Chapter 2

Jude was in dress fittings with Portia all afternoon. She wanted the perfect dress for her first completely official public appearance with Tommy. The last two years had been hard keeping a low profile. They would have all their dates in private locations. They didn't hold hands in public, but it was still rumored everywhere that they were together.

"So, you and Quincy got big plans for after your party?" Portia asked suggestively.

"Portia!" Jude scolded.

"What? It's your 18th. It'll actually be legal. "

"Portia!" Jude said again covering her face.

"Jude, please. There's no need to be embarrassed. You and Tommy have been together almost two years. Nobody, not even me, could get between you two."

Jude just gave her a look.

"You're telling me that Little Tommy Q, my ex-husband, and you haven't?"

"Nope." She simply answered. She wasn't sure if Portia was whom she wanted to talk to about this. Lately, she'd felt like Tommy was pulling back physically. They'd decide early in their relationship that they'd wait until she was 18 or at least closer to 18.

It had been a few days since Tommy had quit fighting his feelings, and Jude couldn't have been happier. They didn't act any different at the studio. She knew if they did, Georgia would give them an ear full. They tried to stay focused on recording, and settle for looks instead of touches. It wasn't too hard for her to focus on her songs because they were mostly about him anyway. It was her way of telling him what was on her mind.

"Okay, girl, let's call it a night." His voice came through the speaker.

'Was that last one good?"

"Perfect." He said walking over to her. "So, what are you doing tonight?"

"Mom wants me home for dinner."

"How's she doing since your dad moved out?"

"She's lonely, and since Sadie has been out with Kwest every night this week, I'm the one to keep her company. How did Sadie and Kwest happen anyway?"

"Your sister just needed someone to pay attention to her. But back on topic, I was hoping I could take you somewhere tonight, but I guess it will have to wait."

"Like a date?" She asked with a huge smile.

"Yeah, but your mom wants you home."

"I can call her and say I'm working."

"Then Sadie would be home because Kwest would be with us."

"I could call and say Kat needs me."

Jude, I don't want you lying to you mom. It's not right."

She knew he was right. They'd decided not to tell her parents until they figured everything out. They weren't really doing anything wrong. As long as they didn't take their relationship a certain way, they weren't breaking any laws. "Okay, what if I go home and eat, then tell my mom that you and I have a song to write." That would always work because truthfully she'd probably have a new song written by the end of the night.

"Text me when dinner is over."

"Will do, Mr. Producer." She grabbed her stuff and blew him a kiss.

She was surprised at how easily her mom let her go after dinner. She jumped in Tommy's car with a big smile on her face. "Hi."

"Hi." He repeated before leaning over and giving her a breathtaking kiss.

"Thank God for tinted windows." She said when the kiss broke.

"I wanted to do that all afternoon."

"Me, too." She blushed.

He ran his knuckle down her cheek and smiled. "You ready?"

"Let's go."

He took her to this coffee shop that had live music. It was open mic night, and Jude was so excited.

"Why don't you try out that new song?" He whispered in her ear.

They had the best time. Even though they didn't show PDA for public reasons, Jude loved just being out with him. It was crazy how much they had in common. They could talk for hours about music. She was always amazed at how much he knew about rock being from a boy-band. It wasn't just music either, it was the way they looked at life in general.

When they left there he was just driving around. "Where are we going?" She asked with a giggle.

"Nowhere, everywhere, anywhere you want." He shrugged and took her hand.

"I had fun tonight. That place is cool, and now I am wired."

"I should have cut you off after your fifth cup."

"Don't take my coffee away."

"Never. So, what time do you have to be home?"

"When ever we get through working."

"Are you ready to go home?"

"No." She said shaking her head.

"Then what do you want to do?"

She just shrugged. All she knew was she wanted to spend time with him. It din't matter if they drove around all night or sat in silence.

"Okay, I guess I will just have to think of something."

She nodded and stared out the window. She was enjoying the feel of his hand in hers, and the comfortable silence between them. She noticed he pulled up to an apartment complex that she knew was his, and gave him a questioning look.

"I thought we could watch that movie we talked about last week. Then I will take you home."

"Okay."

Half way through the movie, she noticed him staring at her. "What do I have something on my face?"

"Yeah a beautiful smile. You haven't smiled enough lately."

"You keep being this good to me, and I'll smile all the time." She said blushing.

He leaned over and met her lips in a deep kiss. She ran her fingers through his hair trying to get him closer to her. She tilted her head as the kiss deepened. She could live off his kisses and his kisses alone. She felt his lips move to her neck, down her shoulder as they laid down. Her mind was completely fuzzy. His lips and hands felt so good. She felt his hand go under her shirt, across the bare skin on her stomach as his lips reattached to hers. His hand was creeping up.

"Tommy." She said breathlessly.

"Hmm?" He replied but didn't stop.

"Maybe we need to stop."

He sat up pulling her into his lap. "Sorry." He said resting his forehead against hers. "I guess I got carried away."

"Don't be sorry. It's just; I'm sixteen, Tommy. I'm not ready for that type of relationship." She noticed a look in his eyes. "And it's not our age difference. If I had a boyfriend that was my age, I wouldn't be ready."

"I understand. I would never want you to do something you weren't ready for. I will wait forever if I have to."

"Not forever, just until I am older and we're more comfortable in our relationship. I know it will be hard, but this way we are really not doing anything wrong."

He nodded and she could tell he understood where she was coming from. "As long as I get to spend time with you, hold you, and kiss you, I've got all I need."

The sincerity in his eyes made her pull his face into yet another fiery kiss. She allowed herself to get swept into the make out session knowing it wouldn't go any further.

"Better get you home." He said pulling away a while later.

"Yeah." She said running her fingers through her long red hair." God, I wish I was eighteen."

"Don't worry, I'm not going anywhere. I'll still be here when you are." He said leading her to his car.

Now two weeks from eighteen, she felt like he was loosing interest.

"Where'd you go? You totally zoned on me." Portia brought her out of her thoughts.

"Sorry. Portia can I talk to you about something?"

"Of course, Sweetie."

"When Tommy and I got together we decided to wait. I wasn't ready. I was only sixteen. Over time it was hard, but I can say honestly I was never really ready for a long time. It seems the closer to eighteen I get the more he pulls away."

"Jude, Tommy loved you more than anything." Portia reassured her.

"I know he loves me. That's not really what I'm worried about. Portia, I'm scared I've made him wait too long, that he doesn't want me like that anymore." She let out a frustrated sigh.

"Jude, you are a beautiful girl, and he has opened up to you in ways he never opened up to me. Of course, he wants you like that. He's holding himself back. And the Tommy I was married to, that was a hard task. But, Jude, you have changed him for the better. You're just over thinking. The man probably has something huge planned for after your party."

"I don't know. I guess I just don't want to get my hopes up."

"Don't worry about it. You two were meant for each other."

"Thanks, Portia."

"No problem, Sweetie. I think we found your dress." She commented on the dress she just tried on.