One Wild Night

She also knew this was not the time to talk to him. They had company in the car, and he wouldn't be able to express himself comfortably.

Tom turned to spare her a glance when he sensed her gaze on him, and he flashed her a forced smile.

"You don't have to worry about me. I'm fine," he assured her quietly, but everyone in the car knew he was far from okay.

"Really, I'm okay," Tom said when Lucy merely stared at him with a blank expression.

"Fine. What do you want me to do to prove I'm fine? I don't want you to worry," Tom said, and Lucy shrugged.

"What do happy people do, Jamal?" Lucy asked, and everyone waited patiently as Jamal pondered on the question.

"Happy people sing," Jamal said, and Candace tittered with laughter when Tom looked at Jamal in disbelief.

"Who taught you that?"

"Mom and Aunt Andy sing when they're happy. Right, mom?" Jamal asked, and Candace gave him a nod.

"Right."

"Well, I never said I was happy. I said I was fine," Tom argued to Lucy.

"It's the same to us. Happy people are fine. People who are fine are happy. Right, Jam?" Lucy asked, and Jamal bobbed his head in agreement.

"Right," Jamal said, and Tom glared at him through the rearview mirror.

"Happy people sing. So prove you're fine," Lucy urged him, knowing that even if he weren't okay, singing would lighten his mood.

"I don't think I have a very nice voice..."

"It's not a music audition. I'm sure you will pass," Lucy said, and Tom sighed.

"Don't worry, I'm not a good singer either, but I will sing along with you if that will make you feel better. I'm sure Jamal and Candace will sing too. Won't you?" Lucy asked, looking back at Candace and Jamal.

"Sure," Candace said, not wanting to be a spoilsport.

"Mummy has a pretty voice. Aunt Andy does too. Aunt Andy wants to be a singer," Jamal said, and Candace sighed at the mention of Andy.

She wondered how Andy was doing and where she was at the moment. She could only imagine what Andy would say when she heard everything about her finding her family.

Knowing Andy, she would be excited and very happy, and she would quickly get along with everyone as though they were her own family. Andy may not be related to her by blood, but they had shared a blood oath binding them together and swearing allegiance to each other for life.

As far as she was concerned, Andy was just as blood-related to her as Harry was, and after everything was settled, the first thing she would love to do was find Andy. All she wanted was to be sure that Andy was alive and okay.

"You are not paying attention, mommy," Jamal said, breaking into her thoughts and bringing her back to the present.

"Why don't you sing first while I will work up the motivation?" Tom asked, and Lucy gave him a nod.

"That's fine," she said and connected her phone to the car's Bluetooth device as she searched through her playlist for her current favorite song.

The car was flooded with Keri Hilson's 'knock you down,' and Tom chuckled when he remembered the last time she had played that song while jumping on the bed and dancing just to brighten his mood.

"I never thought I'd be in love like this

When I look at you, my mind goes on a trip

Then you came in and knocked me on my face

Feels like I'm in a race

But I already won first place

I never thought I'd fall for you as hard as I did

(As hard as I did, yeah)

You got me thinking 'bout our life, our house, and kids (yeah)

Every morning I look at you and smile

'Cause boy, you came around, and you knocked me down, knocked me down."

Tom wore a big grin on his face as he drove while listening to Lucy sing along, or better put, scream along while she pointed and poked at him as she sang.

He couldn't help wondering why she loved the song so much when part of the lyrics she was singing talked about having kids. Since when had she loved this song?

"We can't sing along; we don't know the song," Jamal complained, and almost immediately, he turned to look at his mother when she suddenly started singing the chorus along with Lucy.

Sometimes love (love comes around, love comes around)

Oh, it comes around

And it knocks you down

Just get back up

When it knocks you down (oh, when it knocks you down)

Sometimes love comes around (ooh, yeah, comes around, yeah)

And it knocks you down

Just get back up

When it knocks you down

Knocks you down (ooh, when it knocks you down, knocks you down)

Lucy stopped singing and turned in her seat to look at Candace in surprise when she heard her voice, while Tom looked at her through the rearview mirror.

"Sorry, I couldn't help myself. It's one of my favorites," Candace said apologetically after the song ended and Lucy scowled as she turned in her seat to face the road.

"Now I can't sing anymore after hearing your voice. I feel so embarrassed for singing at all," Lucy complained, and they all laughed.

"Your voice wasn't so bad," Candace assured her.

"I still love your voice," Jamal added, and Tom agreed.

"Me too," Tom said, and she smiled at them all.

"It's Tom's turn," Jamal reminded them, and Tom scowled at him through the mirror.

"Is there any special song you want me to play for you to sing along to?" Lucy asked, and Tom considered it for only a moment before giving her a nod.

