Jude walked into hospitality at G Major, whistling. Mason, who was sitting at the counter writing down lyrics looked up and cocked one eyebrow at her.
"What has got you so…chipper?" Mason asked. Jude grinned.
"Oh, nothing. It's just a beautiful day and the birds are chirping!" She answered, playing coy. Mason frowned.
"You got laid didn't you?" Jude dropped her jaw, firmly smacking Mason in the arm. He winced, rubbing it carefully.
"Ow! I need that arm!" He cried. Jude laughed and leaned back against the counter.
"Serves you right for your nasty little comment." Mason rolled his eyes.
"Whatever." Jude smiled and went to pour herself a cup of coffee.
"Well, did you?" Mason asked, interested. Jude shook her head.
"No." Mason hopped off the counter.
"Yeah right, like I seriously believe that!" He scoffed. Jude glared at him.
"Why are you so interested in my sex life?" Mason shrugged good- naturedly.
"Probably because the last guy you slept with was the father of your child." Jude frowned.
"I date! I go on lots of dates!" Mason scoffed at her again.
"Business dates don't count." Jude hit him in the arm again.
"Okay seriously, stop!" Mason whined. Jude smirked.
"Aw, is little Mason Fox gonna go write a ballad about how heturned gay because girls pick on him?" Jude teased.
"Maybe." He said, looking at her. He smiled.
"Seriously, what has you so… happy?" Jude glanced around the lobby before leaning towards Mason.
"Tommy and I sort of… kissed." Mason widened his eyes in surprise.
"What?" Jude shushed him, quickly gazing around the lobby. She motioned for him to follow her.
They entered studio 3. Jude quickly locked the door and turned to face Mason, who was still shocked.
"Wow, I always knew you moved fast, but." Jude frowned and rolled her eyes.
"Please, it just sort of happened."
"Happened how?" He asked. Jude sighed and looked up at the ceiling.
"We were talking, at the park and we just sort of kissed." Mason looked at her, begging her to continue.
"What?" She asked. "I'm not telling you anymore, we're not in high school." She shook her head.
"You can be so gay." He shrugged.
"What can I say, too many girls picked on me in my youth." Jude laughed.
"Nice." Mason smiled at her.
"So you and Tommy, huh?" Jude shrugged.
"I honestly have no idea. We have a history of kissing and then nothing happening. I'm still not so sure that I completely trust him. I do have a daughter to worry about." Mason frowned.
"What does Noelle have to do with you and Tommy?" He asked. Jude stared at him.
"Everything! I don't exactly have time to worry if Tommy really likes me or not, when I have to run around cleaning up toys, or carpooling my kid to school and soccer practice!" Jude cried, falling onto the couch.
"Things aren't so simple anymore."
"Just admit it, you really care for Tommy." Mason stated. Jude shook her head, looking away.
"No Mason, I don't just care for Tommy," She turned to look him in the eyes. "I am hopelessly in love with him." Mason widened his eyes, shocked.
"Wow."
"There's my big secret." Jude shrugged, glancing away, thinking about the kiss she had just shared with Tommy not that long ago.
"I'm feeling oddly inspired." She replied, getting up.
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Jude was in her office quietly strumming her guitar, putting a tune to the lyrics she had wrote down. She heard a knock on her door and looked, surprised to see Tommy at the door.
"Hey, you got a minute?" He asked, leaning against the door frame. Jude nodded, setting her guitar down.
"Sure, come in." Tommy shut the door and walked over to Jude's desk. He nervously tapped his hand against his leg.
"I just wanted to talk to you about what happened. At the park." Jude widened her eyes and stood up.
"You're not about to tell me to forget it are you? Or that you have to leave and that you're not coming back?" She asked, scared of his reply. Tommy looked at her, his eyes wide.
"No! I didn't come here for that." He looked away.
"So what did you want?" Tommy shrugged.
"I'm not sure. Where do we stand?" He asked. Jude sighed, sitting down on the couch in her office.
"I don't know." Tommy nodded, looking at the pictures on her desk. He picked one up. It was a picture of Jude holding Noelle when she was about four years old.
"Is this your daughter?" He asked, putting that picture down and picking up the one of Noelle's recent school picture. Jude nodded a proud smile on her face.
"Yup, that's Noelle." Tommy turned to see her smiling. Tommy set the picture down and kneeled in front of Jude, taking her hands in his.
"I'm really sorry for all the pain I've caused you." He said. Jude gave him a small smile.
"Tommy you have apologized, like, a million times. It's okay." He smiled at her.
"I want to try, Jude." She stared at him.
"You mean at a relationship?" She asked, her breath getting caught in her throat. Tommy nodded.
"Jude, I've lived these last ten years without you, and I don't know that I can live ten more years without you." Jude smiled, tears in her eyes.
"Just take it slow, okay?"
