On the Edge (5 page)

Mom orders a pizza for dinner and Michael and I eat it in the living room while watching all the action movies we can fit in a single night.  I make my way to my bedroom shortly after eleven o’clock and smell the roses Tommy sent me before heading to bed.  I pick up my phone and notice I have two missed calls and a text message.  They are all from Tommy.

Baby, I know you’re probably busy hanging out with your brother and his “friend” but it would be nice to hear your voice.  That is, if you can make time for me.

Shit, he’s probably mad or worried or both.  I decide to call him instead of texting.  He answers on the third ring. 

“What?” He pops off.

“I’m just calling you back, babe.  I was watching movies with my brother and left my phone in the bedroom.”

“Well, how convenient is that!  Are you sure you weren’t fucking his friend and just ignoring me?”

What the hell?  Where is all of this coming from?  “No, Tommy.  I told you that Jason is just
a family friend and that’s all and he isn’t even here.  I thought we worked all this shit out last night.  What the hell is wrong with you?  Have you been drinking?”  I can’t hide my frustration with Tommy.  He’s starting to get on my nerves and I don’t understand why he’s acting like a jealous jackass.

“Why is that any of your concern?”
he spats at me. 

I can tell he’s getting more frustrated.  I really need to keep my calm and not lose it on him or this is never going to resolve itself. 
“It’s my concern because I love you and I want to know.”

“Well, for your information, I have and I’m not done.  So, if you’ll excuse me.  I would like to get back to my beer.”

              The line goes dead.  What the hell is wrong with him?  I try to shake off his attitude and head to bed.  I lay there for hours replaying the past 24 hours.  Tommy has completely done a three sixty on me.  He went from a loving boyfriend to an over-bearing Neanderthal.  Can I really stay in a relationship with a man like Tommy?  Is life going to be a constant rollercoaster ride if I don’t leave now?  However, every relationship has their issues and I am new to this relationship thing.  Maybe I just need to stick it out for a little while longer and give Tommy time to come around.  In fact, I know that that is what I’m going to do.  Everyone deserves time to adjust to a relationship.  SI just need to be patient with him and show him that I understand where he’s coming from.  Sleep begins to take over after I make the decision to stay with Tommy.

Chapter
Five

It’s finally Friday and I find myself breathing a sigh of relief.  Tommy has been a little stand-offish this week, but we are working through it.  He texts me throughout the day and I think he finally understands that I do have a life outside of him.  I’ve been hanging out with my brother and Katherine this week, and Jason has come by a few times too.  It’s been great just the four of us like it used to be.

              Tommy is coming over for dinner tonight.  It will be the first time I’ve seen him since Monday morning.  I feel those pesky butterflies acting up.  Even when Tommy is acting like an ass, the thought of seeing him makes my body do some strange things.  I am wrapped up in this gorgeous yet complicated man.

             
I hurry to get my homework done so I have time to touch up my make-up and brush my hair.  Thank God my teachers only gave out a little reading for the weekend because I don’t feel like doing any thinking.  I finish my reading as the doorbell rings.  Shit!  There is no time for reapplying my make-up.

             
I make my way to the front door just in time to see Tommy taking off his infamous black leather jacket.  Oh my, he has a sexy body.  He makes eye contact with me and flashes me his gorgeous smile.  I walk over to him and embrace him in a hug and start making introductions.  My dad shakes his hand and gives him a nod, my brother gives him a half smile and my mom gives him a light hug.  This is completely abnormal for my family.  Usually, they are swooning over anyone who is new.

             
We make our way to the dining room where mom has already set the table.  She really outdid herself this time.  She made her famous pork chops with red potatoes, green beans and fresh dinner rolls.  We all take our seats, but this time, Michael sits next to mom so that I am able to sit next to Tommy.  As we dig into the amazing meal my mother has made, dad breaks the silence.  “So, Tommy, tell me a little about yourself,” he says as he butters a dinner roll.

             
“Well, Mr. Wilkinson, what would you like to know?”

             
“What do your parents do?”

             
“Honestly, I’m not sure.  I bounced from foster home to foster home since I was five years old and I haven’t seen my parents since.  My mom was abusive and neglectful to me and I never knew my father.”

             
Oh, my heart aches for Tommy.  He has never had a decent life.  My poor Tommy has been on his own, without the love of a parent.

