"Feel better?" Jude asked in a monotone voice.
Tommy shook his hand out, obviously in pain. He commented sarcastically, "Just dandy."
Jude reached out for his hand and pulled it close to herself. She looked at his red knuckles and brushed her fingers over them. She stopped when Tommy winced in pain, giving him a sympathetic look. Jude gently pressed her lips against his hand and kissed his knuckles lightly. "Better now?" she asked.
Relaxing, Tommy finally caught his breath. "Yes. Thank you." Tommy leaned in and gave Jude a kiss on her forehead, embracing every moment of it.
They sat in silence for a short while until Jude couldn't hold in her feelings anymore. "It's not that I don't appreciate it, but you really didn't need to hit him."
"For the record," Tommy started defensively, "I didn't hit him. I shoved him."
Jude shot Tommy a look of disbelief. "Oh yeah. That's a big difference."
Tommy interlocked his fingers with Jude's, holding her hand. "Look, Jude, I'm never going to let anyone treat you like that. It was wrong and he was a jerk. I--I don't care if he calls me names and challenges me. But the second he says anything about you… Of course I'm going to lose control."
Although Jude hated violence, she felt Tommy was coming from the right place. In the end, Tommy always meant well. Touched by his chivalry, Jude wrapped her arms around the back of Tommy's neck and gave him a long, powerful kiss. Their connection was like magic until it was unexpectedly broken when Tommy caught a glimpse of someone out of the corner of his eye.
He quickly swung his attention over to see a chuckling Kwest in front of his car. Mimicking Jude, Tommy said quietly, "Note to self: PDA, not so good." Tommy leaped up and grabbed Kwest by the arm, bringing him to the rear of the Viper. "You didn't see anything, Kwest. You get that?"
Kwest could only help but continue his laughter as Tommy's rage flared. "Did I call it, or did I call it?" Kwest managed to joke between each chuckle.
"What did I just say, man?" Tommy questioned.
Jude joined them and gazed worriedly at the hysterical Kwest and infuriated Tommy. "Is everything okay?"
"Everything's great," Kwest replied. Letting his laughter die, Kwest hooked his arms around the back of both of their necks. "I knew it was just a matter of time."
"Kwest…" Tommy gave him a heartbreaking look. If Tommy knew how to do anything well, it was persuading people with his eyes.
Kwest sighed deeply and hugged his arms tighter around them. "I get it. Secret's safe with me."
Tommy's spirit lightened. He smiled and stated "Good. That's good." They stood awkwardly for a moment as Kwest smiled pleasantly back and forth between Jude and Tommy. Breaking the silence, Tommy started, "I'm all for male bonding, but, Kwest…"
Understandingly, Kwest removed his arm from Tommy's shoulder and gave him a pat on the back. Tommy couldn't help but smile at the fact that Kwest was so excited for them. Taking a second look, Tommy realized Kwest only let go of him, but still held Jude. "Dude! Would you like it if I had my hands all of your girl?" Tommy took Jude into his arms, placing his hands on her hips.
"I wouldn't appreciate that too much," Jude said, raising her hand. Jude directed her attention back on to Kwest. "What are you doing here?"
"Ah… About that…" Kwest glanced in the direction of the front entrance. "The two of you probably shouldn't go in there…"
"Why?" Tommy asked, already knowing the answer. He figured, Kwest enjoyed making him sweat, the least he could do was return the favor. "It's not like you guys are having secret G Major meetings behind our backs."
Tommy started to laugh at his joke. He secretly tickled Jude to start her laughter, but Kwest only stood there. Tommy would take quick glances at Kwest from the corner of his eye. Letting the laughter die down, Tommy asked again, "Really man, why shouldn't we go in there?"
"Your girl's a better actor than you, Tom Quincy." Kwest wiped the nervous look from his face and said, "I guess I'm a pretty hot actor too." Kwest couldn't help but laugh as he beat Tommy again. "You guys already went in, huh?"
Jude nodded and answered, "Yeah." She laughed too as she could relate to the excitement and humor in outsmarting the great Tom Quincy. She straightened out as she remembered what happened in the building just minutes ago. "It wasn't too pretty."
"I hope it included someone kicking Shay's butt because that kid deserves it." Kwest said sarcastically. He directed his attention to Tommy and his swollen knuckles. "Did you…"
"Nope," Jude interjected. "That was Tommy's fight with the steering wheel."
Kwest started laughing again and patted Tommy's shoulder. "Good. Even though he's a jerk, we still gotta work with the kid."
"We?" Tommy shouted. "Even after what he did?"
Feeling bad for all his fun earlier, Kwest watched his feet as he shuffled around a little. He hated being the one to know all the facts, but that's just who he was. "Trust me, Shay's not thrilled about working with you, or at G Major at all. Darius wants the best, and you're still the best producer around."
"I don't think Darius thinks you're so great anymore…" Jude tousled her bangs between her fingers, still a little shaken by the current events.
Furrowing his brow, Kwest questioned, "What am I missing?"
Tommy sighed deeply, leaning up against the back of his car. "Darius and I had a… Disagreement."
Kwest nodded, but stopped to shrug his shoulders. "Like you and Darius have ever gotten along. What happened this time?" Kwest could almost feel the secrets surrounding them and quickly thought of a possible situation. "Does he know about the two of you?"
"No! Hence why you can't tell anyone, man!" Tommy rubbed his forehead with his palm, still avoiding Kwest's question. He didn't need the whole world to know he lost his temper, even if it was for Jude.
Silence filled the area between the three. Tommy avoided eye contact and Jude continuously played with her hair. She couldn't hold it in anymore as the parking lot great more and more awkward. "Tommy hit Darius."
"Shoved!" Tommy exclaimed as he leaped from his leaning position. "It was only a little push."
Jude crossed her arms over her chest and added, "That sent him flying across the room!"
Kwest simply stood in awe, but Tommy felt the need to explain to him about he situation. "He was on both of our cases, and then he said some really low stuff about Jude."
"Hey, I'm not judging," Kwest responded calmly. "Look, I'll go in there and see what's up. I'll let you guys know as soon as I find out."
"Thanks, Kwest." Tommy and Kwest shared the handshake, signature to their teamwork.
Both Jude and Tommy watched Kwest as he entered the restaurant. As he stepped into the doorway, Kwest turned around to wink at the couple, then proceeded in. They laughed at the Kwest charm and entered the Viper. Tommy started the car and asked, "Where to?"