6 - Tom

If there'd been any doubt in my mind that Eliza was an extraordinary woman before we'd left her apartment it had sailed out the window. She'd been uncomfortable leaving the theater but she'd quickly got over it and we'd gone out to dinner and were now waiting on Chris and his wife to meet up down in the bar at the hotel we were all staying at.

She is leaning against my chest, her back towards me as we sat in one of the booths and was showing me pictures on her phone. A text message flashes across the screen and she starts laughing.

"What is it?" I ask as she opens the text.

"Katy just texted me. Look."

"Why are there pictures of you and freaking Tom Hiddleston popping up on the internet?!" I read out loud and start chuckling.

"And you brought him to my show?!" She reads as another pops in.

"He said the show was spectacular." She says as she types it in and hits send. "Didn't take long huh?"

"It usually doesn't when something new happens. Heck there weren't even paparazzi outside the restaurant last night that I saw and it managed to make the morning paper."

I knew there were people watching us even now, but it was loud enough no one would overhear us. I was enjoying having her lean against me, it felt natural, and she didn't seem to mind it either. I'd not been seen in public like this since my messy break up after the very short relationship with Taylor a few years ago. Zawe and I hadn't even been seen holding hands until a few months into our relationship and even after that we'd kept the PDA to a minimum.

"Hey guys!" Chris says sliding in across from us.

"Hi. I'm Eliza, we sort of met earlier on set." She says smiling at him and reaching a hand across the table.

"Tom's told me all about you." He says, kissing her knuckles.

"Have not." I say defensively.

She looks up at me with a look that says she didn't believe me.

"Okay fine, I might've mentioned you a couple times." I concede making her laugh.

"I thought your wife was going to join us?" She asks.

"She decided to go on to bed. I'm not sure she likes this." He replies pointing between Eliza and me. "She'd gladly slap Zawe, but whatever. You two seem to be getting along well. Saw the pictures by the way."

"Yeah, her friend Katy just texted. What are they saying?"

"Aside from speculating how long it's been going on not too much. They haven't figured out who you are yet, but it won't take long."

"I figured as much." She says and snuggles closer.

"So tell me about yourself Eliza. Tom says you own a book and coffee shop?"

"I do. Your filming has increased my foot traffic and now that Tom's been seen inside it will probably increase more. Feel free to stop by and get a coffee anytime."

"Just might have to do that, coffee on set is awful. So what else you wanna share?"

"Um, I moved here shortly after graduating high school with Katy going on 16 years ago but I was born in raised in Arkansas. I have two brothers, one older one younger. And I read the marvel comics before you two made them cool."

"So you're just a few years younger than us."

"Yep, I turned 33 back in June."

"Never married?"

"Chris!" I hiss.

"It's fine." She says looking up at me briefly, "No I never married. The guy I was dating when I graduated proposed but I said no. He didn't take it well and I haven't seen or heard from him since moving here. Haven't really dated since."

"So why agree to this?" Chris asks, again pointing between the two of us.

"I get to spend a couple days hanging out with one of my favorite actors. Why wouldn't I? I know once filming is over he'll move on. I'm not expecting anything to come of this nor do I plan of turning it into a pay day."

He studies her for a long moment and then apparently comes to the conclusion she is telling the truth and laughes.

"I hate that you're hurting brother but I can't say I'm sorry it helped you meet this one. I'd stay longer but I promised the wife I'd only stay for a few minutes."

"It was a pleasure to meet you Mr. Hemsworth."

"It's Chris and the pleasure is all mine. You two behave yourselves."

I watch him walk away and she looks up at me as he disappears behind the elevator doors.

"I'm sorry about that." I grumble and she chuckles.

"Why? He's looking out for you, I can understand that. You've nothing to be sorry for."

I look down at her and she smiles. I was beginning to realize I was in danger of developing deeper feelings for Eliza and that scares me. She must see the change in my expression because she sits up and rests her elbow on the table, blocking our faces from view.

"What's wrong?" She asks.

No one has ever been able to read me as easily as she seemed to be able to. I tuck her hair behind her ear and smile.

"Nothing you need to worry about. It's getting late, I should probably get you home."

She studies his face, clearly not believing me and I sigh. I've played all kinds of characters convincingly for years but for whatever reason this woman could see straight through me.

"If you don't want to tell me it's fine, but you don't have to put on a front for me."

She glances at her phone and puts it back in her purse.

"I should probably head home. Thank you for a wonderful evening Tom. You know where to find me now."

"I don't have your number."

"May I see your phone?"

I hand it to her, she punches the number in and she hands it back. I press the call button and hang up when I hear her phone start ringing.

"And now you have mine. Want me to ride home with you? We can take my car."

"You don't have to take me home Tom; this wasn't a real date."

"True, but if we're pretending we might as well keep pretending so it's believable. After all I do have a reputation as a gentleman to uphold. Please?"

"Now that's pure evil." She says grinning and shaking her head.

"What is?" I ask confused.

"You're too adorable to say no to when you look at me like that."

"Noted." I say smirking.

She slides out of the booth and I slide out after her. The way she is looking at me makes it hard to remember that they were essentially role playing, that this wasn't real and I found that a growing part of me was starting to want it to be real. She seemed to soothe the broken part of my heart.