I want to thank all of you who've read and reviewed this story so far. I will try my best not to disappoint you with the upcoming chapters. I know I said it before about chapter 3 but this latest chapter was the hardest for me to write because until now the story was focused on Kat. Hope you enjoy this look into what Tommy's feeling.
"Thanks for working out with me, man," Rocky said once he and Tommy had finished sparring.
"No problem, you're almost getting as good as me," Tommy said with a laugh.
"Ha, ha, very funny," Rocky said as they both headed over to get a drink.
"You know I'm only kidding," Tommy said as he handed Rocky a bottle of water.
"Yeah, I know, say, where have you been lately, I've tried calling you a few times but your never home," Rocky replied.
"No where special, I've been around that's all," Tommy said.
"Let me guess, you can't bear to be away from Kim, so you've been sneaking off to the gym to watch her practice," Rocky decided.
"No, I haven't, I mean I do miss Kim but I respect her Coach's wishes that there be no distractions while Kim's training," Tommy informed him.
"Well if you haven't been with Kim, then who have you been with?" Rocky questioned looking at Tommy suspiciously.
"What makes you so certain I've been with someone else?" Tommy asked him.
"I don't know you just seem to be dodging the question, that's all," Rocky said not willing to let the subject drop.
"Look Rocky, it's none of your business who I have or haven't been spending time with, is it a crime for me to have a little privacy," Tommy snapped.
"Sorry, I didn't mean to pry," Rocky apologized.
"No look, I'm sorry for snapping, I'm gonna go home and hit the showers, see ya later man," Tommy said as he grabbed his gym bad and headed for the door.
Man, what's wrong with me. Why'd I get so defensive with Rocky just now? Would it really be so bad for me to confide in someone about the time I've been spending with Kat? No, I can't do that. They would never understand. I don't even understand it myself sometimes. I just can't seem to stop thinking about her.
A few days after his encounter with Rocky, Tommy lay on his bed staring at the ceiling. He hadn't really seen much of Kimberly lately. Just a few phone calls here and there. He didn't really even know what to say to her most of the time. There just seemed to be so much space between them these days. He tried not to be jealous of the time that her training was taking away from their relationship but even that wasn't such a problem anymore. He found himself looking forward to his meetings with Katherine and didn't feel such guilt at hiding them anymore.
"Tommy, you have a phone call!" his mother yelled.
"Ok, I got it," Tommy said as he reached over and grabbed the phone on his night stand. "Hello?"
"Hey, it me," Kim's voice rang into the phone.
"Oh, hi, how's your training going," he said trying to hide his disappointment that she wasn't the one he had hoped to hear on the other line.
"It's hard but good," she told him.
"Are you on a break?" Tommy asked her.
"Actually, Coach Schmidt gave me the rest of the day off," Kim told him cheerfully.
"That's great, you've been working so hard lately," Tommy replied.
"Yeah I hope you don't mind but I promised Aisha that we could go to the mall together," Kim explained.
"Sure, you should spend some time with her, we can get together on your next day off," Tommy decided.
"Thanks for understanding, I promise we'll get to see each other before I leave," Kim replied.
"Leave, you mean you've already decided on going to Florida?" Tommy questioned.
"No, I'm leaving to tour the training facility, that's all," Kim revealed.
"Oh well, have fun with Aisha," he said.
"You could always come with us," Kim said hopefully.
"No thanks, if I go it'll only give you an excuse to shop more," Tommy said with a laugh.
"Ok, well talk to you later, love you," Kim said.
"Love you too," Tommy said as he hung up the phone. Why didn't I just tell Kim that I'd go with them to the mall? I mean spending some time with her is better than spending no time at all. What's wrong with me? Why wasn't I happier to hear her voice?
Just then the phone rang a second time and this time Tommy answered it.
"Hey, Kim is that you, I've changed my mind," he said.
"Um, sorry Tommy, it's not Kim, its Kat," a voice said to him from the other end.
"Kat, how are you?" he said silently kicking himself for not waiting to see who was on the phone first.
"I'm great, I was hoping you could meet with me, but if you've got plans with Kim…." Her voice trailed off.
"No, she's going to the mall with Aisha, so I'm all yours," he insisted.
"Great, I was hoping you'd say that," Kat told him.
"You want to meet at our usual spot?" he asked.
"Not exactly, I had something a little different in mind," she said as she gave him the details.
"Wow, I'm honored that you would think of me," Tommy said once she finished.
"Why not, you've helped me through the whole Rita thing, so I figured you'd be the perfect choice," Kat answered.
"Ok, well just give me some time to get changed and I'll see you in a few," Tommy told her.