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Chapter 10: Love Time

They all sat at dinner. Charlie as terrifically happy that Connie was there, because there was no such thing as awkward silence with her. She chattered about everything from the bread on the table to what Dawn and Scooter had planned for the baby.

"We decided we wanted to be surprised," Dawn said, when Connie asked about the baby's sex. "Julie, did you know Tyler was a boy?" Julie bit her bottom lip. She had very little recollection of her pregnancy. She spent most of the nine months crying, when she wasn't trying to finish high school, or decide if she was still going to go college in the fall.

"No," Julie said simply. "It didn't matter, I mean there wasn't a whole lot of buying going on. It ended up being for the best that he was a boy. I had my baby brother's old stuff."

"You have brothers?" Blake asked.

"Five," Charlie, Connie and Scooter all said. Blake stared at her.

"You have five brothers?" Blake said. She nodded. "And your parents were going to take Tyler if you went to school?"

"Uh huh," she nodded. "It's a big Irish family. That's how it works. I couldn't go to school though, not after."

"Yeah, it took me a couple months," Scooter nodded. "But once the kid's in, he's in for life." Julie noticed the very direct look at Blake. It was supposed to be a test run. But Scooter was a little intense for goat cheese appetizers.

"So," Julie said, changing the subject and turning to Connie. "What have you been up to?"

"I'm working in PR, event planning," Connie said. Julie nodded. "It's fun, but not particularly stimulating."

"Our restaurant caters," Blake said, "if you ever need anyone." Connie looked at Julie. She knew how proud she was, and that it would humiliate her to work for her old friends.

"Um, yeah," Connie said. "I don't really make those kinds of decisions. I mostly answer phones and fold napkins at this point."

"Are you still with Guy?" Julie asked.

"Yeah, we um," Connie said. "We're talking about getting married."

"That's exciting," Julie nodded. Blake looked at her confused. "Connie and her boyfriend have been together since they were like seven, it's so sweet."

"Sweet's one word for it," Charlie said teasingly. "When we were twelve and Guy was actually getting action we all mostly thought it was obnoxious."

"He really wasn't getting that much action until we were like sixteen," Connie said, hitting him.

"That I can vouch for," Julie said. "It wasn't until like halfway through sophomore year that I had to start like, hiding in the library and stuff. Charlie and Linda started way earlier, like halfway through freshman year, right?"

"Sounds about right," Charlie nodded.

"What about you, Julie?" Blake asked, nuzzling her neck.

"Fuck, Jules," Scooter said. "It was what? Summer after your freshman year."

"Scott," Dawn said.

"Um, yeah," Julie said, "but then we didn't again for a while, because you went to college." Scooter nodded. "I wasn't your first though was I?" She looked at him. "Or even your last that summer."

"Huh, look at that," Charlie said. "I just spotted a pattern." Julie looked at him venomously. "I think we need more wine."

"I think the last thing anyone at this table needs is more alcohol," Dawn said, glaring at her husband. He rolled his eyes. "Actually, I have to go to the bathroom."

"Oh, we'll come with you," Connie said standing up and pulling Julie with her. Julie sighed and they walked back into the bathroom.

"I never understood this phenomenon," Julie said plopping on the couch in the bathroom.

"I recall," Connie said, checking her makeup. "Blake seems nice."

"He is," Julie nodded.

"If you want to sleep with him tonight," Dawn said walking out of the stall, "Scott and I will pick Tyler up. We owe you for last weekend."

"Really?" Julie said. "Dawn, you've never wanted to spend as much time with Tyler as you have lately."

"Well," she said, sitting down, "I realized I sort of blew any chance I had of actually getting practice in, and now that I'm going to be a mom, I feel like I should get to know my step son a little better."

"I think it's criminal that I haven't seen him since he was a baby, and no one's offered to show me pictures tonight," Connie said.

"Oh!" Julie said. "Oh God, I'm sorry, I'm so used to the only times I get to socialize people being sick of pictures and all the Tyler stuff." She opened her purse. "Here are some," she handed them over.

"He's precious," Connie said.

"You should hear him talk," Dawn said. "He's very smart too. He's reading a little already, isn't he?"

"A very little," Julie laughed. "I still need to sit with him when he does." Connie looked at her old friend and smiled.

Sean looked over at Tyler, drawing on the floor.

"What've you got there buddy?" Sean said.

"It's the monster in my closet at Charlie's fighting the dragon under my bed at Daddy's," Tyler shrugged. Sean laughed.

"You've got quite the imagination kid," Sean said.

"I miss coming here," Tyler said. "Can we go up and see Mommy and my apartment."

"It's not your apartment anymore," Sean said. "You live at Charlie's now." Tyler nodded. "You like it there, don't you?"

"Yeah," Tyler said. "Is Charlie Mommy's boyfriend? She always says no, he's her best friend."

"Nice," Sean nodded. "I spend every night with you two for a couple years and he's the best friend."

"Well, I thought you were her best friend, that's why I'm confused." Tyler said. Sean looked at him. "I think Charlie would be a good boyfriend for her. He's fun, and they yell at hockey games together, and he lets me watch grown up movies sometimes when Mommy works late."

"I think he'd be a good boyfriend for her too," Sean said. "I've been trying to get her to think that."

"Hey baby," Julie said walking in. "Hi Sean, thank you."

"Hey, what are best friends for? Right Ty?" He winked at the little boy, who laughed and yawned.

"Oh, it is late for you to be awake," she picked him up. "Come on, Charlie's waiting in the car."

"I'm not sleepy," Tyler said. "And I want to stay in our apartment." Julie sighed.

"It's not our apartment anymore." She said. "We've talked about this. Thanks again, Sean."

"No problem," Sean said. "I miss hanging with Tyler." Tyler smiled. "Bye buddy."

"Bye," Tyler said and yawned again. Julie smiled and they walked outside.

Once they were back at the apartment and Julie had tucked Tyler in she walked outside and Charlie was sitting on the couch.

"So," Julie said. "Connie huh?"

"It was kind of last minute," he shrugged. "I told you I haven't really been dating." He looked at her.

"God, could Scooter have been more drunk?" She laughed. "Dawn offered to take Ty for the night, but no way was I sending him when he was like that and she could burst any minute you know?"

"Sure," he said. "So, how did it go?"

"You were there," she laughed, opening a bottle of water. He got up and walked over to her. "I guess it could have been better, but,"

"No, it doesn't work that way!" He said. "There's no but! Julie, that guy is so wrong for you." She looked at him. "He made Scooter look like a good guy, and while he was drunk."

"So do you think there's someone better?" She asked.

"Yeah," he nodded. "Me," she laughed. "I'm completely serious." He pushed her hair off of her face. "I'm in love with you, Julie."

"Charlie, you promised me you wouldn't do this," she whispered.

"But I'm in love with you," he said. "I've been in love with you, probably since the first night we hung out."

"Don't," she whispered and he kissed her.

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