A/N: I'm going to try to make this quick since this chapter is long. First, thanks everybody for your reviews so far! As I've said before, I love this story so it's great to read your feedback on everything.
Second, after reading a few of your posts, I just wanted to point out that this whole story (or at least thru chap 15, which is where I am now) is told from Jude's POV. So we won't be cutting away to see how the post-dinner discussion went between Tommy and Jessica. But I'm sure you all have vivid imaginations :)
Third, the story moves along pretty quickly, so I don't want anyone getting lost. The last scene with the dinner is over and we're moving on again...I hope no one feels like there's no closure, but just trust me here. As you'll see, it gets very good very soon.
Finally, I'm going away over the weekend but will be back to post one of my favorite chapters on Monday night, as long as you like this one. So stay tuned!
A couple of weeks later...
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"Sadie, I'm going to email you my two dress options. Can you please help me choose?" Jude pleaded with her sister, seated at her computer holding the phone with one hand and clicking 'send' with her other.
"Sure," Sadie agreed. "Sounds like fun."
"Now, they're totally different options…I need your honest opinion about which one is more appropriate."
"Okay. Did you send it yet?" Sadie asked.
"Yeah, I sent it a minute ago. Did you get it?"
"Nope, not yet. While I'm waiting, remind me exactly what this dress is for," Sadie said.
"It's for Tommy and Jessica's engagement party."
"Engagement party? Didn't they get engaged a few months ago?"
"Yes, but apparently, her parents have been out of the country and just got back. So they're hosting this party at their country club uptown."
"Country club, eh? That doesn't exactly sound like Tommy's style," Sadie said with a smirk.
"It's not," Jude agreed. "He's been dreading it for weeks, but her parents are paying for it and the wedding."
"And have you seen his fiancée since the whole dinner fiasco?"
"No…I'm kind of dreading that myself," Jude admitted quietly. "She totally hates me."
"She doesn't know you."
"Yeah, but she can still hate me. Trust me, I'm far from her favorite person in the world."
"Well, at least you'll have Rob with you," Sadie said positively.
"Nope. Rob can't go."
"What? Why? Is everything okay?" Sadie asked, sounding panicked.
"Yeah, everything's fine, Sades, calm down. He didn't do too well on his Economics mid-term, so the professor gave him some extra credit assignment, but it's due tomorrow."
"So you're going alone?"
"Yep. Just me in a room full of sharks…"
"Wow, Jude, that's pretty brave of you. It's one thing to go alone to a party where you know a bunch of people but you'll know one person at this shindig."
"No, I'll know two people," Jude corrected. "Although only one will talk to me."
"Right. So you're basically expecting Tommy to entertain you all night?"
"No, I'll meet people. And besides, I'm not planning to stay long, but I promised him I would go."
"Anything for Tommy, right?" Sadie asked in a mocking tone.
"You're so funny, Sadie," Jude replied, in an equally mocking tone.
"Oh wait, I just got the pictures. Let me see…" Sadie said quickly, taking a moment. "Ooo, I like them both."
"But which one is better for this?" Jude asked impatiently.
"Hmmm…the black one is pretty. Really simple, traditional little black dress. But the blue one is amazing—Jude, there's no back on this dress!"
"I know. So?"
"That's pretty sexy, don't you think?" Sadie asked skeptically.
"Maybe, but it looks great on. And I feel good in it, but I don't know if it's too showy. What do you think?"
"I think Rob would have a heart attack if you wear that dress without him."
"Why? It's not that bad, Sadie! It's tasteful."
"It's a beautiful dress, Jude, but don't you want your boyfriend to be with you when you look that good? Unless this isn't for your boyfriend…"
"What are you talking about?"
"Maybe this is for another guy," Sadie started. "Someone who will definitely have trouble keeping his jaw closed if you wear this."
"Sadie, you have to be kidding…you think I'd wear this dress for Tommy? It's his engagement party!"
"So? You said yourself that they don't seem too happy together, so why not make him think about his other options?"
"Do I need to remind you that I wouldn't be one of his options? I have a boyfriend," Jude said defensively.
"Jude, come on…I know you're all happy and couply with Rob, but…this is Tommy."
"What's your point, Sadie?"
"Can you honestly tell me that if he dropped his fiancée and told you he wants to run away to Tahiti with you, you'd turn him down?"
Jude stopped for a moment, then said, "Sadie, I—"
"Uhh—you hesitated," Sadie remarked quickly.
"What? I was thinking!"
"What's there to think about, Jude? This should be an easy question…unless you don't know how you feel about Tommy…"
"Tommy and I are friends. End of story."
