Disclaimer: I own NOTHING.
Author's Notes: Some of the dialogue is repetitive and overlaps from the first chapter, but I tried changing up some of the details for Julie's POV.
Love of My Life
April 2005
She was out celebrating with her two closest friends at the office.
"What can I get ya?"
"Cosmopolitan." Julie said smiling at the cute bartender.
"Cosmo it is." He said retreating to make her drink.
"Cute, but is he an 8 or 8.5" Her friend Kristy said sipping her bottle of Labatt Blue.
"7." Julie said decidedly.
"What?" Both girls echoed.
"He's a bartender. He's good-looking and skilled, I'll give him that, but bartending does not equal big bucks." She said before he came back and placed her drink on the counter.
"Julie Gaffney? Julie 'The Cat' Gaffney?" She heard a familiar voice. She looked around and then her eyes met his at the other end of the bar.
She couldn't hide her big smile, "Dean Portman! It's a bash brother!" She ran towards him and threw her arms around Dean's neck. She could feel his big, strong arms wrap around her tightly.
"Damn Jules, how long has it been?"
"Too long." She said as they released each other. "Lemme look at you." She said stepping back and looking him up and down. His style hadn't changed much; he was wearing dark jeans and a white sweater. His hair was slicked back with his signature bandana and his left ear was pierce with a small, diamond stud.
"Like what you see?" He said with a grin on his face. She loved when he raised his eyebrow and gave her that cocky smile, it drove her and some of the girls nearby crazy.
She nodded, "you haven't changed a bit!" Same hair, better body, if it was even possible. He was still as handsome as ever.
"You have." He said smiling, "but I like it." She tried not to blush as it was his turn to check her out.
She playfully smacked him in the chest, "Dean, you always were a big flirt." Julie never really liked being the center of attention, and other guys besides Dean were now staring at her with approving looks.
"Dean? Since when do you let people use your first name?" Said a tiny blonde woman walking up behind him and putting an arm around him. She was short, probably around 5'2 and wore too much silver eyeliner. She was wearing dark, baggy cargo pants and a tight, black tanktop. She was too old to be the younger sister he often spoke of. Whoever she was, she was awfully possessive of him.
"Theresa, this is an old friend of mine, Julie Gaffney. Jules, this is my girlfriend Theresa." Dean said wrapping an arm around her.
"Nice to meet you." Julie did her best to be friendly, she didn't want to seem disappointed that he was already taken.
"Charmed, I'm sure."
"Jules and I played peewee hockey and went to highschool together." He said not taking his eyes off of Julie. She shifted uncomfortably on her feet. Why did Dean have to look so good with his super-skinny girlfriend? Julie mentally cursed herself for not freshening up before she left the office.
"So what are you doing in Chicago?"
"Transferred here for my job. I'm working at the Law Firm for my father." She said as they grabbed a spot on the counter. "What have you been up to?"
"I'm working part-time as a personal trainer at the gym and taking some classes on the side. I'm thinking of getting into physical therapy or sports medicine." He said shrugging.
"Dean, that's awesome!" Julie she said nudging his arm. "I'm so glad you've decided to go to back to school and it sounds right up your ally."
He tried not to act bashful, "yeah well I can't mooch off of mom and dad forever."
"Portman, it's getting late and I told Jen we'd meet them at 10." Theresa said tugging lightly at his arm.
"Well, can't I meet up with you guys." He said turning to her. Theresa looked as if she were about to pout but Julie interrupted before she got a chance.
"No, you guys should go. Besides, I should get back to my friends, they're probably wondering what I'm doing." She said hopping off her stool.
Theresa mumbled something about using the ladies' room before they left.
"Well, we should hang out now that we're living in the same city." Dean said trying not to sound too desperate.
"Yeah, we should." She took a business card out of her clutch purse and handed it to him. "My cell's on the back. Call me, it's been too long."
"It has, I definitely will." He said smiling.
