A/N – Sorry, everyone. I'm sort of losing interest in this story. I don't like when stories are abandoned and I always wondered how that could possibly happen? But now I'm in those shoes. I hate being that person, especially knowing that readers put so much effort into reading our stories and telling us how great they are. I won't abandon it, but I may not update very timely. Unfortunately my real life projects are at the top of my
"to do" list.

Chapter 8

I woke up with a headache, but I expected that, after all the beer I drank the night before. Then I realized I wasn't alone in bed.

There was a warm body pressed against my back…an almost naked body. When I stirred, he was awake in a split second.

"Okay, I'm up…" Tim mumbled and jumped out of the bed.

I watched him stumble toward the bathroom, his boxers so low on his hips, I could see his butt crack.

After he was gone, I sat up and rubbed my face. I tried to remember how Tim had ended up in bed with me. The nightmare. That was it. I had a nightmare and I told Tim about the robbery and he laid down with me so I could fall asleep. That was totally unselfish of him…and quite sweet.

When he came out of the bathroom, I got up and went in, closing the door behind me. I jumped in the shower and stood under the hot water for awhile. What I really needed was a cold shower to quench the heat that had built the second I realized he was in bed with me. Damn, I could still smell him on me.

After I finished, I found a large cotton towel and wrapped it around myself. I came out of the bathroom and found Tim sitting on the other bed, still in his boxers, his back against the headboard. He was watching TV and drinking coffee.

He looked up at me as I walked over to the bed. "How're you feeling?" he asked me.

I leaned beside him against the headboard. "Numb."

He picked up his coffee cup and held it out to me. "Here, drink this."

"I don't like coffee."

"Well, you're gonna like it today. Drink it."

I took a sip and the bitterness made me scrunch my face. "God, this is terrible. How can you drink it?" Even after I asked the question, I took a long gulp and leaned against the headboard.

He stood up and his boxers miraculously stayed put on his hips. "I'm taking a shower," he announced. "You should get dressed."

"Are we hitting the road already?" I asked as he walked to his duffle bag.

"Yeah. It's Friday and we have to get to Sacramento. I have a friend who throws unforgettable pool parties. We should make it there by the time the real fun begins." He grabbed his clothes and went in the bathroom.

While Tim took a shower, I got dressed and put my hair in a ponytail. By the time he came out, I was ready to go.

We went outside and he stored our bags in the trailer and tossed some hay in the corner for Striker.

As we got in the truck and he started the engine, he asked, "Are you hungry?"

"Not really."

"Ok, we'll stop for lunch later then." He pulled out of the parking lot and made a wide right hand turn onto the road.

I shook my head, amazed that he was able to maneuver his truck with such a long trailer attached to it.

My cell phone rang and I glanced at the display. It was Lois. I answered it. "Hi, Lois."

"So I have to hear it from your mom that you're on a road trip with Tim Riggins?"

"Alright, don't get all flippy on me. I was gonna call you…eventually."

"And why not tell me right away?"

"Because I knew you'd…" I paused and glanced at Tim, who glanced back at me. "…start interrogating me."

"So are you like freaking out on him?" she asked me.

"Maybe a little. But I'm not like…you know…" I turned away to whisper, "All over him or anything."

"I heard that," said Tim. "Yeah, she is. She follows me everywhere. Even in the bathroom."

I turned and smacked his arm. "Cut it out, Tim. That's not true."

"I think I believe him more than I believe you," said Lois.

"Bite me," I replied.

"Sure, I'd love a bite," Tim said as he grabbed my hand and was about to bite my wrist.

"Not you." I sighed and yanked my hand out of his grip.

"So how long is this road trip supposed to last?" asked Lois.

"I don't know. I'm on Tim's clock. We're going to Vegas for a couple of days."

"Why Vegas?"

"Apparently I've been told by my keeper here that I need a spa day."

"And you have to go to Vegas for that? Don't they have spas anywhere else along the way?"

I didn't want to get into the whole story about Tim buying a horse because I didn't want to be on the phone with her for an hour. "Again, I'm on Tim's clock and he's driving. I have no say in anything."

"Just make sure he gets you here in plenty of time for your dress fitting or Tyra will flip out."

"I know. I will."

"Call me later when he's not around. I want to hear all the intimate details."

"Yeah, bye."

"Bye."

A couple of hours later we stopped for gas and I let Striker out for a few minutes to stretch his legs. He pranced around friskily and I nearly lost my grip on the lead rope.

"Are you okay over there, Jules?" Tim asked. "You need help with him?"

The second Striker heard Tim's voice, he immediately settled. I was convinced this horse had a thing for Tim. Maybe the Friesian/human bonding fact was true.

"It's fine. He's all right now." I jogged him around the gas station several times while Tim continued filling the truck. What I wanted to do was hop on his back, but I wasn't sure how Striker would react to a rider on his bare back. Besides, I had an audience. There were three old men sitting outside the gas station, smoking pipes and staring at me and Striker, like they'd never seen a girl with a horse before.