             
“I’m sorry,” my mom says, “it couldn’t have been easy growing up in the foster care system.”

             
“No, ma’am, foster care was not easy and I longed for a family. I believe that I turned out quite well, considering the circumstances though.”

             
How is it that I didn’t know this about him?  I got so lost in his appearance that I never thought to ask him about his life.  I feel like the world’s worst girlfriend.  I guess I didn’t know everything there was to know about my Tommy.

             
“What are your plans for the future?” My dad asks.

             
“Well, I plan on enrolling in school to become a licensed mechanic.  I love welding, but tinkering on cars is my passion.”

             
“There’s good money in that field,” my dad responds.

             
Dinner continues with mom and me talking about my upcoming prom next Saturday and the guys talking about sports.  After dinner, I help my mom clean up while the guys go in the living room to watch television.  My mom takes this time to talk to me, privately.  “Honey, I don’t mean to sound like a horrible person, but I think you can do a lot better than Tommy.”

             
“Mom!” I gasp, “Why would you say something like that?  Is it because he comes from a less than perfect background?”  Never in my life have I heard my mom say I was better than anyone.  What is her problem?

             
“No, darling, that’s not it.  I just feel that he’s hiding something.”
             

             
“Well, mom, he may not want to discuss his entire, messed up life to people he just met,” I say, trying to mask my anger.  I’ve never been mad at my mom.  This is a first for me and, frankly, I don’t like it.

             
“Honey, just be careful with him.  Don’t give him your heart before you know all there is to know about him,” she explains not realizing that I have already given Tommy my heart and so much more.

             
I nod and let the conversation drop.  I don’t want to fight with my mom over Tommy.  I’m an adult now and I don’t need her deciding what’s good for me and what isn’t.  I finish up the dishes and head to the living room with the guys.  Tommy is listening to my dad and brother talk football. I can feel how uncomfortable he is by looking at him.  “Dad, is it alright if Tommy and I go out for a few hours?”

             
“Sure baby, just be back by your curfew.”

             
“Thanks dad,” I say as I give him a kiss on his cheek.

             
We reach Tommy’s car and he opens the door so I can climb in.  I give him a quick kiss on his cheek before sitting down.  He climbs into the driver’s side and gives me a kiss on my lips before starting the engine.  “Where do you want to go?” He asks.

             
“I don’t care as long as I’m with you, babe.”

             
With that, we head opposite his apartment.  We drive for ten minutes and pull into the driveway of a house I’ve never been to before.  He gets out but does not come to my side to let me out.  I open the door and hurry to catch up with him.  I wrap my hand in his and give him a smile that he returns back to me.  He rings the bell and, low and behold, that wretched woman, Jessica, stands on the other side.  I’ve arrived at Hell’s doorstep.  God, kill me now!

             
We walk into the living room where I shoot him a ‘what are we doing here’ stare that he just shrugs off.  I’m not sure if he’s doing this on purpose or not, but I really can’t stand to be in the same room as her.  She’s so overbearing and such a bitch!

             
“Lucas, Tommy and his
toy
are here!”

             
What’s her problem?  I really want to go home.  My dad may have interrogated him and my mom may have voiced her opinion about him to me, but they were at least polite and inviting.  This woman is just a raging witch!

             
“Okay babe, I’ll be in there in a minute,” Lucas calls out from another room in the house.

             
She walks out of the room and leaves Tommy and me standing alone.  “What are we doing here?” I grumble.  I really don’t want to be here and I don’t care if Tommy can sense my frustration about the situation or not.

             
“I told you to play nice.  Now, I suffered through an interrogation at your house and I think you can do me a favor by visiting with my friends.  If not, I can take you home.”

             
I put my head down and decide that I will tolerate the visit with Lucas and his witch of a fiancée.  It’s the least I can do for Tommy after all the questions my dad had for him tonight.  Lucas comes in wearing a pair of sweat pants and a t-shirt.  He shakes Tommy’s hand and then mine.  “Hi guys.  I wasn’t expecting you,” Lucas says.

             
“Yea, we weren’t expecting you.  Why didn’t you call before coming over?” Jessica snarls as she walks back into the room.

             
“Sorry I didn’t call in advance, Jess.  I just had dinner with Abby and her family and it was a last minute thought,” Tommy explains.

             
“Well, I prefer notice before guests show up.  Sometimes, I don’t want to be around
certain
people,” she says, snidely, as she looks in my direction.

