"Here, put this on your eye or it'll bruise", I said to Tim as I handed him a bag of ice.

He grunted, "Thanks."

I sat down on the black leather couch, in the dressing room, beside him. I let out a frustrated sigh, running my hands over my face I asked, "What was that?"

He didn't even hesitate "That was some asshole disrespecting you and I stopped it. That's what that was."

I held my breath and started counting to one hundred slowly. I always did this when I felt like screaming my head off—I was angry and still hurt from earlier too, but I'd always been good at hiding my feelings. I squashed them deep down, forgetting I even had any. But with Tim, anything I felt was brought to the surface and refused to be ignored. He made me mad, I acted out. He hurt me, I hurt him. I couldn't control what I did or said around him and it scared me. So, I concentrated on breathing.

Feeling calmer, I looked at him, "I work in a strip club, Tim. Guys don't really have respect for anyone who works here. I understand that. But I have respect for myself and I wasn't doing anything I was uncomfortable with. I can take care of myself and I am smart enough to keep away from the overly touchy feely guys. He was one of my best customers- a little flirty, but all bark and no bite. There was no danger whatsoever."

He wasn't looking at me and I grabbed his face gently, forcing him to, "As stupid as you are for doing that when there was no danger, I appreciate it. No ones ever stood up for me like that and… I-I want you to know it means something to me to know you care. So, thank you."

His green eyes softened. He wrapped his arms around my waist and pulled me into his lap, his face buried in the crook of my neck. My senses were on high alert and I felt him everywhere. He'd never touched me like this before. He'd barely ever touched me, except for the occasionally high five or brisk side hug. I was stiff and forced myself to relax, running my fingers through his hair, I held onto him.

"I'm sorry I was a jerk earlier tonight. I didn't mean anything I said. I just-I… You're better than this place, Steph. You have to know that. Seeing you here blind sided me, I never would've guessed you worked here." His breathe cascaded over my shoulder and down my back, making me shiver.

As retarded as he was, he was also very sweet, "I know. I'm sorry. But Tim? I need the money. Don't say what I all ready know you're thinking. I'm not stripping and I never will, okay?"

He looked right into my eyes, grabbing my face and rubbing his thumbs over my cheeks, said, "Promise me. Promise me you won't strip for money. Ever. Please, promise me that."

My breath hitched, "I promise. But why does that matter to you so much?" I shouldn't have asked, but I was too damn curious.

His eyes hardened, "I need to know you wont be taking your clothes off for some horny guy, throwing dollar bills at you, so I can sleep at night. Thinking of you doing that, it infuriates me-" I had stopped breathing- Did Tim Riggins like me?

"You're an innocent and I don't want you to be tainted, that's why."

Disappointment washed over me. He didn't like me like that- but seemed to care for my well being, like a brother would.

Except I didn't want him to be like a brother. I wanted him to be more like a lover.