A/N: Thanks everybody for all of your reviews! You're all the best! Here's the next chapter...and I'm hoping to get the next one after this posted on Wednesday, as long as you all like this one. :) So thanks again and ENJOY!
Running through the cold rain on her way home from Rob's apartment, Jude hurried into her building, putting her hood down and feeling her shivers gently fade. She stood under the heat vent for a few moments, taking off her gloves and shoving them back in her pockets, before climbing the four flights of stairs to get to her apartment. She couldn't help but smile in anticipation of what—or who—was behind her door, causing her to take the stairs two at a time. Finally arriving on her floor, she walked closer to her apartment, hearing faint and muffled music coming through the door.
A grin emerged on her face as she turned to her bag to fish out her keys, hidden somewhere at the bottom. She heard them jingle and locked her hand around them, lifting them out of her bag and up to the lock. But before she had a chance to put the key in the lock, the door suddenly flew open.
She looked startled as the burst of wind whipped through her hair from the door opening. But a second later, she looked up into Tommy's blue eyes.
"Hi," he said with a grin, standing in her doorway.
"Hi," she replied. "Can I come in?"
"Only on one condition," he said slowly. "Results?"
She sighed, looking down in disappointment. "Well…let's just say it didn't go so well."
His face turned to be more concerned, furrowing his brow. "Seriously?"
"Seriously," she confirmed with a somber tone.
"Did you…I mean, are you…" he started, unsure of how to phrase his question.
Her eyes met his, immediately understanding what he was trying to ask. "Yes. I did. And, I am."
"Yeah?" he asked with an edge of enthusiasm. "But…you said it didn't go well."
"It didn't," she said with a shrug. "He didn't take it too well…and neither did the little blonde girl who emerged from his bedroom."
Tommy immediately looked shocked. "What?"
"My ex-boyfriend," she stated frankly, "is an ass. A cheating ass."
He gazed at her in surprise, absorbing her words and considering the outcome of their relationship. But he watched as her eyes revealed her own frustration and hurt, grabbing the edges of her jacket to bring her closer. "Are you okay?"
She nodded, looking up at him. "Yeah…I'm still a little shaken by the whole thing, but I'll be fine. It did help make the whole process easier though, you know?"
He nodded in understanding, "Yeah, I guess that's true."
"And I'm happy it's done," she said, wrapping her arms around him.
"Me too," he replied, enveloping her in a hug. They held each other for a few moments until he pulled back and said, "I bet I know something that would make you feel better."
"Oh really?" she asked, identifying his sneaky tone.
"Yep," he said with a grin. "It's guaranteed to make your troubles disappear."
"Umm, okay, Quincy," she started knowingly, stepping back from his hold, "if you're thinking what I think you are, I'd really prefer the bedroom instead of the hallway."
"Harrison!" he exclaimed, feigning shock. "Get your mind out of the gutter. That was not what I was thinking…at least not yet…"
She smacked his arm as he laughed lightly. Without another word, he grabbed her hand and pulled her inside, closing the door behind her. She heard the music as the door shut, and her eyes immediately fell on the coffee table.
"What is this?" she asked, excitement resonating in her voice.
"What does it look like?" he asked in return, pulling her jacket off of her. "Breakfast."
"Yum!" she exclaimed, shedding her jacket and taking a seat on the couch, eyeing the tray of bagels, cream cheese, danish, croissants, and muffins. He watched her eyes light up at the sight and instead of joining her, went towards the kitchen to get her last treat.
"I can't believe you did all of this," she remarked, scanning her choices and picking a blueberry muffin from the tray. "How did you know I'd be hungry?"
He looked at her from the kitchen with a knowing expression. "Jude, when are you not hungry?"
"Hey!" she shouted through a mouthful of muffin. He laughed and walked back, handing her a big mug of coffee. Her eyes lit up again immediately.
"And coffee? Thanks…wow, Quincy, you're good," she said with a smile, taking the mug. She took a sip as he sat beside her, smiling at her enthusiasm.
"Yep," he said self-assuredly, leaning back against the couch. "I believe those words were mentioned last night too."
She turned towards him and rolled her eyes. "Right—you're like the perfect man. Coffee and sex. What more could a girl want?"
"Exactly my thoughts too," he replied teasingly.
He watched her eat the muffin and turned thoughtful, letting out a sigh. "Jude, there's something I wanted to talk to you about…"
She turned back to look at him in concern, unsure as to what was left to discuss. "Okay. What is it?"
He sat up a little straighter and looked into her eyes. "Well…yesterday, when I got kicked out of my apartment, the only thing I had time to grab was my backpack. I threw a couple of shirts and things in there, but all of my stuff is still back at my place."
She nodded slowly, pressing him to go on. "Okay…"
"So I have to go get it all. At some point, at least. I can't exactly live on a couple of t-shirts and one stick of deodorant forever," he continued.
"Thank you for remembering the deodorant, by the way," she joked. "So what's the problem? You don't want to see Jessica? Just go during the day when she won't be there."
He nodded, saying, "Yeah, that's a good idea. It's just…I'm not really sure…what to do with everything once I have it."
She tilted her head at him in confusion. "I don't understand."
"Jude," he started, moving up on the couch to look into her eyes more seriously, "I ended my engagement because I wanted to be with you, but I didn't really expect…I mean, I think I should start looking for my own place."
"What?" she questioned immediately. "Why not stay here?"
"Because…I've got a lot of stuff and…living together is a big deal. We just got together, I don't want you to feel like it's too much."
"I don't," she said quickly, with a shake of her head. "It's not too much. I mean, it's a lot of change, but it's all good change. And I love you being here…unless you don't want to…"
"No, I do," he countered, "I just don't want you to do this because you feel like you have to. It's a big step."
"I know. But I want you to. Look, you're buying me breakfast already so why wouldn't I?" she said with a grin, looking at the breakfast tray in front of her. He smiled too, but then appeared more hesitant again.
She continued more seriously, "Tommy, you don't have to. You can go get your own place. But I'd be really happy to have you here. And honestly, we've got a lot of time to make up for."
"True," he agreed tentatively. He looked into her eyes and saw her sincerity, asking, "Are you sure? Absolutely positive?"
"Yes," she said with a smile. "And if it seems like it's too much, then I'll help you re-pack."
"Aww, how sweet," he said with an eye roll, pulling her in for a hug. "You will let me know if I'm in your way or anything? If you're not happy with it, I want to know."
"Okay," she agreed. "But don't expect to get a big portion of my closet."
He laughed lightly, kissing the top of her head. "Okay, okay...it's a deal."
She pulled back a little to look into his eyes earnestly. "So since we're going to be living together...I'm assuming you don't have any issues with being a rebound?"
He sniggered a little and leaned in to press his lips to hers softly. "I'd prefer to think of him as the rebound."
"Good point," she muttered softly before leaning back in and bringing her lips to his. He willingly kissed her back, lightly running his tongue against hers to intensify the connection. Her fingers traveled into his hair as his hands touched the side of her face, holding her steady. She mindlessly shifted forward a bit to be closer as his hands dragged down her body to wrap around her back.
Before getting too comfortable, he broke the kiss, staying close to her. He wrapped one arm around her back and the other under her legs, gently lifting her off the couch as he stood.
"Come on, roomie," he said with a grin as she wrapped her arms around his neck.
"What about breakfast?" she asked innocently, half-joking.
"I'll buy you lunch," he replied as she smiled warmly in agreement. Without another word, she leaned in to press her lips to his as he walked back to her bedroom, kicking the door closed on their way in.