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Chapter 3: Make it Up

Two months passed and one weekend Julie and Scooter finally managed to arrange for Tyler to stay with him and Dawn, his wife. Tyler was bouncing for happiness.

"Mommy," Tyler said, "what are you going to do when I'm with Daddy and Dawn?"

"I don't know yet," she said, "sleep probably." He looked at her. "Why?" She said and tickled him. "What do you think I should do?"

"I don't know," he said, "are you going to see Charlie?" She looked at him.

"Maybe," she nodded, "he might be with his girlfriend though." Tyler frowned. "Tyler Gaffney, don't you go getting ideas about me and Charlie."

"I know," he said.

"You're the only guy in my life," she said and kissed him. Tyler nodded and then there was a knock on the door.

"Daddy!" He shouted shooting out of the bedroom. Julie laughed as he charged at the door and opened it.

"Hey!" Scooter said as Tyler hugged him around the legs. "Ty," he picked him up. "Look at you! You grew."

"Uh huh," Tyler said. "Three inches." He held up three fingers.

"Wow," Scooter said. He looked up and smiled at Julie. "Hey Julie."

"Hi Scott," she said. "Tyler, honey, go get your bag." Scooter put Tyler down and he walked into the bedroom.

"You look good," Scooter said.

"Thanks," she whispered, "you too. How's Dawn?"

"She's good," he said, "I really am sorry about the past few times, Jules. With the new baby coming and everything..."

"It's OK," she said, "I'm not the one you're disappointing." He looked at her. "I didn't tell him, by the way, about, I figured you should."

"Sure," he said, "yeah, I'll do that." He nodded. "Anything else? Is he still having nightmares?"

"No," she shook her head, "well, he says no, but he still wakes up in the middle of the night sometimes, if you talk to him for a few minutes he goes back to sleep."

"OK," Scooter said. Tyler walked back out. "Ready to go buddy?"

"Yup," Tyler said. "Bye Mommy."

"Oh bye baby," she said and hugged him. "I love you, have fun."

"I love you too," he said. "Can I call you before I go to bed?"

"Of course," she nodded. "Bye." She squeezed him. "Bye Scooter."

"Bye," he nodded. "See you on Sunday." She nodded.

"Come on," Sean walked into the apartment that night. "We're going out."

"Nope," she shook her head. "I'm not going out." He looked at her. "I bought a bottle of wine and rented rated R movies."

"Wow," he said, "when we turn seventeen maybe then you'll go out." She glared at him. "I thought we had a plan."

"Nope," she said. "I love you Sean but tonight I am hanging out with my new boyfriend, Judd Apatow."

"I'd skip Knocked Up," he said. She rolled her eyes.

"Hey I brought pizza," Charlie walked in. Sean looked at Julie. "Hi Sean."

"Hi," he nodded, "I get it. Enjoy the movies." She pressed her hands against her face.

"What does he see?" Charlie said.

"Oh Sean is obsessed with my lack of sex life," Julie shrugged. "He seems to think you're the cure."

"Oh," Charlie laughed awkwardly. "Right, yeah."

"I've had trouble explaining to him," she sighed, "I mean, about Linda and everything." Charlie nodded. "So where are we starting?"

"I cannot believe you haven't seen The Forty Year Old Virgin," he said.

"Well," she said, "I mean, I was going to go, but then Tyler is only five so," he laughed. "Is Linda working tonight?"

"Um, no, she's going out with some friends," he said. She nodded. "How often does Scooter take Tyler?"

"It's supposed to be once a month," she said, "but it ends up being more like every three months." She picked at the carpet. "I don't mind so much, but it's hard on Ty." He looked at her. She swallowed and looked down. "I'll just um, open the wine." She stood up. He watched her. She seemed perkier lately then when they'd first reconnected.

"Hey, aren't you supposed to be moving?" He said. She looked at him. "The bigger place."

"Oh," she said, "right, yeah, our rent went up." Charlie looked at her. "It's OK, we'll be fine for another year. I think once he gets into numbered grades, then he needs to be not sleeping in the same room as me."

