Julie avoided her building for the rest of the day returning at 6.00 pm when she was fairly certain the builders would have gone home for the day.
Unfortunately she spotted Dean hovering around the buildings entrance in his trademark leather jacket.
"Crap!" she exclaimed to no one in particular and dug out her cell phone. She managed to convince Claire to come down and let her in through the side access door.
Portman eventually gave up hounding Julie's building at 9.00 pm. He had to get up early for work the next day and it looked like she had successfully avoided him that day.
Oh well there's always tomorrow he thought walking away.
He wasn't going to give up on her this time.
...………………………………………………
"Rough day?" Amy asked as Julie arrived home looking more than a little worse for wear.
"You could say that. Three guesses who's working on our building?" Julie kicked off her shoes and produced a bottle of wine from the paper bag tucked under her arm.
"Oh no, you're joking right?" Amy realised immediately who it was.
"No I'm not joking and of course I had to run straight into him on my way to court" Julie said entering the kitchen to retrieve two wine glasses and a bottle opener.
"What did he say?" Amy asked.
"Not much I think I might have run away from him" Julie admitted downing half the glass she'd just poured in one gulp.
"Jules!" Amy scolded both for drinking so fast and for running away from her problems. The Julie Gaffney she knew didn't run away.
"I know! I'm a lame-ass but I can't help it when I'm fighting with him. He just has that effect on me" Julie took another sip of wine, a much smaller one this time.
Amy laughed. Julie had told her all of the stories from high school and she knew all too well the effect Dean Portman had on her college friend.
"Shit I almost forgot, you had a call from a one Mr Adam Banks" Amy said smacking her forehead. She couldn't believe she'd almost forgotten about the hunky hockey player's phone call. She'd almost wet herself when he spoke to her.
"Really?" Julie asked with a smirk.
"Yeah he was asking about your arrangements for the wedding since you know, the whole Connie and Charlie thing, he said you could stay with him" Amy said softly.
"That might be an idea" Julie said before she suddenly brightened up.
"Speaking of ideas, I'll be back in a second" she said and rushed off to grab the phone leaving Amy bewildered.
...…………………………………………………………..
"Hello?" Portman answered the phone sleepily.
"Dude!" Fulton's voice came on the line.
"Fult, man its almost midnight and I have to work tomorrow" Portman wasn't in the mood to talk. He'd gone straight to bed since arriving home.
"I know but I thought I should be the one to tell you" Fulton's voice dropped several decibels.
"Tell me what?" Portman wasn't sure he wanted to know.
"Tell you that Julie just called me and um.. oh shit how do I say this?" Fulton was talking more to himself than Dean.
"Just fucking say it" Portman was dying to know about anything that involved Julie. He just hoped it wasn't bad.
"Okay, she asked if she could bring someone to the wedding" Fulton said bracing himself for the response.
"Oh, well that's fine" Portman said in a strained voice.
"I'm sorry man" Fulton said gently.
"Don't worry about it, I'll talk to you later" Dean said and quickly hung up the phone.
He sunk back against his pillows stunned. Needless to say he didn't get back to sleep after that.
……………………………………………………………………...….
"Ugh remind me again not to down so much alcohol the night before work" Julie complained holding her head. The pair had finished the first bottle of wine and had proceeded to open three more.
Amy passed across two asprin and a glass of water.
"Thanks" Julie almost whispered and downed the asprin and water.
She immediately poured herself another glass of water.
"I'm not sure I can drag myself in today" Amy complained feeling every inch as hungover as Julie.
Unfortunately, the partners in the firm she worked for wouldn't be too impressed with her skipping work.
"I know but we have to go" Julie said. "I think I might walk, work some of that nausea off"
"You're gamer than I am, I'm gonna cab it" Amy decided picking up her briefcase and waving goodbye to Julie.
Julie searched for her shoes and found them under the kitchen table.
"OW!" Julie said rubbing her head as she accidentally hit it on the table on the way up.
That's when she decided to cab it also.
"AMY WAIT UP!" Julie yelled grabbing her briefcase and keys and setting the alarm behind her.
"Ha! I knew you couldn't walk it!" Amy grinned as best as a hungover attorney could.
"Shut up" Julie said still rubbing her head.
The cab driver raised an eyebrow at the two girls in dark shades wearily getting into his cab.
...
Dean got to work slightly earlier than he was expected and immediately started work on the demolition.
He was that far into it he didn't even notice Julie stagger into the lobby with a bottle of water and her sunglasses still over her eyes.
"Dude, hot blond" one of his workmates nudged him eager to let Dean see that there really was a hot blond.
He inwardly groaned when he realised who it was.
Of course it had to be Julie and of course a tall, blond, tanned and muscular guy had to run up and give her an enormous hug.
"Aw look at Barbie and Ken" the other builders scoffed.
Dean felt like ripping their throats out. So this must be the guy she was bringing to Fulton's wedding.
He had a good mind to find some hot chick to take to Fulton's wedding to outdo Julie and her new muscle man but he thought better of it. He realised he wasn't getting her back now and put his head back down and continued with his work.
a/n thanks for all of your reviews and I'm sorry its taken so long to update.