Tom pushes the ache into the back of his mind, convincing himself that it can't be jealousy. He can't be jealous of Harrison for talking to you. It just, it can't happen. So, he walks in and takes his seat across from you, pulling out the cards from their sleeve. His actions are stiff and he's silent while his mouth is pressed into a harsh line. It's more than obvious he's not happy. His demeanor has made a one-eighty. You and Harrison exchange looks before Harrison speaks up.

"You okay, mate?"

"Fine." Tom says, shuffling the cards. "Ace high or low?"

Harrison rolls his eyes while Tom glances to you, already picking up on why Tom's behavior changed so suddenly. "Low." Harrison says, taking a drink from his beer.

"I deal out all the cards to the three of us." Tom starts as he starts dealing. "We go in a circle putting down cards. Ace to King. It has to go in order so we start to with Haz, go to me, then you." Tom's eyes look to you as you try to follow the rules of the unfamiliar card game. "Haz will put down an ace, I put down a two, you put down three, back to Haz for a four and then five from me and six from you, so on, got it?" You nods once with furrowed brows.

"What if I don't have that card?" You ask.

"Put any card down. The cards go face down. If you think either of us is lying about our card, you call bullshit. If you're right, whoever put down the wrong card picks up the others and adds them to their deck. If you're wrong, you pick up the deck and you add them to yours. First one to not have any cards left wins." Tom finishes explaining.

"Got it, yeah." You nod, picking up your cards and looking them over.

"Let's play." Tom sighs while Harrison puts down his card.

The three of you go in a circle and for the first few minutes, it's quiet. Tom was the chatterbox of the boys but he was too busy keeping his jealousy in check. Part of Tom's and your deal comes with Tom keeping his anger in check. He has to stay calm otherwise he's just another hot head. Not to mention, it probably wouldn't look too good on his part if he were to snap. If Tom snapped over his best friend flirting with his co-worker, that just makes him out to be exactly who you think he is even though, this one time, it's different.

No one has ever stood up to Tom the way you have. You do it with grace and ease and still, while thinking he's an ass, you give him the benefit of the doubt. There's this part that's slowly picking at his inner walls, picking at the paint and the plaster holding the bricks together, it's saying maybe you went through something similar to what he did. Maybe that's why you hate how he treats people. When people get fucked over, it makes them mean or it makes them kind. It's a choice. You can be let the world fuck you up, or you show the world you don't care and you're gonna be nice anyway. So, maybe you and Tom are just two sides of the same coin. No one is that nice for no reason.

"Bullshit."You say after a few rounds.

Tom's eyes fall on you and the once sour look on his face that seemed stuck turned to a devilish smirk. Your heart jumped to your throat as your hands grow just clammy enough to notice. You hoped your first time calling Tom's bluff you wouldn't be wrong but the smirk he held told you otherwise.

"You sure 'bout that?" Tom asks, tilting his head slightly to the right as Harrison chuckles beside you.

You look down to your cards and then back to Tom whose eyes were still glued to you. "Yeah, I'm sure." Your uncontrollable smile splits your face.

"Fuck you." Tom scoffs but the smirk doesn't leave his face as he takes the cards into his hands.

"I was hoping you'd call him." Harrison nudges your shoulder, giving you a sweet smile before his eyes fall on Tom as if to be testing the waters with both of you.

While you gave an endearing smile to Harrison, Tom's eyes narrowed and he shook his head, mouthing 'don't'. Harrison nodded but the smile stuck on his face while he leaned back in his chair.

"You can put your card down." Tom says, looking to you with a deep breath.

"Got a date tomorrow." Harrison says, you and Tom whipping your heads to look at Harrison's seemingly random remark but within seconds, Tom is giving Harrison a grateful smile.

"Yeah?" Tom says, playing along while Harrison plays his card.

"Yeah, gonna head out after work tomorrow and go for dinner." Harrison answers while you stay oblivious to the lie Harrison was telling.

Harrison would never go after anyone Tom would even show the slightest interest in. And while Tom has his moments, he's a loyal friend and he'd never do that to Harrison either. Although, Harrison is definitely going to be bombarding Tom with questions on why the sudden possessiveness over you when he's had no interest in anything besides a hookup in over a year. But, that was the main reason Harrison backed off immediately and came up with date lie. If Tom is showing genuine interest in someone, Harrison is gonna be the middleman if he has to to make sure that works out right. He misses Tom, the Tom he was before.

"Stop by after." Tom gives his friend a smirk which grants him a displeased look while you put your card down.

"Yeah, yeah." Harrison chortles.

"You guys are really close." You state with the sweetest smile.

"Kind of like the brother I chose." Harrison responds. "Not sure why though." Harrison remarks while Tom gives him the finger and the three of you erupt into laughter.

"You'd be lost without me!" Tom defends between the laughter.

This was the first time you heard Tom genuinely laugh. Sure, he laughed on your bathroom floor but he was drunk. Drunken laughter doesn't count, especially the laugh Tom had. It was a spiteful laugh and kind of irked you. So, this, his laugh that was more a giggle and turned into something louder and happier and just, pure, it made you happy. Tom's laugh made you happy and someone with a laugh like that, someone who can project so much happiness with it, can't be that bad. Which, really, just makes you want to make Tom laugh every second you're with him.

