"I'm guessing you're not pleased by the sudden entourage." I stated demurely upon approaching Tom. He just gave me a look that plainly read 'oh please.' I couldn't help it, I felt obliged to tease him mercilessly .
"If you saw the way they stared at your backside, you'd probably change your mind." I remarked helpfully as he threw me another withering look.
"Considering you've made me all too aware of my own ass today, girl, I find I am totally repulsed at the idea of having anyone near it at the moment." Tommy replied as I tried my damndest not to crack up. Classic…just classic. I shrugged up at him.
"So what do you need, mighty man—ointment rubbed into your muscles, physical therapy for the soul, a good nice slap on the…"I began as Tommy glared at me warningly. What?
"Don't tempt me, Harrison." He stated with a wry grin before pointing up to the room where he was staying. I just shook my head as I followed him up expectantly. He closed the door behind us as we entered, and the resounding 'click' that filled the room made my head spin. I watched warily as he walked over to the bed before handing me a brown package. I looked at it a moment hesitantly.
"What's this?" I asked softly as he shrugged. Something told me he knew his sister would refuse to come up when he asked. He must have been betting on me saying yes because this definitely had my name boldly printed across the front in vivid black, streaks. Tom tapped the package gently.
"It's not a snake, Jude, and it sure as hell isn't an arrow so open it." He remarked in a low tone as I finally managed to talk myself into ripping open the top. I sat down on the edge of the bed in confusion when several tickets fell out into my hand. I didn't get it. Tom sat down beside me carefully—trying to avoid his injury while jabbing me on the leg for the pain I had caused him. Hey, that's why you never walk in front of an irate girl holding a weapon. Taught him twice, I'm sure.
"It's in French I know, but you haven't had a chance to see Paris before. When I found out for sure that you were coming, I wanted to make sure that you saw as much of the city as possible despite the fact that you are here to work. You deserve time off, Jude. I just wish I had known about everything else that was going on in your life." Tom replied softly as I turned the first set of tickets over and over in my hand. It said 'Bateaux Parisiens'
"It's a dinner cruise that travels through the heart of Paris along the banks of the Seine River." Tommy explained as I just stared up at him in shock. He hadn't! Looking down at the other tickets, I looked up at him expectantly—waiting for him to translate as I read the words 'France Montgolfieres'
"It's a hot air balloon trip that begins on the outskirts of Paris in a town called Fontainebleau from Moret-sur-loing." Tommy explained again as I just gripped the pieces of paper tightly—too tightly. I opened my mouth to say something as Tommy gently shook his head.
"Just take the gift, Jude. Don't question it." He remarked stoically as I gazed up into his eyes.
"Who's the second ticket for, Tom?" I asked breathlessly—too afraid to even guess at what the answer might be. Tom stood up slowly before moving across the room.
"That's for you to decide when the time comes, Jude. The cruise is for this weekend. The hot air balloon ride is a day or so after that. You can always decide then." Tommy stated softly as I still refused to look up into his face. I just couldn't. He sighed as I heard him shift suddenly.
"You can talk to me Jude. You know that right?" He asked me insistently as I finally looked up to find him pulling his shirt over his head. I gulped at the sight.
"What the hell are you doing?" I cried out without meaning to as he perused me silently in amusement.
"You have a problem with men's chests, Jude? I've seen the pictures Sadie has of the guys of Boyz Attack at the beach on her bedroom wall. I promise I haven't changed that much since then." He replied on a chuckle as I felt my cheeks burn with embarrassment. I hadn't meant to yell out like that. Looking away, I stood up and made my way to the door hurriedly.
"Um…thanks for the tickets." I stated quickly—pulling on the door just as Tommy placed his hand onto the wood above my head, keeping me from opening it. His mouth came dangerously close to my ear lobe as he leaned over me, and I felt my heart speed up considerably as the heat from his skin absorbed into the back of my clothes.
"Entretien a moi, mon culbuteur. Talk to me, Jude." Tommy whispered against my eardrum as I shivered. Standing as still as possible, I felt when Tommy sighed before backing up so that I could walk out of the room. And all I could think about as I made my way back down the stairs towards the chattering girls gathered in the kitchen was "Don't hurt me, Tom. Please, don't hurt me."