Author's Note: Aww you guys! I am so dedicating a huge author's footnote at the end of this story with shout outs and comments to you all. You guys really make posting this story every day worth it. I am so excited about tonight's episode. I can't wait to see what happens. Especially since I am nearing the close of this story before long. After that, I have a whole summer to write another epic (laugh out loud) because that's exactly what this story has become. Still the Grammy's and a few more surprises to come. Love you guys! Please R&R. Angel.
Tom was quiet the next morning as I watched him getting dressed and every time he looked over at me, I closed my eyes—feigning sleep in order to avoid the inevitable confrontation. He was just so damn quiet. Pulling the blanket up to my chest, I squeezed the sheet so hard my knuckles turned white as I observed him leaning over to put on his shoes.
"Do you regret last night?" I asked him suddenly—watching as he jumped, startled by my sudden wakefulness. I didn't even blink as I stared up at him—afraid I guess that I'd miss even the subtlest hint of doubt should it cross his features. He sighed before turning slowly toward me, and I found myself mesmerized by the soft, gentle glint that shone in his eyes as he walked over to me—sitting down on the edge of the bed tenderly.
"Do you?" He asked in return before lifting a hand and running it down the side of my cheek lovingly. I just smiled at him smoothly.
"Never." I remarked stoically, and I meant it too. Tom grinned as he leaned over and threw one of his shirts at me.
"Better get dressed. We still have to run by Kwest's house and get your own clothes." He replied on a chuckle as I sat up and pulled the shirt over my head hurriedly—realizing as I did that he had never answered my question.
"Tom…?" I began as I looked over at his imposing back, highlighted by a shaft of light from the early morning sun. He shook his head slowly.
"I don't, Jude. Far from it." Tom interrupted quickly as I looked down at the Interpol print on the front of his sweatshirt.
"I'm okay with keeping it quiet, Tom." I said softly—wincing slightly at the sigh of relief that escaped his lips.
"It's not you…" He started as I stood up quickly—moving to stand behind him before placing my hands on his shoulders reassuringly.
"Don't. You don't have to explain. Really you don't. Believe it or not, I'm not that naïve. You're still married for God's sake. I know how the courts view that, and I won't let my selfish need to want to be publicly affectionate with you keep you from getting that divorce, Tom. So just don't." I stated primly before turning to look down at the floor for the stiff hard jeans I had worn last night. Kwest's house and my own clothes were starting to look really good about now. I had just stooped down to pick them up when Tom said it, and I looked at him as he stared back at me incredulously as if he had never meant to utter those words—as if he had lost his senses. The loud 'I love you' that had escaped his lips rang through the room between us, and I nearly had to sit down on the edge of the bed to keep from collapsing as it finally penetrated my fog-filled brain. He loved me. Tommy shifted then, and I looked over to find him hurriedly opening the door to his room—seeking escape of another kind.
"We need to go Jude." He remarked in a low tone as he swept from the room, and I listened as his footsteps faded down the stairway. Wow! I must have sat there a good five minutes before it registered that it was probably a good idea if I started moving so I ran around like a senseless chicken—scurrying to grab everything I would need to make it through the day before following Tom down the stairs—sighing as I saw him grab his car keys before motioning toward the door. Opening it for me, he suddenly looked curiously down his hallway before scrunching his eyebrows in concentration.
"Do you have any idea where Sadie is?" He asked as I choked on my own spittle—coughing to hide the laugh that bubbled up in the back of my throat.
"Somewhat." I answered vaguely as Tom lifted a brow before shaking his head despairingly.
"Something tells me that I don't want to know." He remarked as I grinned before leading the way into the elevator.
"No, you really don't." I stated jovially as he quirked a brow again before pushing the button that would close the view of his penthouse from sight only to re-open later facing towards the street and into the real world. How I dreaded that part—the real world.