"Probably, yeah." Harrison agrees, the laughing just barely subsiding.

"But," Tom stops his laughter and his smile drops while his brows knit together. "Bullshit, mate." Tom gives Harrison a one-sided smirk as Harrison takes in a deep breath.

"You sure?" Harrison mocks Tom.

"What d'ya think, y/n?" Tom turns his attention to you.

"You should pick up the cards," You lick your lips, mocking Tom's smirk and while Tom's face starts to look both sarcastically appalled and shocked, you whip your head to Harrison. "Harrison."

"Are you teaming up with him now?" Harrison rests a hand on his chest, acting to be hurt.

"Maybe." You giggle and look back to Tom whose face is so soft, softer than you had ever seen it.

"You guys suck." Harrison mumbles as he picks up the cards.

The game continues and Tom finds himself staring more at you than maybe he should be. And everytime he catches himself staring, it's because you've noticed and your cheeks tint and Tom realizes he's actually been smiling the whole time. Harrison has to bite back his tongue to not say a word and Tom is biting back the urge to flirt.

Flirting.

He's good at it. If flirting were a sport, he'd have a gold medal but, that's part of your deal. No flirting. So, he bites back wanting to compliment your hair that's kind of a mess but compliments your face nicely. And he bites back wanting to tell you that you look beautiful in your sweats, comfortable and at peace. He bites back wanting to compliment the way your eyes shine in the light of his kitchen while your eyes crinkle every time you laugh. Even the simplest of compliments could be considered flirting and Tom can't risk that. So, he holds his tongue and allows his heart to fall into his stomach.

"Bullshit." Harrison says, looking to you who just placed your last card on the deck.

"Flip it over." You take a sip from your water, smiling at Tom.

Harrison sighs and reaches for the deck, flipping over your card. "Oh, come on." Harrison groans.

"Well," You beam with pride, a little surprised you won your first game of Bullshit. "I gotta head back so I can sleep."You get up from your chair.

"So soon?" Tom asks immediately following your words, the disappointment a little too evident in his voice.

You shake your head, trying to hold back the flattered smile. "Yeah, I like to get a lot of sleep." You shrug and look to Harrison. "It was nice to meet you and maybe I'll see you later if Tom beats you."

"He won't." Harrison holds his head up.

You look to Tom and back to Harrison. "Who knows." You giggle. "Have fun on your date though."

"Yeah, right." Harrison nods, almost forgetting the petty lie. "Thanks."

"Here, I'll walk you out." Tom offers, stuffing his cards in the pocket of his hoodie, forgetting that all Harrison has to do is count his cards to figure out what cards Tom has.

"I...I live next door?" You quirk a brow and your eyes narrow slightly. Tom doesn't respond, however. His brows knit together and his eyes widen like a sad puppy. "Okay." You chuckle.

Tom walks you out and to your door next to his. You, while finding him to be far more endearing in his own home, are still suspicious of his behavior. It's day one, he can't just expect you to fall for him or just go with whatever he wants. You won't be swayed that easily. Hell, you even found yourself a little disappointed Harrisonhad a date. That's reason enough for you to be watching Tom carefully.

"You have fun?" Tom asks.

"I did." You nod simply, unlocking your door. "Thank you for inviting me."

"I told you I'm not who you think I am." Tom holds his head up high.

You sigh and shake your head. "We have rules, Holland." Tom raises a brow, confusion spreading across his face. "You're not allowed to fall for me."

Tom scoffs and shakes his head quickly. "I'm not."

"Okay." You nod and bite your bottom lip.

"But you can fall for me."

Your heart stops in your chest with his words. They caught you off guard for more than one reason. First, why would he even say that? And why would it matter if you fell for him? But, also, that's a comment you expected to be held with so much arrogance, you'd suffocate on it but it wasn't. Tom sounded genuine and honest, there might even be a small touch of vulnerability in his words.

"I won't." You shake your head and keep your voice soft and sweet, ignoring the thumping of your heart.

"How do you know?" Tom challenges, gesturing a hand.

You shrug a shoulder, not wanting to completely insult him. "I just do. How do you know you won't fall for me?" You counter.

Tom chuckles as he glances to group and back to you. "Good point."

"So, how do you know you won't fall for me?" Your smile is taunting but you're trying to hold back a laugh.

Tom scratches above his eye as his tongue graces the front of his teeth. He is not going to have that conversation in the hallway. Hell, he doesn't even like having that conversation with Harrison.

"I don't fall for people."

You scoff at his words getting the impression he was full of shit. "Me either." You respond, playing his game.

"Why not?" Tom bites his bottom lip, trying to get information from you.

"Why don't you?"

Tom laughs and your cheeks heat up with the sound. "Fine, you win." Tom surrenders.

"I'm on a roll tonight." You remark, soreness taking over your cheeks from smiling.

