Sugar & Spice

27|fulfilling the fantasy

Tom Landry felt more than proud to see the smiles on his parents faces when Michael stood in front of a room filled with his colleagues and talked about his accomplishments. He hadn't been here for very long so to be praised like this was an honor. He stood proudly next to Michael as he looked out over the room at the many people he worked with and told himself that he was going to make a greater effort to get to know them all; not being with Aria wasn't going to stop him from becoming more personable. In the crowd Rick gave him a flashy smile and a playful wink and he returned it with a discreet smirk, even if she wasn't here the support of friends and family meant everything to him. As much as it meant to him to have Michael boast about his accolades it meant more to him to have him as a friend, that was an accomplishments in itself. Even if Michael beat himself up about revealing Tom's secret to Aria, in a way Tom was thankful it happened. Would he truly have realized how wrong he'd been if Michael hadn't stepped in? The sexual tension between him and Aria would've continued building up to a horrible crescendo which could've ended a lot worse than it did. Tom had never had a friend that wanted to look out for him the way Michael did and that was enough comfort for now. 

In the crowd he also saw Victoria, the receptionist, and she was still looking at him with yearning in her eyes. He knew he had his pick of women but since talking to his father he also knew was settling meant and refused to do that. Not that Victoria wasn't a great woman but she wasn't his great woman so he reminded himself to not go down a path he'd later regret, just to make himself feel better now.

Michael's speech lasted longer than expected but when he finally finished they toasted with champagne and leisurely mingled while hoping for another bottle of bubbly to be brought out. While his parents seemed to be stuck in a conversation with one of the employees Michael approached Tom and gave him a proud pat on his back. 

"How does it feel to receive yet another promotion, so quickly? If I remember correctly this was what you wanted when you first started here." Michael chuckled.

Tom smiled at his former self but also at how far he'd come since then. He glanced over his shoulder toward the reception area and wondered if he'd ever see Aria in there. 

"I'm very thankful for the promotion and you're right it is what I wanted when I first started here--"

"--but now you want other things, right? I've been noticing how you're looking toward the front desk for a while now. I'm assuming she never got back to you about the invitation?" Michael said equally as disappointed as Tom was feeling. 

"No she never did. I know that I have no right to demand her attention but it's hard to restrain myself from reaching out. I thought there was a chance for us after I met her at her trial, but I guess I was wrong." Tom sighed.

"Or she's just making you suffer a little while longer, women tend to do things like that. Once again, I'm so sorry for telling her when it wasn't my place." Michael looked down in shame.

"Don't worry about it, man. If you hadn't told her I'm not so sure I ever would've which is probably what she was mad at. I'd give everything to stop treading water and find out what she truly wants - ironically enough that's what she wanted to know from me." Tom shook his head while figuratively beating himself up.

 "There's one good thing to come out of this; you finally know that there's more to life than just your career. No matter how things turn out between you and Aria you should be proud of the progress made in your life, it'll take you far." Michael told him. 

As if it hadn't been nice enough to be bragged about by your boss, Michael was coming on strong with the compliments and had Tom nearly teary eyed. Acting on impulse Tom gave his boss a warm hug and hoped it was enough to thank him for everything he's done for him, so far. If he hadn't been pushed by Michael to fix his private life he would've never begun taking that leap and with the help of Aria Willows he had been brought out of his comfort zone.