Tom Landry stared out of the window of the Starbucks in his building, the big glass doors revealed the stressful people that would soon be joining him inside this Starbucks - one of them being his supervisor Michael Dubois. Tom should be happy that he was called to an impromptu meeting outside of the office, it was usually a good thing, but he couldn't care less right now. The world looked grey to him and there was only one place that was full of color: The Cafe. He hadn't dared to stop by but he often drove past it to get a glimpse at the warmth inside. He hadn't seen Aria and strangely enough he hadn't expected to either, he assumed the memories were too much for her as well.
When he had left her that night, watching her beautiful figure walk away from him, it was so obvious to him what was happening and for the first time he didn't force the thought of it away. He had debated telling her that night but he didn't want to make anything worse or prolong the time he had to be away from her. He assumed she'd wait a week into college before she texted him, just the thought of that made Tom long for that message.
Michael Dubois burst through the wide glass doors with a tired sigh but the second he saw Tom his lips formed into a relieved smile. The line was long enough that Tom had spared them both the waiting time by ordering for both of them.
"The whole world is stressing out there and in here too it seems; it makes me long for my summer house." Michael stated when he sat down.
"I ordered us some coffee so we can get right to the point." Tom said in a non-deliberate monotone tone.
Michael looked at Tom with wonder in his eyes mixed with concern and to not give off any more negative vibes Tom looked down. He just couldn't shake the feeling of sadness and no matter how hard he tried it was always visible for everyone to see. He supposed that this is how he used to look before he got to know Aria; always with his nose pointing toward the keyboard or the computer screen and never sharing a smile with anyone. It was obvious that Michael could see it all re-surface again.
"You lost the girl, didn't you?" Michael said with a comforting smile.
Tom smiled when he thought of the incredible kiss they had shared before she had left, it sent shivers down his spine to this day and he assumed it always would.
"No I didn't lose her," Tom mumbled, "I let her go."
Michael leaned forward and frowned at the response that Tom gave him, "You let her go, why on earth would you do something like that?"
"Because she had to go to college--" Tom said.
He was tired of glossing over the true reason why they couldn't be together and to lie to Michael by now just seemed silly. It felt good to be transparent with someone and it felt good that it was Michael. He searched for the disgust and the judgment in his eyes but shockingly there was none.
"Tom; you're still in your twenties so whatever judgment you think you'd get from me isn't going to come," Michael smiled and Tom relaxed, "and so what? She's a freshman in college soon, good for her.
Tom drifted off into a bubble that contained only him and Aria and The Cafe. This time the dance didn't have to end, this time they danced like that all night and he trailed kisses along her neck until he reached her collar bone, by then his hand had reached for the zipper of her dress and was working his way down. He usually felt guilty when he thought of her in that way but he couldn't be bothered with the guilt anymore, not when this had progressed further than just attraction.
"Tom," Michael brought him back to reality, "you're in love with her, am I right?" Michael asked him.
Without hesitation or as much as a blink Tom nodded, "Yes I am, more than I thought possible."
"But despite that you still let her go..." he stated.
Tom nodded again, "I had to do it. She's young and she needs to experience college life without being held back and I know that's what I would be doing to her if I gave us a chance."
"I'll tell you what Tom; I'm going to head back to the office but I want you to take the day off, but before I do I'm going to tell you something," Michael gestured for both of them to stand up and prepare to leave the busy place, "if this young woman can make you feel this low and this high I'd say you have found the one. Don't let her go because you think that you're doing her a favor, because you're not."
"Thank you for the advice and this little talk. It feels nice to admit it out loud." Tom said and shook Michael's hand which quickly turned into a hug.
"I'm happy that you shared, it shows how far you've come as a person," Michael stated but then whispered, "but you know I'm the wrong person to admit this to."
---
Taking the day off wasn't such a bad idea after all. Tom made use of it in a way he'd never done it before; he actually relaxed. He took a long walk without caring where the destination would be, it was just him and his thoughts. He knew he had a lot of things to sort out and many of them had nothing to do with Aria Willows, but they were top priority. It had to start at home base with his parents; it was finally time to talk to them about their life as well as his own. He understood that what he had previously judged them for was wrong and he hadn't known that until Aria stepped into his life. What his parents were, that's not what settling looked like, but Tom was going to get to experience it first hand. He would be settling until he heard from Aria or decided to tell her the truth about his feelings; that he was head over heels in love with her.
As he strolled into a park and impulsively took his shoes and socks off to let his feet get tickled by the tall grass. He smiled at the sensation with each step and eventually took a seat with the view of a pond. Tom would have never known this park was here but he got the feeling this would be his favorite new spot, after The Cafe of course. He knew he could't bare to return after Aria had left for college and he needed a new place that could bring him some tranquility and possible even happiness.
Next to him lay his laptop bag containing the obvious along with a legal pad and a pen that Michael had given him. The thought of his supervisor made him smile because he knew he wasn't only that but also his friend - a friend who knew his biggest secret. It was a secret he couldn't keep between four eyes, no he needed to write it down in case he ever dared telling her the truth. So, Tom brought out the legal pad and put the tip of the pen on his lips while thinking of the right words to say. He wondered what she'd feel like if she ever read it or where they'd go from there, if she was still in love with him that was.
Oh, how the mere thought of her with someone else had him tense with anger, but he had encouraged her to have the college experience and that included meeting someone. The yellow legal pad was instantly stained with a handful of tears but despite those Tom was determined to finish that letter. After the last word was written and he placed that period Tom stared at the finished product he couldn't keep from smiling. It was the most honest he's ever been and even if he'd never show it to her it felt good to have it written down, for the universe to know the truth. I hope she gets everything she deserves, but that there's still a little room for me, Tom thought, or prayed perhaps.
"Excuse me," his vision of the pond was suddenly blocked by a beautiful woman in a tight red dress, "is anyone sitting here?" She said with a smile.
"No, you're welcome to sit anywhere you'd like." Tom said and gestured to the wide open space, knowing she wanted his attention and not the parks.
She was attractive, reminded him a little of Molly his Tinder date, but despite this Tom felt nothing while seeing her. There was no spark and no immediate connection at the first sight of her or hearing her speak. No, Tom's head was only filled with one young woman and even if she found someone else Tom would always pine for her. It was in that moment that he decided that no matter the cost he had to find a way to tell Aria the truth. Michael was right; he wasn't doing her any favors and not himself either. His fear was to settle in life; why live your fear when you didn't have to?
"Actually," Tom said and got up, "I have to go, I'm waiting for someone." He shared a quick smile and left her there.
She might wonder who he was waiting for and wouldn't know that the young woman he was referring to would make him wait for quite some time. But for Tom that was okay; in the mean time he'd drink coffee and try his best to bake his own biscuits. Anything to feel closer to her.
THE END.