"Then what were you thinking about?" Sadie asked knowingly.
"I was—and you said—Sadie, ugh! You're impossible," Jude exclaimed infuriatingly. "I love my boyfriend. I'm friends with Tommy. Stop making more drama than there needs to be!"
"Jude—will you chill out?" Sadie asked sternly. "Wow, I didn't mean to get you all riled up. Just wear the blue one then."
Jude sighed and shifted the phone to her other ear. "Thank you."
"But don't complain after it causes a stir with the boys…" Sadie replied quietly.
Jude groaned loudly then said, "Sadie, I'm going now. Thanks for your help."
"Good luck!"
"Thanks," Jude responded hopelessly.
"You're going to need it," Sadie added with a laugh before hanging up the phone.
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Jude nervously tugged on the edge of her dress as she paused for a moment outside the country club. She adjusted the wrap around her shoulders, a compromise that Sadie had come up with to make the missing back of her dress less noticeable. She took a deep breath and opened the front door. She saw a sign for the "Thompson-Quincy Engagement Party" and shuddered at the sight. Thompson-Quincy engagement. She shook her head lightly, still in disbelief that Tommy was now engaged.
She walked down the hall and emerged into an open room, filled with people. She timidly walked in and surveyed her surroundings a little closer. There were flowers arranged on the many tables with candles and champagne glasses. There was an area where guests could sign a book with their congratulations and a picture of Jessica and Tommy framed in the corner.
She looked at the photo closely—Tommy had his arm around Jessica and they were both smiling. They looked happy in the picture—something Jude had yet to see. Moving her glance away from the picture, she scanned the crowd, seeing a mix of older and younger couples. Her eyes were drawn to the couple at the center of it all—Tommy was standing next to Jessica, both holding glasses of wine and listening to a story being told by an older man.
Watching them, Jude suddenly felt an overwhelming sense of emptiness—she had no idea where it came from but a wave of sadness washed right over her, seeping into her heart. Her skin started to feel hot and her breath quickened, as the fear of the emotion became unbearable. She needed to get out. She hurriedly retreated back down the hall towards the entrance. Picking up the pace, she saw the front door ahead of her but stopped the moment she heard her name.
"Jude!"
She halted about five feet from the front door, keeping her back towards the party. She knew who the voice belonged to.
"Where are you going?" Tommy asked, walking quickly to meet up with her.
She breathed deeply and turned around to look at him. "Umm…just needed some fresh air."
He scrutinized her expression and raised his eyebrows.
"Fresh air? You just got here."
"Wow, Quincy, I didn't realize I was being watched…" she joked as he cocked his head at her, prodding her to tell him the truth. Holding back how she really felt, she sighed and said, "Okay…I was kind of rethinking this whole 'going alone to your engagement party' thing."
He grinned and replied, "Too late. You're here and you're not going anywhere."
She scrunched up her face in disappointment. "Fine. But just for you—I wouldn't do this for anybody else, you know."
He smiled and put his arm around her, walking her back towards the dining room. "I know, I know…but you're the only one I was allowed to invite, so you have to stay."
She looked at him in surprise. "Really?"
"Yeah. Jessica's parents told me they couldn't fit anyone extra into the dining room, but I fought like hell to get one seat."
"They seriously told you not to invite anyone?"
"Not in so many words…I believe they said that since they were paying for all of the festivities, they couldn't accommodate more than their personal guests," he replied, walking back into the room. "But the good news is I'm allowed about 20 people at the wedding."
"20 out of 200? Wow, you must have far more patience than you used to, Quincy," she muttered as they joined a group of people in the middle.
As they entered the circle, Tommy introduced Jude to the group. She smiled and shook hands, meeting Jessica's grandparents, friends, and finally, her parents. After saying a quick hello to Jessica, Jude stood on the outskirts of the circle watching everyone go back to their conversations. She quietly walked over to one of the tables and sat down, introducing herself to a couple next to her.
Half an hour later, she was incredibly bored. Tommy had been swept up in conversation with Jessica's parents and the couple next to her proved to be just as dull as the gray carpet. As she turned back towards the couple to ask about their children again, she felt someone come up behind her.
"Hey," Tommy said, crouching down next to her. "Are you surviving?"
"Barely," she replied flatly. "But it's your engagement party. There's nowhere else I'd rather be," she added with a phony smile.
He laughed lightly at her and leaned in closer, whispering, "Do you want to make a run for it then?"
She looked at him skeptically. "I would but I think the Thompson police would hunt me down…"
"I'm serious. I need to get out of here. These people are killing me. Come with me," he said, slight desperation in his voice.
Her eyes widened and she immediately answered, "Let's go."