Chapter 18: Friends?

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"What the heck do you want?" she asked, mad that he just grabbed her after the way he acted yesterday. She stared at him and finally he looked up.

"Look, I just…I wanted to apologize for yesterday," Vince said in a rush, stuffing his hands into his pockets and staring at his feet. He'd really prejudged her yesterday, something he was raised not to do. He had no right to do what he did and he owed her after she didn't tell on him.

July couldn't help but smile at the picture he presented. He looked like a little boy who had gotten into trouble. She stared off at the streetlights twinkling off in the distance as her brain processed everything she'd learned.

"Why did you ask me if I was a cop? Is it because of the racing thing?" July questioned, looking back at Vince and saw him studying her.

Vince was quiet for a few minutes and then looked away, taking a deep breath. He was trying to figure out if he should tell her or not. She seemed trustworthy and Vince didn't get a bad feeling from her, but he didn't know this girl for nothing and there was no way he was just going to spill everything because she had a pretty smile.

Where did that thought come from? he growled in his head, mentally shaking it.

Vince finally settled on telling her a smidge of truth, he owed her that much at least.

"What I tell you is going to stay between me and you until everyone decided it's okay for you to know. Deal?"

July nodded her head, very curious as to what Vince was going to tell her.

Vince took another deep breath and explained vaguely about how Brian was an undercover cop and how he tried to catch them for something, but wouldn't say what. He also explained that there was an accident and that Brian saved his life and now was part of the team. "So that's why I wanted to know if you were a cop because Brian was an undercover one and we don't want any trouble," he finished. He hadn't spilled any team secrets and hadn't told her anything more than what she'd hear off the streets.

July looked away in though, mulling over what he had said. It all did make sense in the end, why he asked her.

"Vince, it's cool. I understand. You were just trying to protect your family. It's nothing I wouldn't do if I had a family," July replied and offered him a small, sad smile. "You just didn't want a repeat of what happened."

"No, we don't, but I guess it all didn't turn out so bad," Vince said, looking wistfully into the kitchen window where Mia and Brian were laughing and throwing soap bubbles at each other.

"Let me guess, you liked her, she didn't see you that way, he came in and swept her off her feet and now you kind of owe him your life."

Vince gave a growl of frustration at being read so easily. "Yeah, that's pretty much it, but I'm over it. "At July's raised eyebrow, he relented, wondering how she was able to read him so well. "I'm as over it as I'll ever be. He makes her happy and that's all that matters."

"So, the scars are a nifty souvenirs from the accident?" she asked and Vince laughed.

"Never thought about them like that."

"Well, yours beats mine," she commented, raising her arm to point out her own scar.

"I guess they do," he replied, wondering where hers came from but not willing to push his luck at the moment. "So I'm forgiven?"

"I guess so. If I have to," she answered with a giggle, and Vince gave her a look of warning. "So friends?" she said, sticking out her hand.

"Friends," Vince agreed, shaking her hand, ignoring the warmth that her hand in his created. "Come on, let's get inside and join the others before they start to wonder what happened to us."

"Yeah, they might think I kicked your butt, you big baby," July teased, laughing and running into the house. She could hear Vince coming after her. She sprinted into the living room and everyone looked up.

"I'm gonna get you for that one July!"

"You wish Vince," she called back, coming to rest behind the armchair where Dom was sitting. Leon and Letty were sitting together in another armchair and Jesse was by himself on the couch.

"So, Coyote, what were you two up to?" Leon asked, smirking from his chair.

"Coyote?" July repeated, raising an eyebrow.

"Yeah, it's a nickname, and we were just talking," Vince answered, sitting down on the couch. For whatever reason, Leon implying July was one of those girls upset him, but it wasn't something he wanted to think about at the moment. So he brushed it off and focused on the movie playing.

"Sure," Leon replied sarcastically.

"We really were talking," July said not wanting anyone to get any ideas.

"Don't worry girl," Letty spoke up, "you probably were, Le just can't get his head out of the gutter."

"Hey!" Leon exclaimed.

"What?" Letty asked innocently and everyone laughed.

July sat down between Vince and Jesse on the couch. She snuggled deeper into the couch and turned her attention to the movie.

Once the second movie was over, almost everybody was asleep. Vince and Jesse had left a couple minutes ago to bed. Dom and July were the only ones left in the living room. July checked her watch and saw it was a little after midnight. She yawned and then stood up.

"I should get going," she commented, feeling a faint flush fill her body as she realized Dom's eyes were on her as she stretched.

"Yeah, it's getting late," he agreed, getting up and walking her to the door.

"Well, thanks for dinner."

"No problem." Dom opened the door and step out with her onto the porch.

"So I'll see you tomorrow at two?" July asked.

"Yeah, just come over. We can take my car," Dom replied, a half smile on his face.

"Okay, will do." July turned to begin walking down the steps when Dom's voice stopped her.

"You think you can make it to your house okay?" he asked looking around outside.

"Dom, I live next door, not a mile away. I'll be okay walking the couple of feet to my door," she teased and then started to walk down the steps.

"If you're sure."

"Don't worry so much. See ya tomorrow." July looked over her shoulder at him. The porch light outlined his large form but she couldn't see his eyes.

"Yeah tomorrow…" Dom said and watched as she walked the short distance to her house and disappeared inside.

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tbc…