London Boy

Chapter 21

I laid in bed all night long thinking about what he said. I didn't say anything to him. I just let him think I didn't hear him. I don't know how I feel. It warmed my heart to hear him say it. I just don't know why he said it when he thought I was sleeping, why not say it when I'm awake. I look over at the clock on my dresser "7:35am" I decide to get up and shower before I cook breakfast. After I shower I pull on a pair of jeans and tank top. I head to the kitchen to start breakfast.
"Good Morning Beautiful" Tom says coming up behind me kissing my cheeks as I stir the gravy. "Good morning." I kiss him back. "It smells good in here" He says grabbing a piece of bacon off the tray, "everything will be done in about 10 minutes" I say pouring the gravy into a boat. I pull the biscuits out and place them on a tray next to the gravy. "Good morning guys!" Kennedy says walking through the door. "Just in time. Breakfast is almost done." I say cutting up the fruit. "I need you to come visit more often Tommy boy. She only cooks like this when someone she loves visits" Kennedy laughs. I choke on my coffee. Tom pats my back "You alright?" He asks in a worried tone. "Yeah.  I'm- I'm fine" I say wiping the coffee I spit out off the counter. "Breakfast is ready."
We sit at the table and start eating. My nerves are at an all time high. Why did she have to say that. I don't love Tom. I mean I don't know if I do. I like him. I like him a lot. And i can see myself loving him but it's so soon. It's only been 2 months. And we've only been around each other for a little over a week of that entire 2 months. How am I suppose to know if I love him or not. "Hello! Earth to T" I hear Kennedy say "what? I'm sorry" I say breaking from my thoughts, "I was just asking what you guys had planned today. I know you said you had your family dinner but I figured you'd bail with Tom here" "No we plan on going. As long as you still want to" I say looking at him. "Yeah. I'm still okay with going." He says squeezing my hand. When we finish eating I go to the kitchen to clean up, "Breakfast was great babe. You were definitely right about that gravy, it was bloody delicious" He says kissing me. I laugh and go back to loading the dishwasher. "I'm gonna go take a quick shower." He kisses my forehead and walks off to my bedroom. When I hear the door close, I let out a breath I didn't know I was holding. "You okay T?" Kennedy asks sitting at the bar top. "Why did you say I love him" I ask. She looks at me confused "what do you mean?" "You told him to visit more because I only cook like that when people I love come to visit. What makes you think I love him?" She looks at me confused "Don't you?" I sigh "I don't know. I really like him. And I could see myself getting there but I'm scared to." I whisper. "T- He loves you. I can tell. Why can't you just let yourself go there." "It's not that I don't want to, I'm scared to let my self love someone again." A small tear runs down my cheek. "Don't let what happened last time keep you from living again. You have an amazing guy in there that loves you. And you would be crazy to let anything stop you from falling head over hills in-love with him" "he told me he loved me last night." I say sitting down next to her. "What! Seriously!" She screams "shhh yes. But he thought I was asleep when he said it. I was so shocked I didn't say anything." I whisper "I just don't know why he said it when he thought I wouldn't hear him instead of just saying it." I lay my head on the counter. "Maybe he's nervous about getting shot down. I didn't the same thing to Julie, I was dying to tell her I loved her but I was too scared she would say she didn't feel the same so I told her while she slept, she heard me and instantly woke up. That was the most nerve wracking thing I've ever experienced." She smiles big remembering the night. "I just don't wanna  say it till I know for sure that I do." I hear the water turn off in my room. "Please Don't say anything to him." "I wouldn't do that babe. Just don't wait too long. When you know, tell him. I promise you it will be worth it."

Later that night we head to my parents house. "So I'm just warning you, my family is a typical southern family, my dad is gonna ask you a lot of questions and probably get a little personal." He laughs. "I think I can handle myself love. You sure you're ready for this? I don't know how it is here in the states but in London meeting a family is a big next step." He says squeezing my thigh. My hands tighten around the steering wheel. "Yeah. I think I'm ready. I want them to meet you, you mean a lot to me and so do they." He smiles and leans over kissing my cheek "Hopfully soon you can come home with me and meet my family. Paddy wont shut up about wanting to meet you." I smile. "So you talk about me?" I ask shyly. "Baby you're all I want to talk about" my heart flutters " You're too sweet." I say grabbing his hand. We pull into my parents drive way. "Here we are" I say parking the car. I take a deep breath and get out. Before we walk to the door Tom grabs me and pulls me to him. "I just wanted to let you know how much it means to me that you're willing to take this step with me. You mean so much to me." He says tucking a lose strand of hair behind my ear. "You mean a lot to me too." I say softly. He kisses me quickly and we make our way to the door. "Mom! Dad!" I yell when I walk in. "In the kitchen sweetie" We make our way through the foyer and into the kitchen "Honey thank god your-" she stops the second her eyes meet Tom. "Oh my god" she says wiping her hand on the towel in her apron. I look at Tom and he smiles, "Your-" "Tom Holland!" My sister screams walking into the kitchen. He walks toward my mother. "It's nice to meet you Mrs. Markland" He says handing her the flowers he picked up before we came. "Oh sweetie call me Karen" she says wrapping him in a hug. "And You must be Lexi?" He says putting a hand out to my sister. "Yes. It's nice to meet you." She says back. "I cant believe little sis was really telling the truth. Honestly we all just thought she was making it up so we would leave her alone about being single still" she says laughing. He walks back to me and wraps his arm around my waist. "She was definitely telling the truth. I'm crazy about her." He says kissing the top of my head. "Sweetie, we missed you" mom says walking to me. She wraps me in a hug. "Why Don't you show Tom around while I finish dinner."

We make our way through the house and up the stairs. "This is my old bedroom." I say opening the last door in the hall way, "it's exactly the same as it was when I left for college." I say walking to my old desk. Tom grabs a small photo book off my dresser. "You were such a cute kid" he says looking at a picture of me and my dad when I was 6. " That was my first fishing trip with my dad. He's probably hiding out till everyone gets here." I laugh. "You really did love Marvel" he says looking at my movie collection and the small action figures on a shelf "I told you" I say laughing. "No no no don't look at those." I say grabbing a picture from his hands. "Why! Let me see!" He tried to wrestle the picture from me. "Don't make me tickle you" He threatens. He grabs my side and I scream "ok! Ok! Here" I hand him the picture. "Why didn't you want me to see this?" I look at the picture and instantly embarrassed. "I was so big back then. It was disgusting" he puts the picture down and lifts my chin. "I don't see an ounce of anything disgusting in that picture. You were just as beautiful then as you are now." "Why are you so cute?" I say poking his nose. "Eh I try" He laughs and kisses me. "Tara baby, when did you get here" my dad says from the hallway. "Oh and who is this?" He says walking into the room, "I'm Tom sir. Tom-" "Tom Holland. Wow. It's nice to meet you." He says. "You too sir." He says shaking his hand. "Care for a drink Tom? Tara go see if your mother needs any help, we will be in my study." Tom kisses my cheek and nods reassuring me. "Be nice dad." I say hugging him.