AN: You guys are the best! I'm gonna keep this one short though, since I've got a splitting headache right now and staring at this screen is not helping at all). I think the heat's causing it (it's been way over 85 and really, really humid). Anyways, I'd like to thank everyone who reviewed for this chapter (even though I can't thank you enough). OK, on with the story!
Previously:
"Sadie, you got a minute?" I said, hoping she could fill me in on what happened at the hospital.
"Yeah, what's up?" Sadie said.
"What's going on with you and Kwest?" I asked.
Sadie's lip quivered, and it wasn't long before she broke down.
"Kwest…and I…fought…Liam…Portia…divorce…" Sadie bawled, and I couldn't tell what she was saying anymore.
"What? You and Kwest are getting a divorce?" One of my worst fears had yet to be confirmed.
"Jude, we were there in the hospital bed," Sadie sniffled, "and out of the blue, Kwest says that he needs some time to be away. From this," she spread out her hands, indicating the house, "from me…" She broke down into a fresh wave of sobs, and I sat there, awkwardly patting her shoulder, trying my best to comfort her.
"Sades, what happened?" I was still trying to piece everything together.
"I don't know. All I know is that a few days ago, I found Kwest and Portia alone together in the supply closet, and Kwest's shirt was rumpled, but he insisted that nothing happened. Then I find out that Liam's been sending me roses, and chocolate, and expensive wine, and at first I tried sending it back, only to have him come up to me and try to get me to divorce Kwest and be with him," Sadie wailed. "And on top of all that, Kwest and I are drifting further and further apart. Every time I bring up Portia, he gets more and more upset, saying that he's told me for the zillionth time that there's nothing going on, but that I should be more worried about turning Liam down once and for all. He also said there's something goin around that says we're on the rocks, and that a divorce is imminent. What is he talking about? Why haven't I heard anything about it? Are there rumors that Liam and I are an item? Jude, what am I going to do? Has Kwest been cheating on me all this time? Is our marriage a joke? I don't know what to do," Sadie wept as if the world were ending for her, and my heart went out to her.
Just as I was about to say something to calm her fears, I saw Tommy at the door. I motioned for him to come on in, and he walked in and sat down.
"Sadie, what's wrong?" Tommy said, a look of concern on his face. Tommy could be so caring sometimes. I should remember to thank him one of these days.
Sadie just bawled into my shoulder, and I hugged her tightly as I filled Tommy in on everything she'd told me.
"Sadie, don't worry. I won't let Liam anywhere near you. One step, and I'll tell Georgia to fire him. As for Portia, I can explain. When Portia and I were married, I acted impulsively. I took her for granted, and she went running off to Kwest. Pretty soon, she was spilling her feelings to Kwest, and Kwest took it all in. Then one day, I found Kwest and Portia together kissing, and it was the last straw. Portia and I split, and my friendship with Kwest went downhill fast. Kwest never contacted Portia again, at least not to the best of my knowledge, even though Portia tried repeatedly to talk to him. Since then, we've been able to rebuild our friendship back up again, but it took a long time for me to trust Kwest completely. Now I know for sure that Kwest wouldn't make the same mistake twice. And especially not one as important as this is. You're his world, Sadie. I can't begin to tell you how many times Kwest has told me how lucky he is to have you in his life, how much you mean to him, and how he'd always regret not asking you out sooner."
Sadie looked up, her tear-stained face awash with hope. "You really think so?"
"Of course," Tommy said firmly.
"Then why would he keep these pictures?" Sadie said, looking sad again. "Why wouldn't he have destroyed them before now?"
"I don't know," Tommy replied, shaking his head as if to emphasize his point.
"I know why," someone said from the doorway.
Chapter 21: Breakups…
The three of us looked up, our mouths agape as we struggled to form a coherent thought. Tommy was the first to recover.
"Kwest, man, sit down before you collapse," Tommy said, quickly getting up out of his seat and going over to him. He helped Kwest settle down, then smiled as I got up. He sat down, and I sat in his lap.