"Breathless by Shayne Ward," Tom said, and Lucy's heart skipped a beat when he winked at her.

"What are you waiting for? Don't you want me to sing anymore?" Tom asked with a grin when Lucy kept staring at him, while Candace smiled as she watched them.

Although she had seen other couples together in the past and admired them, she somehow loved Tom and Lucy's relationship more. Maybe it was the way they looked at each other or talked to each other with so much respect that it always melted her heart. She couldn't decide yet.

Lucy wet her lips with her tongue as she did as he requested.

Her lips dropped open in surprise when Tom started singing along, and she wasn't the only one in the car who looked surprised to hear Tom's voice.

"You can sing!" Lucy said in an accusing tone as tears clouded her eyes. She wasn't sure if it was because she was too embarrassed by her own voice or if it was because she was in awe of his voice as he sang.

Tom chuckled, "I'm fine now. You can turn off the music," Tom said as the gate opened, and he drove into his compound.

Lucy sighed dejectedly, "Yeah, of course, you're fine. I'm the one in a foul mood now. Everyone else in the car can sing well but me. I'm sure even Jamal can sing better," Lucy murmured.

"Don't worry, Lucy. I won't ever try to make you feel bad by singing better than you..."

"Can you just back off?" Tom asked, interrupting Jamal with a glare while both Candace and Lucy giggled.

"I will get him out of your hair now," Candace said with a grin as Tom parked the car and she opened the door.

"Please do, else I might be forced to get into a fistfight with him," Tom threatened, and Jamal stuck his tongue at him as his mother took his hand to take him away.

"Why are you not getting down? Are you not coming in?" Jamal asked curiously.

"We will come in soon," Lucy said before Tom or Candace could speak, and Jamal gave her a nod before walking away with his mom.

Alone with Lucy in the car, Tom sighed, "Thanks. I feel much better," Tom said as he turned in his seat to look at Lucy.

"Bryan caused some trouble..."

"I got that much from your side of the phone call. Let's talk about it after you're relaxed," Lucy said, and Tom gave her a nod.

"There's something you should know. Candace's adopted family..."

"About Rachel? Candace told me already. It can all wait. Let's go in," Lucy said as she leaned forward and kissed the side of his lips before getting out of the car.

As they climbed up the stairs, they could hear Samantha and Candace chattering in the kitchen while Jamal told whoever was listening about Tom's office and the new friend he had met.

Once they got to their bedroom and took off their shoes, Lucy dropped her handbag on the bed and helped Tom take off his suit jacket, and then she reached for his tie while Tom watched her.

Slowly she helped him take off his clothes until all that was left was his underwear, "Do you want me to run you a bath?" She asked, and he shook his head.

"I will use the shower. Thanks," he said as he helped her undress too.

"You can go in first since you need the privacy," Tom said, and she shook her head.

"I'm done. It's three days," she explained and almost smiled when his eyes lit up.

"However, I want you to shower first so you can relax. I need to return Sonia's call now. When I'm done, I will give you a massage," she promised with a mischievous smile shutting up Tom, who had wanted to argue.

"Alright," Tom said before heading for the bathroom while Lucy took out her phone from her handbag and dialed Sonia's line as she headed for the balcony dressed in only her white lace bra and panties.

"Hey, baby!" Sonia greeted more out of habit than excitement, and Lucy did not miss her dull tone.

She figured that Jade must have told her everything, and Sonia was probably mad at her, "I'm sorry, I'm only just calling now. And I'm sorry I didn't tell you everything last night," Lucy said apologetically.

"It's fine," Sonia said, not sure she was in the mood to talk. She had almost forgotten about awaiting Lucy's call until Lucy's call came in. She had been busy reading comments and watching clips of Bryan's fight online until she noticed they were being taken down.

She had gotten home, and Bryan wasn't home. She had no idea where he was, and she was worried about him and scared that he would get into trouble again.

"Are you okay?" Lucy asked in concern before recalling Bryan's scandal.

"I don't know. I had a fight with Bryan, and he's acting out. Got into a fight with Derek..."

"Derek? Your ex?" Lucy asked in surprise.

"Yeah. I didn't handle things right. I should have. I don't know where Bryan is and the internet... His fans are saying a lot of nasty things about me..." Sonia's voice hitched, and she broke into a sob, startling Lucy, who could count the number of times she had seen Sonia or heard her cry.

"What did they say to hurt you so much?" Lucy asked since Sonia wasn't the type to be so affected by stuff like this or people's opinion of her.

As much as she was tempted to ask Sonia for the details of what could have happened between Bryan and Derek, she set aside her curiosity.

