Not Just A Friend
"Mind if I sit?" Miles pointed to the seat across from Jude in the cafeteria of the publishing house.
"No, not at all." Jude pointed to the empty chair in front of her, watching as he sat down with his coffee and sandwich, "I normally just eat in my office but Laura told me they do poutine here."
"Oh, only on Tuesdays." Miles said.
"Does this my face giveaway how upset I am?" She asked.
"A little." He smiled, watching her pick her sandwich up and take a bite, "So, if this is your first time working in publishing… what were you doing before this? If you don't mind me asking."
"I don't." Jude said, "I was an art teacher. I taught here at the institute for a while and then I moved to New York. Taught at the academy in Brooklyn." She told him, "I've done some of my own projects here and there. Exhibits and stuff." She shook her head.
"And?" Miles looked at her.
"And?" She shook her head with confusion.
"You're really not gonna talk about the fact you drew that ridiculously amazing mural on the side of the clinic?" He asked.
"Oh, yeah." Jude nodded, "That too." She smiled as he chuckled.
"So teaching wasn't for you?" He took a sip of his coffee.
"I loved teaching. I think it was just time to move on, though. And I've always wanted to… focus on my own work. As much as I love teaching other art students, I wanted to get back to focusing on my own art. Selfish, I know." She nodded.
"So selfish." Miles nodded along as she smiled.
"How long have you been in publishing?" She asked him.
"Too long." Miles said, "Eleven years, I think."
"So you're a pro." Jude nodded.
"Not quite." Miles smiled, "Laura is married to my best friend, so I kissed some ass and landed the job here. Means I get away with a lot more." He teased.
"Is that why no one wanted to have lunch with you?" She asked, "Boss' favourite."
"Maybe. Or because I generally don't like a lot of these people." Miles nodded, looking around the cafeteria, "And I also have no idea who some of these people are, despite seeing them every single day."
"I've been here a couple of weeks and you know my name." Jude said suspiciously, "Is it because you think I'm a loner? And you're a loner too? Loners unite?" She grinned, biting into her sandwich as he chuckled, looking down at the table and smiling.
"I'm not a loner, Jude. I just don't like many people." Miles said.
"You sound like my older sister." Jude scoffed.
"Sounds like your older sister doesn't waste her energy on people who don't deserve it. Good for her." Miles nodded as Jude smiled, "I got a little sister so-"
"Oh, I do too." Jude nodded, "My parents are evil for making me a middle child."
"I got an older brother." Miles said, "I get it." He nodded as she smiled, looking down at her sandwich, suddenly becoming aware of the enjoyment she was getting just from having a conversation with this man again. She felt such a mix of emotions. New emotions and familiar. Excitement and happiness. Guilt and disgust.
"I'm married." Jude announced, immediately hating herself for blurting it out so randomly.
"Ok." Miles nodded, "Good for you." He chuckled a little at her brashness.
"Sorry, that was… that was weird." Jude shook her head, "Just… incase-"
"Incase what?" Miles shook his head, "This isn't me coming on to you, Jude." He nodded.
"I know that." Jude said.
"You'd know if I was coming onto you." He assured her, "Plus, I figured when you mentioned your daughter's the other day."
"Bold of you to assume just because I have children means I'm happily married." She said, a playfulness in her voice which she wasn't even aware of.
"Well, you are, aren't you?" Miles asked as she raised a brow, taking a bite of her sandwich as he nodded to himself, "This is a big intimidating building, just want to make sure that we don't lose your talent because of it."
"I can handle myself." Jude assured him, "You don't have to babysit me because Laura asked you to. I'm finding my way around just fine."
"Laura isn't asking me to babysit you." Miles said as she looked across at him, "I guess I just want to make you feel welcome."
"Thank you." Jude nodded sincerely, "You have." She smiled.
"Ok, let's just take a pause for a second." Thea nodded, "You're sure this isn't just a crush you need to get out of your system?"
"I am sure this isn't a crush, Thea." Jude rolled her eyes.
"But three months? This is so… not like you." Thea shook her head.
"I know!" Jude exclaimed with frustration, "But I know how I feel. We have… kissed." She nodded as Thea looked across at her, "Just a kiss." She clarified.
"Hey, I don't think it's something Sean can really get mad about." Thea rolled her eyes.
"No, that's not fair. I wouldn't be unfaithful to him just because he has to me. It's not some scoreboard. Me and Sean… we've been good. Ever since we moved back here. Things have really been working for us." Jude nodded.
"Well obviously not enough if you've got eyes on someone else." Thea said.
"Believe me I have tried everything to make it stop. I've tried staying away from him. I've tried mean. I just… I can't get him out of my head." Jude shook her head, "And I know it's bad because I haven't felt like this for anyone before, other than when I met Sean."
"Does he know you're married? With children?" Thea asked.