"So, what can you tell us about these pictures?" Sadie said, her eyes filling up with tears again.
"Sadie, maybe now's not a good time to get into that," Kwest replied, but Tommy and I caught on right away.
"Kwest, Sadie, uh, I just remembered. Georgia wants me to come up with a new song by tomorrow, and I haven't even started. Tommy, come on, I need your help," Jude said, grabbing Tommy's hand and pulling him towards the door.
"Jude, wait!" Sadie cried, just as I shut the door behind me. I guess Sadie had wanted some moral support, but since Kwest definitely didn't think this was something that Tommy and I should stick around to watch, I left before she could say anything.
"Do you know how much I love you right now?" Tommy said, pulling me into his embrace.
"No, I have no idea. Why don't you show me?" I smiled seductively, as I let Tommy pull me up to his room.
As soon as we got up there, Tommy tackled me and ravaged me like that of a starving man. Starving for love, not food. We could barely get our clothes off before Tommy took possession of my mouth, my breasts, my body.
"Don't you ever get enough?" I gasped, as I finally got rid of my last piece of clothing.
"What do you think?" Tommy looked me up and down, lust and desire evident in his gaze. I felt myself heat up just looking at his appreciative gaze, and then his mouth crashed down on mine. Pretty soon, I lost all rational thought, and lost myself in his thrusts.
After we had spent ourselves for the better part of an hour, we lay together, my head on Tommy's chest. He removed his arm from under my neck, and said, "Maybe we should go check on Sadie and Kwest."
"I'm sure they're fine," I said, not wanting to move.
"Jude!" Tommy said, shocked.
"OK, OK. I know, Sadie's my sister and I should be more supportive." We untangled ourselves from one another's embrace, and left the sheets as tangled as we were minutes ago.
We walked over to Kwest and Sadie's room, hand-in-hand. I released Tommy's hand, just in case they were still not in the mood to reconcile just yet. Our obvious love for one another might just be too much for them to stand right now, considering everything that had happened.
"Kwest, man, you in there?" Tommy called out, as he knocked politely.
There was some movement inside, then Kwest opened the door. "Hey guys," he said. He looked terrible.
"Hey Kwest," I said, scanning the room. "Where's Sadie?"
"She went out for a while," Kwest said. He looked tired.
"Want to talk about it?" Tommy said.
"All I said was that maybe having an invalid for a husband isn't good enough for Sadie right now. I told her maybe she should be with someone who isn't in and out of the hospital all the time. Someone who's healthy, and can keep up with her. Do you know how much that hurt me to say it?" Kwest said, tears starting to fill his eyes.
"What? Kwest, are you breaking up with my sister?" I practically screamed.
"Jude, just calm down. Kwest, man, what's this about?" Tommy said, stepping in front of me before I did anything I was going to regret.
"I'm not good enough for your sister, Jude. Not anymore. I'm always at work, always busy, and your sister deserves better than that. She needs someone to spend time with. How can I do that when I have to be hooked up and monitored all the time just so that I won't collapse again, or my heart won't fail? I can't make Sadie wait until I'm all better. I might never be better again? How can I give Sadie everything she needs, when I can't even be there for her?" Until that point, I'd always seen Kwest as the strong, silent type. I never knew that still waters run deep, sometimes even deeper than others.
Kwest broke down in sobs, as I pulled him in for a hug. "Kwest, don't worry. I just need to talk to Sadie so we can decide how to bring you two together again."
"What for? Liam loves her, and Portia's always trying to get me alone," Kwest looked completely miserable, as if he'd lost all hope of ever getting Sadie back.
"I've got it," I said, a plan beginning to form in my head. "Just leave it up to me." The two men looked puzzled, until I told them my plans. They agreed it was worth a shot.
AN: Soooo, what'd you think? Let me know, OK? Please and thank you!