"Sure," Charlie nodded, "I used to sleep on the fold out couch." She looked at him.

"You could afford a fold out couch?" She said. "God, my I should switch to the diner." He laughed.

"You could try a futon," he shrugged. She walked back over to the couch and sat down. "You seem on edge." She looked at him.

"You've never been here like this before," she said.

"I'm here all the time," he said with a laugh. She looked at him.

"Tyler's always here," she said. He nodded.

"Right, yeah," he said. She swallowed. "Do you want to go get something to eat?"

"We have pizza and movies," she said.

"Yeah, but that was my idea, and it didn't hit me that you probably don't go out much," he said. She looked at him. "Between work and Tyler." She nodded.

"Right, yeah," she nodded, "but I also don't get to watch rated R movies, ever." He laughed. "Let's just watch the movie."

"Sure," he said. "Yeah." She looked at him.

"But maybe in three months," she said. He laughed.

"Right," he nodded.

Later, after watching the movie they sat next to each other on the couch. Julie had fallen asleep. Charlie smiled and pushed her hair off of her face. She looked beautiful. He started cleaning up when she sat up.

"Did I fall asleep?" She asked.

"Yeah," he nodded. She looked at him and he sat down. "Do you want another drink?"

"Mm mm," she shook her head. "I'm OK." She looked at the clock. "It's late! You should probably go home."

"Right," he stood up and then turned around, "what if I didn't?" She looked at him.

"What?" She said.

"What if I didn't go home," he said. She looked at him.

"Charlie," she whispered, "I can't do this, I mean, you have a girlfriend."

"I'm not in love with Linda," he said. "I just don't know how to end it."

"So I'm a convenient excuse?" She said. He looked at her.

"I didn't mean it like that," he said, "I like spending time with you. I'm glad we're friends again and," she looked at him.

"I think you should go home," she said and opened the door.

"Julie," he said, "look, I just feel like there's something between us." She looked at him.

"Charlie, just go," she said, "please." He kissed her. She felt her body start screaming that this was what it wanted. He put his hands onto her waist and pulled her close. She wrapped her arms around his neck. She whimpered very slightly as they pulled apart.

"Do you still want me to go?" He asked. She shook her head and closed the door. They kissed again this time, her wrapping her hands around his head and pulling close.

After they'd made love Julie lay quietly in Charlie's arms. She wasn't sure how she felt about him, but this felt right. Maybe it was just that she hadn't been with someone in so long, but she hadn't felt this right since being with Scooter. She rested her head on his chest.

Charlie lay there, playing with Julie's hair. Everything about her felt so soft and real. But then again he'd only ever been with Linda, so maybe it was just the novelty. She looked up at him.

"Hi," she said.

"Hi," he smiled. They kissed each other softly. "So um, that was…"

"Yeah," she laughed. "It was." He smiled and hugged her.

"I should probably go home, huh?" He whispered.

"Mm," she said, snuggling, "no, just stay. We already did it, so I'm already your excuse," he laughed. "And Tyler's gone until Sunday, so no reason to rush out on my account."

"OK," he nodded. "I'll stay."

In the morning Charlie woke up and stretched. Julie had gotten up. He walked out into the other room.

"Hey," she said.

"What are you doing awake?" He said.

"Oh," she said, "I like don't sleep in, ever. Do you want eggs?" He looked at her.

"Julie," he said. She looked at him. "Are you OK?" She smiled.

"Yeah," she nodded. "Charlie, this doesn't have to change anything. I can't really date anyway, you know that, and I like you, and Tyler's gotten attached," he walked over and kissed her. "Mm," she whispered and kissed him. "I like when you're here and if we change things, then," he kissed her again, "please stop doing that." He laughed.

"Sorry," he said, "nothing has to change, OK? I get what you're saying." She smiled. "We'll take it slow. Or I guess in reverse." She laughed.

"OK," she said. "Go home and break up with your girlfriend."

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