Chapter 3

Tommy was leaving when he saw Jude come out of the conference room. "Hey, did you find a dress?"

"Yep sure did. Have you gotten your suit yet?"

"I thought you said I didn't have to." He pouted.

"Only because I love you." She said sweetly trying to use reverse psychology.

"Ditto, but no suit."

"Fine where you off to?"

"I have some errands to run then it is back to the studio with Karma. She said something about needing to be done early tonight. You want me to meet you at the rehearsal space afterwards?"

"No, Just come by the house. Dad is still out of town, and Speid said he needed the space for something tonight."

Tommy gave her a questioning look. "I didn't ask questions."

"I'll see you later then."

"Love you." Jude said and gave him a small peck on the lips.

"You, too." He replied and left.

Jude just stared after him for a few minutes. "What's wrong?" Sadie asked coming up beside her.

"Does Kwest still tell you he loves you in public?"

"Yeah, why?"

"You two have been together just as long as Tommy and I, and lately Tommy doesn't."

"Jude, you are being silly. Anyway are you heading home?"

"Yeah thought I'd get some stuff done and a nap before Tommy comes over."

"Can I ride with you? I rode with Kwest this morning, and he is in a meeting with Darius."

"Of course, let's go." Jude thought maybe some sister time would be good for her. It had been a long time since Tommy didn't say his affection back to her, and she couldn't figure out why he was pulling back.

On the drive home she thought about the night her mom found out about them.

It had been a couple of weeks since they decided to be together. They'd just gone out to celebrate her first performance with her new back up band, and he was taking her home.

"I think SME is going to be great for me. All those other bands were too old for me."

"You're right. I wouldn't want those guys near you. The way some were looking at you made me want to throw them out of G Major."

"I know, and that one guy was all up in my space."

"I am the only one allowed to do that." He said killing the engine in front of her house, and leaning over for a soft kiss.

"Hmm. I missed you this week." She said a bit dazed.

"Me too. We've only seen each other at work. What's been going on?"

"Mom stuff. Jamie and Kat stuff. Tommy, I'm an idiot."

"Why?"

"I have you, and I have been focusing on Jamie dating Kat. And I probably ruined that. I am a horrible best friend."

"Jude, you were thrown for a loop. You didn't know they liked each other that way. And I'm sorry I've been so busy this week."

"Yeah what have you been doing?"

"Georgia has me on a couple extra projects. But I have missed you." He said taking her hand. "All this pretending we're just producer and artist is exhausting. Tonight when your dad showed up, I wanted to go off on him."

"I figured you would, that's why I called Jamie."

"I understand. You don't need to explain, Jude. Enough about that." He said with a smirk pulling her chin up towards him. The kiss was soft at first but quickly grew proving how both had missed the other.

A throat clearing interrupted them. They'd forgot the windows were rolled down. I was Jude's mom. "Mom!" Jude said jumping away from Tommy.

"Both of you in the house, NOW!" Victoria said sternly.

As they were walking up to the house, Jude took one of Tommy's hands before he could put it in his pocket. She gave it a little squeeze to reassure him and herself. She hoped this wouldn't make him second-guess them.

"This is all your father's fault. I knew we shouldn't let you enter that contest. Jude, you are sixteen years old. And, you, what do you think you are doing with my daughter?" Victoria started when they were in the living room.

"Mom." Jude said before Tommy could answer that last question. "Let us explain."

"Jude, do you realize how much older he is?"

Jude was feeling slightly embarrassed and didn't want to do this in front of Tommy. "Mom, can we talk in the kitchen?"

Victoria huffed and walked towards the kitchen.

"Tommy, stay here?" She made it more like a question. He just nodded.

"Jude, you are barely sixteen years old." Her mom started as soon as the kitchen door was closed. "He is older. Too old. I told your father this was going to happen after that picture in talk national. He's taking advantage of you. This is WRONG!"

"Mom, stop. Look Tommy is not taking advantage of me. I enjoy spending time with him. We are not doing anything wrong."

"Jude, again, you are sixteen. You need to hang out with boys your own age. And this is wrong, you are a minor."

"Trust me when I say this, I know I'm only sixteen and a minor. Tommy and I aren't in that kind of relationship, mom. We know what we can and can't do by law." Jude could tell her mom was dumbfounded. She and Tommy were serious enough about each other to find out what they could and couldn't do.

"I don't like this, but this family is fractured enough right now." She said and left the room. Jude knew that was not the end of that.

"So?" Tommy asked when she returned to the living room.

"She's not happy, but she's not throwing you out on your head. She just needs time to see we care about each other."

He nodded in return. "I better get going. I'll see you tomorrow afternoon?"

"Yep,"

Jude was never really sure if her mother ever approved, but it didn't matter since she'd left anyway.

"What are you thinking about over there?" Sadie asked.

"Mom."

"Sweetie, don't do this to yourself. She left us, but we are still standing."

"I know. We have dad anyway."

"Yeah, speaking of dad. He called and said he'd be home the day before your birthday."

"Good, I miss him."