~*~ Chapter 11 ~*~
REDDING, CA – The Addams’ House – Christmas Dinner
Kirstin backed away from Tom. He looked at her puzzled. Her gaze was on Ashley and Ashley’s was on her.
“What’s wrong, K?”
She didn’t answer him. She kept a steady gaze at Ashley. She felt like she had done something wrong. ‘Why am I thinking like this? I’ve done nothing wrong. I was just kissing my fiancée.’
Tom turned around to see what Kirstin was staring at. He didn’t like what he saw. Ashley then stopped staring at Kirstin and greeted Mr. and Mrs. Addams. Both seemed happy to be seeing Ashley and his family again. Suddenly, Kirstin grabbed Tom’s arm.
“Tom, please, don’t do anything.” Tom’s face sure showed he was pissed. He wasn’t comfortable at all with the whole situation. His eyes were constantly on Ashley “Tom, look at me.” Kirstin turned his head to her “Tom, please, I’m begging you, don’t do anything stupid.”
“What would I do, Kirstin?”
“I don’t know. Just don’t argue with him, that’s all. Pretend he’s not even here.”
”Well, that’s impossible, right? Especially when he gets here and is already drooling all over my fiancée.”
“That’s not what happened, Tom. It’s just that we haven’t seen each other in a long time and…”
“He saw you a few days ago!” he raised his voice. Some people stared.
“Tom, lower your voice! Yeah, I saw him a few days ago, but… you know what I mean.”
“No, I don’t.”
“Oh, just forget it. I just don’t want you making a scene, that’s all.”
“Well, I can’t promise you anything. If he starts irritating me, I don’t know if I’ll be able to control myself.”
“Please, Tom, don’t do anything. For me. Promise me that you won’t.”
“I don’t know…” he shook his head.
“Promise me this, Tom. Please?” seeing the look on his fiancée’s face, he agreed.
“Ok, ok. I promise you.”
“Oh, thank you. Thank you so much. Now, here they come.”
“What?” Tom turned and saw the Angel family plus Mrs. Addams getting closer to them.
“Please, be nice.” Kirstin whispered in his ear.
“I’ll try.” he mumbled and took Kirstin’s hand in his.
When the Angels got closer, Ashley’s mother was already hugging Kirstin.
“Kirstin, dear, how are you? It’s been such a long time. We’ve missed you there at our house.”
“Hello, Mrs. Angel.” Kirstin had a big smile on. She really liked Ashley’s mother. She was always really nice to her “I’m great. Thanks. And you?”
“I’m good, too, honey.”
“Hey, Kirstin.” Emily, Ashley’s sister, hugged her too.
“Hey, Emily. Wow, you’ve grown since the last time I saw you.” she smiled at her then turned to Ashley’s father “Hello, Mr. Angel.” she hugged him too.
“Hello, girl. You sure look good.”
“Oh, thanks.” she then turned to Ashley’s girlfriend “Hey, Hailey.”
“Hey.” was all Hailey said while hugging Kirstin.
“Ashley.”
“Kirstin.” she hugged him too. She couldn’t just not hug him. People would suspect something was wrong and would start making questions. She didn’t want that. While they were hugging each other, Ashley just inhaled her perfume. It was the same one she wore since high school. He looked over at Tom and saw his hatred look.
“Where are Taylor, Justin and Anne?” Kirstin asked to Mrs. Angel referring to Ashley’s other siblings.
“Oh, they are not in town. We’re the only Angels in Redding at the moment.” she smiled and Kirstin did too.
“Ashley told us you are still living in New York.” Mr. Angel said and Kirstin made eye contact with Ashley for the first time since his family went to greet her. He had no expression on his face. He just stared at her.
“Yes. Well, I’m still studying at NYU.”
“It’s a great college. How do you like the city?” Mrs. Angel questioned.
“It’s great. I love it over there.”
“Did you know Kirstin is engaged?” Mrs. Addams spoke up.
“No!” Emily and Mr. and Mrs. Angel all said at once.
“Yes, she is.” Mrs. Addams pointed out and Kirstin just smiled slightly at them, not making eye contact with Ashley.
“Is he this handsome young man that hasn’t said a word yet?” Mrs. Angel smiled at Tom. He smiled back.
“Yes, he is.” Kirstin answered “He’s just really shy.”
“I’m sorry. I’m Thomas Walsh. Pleasure to meet you.” he shook hands with Emily and Mr. and Mrs. Angel.
“Hailey and Ashley know Tom already.” Kirstin told Mrs. Angel when she realized a certain look on Mrs. Angel's face because Tom didn’t shake Ashley and Hailey’s hand.