Tim went inside to pay and came out with an ice cream cone and an apple. Striker took a bite out of the apple and I watched Tim's tongue glide across the ice cream. The sight sent a lava flow of heat to every corner of my body. Maybe he noticed the heat rise to my cheeks or maybe he didn't.

He smiled and held the cone out to me. Who was I kidding? He noticed everything.

I took a couple of licks and then Striker took a step closer. Before Tim could pull the cone away, Striker had snatched it right out of his hand and it was gone in two seconds.

As Tim stood there with his jaw hanging open, staring at his empty hand, I laughed and gave Striker a pat on the neck. "Good boy."

"Don't encourage his bad behavior."

I laughed. "I thought it was cute."

Back on the road several minutes later, Tim brought the conversation back to where I really didn't want to go.

"So tell me about this guy in Portland."

"There's nothing to tell." I sighed heavily. "I lived with him for three years, platonically. Then he had to ruin it by asking me out."

"Doesn't sound like a real relationship to me."

"If you're trying to find out if I slept with him, the answer is no."

"That's not what I was going to ask, but while we're on the subject."

"What do you want to know, Tim? Do you want to know if I've been with anyone since I left Dillon?"

He turned to me and smiled. "You're adorable when you're flustered, Jules."

(Tim's POV)

I pulled off the road around 11:30 in the afternoon. We would be in Sacramento in about an hour and I wanted to give Striker a chance to stretch his legs before we got to my buddy's house where he'd be cooped up in the trailer until morning.

Jules was still asleep. She had been sleeping for the last hundred miles.

As I shut off the engine, I turned to look at her. She had grown more beautiful, if that was even possible, since I had known her in high school. Whenever I was with her, just looking at her, I couldn't remember what I had ever seen in those silly girls in school. Julie Taylor was a goddess.

I smiled as I recalled how pissed she had been at me, like it had been all my fault that night in the bathroom. Well, maybe I instigated it and coaxed her…just a little bit. After that, it was all her. The way she kissed me back and the way she touched me. It was a miracle I hadn't taken her all the way that night because I wanted to…I wanted it badly. But she had stopped it and I actually respected her for doing the right thing.

Even though she hadn't actually said it yet, I had a feeling she was still untouched. She wasn't the kind of girl to just hook up with anyone. I knew her more than she thought I did. But I could see she felt something for me, and it wasn't just a crush like she had a couple years ago. It was more. I wondered if she would be receptive if I made a pass at her.

Damn…I got out of the truck and walked it off. I was getting a boner just thinking about being with her.

I walked to the other side of the trailer and lowered the side door. Striker made a huffing sound as I climbed up and untied his lead rope. "Let's take a little walk and have some grass, Champ." I led him down the ramp. We walked away from the trailer and into the grassy field next to it.

Striker lowered his head and began to eat. I sat down on the grass and watched him. I still couldn't believe this was the same animal I had seen in the auction pen the other day. Maybe Jules was right. Maybe Striker hadn't liked his owner or the handlers. He just needed someone to bond with. I watched the way his long mane hung over his face. It was kind of like my hair sometimes when I let it get too long between cuts.

Striker stepped closer and ate the grass around my leg. His nose came up and as he continued chewing, he nudged my face.

"Whatta you think, Strikes? Should I go for it? Should I make her mine?" I pushed his face away when he tried to lick my cheek. "About this little affection thing you have for me. I don't mind it as long as you stop trying to impose your tongue on my face. I'm a guy and you're a guy and that don't work with me. Do I have to teach you how to behave with the ladies, too? I mean, once you become a champ, well…they're gonna be lining up outside your stall and you're gonna get lucky every day."

He chewed on the grass and looked at me with his big eye, like he could understand what I was telling him and that it was no big deal that I planned to stud him out for money. I laughed. I was his pimp.

"Then we'll rake in the cash. Enough where I can support a wife and some kids." I heard the car door slam and when I looked up, Julie was walking toward us. I couldn't take my eyes off of her, the way her hips swung as she moved, the way her tank top rode up and I could see a fair amount of her bare stomach. She was all female…and tempting and fuck…I had to look away.

She sat next to me on the grass and then laid down.

"Did you have a nice nap?" I asked.

"I can probably sleep for another four hours."

I reclined next to her and stared up at the clear sky above.

Julie turned and curled up against my side. "Can I ask you something?"

"Sure." Even with the scent of grass all around me, I could still smell her.

"Are you still afraid of commitment? Is that why you're still single?"

I turned my face toward hers, breathing in her scent. If she only knew. After touching Julie Taylor, it suddenly felt wrong touching anyone else. Hell, I tried and tried. But my sex drive had decided to go on strike. I embarrassed myself one too many times when I couldn't perform and the last thing I needed was for it to get all around school that I lost my ability. So I stopped hitting on the rally girls. I stopped hitting all together.

So how was I going to answer her question? "I'm single because I wanna be single. And when I find what I'm looking for, Jules, you'll be the first to know." She stared back at me with her wide dark eyes and that crazy innocent look that went right to that part of me that wanted all of her attention. I wanted to kiss her. It was such an intense feeling, I had to look away.