"Yeah." Jude nodded, "He knows I'm married. He knows Sean cheated on me. He knows about the rape." She said as Thea raised her eyebrows with surprise, "I trust him. And I can't stop thinking about him. And the kiss…" She rolled her eyes and placed her hands over her face.
"Jude." Thea sighed, not envying her sister's messy situation, "Do you think maybe, subconsciously, you've allowed yourself to be open to a situation like this because… your relationship with Sean isn't how it used to be?" She asked.
"I've forgave him. I really have." Jude nodded, looking across at her sister.
"But you won't forget." Thea said, "I'm all about what makes you happy. We all are. It's you that needs to make these decisions, though. I was super happy that you and Sean worked things out, because it seemed like that was what you wanted, and so that was good enough for me." She said, "But if you're… if you're falling for someone else and it's real and genuine, you have to talk to Sean." She nodded, "Because it won't just go away."
"I was hoping it would." Jude sighed, "It'd hurt him. Sean."
"He hurt you." Thea nodded.
"But that's not what this is. I'm not going out my way to punish him or get back at him. I really didn't mean for this to happen. Miles has just been around a lot and I've gotten to know him. And I've been excited to see him and… thinking about things I shouldn't be thinking about with a man who isn't my husband." Jude shook her head.
"You need to talk to Sean, Jude." Thea nodded, "Does Miles know you feel like this? Does he feel the same?"
"He knows." Jude nodded, "And he was the one who kissed me so… I assume he feels the same."
"What's he like?" Thea asked. She just couldn't imagine a situation where Jude was falling in love with someone else. She'd been with Sean for so long that it was just so strange to think about.
"He's great. Makes me feel seen, you know? He's a middle child so-"
"Oh, so he's weird like you?" Thea smiled light-heartedly as Jude laughed lightly.
"Yeah." Jude smiled, "It just… it hit me so hard today because I was having fun with Sean and opening all the presents together, watching the girls open their presents, and then all I could think about was how I wished I could see Miles today." She shook her head, "And I hate myself for it but I can't stop it."
"Don't hate yourself." Thea sighed.
"I love Sean. I know you probably don't believe me but I do-"
"I know you do." Thea nodded, "You always will. But… Jude, there is a chance that you guys aren't… your relationship might not be working the way it used to."
"I thought it was." Jude shook her head, "I believe him when he says how sorry he is for what he did. And I thought we were moving past it."
"You are." Thea said, "You are moving past it. But not with him. Not together."
"Theo, how is your dad doing?" AJ asked, standing in the kitchen later on after the house began to fill up with one family at a time.
"He's ok. He has good and bad days." Theo nodded, "I spoke to him on the phone this morning. He's been starting to slur a little on his words. And he's got a lot of numbness down his right side, so he's not getting around the same." He said, "Still a stubborn bastard, though."
"Do they celebrate Christmas? It'd be good for him to have people round him." AJ nodded, handing Theo a drink.
"Yeah, Kelise has her family over so they'll have company all day." Theo nodded, "Although he has been sleeping a lot. Getting tired more often. His doctor said that was all to be expected. It's just strange seeing him so… lethargic, I guess."
"Oh, I bet." AJ sighed, "You know we're here for you, sweetie. Anything you need." AJ told him as he nodded.
"Yeah, I know." Theo smiled, "I never thought I'd see the day where my dad and Cassie became best friends. Any time we've been over in the past months, they're getting along like a house on fire." He said, "Just wish it could have been like that from the start."
"Don't have regrets. They'll only eat away at you. It's happening now. And that's a good thing." AJ smiled.
"Yeah." Theo nodded, "Everything looks and smells amazing in here." He looked around the kitchen which was always a wonderful sight on Christmas day with the large table set for their large family. Decorations hanging, wonderful cooking smells coming from the oven, Christmas music playing and the kids yelling and playing in the background. It was the best.
"I know I can't wait to tuck in." AJ said.
"April, look at her dress." Punk insisted, walking into the kitchen with eight-month-old Lena in his arms who had a plaid red dress on with a matching plaid red hairband.
"Oh, hi beautiful girl." AJ smiled, focusing all her attention on Lena who was full of smiles and fascination at all the happenings of the day.
"Cassie takes her outfits very seriously." Theo nodded.
"I can't believe how big she's getting." Punk shook his head, passing Lena over to AJ who wanted a cuddle.
"Us either." Theo said.
"She's such a happy baby." AJ smiled.
"Well that's cause she loves being with her grandparents." Theo nodded.
"Kiss ass." Punk scoffed as Theo chuckled.
"I better check on Chase, make sure he isn't trying to cause any riots in there." Theo said, teasing of course, as they all knew Chase was the quietest child out of the seven grandchildren.
He headed through to the living room, sitting his beer down on one of the side tables, spotting Chase sitting playing a board game with Mirren. He looked around the busy room and couldn't find Cassie. He could see Jude sitting with Thea, in what looked like serious discussion. Sean was helping James with his new phone, with Leela standing by for observation. Dominic was sat having his hair brushed by Sam who was sat on his shoulders whilst Sofia sat beside with Chance at her feet.
