The New Girl

17.

Ben was being extremely nice and very gentlemanly to me all evening. We sat down in the restaurant and he pulled out my chair for me and we chatted mostly about me - despite me asking him many questions. But when there were pauses of silence, due to us drinking or eating or thinking of something to say, my mind would fog with thoughts of Tom. The kiss, the golfing incident, the fact he was so jealous of Ben today.
We finished dinner and stayed for a few more drinks which was good. The conversation flowed and he was quite attractive. Part of me wanted to stay out late to see how Tom would react. Or to take Ben home. But, I decided against it. I wanted to be the bigger person in the situation. So, we walked home together. He gave me his blazer to drape over my shoulders and he politely took my bag.

Tom's POV

"It's 10. Why isn't she back?" I paced the kitchen, the twins watching me as they put their jackets and shoes on.

"She's on a date with a guy, chill out." Sam sighed.

"What if he abducted her?! Or hurt her?!"

"Tom-" Harry came over and sat both his hands on my shoulders. "Stop being so jealous, and get over it. It's just a date."

"I'm not jealous!" I exclaimed.

"Paha!" Sam burst out into laughter.

"I'm not!"

"You're an asshole when you're jealous, Tom. You were an asshole to Ben and Cole today so just stop being so childish and grow the fuck up. Or else...nothing will happen between you two." Harry shrugged, done with my shit apparently.

They both headed out to the club with a brief goodbye. I sighed and slumped down on the couch, my leg bouncing relentlessly and the ticking of the clock getting louder and louder with each second.

But then I heard some talking outside and I sat up straight in my seat. I couldn't see out the door or any windows but I tried to listen closely. I could make out some general small chat and laughing and then a goodbye with a kissing sound. Fuck. The door opened and I saw Cole come in, waving with a smile at Ben before closing it. She sighed and locked the door and turned around, jumping when she saw me on the couch.

She clutched her chest, "Jesus, Tom. Gave me a fright."

"How was your date?" I asked, clenching my jaw.

She dropped her bag on the floor and walked to the kitchen. I rolled off the couch and followed her, watching her take a glass out of the cupboard and fill it with water.

"It was good." She said with no expression, not even looking at me.

"Wow, how enthusiastic-"

"Where are the twins?" She interrupted me.

"Out to a club with some of their friends." I answered after a moment.

"Cool." She sighed and walked straight past me, her heels clicking on the wooden floor and her hips swaying noticeably from side to side.

"So are you seeing him again?" I asked.

"Tom are you serious?" She snapped, turning around with an annoyed look.

"What?"

"Why are you being such a dick?" She asked, sitting her glass down on a side table.

I scoffed, "I'm being the dick?"

"Yes!" She put her hands on her hips.

"You're the one kissing guys and then going off on a date with some rando you hardly know!" I shouted.

"There was only one guy which was you and that's what dates are for dumbass!" She shouted back, matching my level.

"Wow, name calling! How cute!"

"You know what Tom," Her breathing was loud and heavy.
"I can't do this anymore." She admitted.

I paused in shock, "Wh-What?"

"I can't deal with this! That kiss was just a mistake! It didn't mean anything! We were drunk! You can't expect me to dwell on that forever and never date anyone ever again! I'm an adult! I can do what I want!" She was shouting and I could see the tears forming in her eyes.

"You think that kiss was a mistake?" I asked, taking a step closer to her.

"Yes." She folded her arms.

"You think that kiss was a mistake?" I pressed, taking another step.

"Yes!"

"Why did you kiss me back then?"

"Because I was drunk!" She lied.

"Don't lie to me, Cole."

"I'm not lying!" She spat.

"Why did you kiss me back?!" I asked again, my voice loud and low.

I took a step closer to her. One more step and our noses would be touching.

"Ugh! Because I liked you, alright!" She exclaimed, stomping her boot on the ground in frustration.

I froze. I didn't expect her to actually answer.

"You liked me?" I asked loudly, trying to hide the happiness fluttering in my stomach.

"Yes! I did! Until you started being an absolute ass about this whole situation!"

"I wasn't being an ass I was just upset! You ran off after the kiss and made me feel like shit!"

"I ran off because I was scared, Tom!"

"Why were you scared? Why couldn't you have just talked to me?!"

"Because you're my boss! You're my fucking boss, Tom!"

"You don't see me as a friend first?"

"I do! I think of you as a friend but you hired me to do a job! That's why I'm here, that's why I'm still here and that's why I can't stay any longer because this is too complicated!" She turned around and started walking away.

"I didn't even fucking hire you!" I shouted after her.

She turned around, "What?!"

"If I knew that you were fucking gorgeous and amazing and funny and smart I would never have hired you because I would have just wanted to date you! My team hired you!" I gulped after hearing what just came out my mouth.

Her breath hitched in her throat and she just stared at me, her chest rising and falling fastly. She opened her mouth to speak but just turned back instead, ready to walk away again before I word vomited without any control.

"The reason I'm being such an ass is because I'm so jealous! I'm jealous of Ben, alright! I admit it." I threw my arms up in frustration.

She paused and slowly turned around.

"I'm jealous of him because he got to take you out and he got to spoil you and he got to kiss you-"

"He didn't kiss me." She swallowed, walking slowly towards me.

"What?"

"He kissed my cheek..." She said quietly, still making her way towards me.

"He did?" I gulped, watching her come closer to me.

"I don't want Ben, Tom..." She licked her lips as she came close to me, fiddling with the collar of my shirt.

"I want you."