"What did my dad say to you after I told him it wasn't your fault the night he kicked you out of our house?" she asked.

The mention of her father put the brakes on my little fantasy. I remembered the conversation as if it was yesterday.

Flashback

(Tim's POV)

"Come here. Let me talk to you a second," said Coach Taylor.

I followed him outside my house and he turned around to face me.

"I jumped to conclusions. I'm well aware of what happened the other night. I apologize. I was wrong."

I nodded. "That's fine, Coach."

He cut in. "No, it's not fine. I couldn't have mishandled it any worse, and I apologize."

I nodded again, thinking he was done, but he wasn't.

"The last couple weeks, I've been giving you hell and not once have you come to me and complained. And then you got where you're protecting my daughter, and you're not letting me think bad of her, and again you don't say a word. Not a word. And I'll tell you something, not as a coach, but as a father, you realize what an honorable thing that is? That is very honorable."

"Thank you, sir." I didn't know what else to say. No one had ever acknowledged that I had actually done the right thing for once in my life. It made me feel good. But I worried that Julie had caught hell for drinking at the party.

"All right." Coach slapped my arm before turning away. "Get your rest this weekend."

"Will do, Coach."

"You betcha, buddy. You betcha."

End of Flashback

(Tim's POV)

"You deserved that apology, Tim," Julie said. "It was selfish of me to let you take the fall for what happened, just because I was afraid to tell my dad the truth."

"It's all right, Jules. I get it now, I got it then. You don't have to prove anything to me."

"My dad must really like you because he doesn't often admit he's wrong."

I turned to her. "Did he tell you he was a character witness at my parole hearing?"

She shook her head. "No, he didn't. Really?"

Flashback

(Tim's POV)

I hadn't wanted my brother, Billy to speak at my parole hearing, but the lawyer insisted and now there was Billy stuttering away a written speech in front of the parole board.

"He's always been a great little brother, just a great person. He's a good American and he's changed." Billy looked up. "I'm sorry. That's not what I meant. I mean, he's still a good American. He's just not going to get in the kind of trouble that he got into before." He stuttered again. "I'm sorry. I wrote all this down, but, um…The bottom line is, he's got a family that loves him and misses him, and we'll be a good support system for when he gets out. I've got a son who needs to know who his uncle is. Thank you."

"Thank you," said one of the board members. "Now I understand we have a letter of support from Mr Eric Taylor. Coach Taylor."

Coach stood up. "Thank you. I'm a high school football coach. I don't think that there's any better position to be able to judge the content of a young man's character than that. I coached Tim for three years. He graduated, got a scholarship, went off to college. He came back. I offered him a job as an assistant coach. I didn't ask him to be an assistant coach because of his skills on the field, which we all know were prodigious. I asked him to be part of our team because of his character off the field. The mistake that was made was tragic indeed. I think everyone here agrees that it was a stupid mistake. But that mistake does not represent the man who's sitting in front of you. I can guarantee you that. He is a good young man. That's how I know him. Thank you."

I just about broke into tears right then.

"Thank you," said the board man.

Buddy Garrity was also there and he said a few words, which actually impressed me for once.

When everyone left the court room, I was alone with Coach.

"Did they tell you how long it would take for them to decide?" he asked me.

I shook my head. "I've been told two weeks."

"The Bailiff said that you've been taking classes. Maybe get some time off for good behavior."

"Yes, sir. Good behavior." I looked up at him. "Did you get my letters?"

He looked at me. "I did. I'm sorry I didn't come visit more."

"I'm sorry that I let you down."

"You didn't, and that's not why I'm here."

When the Bailiff came, I shook hands with Coach Taylor. "Thank you for coming."

"All right."

The cuffs went on my wrists and they took me away.

End of Flashback

"I think it was what Coach said that convinced the parole board to let me go on good behavior," Tim said. "I only served eight months."

I decided to ask him the question that had plagued me for the longest time. "What did you do, Tim? Why were you sent to prison in the first place?"

"I got arrested for running a chop shop in Billy's place."

"Seriously? A chop shop?" I was relieved to know it hadn't been about drugs or prostitutes or even worse, that he hadn't committed murder.

"It wasn't me, Jules. Billy was the one that started the chop shop and I was totally against it from the beginning. But he's my brother and he needed my help. When the lawyer said Billy and I were facing three to five years in prison, I made a decision. I told the police that Billy had nothing to do with it."

My mouth hung open. "But why? Why would you do something like that?"

"He had a son, a wife, a family. I had the opportunity to change something. To give something to Stevie we never had. I gave him his father."

I couldn't believe he had taken the rap for something his brother had done. It seemed to be the one thing Tim was good at, taking the blame for everyone else's mistakes and accepting the consequences. He was the most decent person I had ever known and I couldn't possibly love him anymore than I already did.

As we stared up at the clouds floating passed us in the sky, I slid my hand under his and was glad he squeezed it. "You're a good person, Tim Riggins."

"That's what I keep hearing, but…"

"But?" I prompted.

"If your dad ever finds out we're sharing hotel rooms, you know my life won't be worth a nickel."

I smiled.