Tommy and Kwest at the Studio…
"So, you have her staying at your house, wearing your clothes. Man, how's that working for you?" Kwest asked with a small shake of his head as Tommy threw him a sideways glance full of self-denial.
"It's working." Tommy stated flatly as Kwest pushed a button on the soundboard before turning back toward Tom with a grim expression on his face.
"That was a loaded answer, Quincy. I just hope you know what you're doing. You have a hell of a lot of baggage man." Kwest said as he pushed one more button, and they both watched in expectation as Jude's completed album shot out of the machine. Tom grabbed it before turning it over and over with a grin.
"I haven't done anything." He said finally before holding up the completed silver disc excitedly—using the process as an excuse to escape from the room.
"I need to get this to Darius." Tom said pointedly—starting to turn toward the open door when Kwest suddenly grabbed him by the shoulder.
"She's seventeen, Tom." Kwest said quietly not even flinching as Tommy threw him a scathing look over his shoulder. He just shook his head instead. "I'm not going to say anything to you about her age anymore. What I am going to do is point out to you just how vulnerable she is. She could have any man she wanted that didn't lead her around on a leash—tugging her around and expecting her to go through emotional hell waiting for the man she cares about to make a decision about what he wants out of life. It isn't fair to her, Tom. Just from the short time I spent as her producer, I realized pretty quickly that she deserves more than that." Kwest said as Tom sighed angrily—both at himself and at the realization that Kwest was right.
"And what does she deserve, Kwest? Is it someone like you?" Tom asked in a huff, biting back his words regretfully as he silently berated himself for his frustration. His indecision wasn't Kwest's fault. Kwest raised his brows sardonically as Tom looked back at him apologetically.
"I've known you long enough not to let that direct cut hurt me too deeply, but I will say this. At least, I wouldn't keep breaking her heart, piecing it back together, and then shattering it all over again. Geez, she's been through a lot this year even if her baggage doesn't even closely compare to yours. She's still human. She still hurts, and she's passionate enough that if, push comes to shove, she could explode. I don't want to see that happen." Kwest stated firmly as Tommy quirked a brow at Kwest with a strained look etched across his face.
"Do you want her, Kwest?" He asked suddenly as Kwest's mouth nearly fell open in shock at the question, and he sat down with a 'huh' expression on his face as Tom leaned over menacingly.
"Because I want her. I mean really want her, and I am having a hell of a time controlling myself when I'm around her. She is like fire in my blood, and I know without a shadow of a doubt that I keep confusing the hell out of her, but she's no more confused than I am. I can't stand being left alone in a room with her because if we ever get started, without interruption, I can almost guarantee I won't stop. Is that what you want to hear? That the idea of getting her in bed with me is like a freakin' balm to my soul." Tommy asked as Kwest just sat there dumb-founded. Finally all he could do was shake his head as Tom turned and hurried from the room, banging across the studio almost in a frenzied fury before spotting Sadie sitting behind the desk of the studio filing her nails prettily. He stopped across from her with a heated look in his eyes—needing to scream in frustration but clenching his jaw together instead.
"Did you send Jamie to look in on Jude?" He asked through gritted teeth as Sadie looked around the room cautiously—spotting Kwest leaning against the wall behind Tom. The questioning look in her eyes as she perused Tom nervously was met with a shrug as Sadie just stuttered.
"I did, and I may have told Spied and Portia to look in on her too." She said sweetly as Tom sucked in a shocked breath while Kwest snickered slightly from behind them.
"Geez, Sadie! We're trying to make the girl feel better. Not kill her." Tommy said in exasperation as he banged his fist down on the desk in agitation. He looked back at Kwest with a raised brow. "Can you do damage control over at my place until I can get this pitched to Darius?" He asked suavely as Kwest grinned at the room at large.
"Why not?" He shrugged before pulling his keys out of his pocket, and walking over to the door in resignation. Boy, the things he would do for Tom Quincy. Sadie quirked a brow as Tommy stomped into Darius's office without even asking Sadie if Darius was busy as Liam came rounding the corner as if he were on a mission.
"Sadie, I'm going to need you to go on a small trip with me and bring a notebook." Liam remarked cryptically as Sadie shrugged and grabbed a tablet quickly in order to follow Liam out of the room.