If I Can't Have you

(37) Little crush

Tommy really had made true on his promise to fuck Jemima over his desk. But trying to do paperwork with her nail marks right beside was much difficult than he could have possibly imagined.

All he could think about was her. She surrounded him. Everything made him think of her.

He trailed a finger over the scratches, goddammit he needed to get through this paperwork. But all he wanted to was be with her, it was like he was obsessed. The best sort of obsession, love.

There was no doubt in his mind that he was in love with her. He also reckoned it wasn't a new feeling, it was what had been fuelling his jealousy. The main question playing on his mind as he ran a hand over her nail marks was whether she felt the same way back. Could she ever be in love with him? Would she only ever just care for him? Does she still have doubts about him?

"Funsponge!" Isla exclaims, running into his office, her hair slightly wet, "guess what?"

"What?" Tommy replies, covering the makes with a sheet of paper.

"I would so be able to survive someone trying to drown me with a brick," Isla beams.

"Please tell me you did not jump into the cut with a brick attached to your feet," Tommy says, running a hand frustratedly over his forehead.

"No, Dad wouldn't let me, but he did let me time how long I can hold my breathe underwater in the sink, and it was so long, I would have plenty of time to escape the brick," Isla explains, walking round his desk, "what you doing?"

"Paperwork," Tommy answers.

"You looked bored, and miserable, and grumpy," Isla comments.

"Thanks - at least I know I can always trust you to be honest with me," Tommy remarks.

"Why are you doing something if it's making you miserable?"

"Because once it's done, I will be happy."

"You happy? As if," Isla teases, "well hurry up, I'm waiting."

"Waiting for what?" Tommy says, picking up his pen, scanning through the documents in front of him.

"You, obviously," Isla retorts.

"Why are you waiting for me?" Tommy asks, shuffling the papers around.

"So you can take me to see Jemima," Isla replies, "Daddy's busy, Maxi is busy, John is busy, hence here I am."

"And what if I'm busy?"

"You're never too busy for me or Jemima, and on the off chance you are, I'd say I'll walk there myself and then you'd clear your calendar to take me," Isla smiles.

"So your plan is to manipulate me?" Tommy hums, as the nine year old sits on his knee, watching him sign sheets she couldn't yet comprehend.

"It's very easy to... too easy," Isla shrugs.

"You're nine, of course I'm not going to let you walk around Small Heath by yourself, mischief," Tommy grumbles.

"Finn does, he's only thirteen," Isla argues.

"Four years older," Tommy reminds her, "and unfortunately, it is different for men and women on these streets."

"Why? That doesn't seem fair."

"It's not fair, but there are some people around here who just aren't very nice to girls like yourself, and so it's my job, and your dads, and your brothers, and Johns job to scare them away. We shouldn't have to but it's necessary that we do to keep you safe." Tommy tells her.