Chapter 17
A small hiccup

I wake up completely disoriented. What time is it? Where am I? My eyes flutter open and I see a note on a piece of paper next to me. Toms no where in sight. I sit up and grab the blankets to my chest. I slept completely nude because that's how I like to sleep and also because our activities last night didn't require them.

Baby,
I went for a run. I'll be back very soon, make yourself at home. I love you

I smile and re read the note over and over again. I fall back on the pillows and smile like a total idiot. I look over at the time 11:07 man I I really slept in. My stomach growls, loudly. It's time for breakfast. I get up and find one of Toms old worn down big T-shirt's and throw it on and head downstairs.

From the look of it, it doesn't seem like anyone else is home. I vaguely remember Tom telling me yesterday that we'd have the place to ourselves for a few days and I'm hoping that's true because underneath this T-shirt is absolutely nothing.

I go to the fridge and find almost nothing. I can't even be mad because I hardly ever cook so my fridge probably looks worse if I'm being honest. I do find some eggs so I'll make some scrambled eggs, the last time I made scrambled eggs was when I made them for Tom and they didn't turn out bad so this will do. I'm cracking the eggs in the bowl when I hear the front door open. Toms completely sweaty, he's got his AirPods in. His shirt is a different shade of grey from the amount of sweat.
He looks up and smiles when he sees me.

"Hi"

"Hi beautiful" he says and walks over to me and kisses me. "I can get used to this"

I laugh. "Go shower. You're smelly" I tell him

He picks me up and twirls me around. "Only if you join me"

"But I'm making you breakfast" I laugh

"It can wait" he tells me and carries me upstairs.

We shower and get dressed for the day. I have no plans for today at all. My package for Tom should get here today though, I can't wait to see how it turned out. Tomorrow I'm having lunch with Toms mom, I'm really looking forward to it.

"How do you feel about going to lunch in the city today at one of my favorite places?" He asks me.

"I'd say that's a better idea than me cooking"

I grab my things and we head out the door. Once were in the car I ask him what restaurant we're going to exactly.

"Trust me, you're going to love it. I've been coming here for years"

"It better be because I'm starving" I tell him

It only takes us maybe 15 minutes to get there and Tom can not stop telling me how much he loves this place. Tom helps me out the car and as we're walking he reaches to grab my hand to hold it and I pull it away quickly. He gives me a look like he may be hurt by this. I smile awkwardly at him thinking "people may see" and he just gives me a stiff nod and fake smile. I instantly feel bad.

"Tom I-"

"It's fine, c'mon they're waiting for us" Tom cuts me off and puts on that same forced smile. I wish we could talk about it more but Tom is already opening the door to the restaurant before I can say anything else.

We walk through the doors to this small but cozy Italian restaurant. You can tell this place has been here for decades it has a charm to the place that I can't really put into words. It just feels warm and inviting.

"Thomas, is that you?" I look up and see a short elderly lady, maybe in her 80's, and her arms stretched out to Tom. Tom embraces her. 

"Margaret! It's lovely to see you as always" he says "I have someone I want you to meet"

Margaret looks at me and smiles at me as if she's known me my whole life.

"This is her?" She asks Tom

"Yes, this is her" I bend down and she wraps me up in this hug that I can only describe as my grandmother or someone who loves me and knows me well gives. She grabs my face and says "It's an absolute pleasure to meet you. I'm sorry, I just feel like I know you just by the way Thomas talks about you"

"It's nice to meet you too" I smile

"Well come have a seat"
We enjoy an amazing meal. We talk and catch up with Margaret. From what I understand she has practically adopted Tom as her own. He comes here at least once a week, when he's in town, and you can just see that they adore each other. It's sweet to see honestly.

"Excuse me, I'm going to go to the toilet" he gets up an excuses himself.

"Thank heavens he's gone! Now we can really talk" she laughs and I laugh too. "Let me first say that I can just see how much my Thomas adores you"

"Aw, well the feeing is definitely mutual" I tell her

"I have to tell you he's just a great guy! He's always here, he says to eat, but I know it's to check up on me"

"That sounds like Tom" I laugh

"There were a few rough, slow months here at the restaurant when I just couldn't make ends meet here. I was ready to throw in the towel. This place has been here since 1955 and just like that it was going to be gone"

"Oh no, that's terrible"

"I even had a going away party and everything. Tom was there, hell everyone in town was there. The next day I got a notice that my rent for this place had been paid in full for the next year. I was so shocked. I asked him about it and till this day he won't admit it but I know it was him"

"Wow" I'm a little speechless, not surprised but speechless.

"That's the kind of guy Tom is. Always putting others first. I hope you see that." She tells me

"Believe me, I do, and thank you for being so lovely to me"

Tom comes back "What are you two talking about?" He looks at both of us suspicious

"You, of course!" Margaret says and we all bust out laughing

"Good things I hope" he says. I grab his hand and hold it underneath the table. I smile at him and he smiles back.

We finish our meal and say goodbye to Margaret. I promised her I'd come to see her when I'm back in town. We walk out to the car and Tom and I immediately spot a paparazzi. There goes my good mood.

"Tom! Zendaya! Are you two dating!?"
                  📸Click-click-click-click📸
Tom surprises me and says "absoultely not"
My stomach drops. We got into the car and I feel like I got slapped across the face. I'm really trying not to cry. Am I over reacting? Something about the harshness of how he said that really upset me. Tom drives off and looks at me
"What's wrong?"

"Nothing" I say. I don't want to make it a big deal.

"I know it's nothing, so just say what it is"

"Okay fine. Why were you so harsh when he asked if we were together?!"

"You're kidding right? First you get upset when I try and grab your hand when we first got here and now you're mad that I denied it to the paparazzi just now. I don't get it" he looks at me and then back at the road.

"I obviously didn't want anyone to seeing us holding hands and you didn't have to say anything to that guy at all" A tear falls. "This whole thing is so frustrating" this part of trying to keep us a secret is hard.

"I'm sorry" he reaches one hand over and holds my hand "I didn't mean to be harsh. I'm frustrated too. You have no idea how badly I want to the scream to the world that you're mine"

"I know and I'm sorry for pulling my hand away when you just wanted to hold it. I'm still trying to figure out how to navigate this whole thing" we stop at a red light.

He looks over at me "I am too and we will together" he squeezes my hand and I smile at him and he leans over for a kiss. I pull back with the biggest smile on my face. Our relationship may not be ideal but I wouldn't want to do this with anyone else.

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SURPRISE!!! It's been what 2 years since I've updated?! I'm a little rusty so please forgive me, I'll get better with time. More chapters to come soon! I've seriously gotten so much inspiration from Tomdaya being an actual real life couple these days. Ugh I can't get over it! I'm not gonna promise a day for the next chapter but if I had to guess maybe a week, maybe less, maybe more. It all depends on my schedule this week! Love you all, hope you're excited because I am! 
                  Xo Jadeparker12