A/N: Just a quick note before we begin…this might be self-explanatory and it will definitely be covered in this next post, but even though Jude accepted Tommy's apology, they're starting over again purely as friends. He is engaged (which you'll read more about in later chapters) and she's seriously dating Rob. Neither one is interested in anything more than just being friends (at least for now :) ).

This chapter skips forward a couple of weeks…

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"How many times exactly have you two hung out?" Sadie asked.

Jude took a minute and counted in her head. "Seven. Eight, if you count the first coffee at the diner. Oh wait, nine if you count that CD exchange outside my apartment…"

"Jude, it's been two weeks."

"And?"

"Well, two weeks has fourteen days. So if you saw Tommy nine out of fourteen of those days, that seems like an awful lot."

"Yeah, so? I used to see him everyday. Besides, you were the one who told me to move on from the last five years, so that's what I'm doing," Jude explained, setting the phone on her shoulder and rummaging through her dresser drawers.

"And what exactly does this 'hanging out' with him entail?" Sadie questioned curiously.

"It's basically anything from seeing a movie to running errands…yesterday, he had to walk his friend's dog since his friend was out of town…"

"And you had to go with him for that?"

"I didn't have to, but it was kind of fun. His friend has this huge apartment. You should see it, Sades. It's a duplex basically covering the whole side of a building. And the dog was so cute….it was a pug named Buster. Maybe I should get a dog…"

"Jude, let's concentrate on the boys first and then we can discuss dogs. So he just calls you and you meet up?"

"Yeah, basically. For the first couple of days after we ran into each other, it was a little more structured—like we'd pick a time and place to meet. But now, we're just calling each other at the spur of a moment to hang out."

"And Rob doesn't mind? I mean, if you're seeing Tommy almost every other night, how are you fitting in time to see your boyfriend?" Sadie questioned.

"Rob's been really busy lately. He's been studying for mid-terms, which is part of the reason why I've been spending time with Tommy. I tell him where I'm going and with who. He trusts me."

"But does he actually know about your history with Tommy? Have you told him about your relationship before Tommy left Toronto?" Sadie asked skeptically.

"Sadie, do I need to remind you that Tommy is engaged? Engaged. We're just friends so there's no reason to justify anything to Rob."

"So," Sadie started knowingly, "you haven't told him."

"There's nothing to tell," Jude defended, picking out a black sweater from her drawer. "Besides, I'd hardly call whatever it was that Tommy and I had a relationship."

"It was well on its way and you know it," Sadie contested. "Jude, the guy was crazy about you. He had a major thing for you and you had an even bigger thing for him."

"So? That's all in the past. He's engaged and I'm in a serious committed relationship now."

"Right…so how is that fiancée of his doing?"

"Fine, I guess," Jude replied, steadying the phone on her shoulder to hold the sweater up to her reflection in the mirror. "He doesn't really talk much about her or the wedding."

"And you don't ask?" Sadie asked in surprise.

"Why should I? If he doesn't feel like disclosing all of the juicy details of his love life, then I'm not going to push it."

"Come on…you're not a tad bit curious? When they got engaged, how long they've been together—you're not tempted to ask him any of that?"

"Not really," Jude said indifferently. "I'm not going to push him to talk about it if he doesn't want to."

"Okay…" Sadie said skeptically. "Well then, how do you think she feels about him spending so much time with this mystery girl from his past?"

"What is this, twenty questions?" Jude asked irritably.

"Just answer the question, Jude," Sadie insisted.

Jude sighed deeply and sat down on the edge of her bed. "I don't know. I'm sure she's fine with it. She should trust him too."

"Has he told her anything more about you other than the fact that you used to work together?"

"I'm not sure. I haven't asked. It's their personal business, Sadie, I'm not going to pry."

Sadie sighed on the other end of the line. "Jude, I seriously hope you know what you're doing."

"We're just hanging out—as friends. It's innocent, I promise," Jude said convincingly.

"Right. Once again, you're hopeless as a sister." Sadie replied.

"Have I reminded you how supportive you always are of me?" Jude asked, leaning back on her bed.

"That is my job," Sadie responded with a smirk.

"I have to go, Sades. I'm meeting Rob for dinner in a few minutes," Jude said, sitting up and looking at the sweater she chose.

"Ohh, so you are managing to squeeze in some time for your boyfriend," Sadie commented, sounding surprised.

"Very funny, Sadie. Good night," Jude said before hearing her sister return the exchange and hang up.

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Jude sat across from Rob at the dimly lit table, smiling at being in his presence once again.

"Why do you look so happy?" he asked with a grin.

"It's good to see you. I've missed you," she replied, leaning across the table to kiss his cheek.

"Thanks," he said, seeing her sit back down. "How's your week been going?"

"Good," she responded, picking up the menu and scanning it. "Work's been busy, but good. My article on The Heat was a success. My editor loved it."

"That's great, Jude," he replied.

"How about you? How are exams going?"

"Pretty well. I've finished three so far and only have one to go."

"That's great," she replied enthusiastically.

"Yeah, I'll be really happy when they're done. Then I can see my girl again," he said with a smile, grabbing her hand from across the table. She smiled and looked into his green eyes, happy and at ease to be there with him.

"I know, I've missed seeing you," she said softly, gazing warmly into his eyes.

"I'll be done next Tuesday, so I suggest a major celebration that night. What do you say?" he asked hopefully.

"Tuesday…" she started, contemplating how to phrase what she was thinking, "I actually might have plans on Tuesday."

"Plans? What plans?" he asked.

"Well, I kind of told my friend I would go to this thing in the park…," she said, suddenly feeling guilt creep up on her. "But you know, it's not important. I can just go another night."

"Are you sure?" he asked.

"Yeah, totally. I'll just call him and postpone. No big deal," she said casually, picking up her menu again.

"Him? As in, Tom?" he questioned, a bit of an edge to his voice.

She looked up at him slowly. "Yes, my plans were with Tom. Why? Does it matter?"

"No," he said quickly, looking back at his menu. "I just didn't realize you two made plans."

She saw the distress in his eyes and sighed, wanting to make him understand. She reached out and took his hand away from his menu. "It's nothing, Rob. He just wanted someone to go to this music festival in the park and his fiancée wouldn't go, so I agreed. But you're more important. I'd rather spend the time with you."

Satisfied with her response, he grinned at her and said, "Okay. Sorry if I overreacted. I just miss hanging out with you."

"I miss it too. So we'll just have to make up our lost time then," she replied with a smile. "But first, can we order? I'm starving."

"When are you not?" he mumbled with a grin while she shot him a menacing look. Glancing back at her menu, she couldn't help but smile to herself, feeling as though her life couldn't get better than it was at that exact moment.