Tom's laugh subsides but a gentle smile is still on his lips. You were on a roll but not the type you thought you were on. But, there's something with how you light up when you're winning a battle that Tom's quickly being addicted to. You were confident in calling his bluff in the card game and Tm couldn't help himself. You were only right twice, every other time you called bullshit, Tom lied and picked up his cards anyway. It made you happy. Something he did, second hand albeit, made you happy.

"Yeah, yeah you are, I guess." Tom nods softly.

"Well," You point your thumb over your shoulder. "I'm gonna go to bed, but I'll see you in the morning."

"Goodnight." Tom smiles and waves.

You giggle at his gesture and wave back. "Goodnight, Tom." You close the door and leave Tom in the hallway.

Tom tilts his head back and puts his hands over his face. Did he really just wave at you? Who the hell waves? When the person is right there? Saying goodnight? A groan escapes his lips as he makes his way back to his apartment, kicking himself. Tom lets the confusion of the wave wash over him and denial of the previous jealousy and thumping heartbeats to take over. Being in denial was a lot easier when you weren't around.

"So, do you want to explain?" Harrison asks as Tom comes back, an exasperated sigh escaping his lips.

Tom rolls his eyes before going back to the table. "We don't have to finish. I'll get lunch." Tom says, laying his cards on the table.

Harrison's brows raise in surprise as he leans forward. "You're into her?"

"No!" Tom sneers. "She thinks I'm just some fuckin' prick who can't keep it in his pants and that I'm an arrogant asshole. Bullshit if you ask me."

Harrison blinks and his eyes narrow. "But you are those things." Tom sends Harrison a harsh glare as Harrison rolls his shoulders back. "You are, mate, been telling you that for the past year."

"You said you understood." Tom mumbles, fiddling with his empty beer bottle.

"I do but that doesn't make her wrong or what you do right."

"Well, I'm proving her wrong."

"By buying her lunch for a week?" Harrison chuckles.

"No," Tom groans. "Okay, yeah but I'm just not gonna do what she thinks I do for two weeks."

"Right..." Harrison takes a drink of his near-empty bottle of beer. "What?" Harrison's face scrunches in worry, afraid of what his friend has gotten himself into this time.

"Made a bet, really." Tom admits. "I just gotta prove her wrong, is all."

"And winner gets?" Harrison asks, knowing Tom has to have something on the line.

"Bragging rights." Tom answers nonchalantly.

There we go. "How bad did she turn you down?" Harrison laughs, knowing his friend too well.

Tom purses his lips as he looks down, shaking his head and loose curls fall onto his forehead. "Yeah..." Tom chuckles.

"Hell must've frozen over, ya?" Harrison jokes.

"She can't turn me down forever." Tom smirks.

"This is probably what she's talking about, you know?" Harrison waves a finger in the air, half mocking Tom.

"Are you going to tell her?" Tom retorts.

"No," Harrison's eyes widen the word. "Of course not."

"Then she'll never know. What she doesn't know, can't hurt her."

Harrison tilts his head slightly. Tom? Caring about someone else's feelings besides his own? A miracle possibly at this point.

"Come on, really," Harrison grin drops. "What's your plan?"

Tom shrugs. "Dunno. She said I can't kick girls out in the morning," Tom pauses. "Well, I guess I'm kind of mean when I do it so I have to be nice."

"You are mean to them." Harrison says. "You called a girl a slut once to get her to leave."

Tom winces at the memory. "Not my finest moment." He admits. "I did apologize though." Tom tries to defend but Harrison just shakes his head in disappointment. "It was-"

"I know." Harrison says. "I know why you said it, I was here but that doesn't make it right."

"Are you gonna lecture me or can I finish?" Harrison waves a hand for Tom to finish. "I can't do that and I can't flirt with her." Harrison bursts into laughter only to quickly apologize so Tom could finish. "I have to put effort into working and ya know, stuff like that I guess. Oh," Tom sucks in a breath. "I can't fall for her."

Harrison nods taking in Tom's agreement with you. He's intrigued, truthfully he is. He wants to know how this even came about and how you managed to keep Tom level-headed enough to actually have this bet with him. But, Harrison didn't want to get into that aspect just yet in fear of setting Tom off.

"If you do?" Harrison asks.

"I won't." Tom says, lying through his teeth, denial front and center.

"Alright." Harrison says, not willing to push Tom further.

"That's it?" Tom asks, waiting for Harrison to tell him it's a horrible idea.

Harrison nods. "Yeah, I think it's good for you. She's good for you. I've been trying to get you to get your damn shit together for a year so if having this bet with her is gonna make that happen, more power to you both."

Tom looks at Harrison with wide eyes, stunned his friend is actually okay with this. Normally, Harrison would be completely against something like this. It's a set up for people to get hurt. Harrison doesn't want to see innocent people get hurt because Tom can't keep his shit together. But he also hates seeing Tom get hurt and he doesn't want to see Tom get hurt like he did before. So, Harrison agreeing with this, is both terrifying and relieving. A giant contradiction.

"Thanks, mate." Tom thanks Harrison with a sincere glance.

"Yeah, well, I want BLT from Conrad's tomorrow. You remember when I have lunch. Thanks." Harrison gives Tom a toothy smile.

Tom nods, his face showing his sarcasm while he sticks up his middle finger. "Yeah, fuck off."