“Oh, yeah! At the supermarket. Ashley told me that, he just didn’t mention you were engaged.”
“I must have forgotten.” Ashley spoke up, suddenly. He had been pretty quiet until that moment. He was looking directly at Kirstin the whole time. Kirstin was feeling uncomfortable and Tom was not happy at all with that.
“Well, come. Let me show you the new house.” Mrs. Addams motioned for them to go to the kitchen.
“Excuse us.” Mr. Angel said before leaving.
Kirstin and Tom just smiled. When they entered the kitchen, Kirstin turned to Tom.
“See? That wasn’t too hard, was it?” she had a weak smile on. She knew it was really hard. She didn’t know how to react, especially because Ashley wouldn’t stop staring at her.
“Oh, come on! You’re kidding me, right? That guy just wouldn’t take his eyes off of you! I swear to God, Kirstin…” he brought all the fingers on his right hand together.
“Tom, would you stop it? Please?” ‘Oh, God, this is not gonna be good.’ Kirstin thought “Come on, let’s go to the front yard for a second.” she took his right hand in hers. When they turned to go outside, they saw Ashley heading their way “Tom, chill.” Kirstin anticipated.
“Oh, man. What is it that he want now?” Tom rubbed his forehead.
When Ashley was close enough, he greeted.
“Kirstin.”
“Ashley.”
When Tom noticed they had their eyes glued to each other and no one was about to say something, he interrupted, greeting Ashley at the same tone he had greeted Kirstin, a serious tone of voice.
“Pretty boy.” Tom had a hatred look on.
“Waiter boy.” Ashley’s look was not different from Tom’s.
“Stop it, you two. You’re just acting like babies. It’s pathetic.”
“Sorry.” Ashley apologized. Kirstin didn’t chance her angry look.
“So, where’s Hailey?” she asked.
“She had to go back to my house. She forgot her cell phone and her mother said she would call her later to wish her a Merry Christmas.”
“Why didn’t you go with her?” Tom wondered.
“She said she could go by herself.” Ashley answered, but was not looking at him “You look absolutely beautiful, Kirstin.” he looked her up and down.
“Are you kidding me?” Tom snapped “Can’t you show some respect, man? Her fiancée is right here in front of you.” Tom raised his voice a bit.
“So?” Ashley answered with despair and didn’t change his gaze that was on Kirstin since he got there.
“So? Show some respect, or else…”
“Or else what?” Ashley was still staring at Kirstin.
“Or else I’ll knock you out.”
“Tom!” Kirstin exclaimed, pulling him back a little “Ashley, please. Don’t.”
“Don’t what, Kirstin? I can’t say nice things to a friend anymore?”
“It’s nice that you brought that word up. Friend. Because that’s all she’ll ever be to you.”
“But that’s not all she had been, right, Kirstin?”
“Man, you are asking for it.” Tom warned Ashley. By that time, some of the guests were already turned to see what was going on there.
“You two are making a scene. Tom, you promised me that…”
“I’m sorry, Kirstin, but I told you that if he’d push it, I wouldn’t be able to control myself.”
“Kirstin, what’s with this fiancée of yours? He has no self control.” Ashley shook his head. He sure was asking for it.
“Ashley, just tell me what it is that you want.”
“I want to talk to you in private.”
“Yeah, right!” Tom exclaimed “You can talk to her all night. In your dreams!” Kirstin pulled Tom aside.
“Let me talk to him.” she practically whispered.
“What?” he yelled.
More people gathered to see what was going on in the living room. ‘Thank God the Angels disappeared.’ she thought after scanning the living room.
“I’ll go talk to him. I have to. Just then this stupid little game of you guys to see who teases whom more will stop.”
“Kirstin, I don’t want you talking to him. What if he tries something?”
“He won’t. I know Ashley and he’s not gonna try something when he’s girlfriend is there somewhere.”
“Are you sure?”
“Yes. We’ll just talk.”
“Promise?”
“I promise, Tom.” she smiled, pecked him on the lips and went back to where Ashley was “Ok, we can talk.”
“Good. Well, now I’m the one enjoying seeing your face, Tom, because you may be her fiancée, but she is the boss of you, huh?”
“Ashley!” Kirstin exclaimed.
“You have no idea how bad I wanna punch you right now, pretty boy.”
“Oh, poor waiter boy. Why don’t you just punch me, then? Your boss over there won’t let you?”
“Ashley!” but this time Kirstin’s yelling didn’t help. Tom’s fist had hit Ashley’s right eye and he had collapsed into the floor.
* Thanx Taryn for reviewing and correcting the grammar errors *
~*~ Chapter 10 ~*~
~*~ Chapter 12 ~*~
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