"Anyone know where my wife is?" Theo asked.
"She went upstairs." Thea answered, going back to her conversation with Jude.
"Ok." Theo nodded to himself, leaving the living room and heading upstairs. He could see the bathroom door was open and empty, so he moved along the bedrooms until he found Cassie in what used to be her old bedroom, sitting down on the edge of the bed.
"Having a nap?" He asked as she turned to him with a smile.
"I will be after I eat." She laughed a little, "We used to live here, basically. Well I did but… remember when Chase was a baby and he'd be in his little basket beside the bed here." She pointed as Theo sat down beside her.
"Yeah." Theo nodded, "I liked living here part-time." He said.
"I was just checking out what my mom and dad had done to the rooms since we've all moved out. They redecorate every year it seems." She scoffed.
"I'll cry like a little bitch when our kids move out." Theo nodded.
"Yeah, me too." Cassie nodded, "Something's going on with Thea and Jude. They're being weird." She turned to him.
"Yeah, I noticed too. They look so serious." Theo agreed.
"I'll get to the bottom of it." Cassie said with determination, "I bet they won't even notice we've disappeared." She scoffed.
"How long do you think we have until someone notices?" He wondered as she smirked.
"As long as it takes." She nodded, standing up and closing the bedroom door over, walking back towards him as he grabbed her by the hips, lifting her onto the bed and climbing over her, kissing her passionately whilst her hands fumbled with the button of his jeans.
"Take your panties down." He murmured against her lips, nudging her hands away from his jeans as she turned her attention to her underwear, pulling her dress up around her waist and pulling her panties down.
"Take yours down." She trailed kisses along his cheek and to his neck as he chuckled, undoing his jeans, pushing them and his boxers down just enough to free his length.
"Put me inside you." He said quietly, kissing her neck as she took a hold of his length, stroking him up and down.
"Wait." She whispered, guiding the tip of his length up and down her slit for a moment whilst he kissed her neck, feeling her get more aroused between her legs until finally she lined him up with her entrance and bucked her hips up so he could enter her.
"Fuck." Theo groaned, thrusting into her as he leaned his forehead against hers.
"Quick, before someone comes up." Cassie nodded, kissing his cheek as he chuckled.
"I can be quick. You're the one that needs the time." Theo scoffed.
"Then you gotta work a little harder." She nodded, grabbing his hand and guiding it between her legs where he began rubbing her clit, kissing her harder as they both moaned into one another's mouth.
"What are you doing out here?" Jude asked curiously, stepping outside into the back yard where she spotted her father.
"I'm turning the lights on." Punk said, turning on the fairy lights and lanterns around the yard.
"It's beautiful out here. Fit for a wedding or something." Jude nodded.
"Well… we got all those grandchildren." Punk nodded to himself as Jude smiled, "You ok?" He asked her, walking back up the yard towards her.
"Yeah, I'm ok." Jude nodded.
"Feel like I haven't seen you much at all these past few months. Now that you're a busy woman at this new job." He said.
"It's a lot of work and deadlines. I'm glad I've got a little bit of a break between now and the new year." She nodded.
"Well deserved break." Punk nodded as Jude smiled, looking out at the yard in a daze as he watched her, "Hey, I know today can be a rough one for you. If there's anything-"
"No, it's not that." Jude shook her head, feeling a lump getting caught in her throat as Punk watched with concern, "It's not that." She shook her head.
"What's wrong?" Punk asked worriedly, "Hey, you can talk to me. You know you can." He said as she nodded, drying her tears.
"There's this guy I've met." Jude nodded, taking a deep breath and drying more of her tears as Punk looked at her with surprise, "At work."
"I'm assuming not just a friend?" Punk asked.
"No." Jude said quietly, "Not just a friend." She said, "I thought that things were going well for me and Sean. They have been going well. Moving back here was a good decision for us. And I… I really have forgiven him. He's done nothing but grovel and everything in between." She shook her head, "But… I wouldn't be falling for someone else if things were that great between us. Would I?" She asked him.
"I don't think so." Punk said, "But I mean… this guy, you've only known him for what? Three months? Are you sure it's… serious enough to be thinking lie this?"
"Yes. I'm sure." Jude said, "All I've thought about today is that I wish I could see him and spend time with him." She rolled her eyes, "I sat there thinking that whilst I was opening gifts that Sean gave me. What kind of person does that make me?" She shook her head.
"Jude." Punk sighed, wrapping his arms around her as she hugged into him, "Whether you forgave him or not, your relationship with Sean probably won't be the same as it was. Maybe… Maybe you needed to forgive him in order to… let go and move on." He said, "When you're in love and you're truly happy, you don't look elsewhere. You don't fall for other people." He said.
"I know." Jude cried.
"You have to talk to him. Let's get through the day and night. And then you gotta talk with him about all of this." Punk nodded.