"It was good seeing you."
"You too sweetie." She smiled, he always knew what to say to make her feel good.
They stood there for a second before she made the first move to hug. Dean leaned forward and wrapped the small girl in his arms, picking her up off the ground for a second before setting her down again.
"Goodnite, Jules."
"Nite Dean."
"Penny for your thoughts."
"Hey Banksi, just thinking." He said as he took a seat next to her.
"About?"
"Aren't we nosy?" He ignored her comment and pressed for an answer. "Nothing special."
Adam rolled his eyes, "yeah, I know, weddings always make me worry if I'll ever find someone."
"How'd you know that's what I was thinking about?"
"Wasn't it?"
She nodded.
Adam looked over towards Portman and Fulton, "don't worry Jules, you'll find him eventually."
She was too wrapped up in her own thoughts to follow his gaze.
Julie's POV
He doesn't call me 'babe' anymore, is it wrong that I miss it? God forbid I set women's lib back.
I thought I'd have to go to his funeral to see Dean Portman dressed in a tie and jacket. Or his wedding (Even though he and Stacey called it quits a few weeks ago). He cleans up well, but I would never try to change him. That's what I love about him. He's never afraid to be himself and he'd never compromise that to make people like him.
He and Fulton are still best buds, some things never change. Except Fulton's hair, which looks good. He also looks extremely handsome in a sportsjacket.
"Excuse me miss, but aren't you Julie Gaffney?" This young man had sandy blonde hair, blue eyes, and perfect white teeth.
He was cute. "Yes, I am. And you are?"
"Richard, I'm a friend of Guy's." He said holding out his hand. I kinda figured that out on my own since he was in the wedding party.
I politely shake it.
"And I'm a fan of yours." He said sitting down next to me.
"Me?"
"Well, I'm from New Hampshire, and you were pretty popular during our college years in New England." I was on a hockey scholarship all throughout college for Boston University.
"Oh, thanks."
"Yeah, I hope that didn't make me sound too much like a stalker."
I laughed trying to ease his spirits. "Nope, not too much." He looked scared for a moment. "I'm just kidding, I'm flattered."
He flashed that bright smile again, "would you care to dance? Or if not you can just get a restraining order against me. Whatever you prefer."
Dean's POV
Oh great. Now he's conned her into dancing with him. Tool!
"Hey Portman!"
Averman and the rest of the guys are waving me over.
"We wanna do a group photo of the ducks!"
"Someone go grab Fulton and Julie!" Charlie yells to the group. Luis heads over to our table to grab him.
"I'll get her!" I say, glad to interrupt the little dance number this guy is trying to pull.
"Hey Jules, sorry to interrupt, but the guys wanna do a team photo for old times' sake."
"Oh, sure, no problem." She turned to Mr. Perfect, "excuse me."
"Sure." He said stepping back.
I smiled and we headed over towards our friends.
It felt so good to be with everyone again. It was like old times. Dwayne was already a little buzzed and kept throwing around 'yeehaws' and 'y'alls' every few minutes. Personally, I was afraid he would break out the lasso and try to round up some of the other guests. But, eventually everyone get into their places and the photographer quickly snapped the camera.
Connie and Guy had tons of other guests to greet so they left immediately, promising to catch up with us tomorrow at brunch. After brunch they would leave for their honeymoon in Hawaii.
Eventually the group dispersed and went back to their dates. Me and Julie were the only ones left.
"So, what were you and what's-his-face discussing?" I asked breaking the silence.
"Richard. Nothing really, we both grew up in New England." She said looking up at me. I couldn't help but stare. Even though she's one of my closest friends, I still can't get over how grown up and beautiful she is.
"Well would Dick mind if I stole you away for a dance?"
She smiled, "last time I checked, I was a free woman."
And quite a woman.
Yeah it's a little dry but I was just hoping to get Julie's POV out there. Next chapter will be about their past in Chicago.
