Life After That (21 page)

"Well, there you have it. Now what's left for you to do now is trust her."

"Yes, I guess…"

"And was she excited when you told her you are gonna be there in 3 weeks?"

"I didn't tell her."

"You didn't? At practice you couldn't wait to get home and tell her. What made you change your mind?"

"I thought of surprising her."

"Nice!"

"Yeah, I thought so too! I didn't tell her we are going to Europe either. She's not gonna like it that much, I think, so I thought of telling her that in person."

"It's better that way, yes. Done!" – Dan exclaimed when he zipped up his bag.

"Oh, I'll go do mine now. Dan, thanks for listening man. Again!"

"Hey, don't mention!" – they 'male hugged' each other and Ashley left Dan's room.

It had been 3 weeks since Kirstin had bumped into Tom. And a lot had happened during those weeks. Kirstin and Tom had developed this amazing friendship no one ever thought it could be possible. Every time Tom would have a short shift at the bar, or no shift at all, he would sleep over Kirstin's. On her couch, of course. Sometimes, Grace and Lexie would sleep over too, but most of the times, especially if it was weekdays, it was just Kirstin and Tom. And they were both fine with that. They felt comfortable around each other. Tom had even got a copy of Kirstin's loft key. Now Grace wasn't the one with a copy. Kirstin felt so safe around Tom, she felt she could tell him anything without being judged. And that Friday, she told him something not so many people knew.

"A tattoo?"

"Yes… why are you so shocked?"

"I don't know… I wouldn't take you as a tattoo type of person."

"Well, most people don't."

"But…" – he didn't know how to put it – "How come I didn't see it when… you know?"

"When what?" – Kirstin knew exactly what he meant by that, but she was trying to make him feel uncomfortable, so she even faked a serious look.

"When we… you know!"

"No, I don't! When we what?" – she had now a confused look on.

"When we almost did it."

"Oh! That time!" – she smirked and Tom realized she knew all along what he was talking about – "I don't know. It's not that big and it's really covered. It's not everyone that can see it. Just a few selected people." – she winked.

"Where is it?"

Kirstin and Tom were sitting on her couch on their sleeping clothes. Tom wore a black Adidas pants and no t-shirt on (despite how cold NY was during the beginning of February, Kirstin's loft was really warm) and Kirstin wore a big and old white t-shirt with the Coca-Cola logo on it. The t-shirt was pretty long and went all the way down her knees. Underneath it, she had a really short, black lycra shorts.

"C'mon, where is it?"

Kirstin got up, pulled her shirt up, pulled her shorts down a little and revealed her tattoo. As Kirstin had told before, it wasn't too big. The tattoo was about 1 and a half inches and it was a heart with a chain around it with a lock. It was on the right side on her lower back.

"It's cute."

"I like it." – she stated rubbing her thumb on her tattoo and sitting back on her couch.

"Is it suppose to be your own heart?" – Kirstin just nodded - "But why is it locked?"

"Because if no one can get to it, no one can play with it." – she answered glancing down. "I gotta go to the bathroom. Be right back."

Tom knew Kirstin had been hurt, but he wanted so bad to know who would do such a thing to a girl like Kirstin. He wanted to know the whole story, but couldn't and wouldn't ask her to tell him. Not yet, anyway. He then went to grab the remote control to turn on the TV but was stopped by the doorbell ring.

"The pizza's here!" – he yelled to inform Kirstin that their dinner had arrived. He got his wallet from the kitchen counter and went to get the door – "Hey, how much is it again?" he was going through his wallet and when no one answered, he looked up and saw that the figure standing there didn't have a pizza with him.

"Oh, I'm sorry, I thought it was… Hey! I know you!"

"You should! Because I sure know you!"

"Ashley?" – Kirstin puzzled, asked from over Tom's shoulder.

Ashley looked Kirstin up and down. Seeing her wearing just a shirt and Tom just pants, wasn't exactly a pretty picture for him.

"I'm outta here!" - he threw his hands up in the air and headed toward the elevator.

"No, no, no, no! Wait, wait, wait!" - Kirstin followed him. She then grabbed his arm - "What's going on?"

Ashley released himself from her grip kind of rudely. - "I don't know Kirstin. You tell me! I don't see my girlfri… I mean, this girl I'm seeing, you, in 3 weeks and when I finally get to your house I'm greeted by a half naked guy, not just any guy, but that guy" - he pointed to Tom that was standing by the apartment's open door - "and you, dressed in… that" - he pointed to Kirstin's shirt - "So Kirstin, YOU tell ME what's going on!" - Ashley raised his voice.

"Ashley, calm down. There's no need to yell. Especially here in the hallway. Let's go inside so we can talk."

"No, I'm leaving." - he opened the elevator door but Kirstin stopped him before getting in it.

"Please, let's talk."

"I'm not coming in with that guy in there!"

