument with his wife because he knows he will never hear the end of it.

And then he proceeded to curse his friend.

"The damned fool", he thought, "If I give him a coat and an umbrella, I'm sure he'd dance like Gene Kelly."

Anyone with an observant eye will note how much brighter Tom's smile is, how much higher the energy he expands is, and how much his eyes glint in joy.

Thus, it isn't a long shot to assume that anyone who will see him and has known him for years would assume that Emma is the reason.

After all, she's the only one who had come back most recently in to his life and who he has been spending the better part of the past five days with.