"I don't know. I'm just sad and in a foul mood. I don't know. I'm not happy, Lu. My heart is aching, and I'm confused and worried about Bryan. I don't know what to do. Some of his fans said I'm going to ruin his career and that he's always getting into bad scandals since he met me. What if Bryan wants to break up after this? He left me at the police station, and he's not taking my calls..." She broke into a sob again, and this time Lucy felt tears drop from her own eyes.

"Oh, Sony! I'm sorry you're hurting. What can I do? Should I call him or ask Tom to give him a call? I wish I were there with you," Lucy said, and Sonia shook her head as she dried her tears.

"No, don't. He might not like that. I have to figure it out," Sonia said as she tried to pull herself together.

"Evelyn and Jade told me about your aunt and Harry," Sonia said, trying to distract herself.

"Yes. I'm sorry I couldn't tell you about it yesterday. I promised Aaron I would keep it to myself," Lucy said apologetically.

"Jade isn't happy with you."

"She told me. I talked with her," Lucy said, not sure how she could help Sonia. She really wanted to cheer her up.

"Oh, alright," Sonia said with a sigh.

"When are you guys coming back?" Lucy asked, and Sonia drew a deep breath.

"About that. I don't think moving in with Bryan is such a good idea anymore..."

"Sonia? What is going on?" Lucy asked with a worried frown, thinking that it all seemed more serious than she had assumed.

Sonia explained all that happened, and by the time she was done, Lucy sighed, "I get your point but don't you think this decision might affect your relationship?" Lucy asked and turned slightly when Tom walked up behind her and kissed her bare shoulder.

"If a decision like this is capable of affecting our relationship, doesn't it prove that we need time apart to work on it and get to know each other better?" Sonia asked, and Lucy sighed as she watched Tom sit across from her, covered in just his towel, which was wrapped around his waist.

"So what do you want? Are you not moving down to Ludus anymore? Or you're coming but not just staying with him?" Lucy asked and looked away from Tom when he raised a questioning brow.

"Well, I have to be close enough to him. I was thinking I could live with you at your apartment for some time if that's okay..."

"Of course, you know that's not even a question. My apartment is yours. All I want is to be sure you are fine," Lucy said, and Sonia sighed.

"Thanks, Lu. I should get off the phone now. I need my line to be open when he calls," Sonia said, and Lucy sighed.

"By the way, are you done with your meeting? Harry asked Bryan's manager to bring Bryan down at once," Lucy said, and Sonia's heart skipped.

"At once?" She asked, thinking about her meeting, which Bryan had planned to accompany her to, and the visit to her mother's graveside. She would have to do those alone.

How would she be able to fire her editor with her head raised high when this scandal was currently rocking the internet?

"Yes. Because of the scandal. They have to do something about it before the anniversary next week," Lucy explained, and Sonia sighed.

"That means Tom and Harry took down the posts on the internet?" Sonia asked.

"Harry might have been responsible for that," Lucy said and explained why they needed Bryan back as soon as possible for the anniversary.

"I understand. This means he might have to leave without me."

And without resolving our misunderstanding, Sonia thought sadly.

Lucy's heart broke when she heard the sadness in Sonia's voice. She had never heard Sonia sound so vulnerable or helpless before. Sonia wasn't usually thus emotional either.

"Oh, Sony! What can..."

"Don't worry about me. I'll be okay. I have to go now. I should find a way to reach him. I love you," Sonia cut in and hung up before Lucy could say another word.

Lucy sighed as she looked at her phone before looking at Tom, who was observing her quietly, "Come here," he ordered softly when he noticed the distress in her face and when she moved closer to him, he drew her down until she was sitting on his thighs.

"You want to tell me what's wrong?" Tom asked, and even though she was tempted to, Lucy shook her head.

Her plan was to make him feel better and relieve him of stress. Sonia was far away from her and there was no way she could be there for Sonia right now, but Tom was right here, and she could be here for him instead of dumping all her problems on him.

So instead of telling him what was bothering her, she kissed him, "No. I'm not telling you anything. I think we should make this room our safe room. No unpleasant topic must be discussed in here. It should be like our sanctuary. I want you to be able to relax completely in here with me," Lucy said, and Tom smiled, knowing that she was trying really hard to help him relax.

"I like that idea."

"You do? I could show you something else you might like. But I need to shower first. I will be back shortly, so don't even think about sleeping off," Lucy warned with a wink, and Tom grinned.

"I wouldn't dare sleep off. Not when you're acting so naughty," he assured her as she headed for the bedroom.

"Jewel?" Tom called before she could disappear, and she turned to him.

"Yeah?"

"You are perfect, and I adore you," Tom said, and she giggled in embarrassment before walking away.