The Three-Month Rule

Chapter 27 - Out of Contact

Naomi grinned at her sister from across the table, an earl grey tea cooling down in her hand.

"I know I've said it at least a hundred times, but I'm so happy you stayed in London," she squealed, sipping her tea cautiously so she didn't burn her tongue.

"It's kind of hard not to when Tom tells you he's falling in love with you," Allegra winked, a smirk growing on her face as she heard the words coming out of her own mouth.

Naomi nodded in agreement, a smile on her lips as she drank more tea.

She placed her cup down on the table and shrugged.

"I'm just shocked he's beaten the three-month rule," she said.

"What's that?" Allegra asked her with a soft blonde frown.

Naomi stared at her for a moment and shook her hand reassuringly. "His friends gave him something called 'the three-month rule'," she began to explain. "Basically, it means that he'll never date a woman for longer than three months because apparently he's unable to commit himself."

"Well," Allegra smirked, sipping her own tea. "He certainly proved that wrong. We're exactly one day over three months." Allegra looked around the café that they had originally met Tom in back in September- the Christmas decorations in the café bringing a comforting feeling to her.

"Where is Tom today?"

"He had to fly over to Scotland at six o'clock this morning to film part of 'Loki'. It was a last minute thing."

"Did he?" Naomi asked, narrowing her eyes.

"Yeah," Allegra replied casually, not noticing her sister's doubtful expression.

"That's a bit strange, don't you think?"

"No. Why is that strange?" Allegra laughed.

Naomi sighed and rolled her eyes, relaxing her hand around her cup. "Don't you read the news?"

"No," Allegra admitted with a smile as she sipped her tea.

"Taylor Swift announced late last night that she's added some Scotland dates to her tour. The first show is tonight."

Allegra paused, processing the information and breaking it down in her head.

"I'm sure that's just a coincidence," she told her, anxiety not able to settle itself.

"Maybe," Naomi replied slowly. "I'll show you the report." Naomi pulled her phone out of her pocket and started scrolling through Twitter. "I just think it's a little w –"

Naomi stopped, her eyes widening and her grip loosening on her phone as a cold sweat broke over her forehead.

"What?" Allegra asked, worry beginning to form before she could stop it.

"Shit," she whispered under her breath.

"Naomi, what?"

"Um... Please don't shoot the messenger, but..." Naomi slowly turned her phone around, freshly taken pictures of Tom and Taylor in conversation filling up her phone screen.

Allegra stopped breathing momentarily as she felt the acid increase in her stomach, sending a burning feeling to her throat as her face became red and flushed.

She seized her phone out of her bag, dialling Tom's number as fast as she could, but his phone went straight to voicemail.

"I'm sure there's a reasonable explanation," Allegra said shakily, trying to reassure herself and keep calm.

"Are you ok?" Naomi asked, worried, nausea filling her stomach as well.

"I need to go," Allegra replied, grabbing her bag and leaving her warm tea undrunk.