"Are you going to be doing that all night because, Jesus Jude, that's going to drive me nuts!" Tommy declared later as I popped another bubble out from between my lips with the piece of Bubblicious bubblegum I had in my mouth. I just raised a brow. Gum had always been his pet peeve, and I was enjoying the fact that I knew that. What did he think I was doing? Chewing it for my health? I heard someone snicker and I looked up just in time to see Tommy's grandmother watching me from across the room. I winked at her and she smiled. Okay, so most of his family liked me. That was good, right? I popped the gum again—watching in amusement as Tommy winced before throwing a pillow at me from off his couch.
"Kitchen now, Jude!" Tommy demanded as I just looked up innocently. His sister, who I had learned was the 'little nymph' from My Space, just tsked as me as I walked by.
"Ohhhh, you're in trouble." She called out as I crossed my eyes at her—causing her to laugh at my playful attitude. Mason just gave me a 'do you have any idea what you are doing' look as I pushed through the doorway into Tommy's kitchen. I could just envision the entire family scrambling over to the door trying to steal grandpa's hearing aid so that they could hear what was going on. I smiled at the thought. It made me wish my family was still together that way, although I couldn't envision grams doing anything other than sleep.
"Are you deliberately trying to annoy me, Jude, or is this some twisted idea of a game to you because let me tell you, girl, I've always hated games." Tommy bit out fiercely as I just shrugged before shaking my head.
"Have you really, Tom, or do you just hate the games you aren't winning because the way I see it, you have a tendency to play whoever comes into your life." I declared firmly as Tommy stared at me a moment while I could have sworn I heard someone from the other side of the door mutter 'you go girl!' I'm guessing it was score one for the Harrison team. Tom sighed as I popped another bubble, and I knew I was in trouble when he advanced on me from across the room—storming in a way that made him look like an army advancing on its enemy. It should have intimidated me, but it only made my blood boil. I guess it was a good thing that I was angry too because anger made me fearless. He backed me up against his kitchen wall—placing a steady hand on each side of my head.
"Are you prepared for this game then, Jude?" He asked almost in a whisper as I watched the silent battle he was fighting with himself shine throughout his eyes. I just raised a brow as tapped him insistently on the chest. I could tell he was afraid. His emails had opened me up to the man, and I knew that the age difference and the fact that I was his artist and protégé bothered him. Well, sometimes the student can teach the instructor, and this student was done learning.
"Are you?" I asked in return as his eyes darkened before his lips came dangerously close to mine. Sometimes sampling the forbidden fruit could be so sweet. I closed my eyes in anticipation only to have the kitchen door burst open as Tommy's mother walked cheerfully through. "Coffee anyone?" Catalina asked with a grin as she moved toward Tommy's coffee pot. Tom sighed before closing his eyes and backing away. I just took a deep, fortifying breath—trying to calm the now erratic beat of my heart. I knew he was using his mother's interruption to retreat back into himself because I could see his newly veiled disguise fall into place. I guess that was point one for the Quincy team. I needed to get the ball back in my court.