             
Oh, dear Lord.  This is going to be very long night.  Maybe I should just call my parents to come get me.  No, I can’t do that to Tommy.  He stayed at my house while my dad grilled him, so I am going to stay here even though Jessica makes me uncomfortable.

             
Lucas and Tommy begin to play a video game.  They are playing some ‘blow ‘em up’ game on one of the many gaming systems out there but I’m not sure what the name is.  I sit next to Tommy and watch a few minutes of their game playing while daydreaming about pulling strands of Jessica’s hair out.  This game is getting really boring.  I decide to fetch my phone from my back pocket and check my social media pages.  After, I decide to text Katherine.

             
Hey girl, I’m picking you up at 10 in the morning right?

             
Almost instantaneously, she responds back.

             
Yes.  I’ll see you then.  How did the dinner go with Tommy and the ‘rents?

             
Finally, I can unload my frustrations.

             
Dad interrogated him as I suspected he would.  Now, we are at his friend’s house.  The one with the God awful fiancée.  Just kill me now!!!!!!!!!

             
“You are a rude bitch, Abigail!” I hear Jessica shrieking at me from over my shoulder. 

             
Shit, how long has she been standing there?  This is not going to end well for me.  I can no longer play nice.  “What?  Is your life so miserable that you have to look over my shoulder and get into mine?”

             
“I’m not the one talking shit on her phone, now am I?”

             
Oh. My. God.  This woman knows no bounds.  She treats me like shit and doesn’t want anything to do with me but wants to look over my shoulder as I am in the middle of a private message?!  Well, I’ve had enough.  Tommy or not, I am defending myself against this sorry excuse for a human being.  “Well, if you weren’t such a wretched person to be around, I probably would’ve been hanging out with you, but frankly, I can’t stand the sight of you let alone being in the same room as you!” I hiss back at her.

             
I stand and walk to the front door.  Once outside, I begin to dial my dad’s cell phone.  I’m ready to go home.  It goes straight to voicemail.  He’s probably on another call.  Just as I’m about to call my mom, Tommy comes out and takes my phone out of my hand.  “What the hell is going on, Abigail?” He demands.

             
“I don’t know.  She must have been looking over my shoulder as I was messaging Katherine.”

             
“Dammit, Abigail, I told you to behave yourself.”

             
“I’m sorry, but you know that I can’t stand that woman yet you bring me here with no warning.  She’s an absolute bitch, Tommy!”

             
“I don’t care what you think of her.  Lucas is my only friend and Jessica is part of his life just as you are part of mine.  Don’t you see that?”

             
“But I’m not nasty and mean like Jessica is.  Tommy, she’s been a bitch to me since day one and you allow it.  If I’m part of your life then why do you let Jessica walk all over me like that?”

             
He runs his hands through his hair as a low breath hisses from his lips.  “You are absolutely frustrating sometimes, Abigail.  Do you even realize that?”

             
“I’m sorry.  Look, if you give me my phone back, I’ll call my mom or a friend to come and get me.  I’ve already ruined your evening and you need to get back in there.”

“Dammit, Abigail, I brought you here and I’ll take you home.  Right now, I’m going to go back inside and apologize for you and then I will take you home.”

I nod as he turns around to head back into the house.  He didn’t give me my phone back so I am left standing outside like a fool with no one to call, text, or instant message to make the time pass.  Just as I lean against his car, the front door opens and Tommy is heading down the walk way.

“Crisis averted, barely.  For now, you are not allowed over when Jessica is home.  Since she’s always home, I guess I can’t come over at all when you’re with me but Lucas understands the hostility between you two and there are no ill feelings, at least where he is concerned.”

He opens the passenger door for me.  As I climb in, I look back at him.  “I really am sorry, Tommy.  I hope you forgive me and realize it was a slip in judgment.”

“Abby,” he sighs, “it’s alright.  Jessica is hard to handle and I s
houldn’t have brought you here,” he says before kissing my lips.

I nod in acceptance of what he
said and turn to look out the passenger side window.

Once in the driver’s seat, he starts the ignition and turns his head to face me. 
“The night is still young.  Do you want to go home or back to my place?”

Oh, given the choice, I would always choose going to Tommy’s over going home.  I give him a sly smile and he nods.
  I know he knows where I want to go.