"Oh, come on Ashley! Stop being such a baby and get in already!" - she was practically dragging him to her loft. Ashley let her drag him, 'cause he did want to talk to her, but he fought back a little so he'd make clear to her that he was, indeed, mad at her.

The thing with Kirstin's loft was that it had no walls in it, it was all wide open. She didn't exactly wanted Tom to hear their conversation, but she didn't want to kick him out either. She decided the best thing to do was to go upstairs in her room. It wouldn't exactly prive Tom from hearing their conversation, but they at least would be 'alone' upstairs.

"We're going upstairs." - Kirstin informed pushing Ashley from his back. Ashley had his eyes locked on Tom's every move.

"Is he gonna stay here?"

Kirstin looked at Tom:

"Yes, he's gonna stay here."

"But K…"

"What's the problem Ashley?" - Tom suddenly spoke" – "Are you afraid a guy like me is gonna steal your girlfriend? Oh, pardon me, she's not your girlfriend!"

"Tom, please, don't…"

"Oh, so the waiter wants to get into trouble now, does he?" - Ashley pushed Tom and made him almost fall down when he tripped over a coffee table.

"Oh, you shouldn't have messed with me, pretty boy!" - Tom pushed Ashley, but Tom was taller and much stronger than Ashley, and his push made Ashley fall on the couch.

"Stop it you too!" - Kirstin shouted going into Ashley's direction. He was now with his fist closed and going straight to Tom's stomach, but Kirstin was able to catch his wrist before he'd do anything.

"Let me hit him, Kirstin."

"Oh, so the pretty boy can't get away from a girl's grip?"

"Oh, let me go Kirstin. He's asking for it!"

"Tom, shut up! And Ashley, stop it! Go upstairs!" - Kirstin pointed to the stairs.

"But…"

"But nothing! Go! Now!"

"Yeah! Go to the room, pretty boy!"

"TOM!" - Kirstin shouted and had to stop Ashley again from hitting Tom - "Ashley, go upstairs now! And Tom, you sit there!" - she pointed to her couch.

"But…" - Tom and Ashley said at the same time, looking at Kirstin.

"Shush, you too! Now you go upstairs and you sit there!" - she watched as both guys did as they were told. Then Kirstin sat beside Tom.

"I can't believe you did that Tommy. Starting a fight like that, it's… so not you."

"He wasn't any different, Kirstin!"

"Yeah, I know, but I expected more from you." - she shook her head and left him there. Tom watched her go upstairs and spotted Ashley with a big smile staring at him, like mocking him. He wanted to get up and punch him in his face, but the disappointed tone on Kirstin's voice that he had just heard made him mentally count up to 10, so he'd calm down.

When Kirstin got upstairs, she sat on her bed. She was not worried at all. She knew she had done nothing wrong. Ashley, on the other hand, was now all agitated and pacing around Kirstin's king-size bed.

"Ok Ashley. Ask me whatever you want."

"First off, why is he here?" - he pointed downstairs. Tom didn't look up.

"He's always here!"

"Oh, since you put it that way, I'm actually relieved!" - Ashley just shook his head and continued - "Why is he always here Kirstin? And why is he shirtless?"

"Ash, you don't have to worry about Tom. He's always here because he's my friend and I invite him over. And why is he shirtless? Good question." - she frowned and shouted - "Hey Tom! Why are you shirtless?"

"Because I have a nice body and I wanna show it off!" - Tom shouted back from downstairs, holding back a laughter.

"See? - Kirstin was still mad at Tom but couldn't help but giggle at that answer - "He does have a nice body. Can you blame him for wanting to show it off?"

"Oh Kirstin, it's great to know this whole thing feels like a big joke to you and 'Tommy' downstairs. Just… great!" - he rubbed his forehead.

"Ashley, I don't see why it isn't a joke to you! I know it's not a pretty picture to see a shirtless guy in your girl's apartment, but it's not what it looks like and it sure isn't a motive to start a fight!"

"He was asking for it. You heard him! And you didn't help either! You, wearing just that shirt and…"

"No, look, look, look! Voilá! Shorts!" - she smiled as she showed him her shorts and saw a smile on Ashley's face - "You're smiling! You forgive me!"

"No, I'm not! I'm still mad at you!" - Ashley crossed his arms. He didn't want to forget the whole situation but he was unable to get mad at Kirstin.

"Yes, you are! Come here Ashley!" - she patted the mattress so Ashley would sit. It took a while for him to actually sit. When he finally did, she started - "Ash, when you promised me that thing you did in your car that day in Orlando, I also made a promise to myself that I would never hurt you as long as you kept that promise. I know I've hurt you a lot before and I don't wanna do that again. You don't deserve it, so don't you worry! You are a great guy, a great friend, a great kisser…" - she saw a smile appear on Ashley's face again – "And you should always smile. Your smile is the best."

"Actually, it's the second best. Yours wins."

"Well, you got that right, Angel!" - she said all serious.

"And you're also very modest."