OOM: Outside, Stables -- For Tommy Gavin

[ikissdhimbck]

[continuing from here:]


It's mid-morning by the time any of the other hands show up, and all the animals are squared away. Kate has Rachat and Duncan out back, saddled up and ready to go.

The sun's come out, and the path around the lake looks clear. If they make it around the lake, Kate will be impressed. But Tommy seems diligent, at least, and stubborn if all else fails him. He should be all right, so long as he's half as good at listening.

Kate will endeavor not to hold her breath.

Comments

[gavin62truck]

It's painful, the way she can't look at him, because that just proves he was right, and it's just another relationship that didn't even have a chance to be any kind of relationship because he fucked up already.


But -- her fingers on his wrist stop him in his tracks, and turn his self-loathing on its head. If only for a second.


You might, though, once you get to know me.


He forces himself to lower his gaze. He turns and walks away toward the stable entrance, the light touch of her fingertips still lingering on his skin and the blue of her eyes seared onto his consciousness.


Two can'ts don't make a can. That isn't how it usually works.

But screw the rules. They never suited Tommy anyway.


Before he gets too far away, he stops and turns and calls out to Kate,

"So, um-- if you still wanna go to New York-- y'know, to go ice skating or whatever-- just, y'know, let me know whenever. If you want."

[ikissdhimbck]

She's left staring at the vacant spot where once he stood, mouth pulled into a frown. She isn't expecting him to call out to her, so it takes an extra beat before she turns, smile wan but there.

"All right."

She glances down, lips twitching.



"S'a deal."

[gavin62truck]

The smile is in her voice, if faint.

"Cool."

A beat.

"Thanks for the riding lesson. It was-- it was fun."

He clears his throat.

"Well. See ya 'round."

Finally turning to leave, he sidesteps a bit to reach over and give that obnoxious pinto a goodbye rub on the nose, before emerging into the sunlight and disappearing down the path.

I can't absolutely will not be part of Tommy's lexicon. He refuses to allow it to be, in any way, shape or form.

He broke this; he'll fix it.