Title: Lonely No More
A/N: Ugh...it's been a long week at work and it's only Tuesday! Here's a little something for you ladies. Only one chapter left after this one, and I probably won't be able to get the next one up until this weekend. So, until then please read and review this chapter. Thanks for all the great feedback on the last one! You ladies are awesome!!! Enjoy :D
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Julie woke slowly, her eyelids fluttering open as she yawned. It took her a moment to gather her whereabouts and to realize that she wasn't in her bed.
No. She was in Tim's.
That much was apparent from the messy room and the Christmas lights hung decoratively over the bed.
She grinned as she rolled over slowly, wanting to get a good look at him while he was still sleeping.
Lord, but he was gorgeous.
He was a combination of hard muscle and soft tanned skin. His hair was hanging in his face, and his features were relaxed, making him look much younger and peaceful.
He had been beyond sweet the previous night, making sure that she was okay with everything.
But while there had been sweetness, there had also been an aggressiveness to his motions, making her feel both breathless and a little powerful that she could elicit that kind of reaction from him.
She loved him.
She had felt pretty sure that she did before, but after what they had shared last night – she knew it was true.
She wanted to tell him. Hell, she wanted to shout it from the rooftops, but she wasn't so sure if that was a good idea.
She knew he cared about her deeply. Tim had never been very good at relationships, and he had proven that he cared for her through the simple fact that he was trying very hard to make their relationship work.
But she also knew that Tim had probably had tons of girls tell him that they loved him. And a lot of them probably did, but they weren't 'in love' with him like she was.
She knew the real Tim. The Tim that no one else really got to see.
And she loved him.
"It's too early to be thinkin' that hard." He mumbled sleepily, shaking her out of her thoughts.
She met his gaze, finding him half-awake and looking up at her, a lazy grin on his face.
"Hey." She said with a shy smile, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear.
"Hey." He drawled, staring at her for a few seconds before wrapping his hand possessively around the back of her neck and pulling her forward so that she was draped across his bare chest.
Julie shivered, quickly remembering that she didn't have on any clothes and neither did he as she felt her cool skin pressed against his warmth.
"What are you thinkin' 'bout?" He asked quietly, looking at her closely. "Regrets?"
Julie smiled. He was worried, she could tell.
"No regrets." She said in her best Tim voice, causing him to chuckle as he leaned in for a kiss.
"Tim! Timmy!" They heard Billy yell, right before he flung Tim's door open. "Tim get – oh, hey Julie."
"Oh God." Julie mumbled, quickly trying to cover herself up with the bed sheet.
"What Billy?" Tim asked lazily, clearly not as embarrassed at being caught as Julie was.
He was obviously used to having his brother catching him in bed with random girls.
"Ah, hell. Does Coach know you're here Julie?" Billy asked, leaning against the doorframe. "Of course he doesn't. Stupid question. But if he finds out, you're dead little brother."
"He's not gonna find out, Billy." Julie said quickly. "Cause you're not gonna tell him." She said sweetly.
"Well, hell no. I ain't gonna tell him." Billy said loudly. "I don't want him killin' me too."
Julie elbowed Tim as he started to chuckle. She really didn't see anything real funny about the fact that she was lying in bed naked with Tim, while he and his brother were acting like they were talking over the Sunday paper or something.
"Well Tim, get up and get ready. I've gotta show you something." Billy said, excitement in his voice. "You too, Julie. Hurry." He said, walking out of the bedroom.
Julie glanced at Tim with a confused look on her face. Tim shrugged, leaning in to drop a kiss on her lips before rolling out of bed.
Sweet Lord Jesus, Julie thought as her eyes zeroed in on Tim's naked backside as he bent to retrieve his underwear from the floor.
Julie said a silent prayer of thanks to her maker for creating such a beautiful specimen, and a second thanks for making him all hers.
Tim turned, catching her mid-stare, a shit-eating grin on his face.
"Come on, Jules." Tim drawled, smirking down at her as he tossed her panties on the bed. "Better get some clothes on before he comes back."
The mention of Billy barging in again got her brain to working properly. Julie didn't have to be told twice, as she rolled out of bed and began to get ready.
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"I love it." Tim drawled, standing in front of the old abandoned building. "Love it."
"Ain't she great?" Billy asked, pride in his voice as the three of them walked closer to the building. "I was thinkin' that we could put the hydraulic lift right over there, and then maybe put a fridge over here and stock it with some cold beers."
"Yeah." Tim said, nodding in agreement.
Julie smiled as she watched the excitement on both their faces. To her it was just an old, run down building, but she knew that to them it was much, much more.
And that reason alone was enough to make it exciting to her as well.
"What do you think, Julie?" Billy asked, grinning goofily.
"It's nice." She said quickly, giving them both a smile. "I think it's perfect for what you have in mind."
"Get this…" Billy said, pausing as he held his hands up. "Riggins Riggs. Doesn't that sound great?"
Julie laughed, nodding her head. "Sounds great."
"It's awesome, Billy." Tim said, nodding his head as he clapped his brother on the back. "Really man, it's great."
"Thanks, little brother." Billy said, pulling Tim into a manly hug.
Julie smiled as she watched the pair, laughing when Billy reached out and grabbed her by the arm, pulling her into their hug.
She never dreamed she'd be sandwiched between Tim and Billy Riggins, enveloped in a group hug.
But she sure did like it.
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A week later found Julie sighing as she stood in the Texas Longhorns locker room along with other friends and family of the Panther players.
The boys had just played a hard-fought game, but had come up short against Dallas County in the state championship.
It had been so close, with a win right in their reach. But it wasn't meant to be, as the opposing team had scored a field goal for the win with just seconds left on the clock.
Julie glanced at Tim, watching him closely as he listened to her dad talking to the players. She felt bad in general, for her dad and for the whole team.
But she especially felt bad for Tim. She had so hoped that he could have won another state ring for his final year as a Panther.
"Gentlemen, you are champions." Eric stated as he ended his speech, a smile on his face as he made eye contact with each player.
Tim had a small, bittersweet smile on his face as he listened to her dad's words.
"Come on, hun." Tami whispered. "Let's go wait by the buses while they get changed."
Julie nodded, looking back at Tim one last time before following her mother out of the locker room.
The two of them made their way out to the buses, where they stood for quite a while as they waited on the team to arrive.
They stood silently, both of them lost in their own thoughts and saddened by the loss.
Finally, the team began to load the buses, passing by Julie and her mother as they stood leaning against the bus.
Julie waited and waited on Tim, but he never came. Finally, her dad rounded the corner, stopping to give her mother a hug and a brief kiss.
Julie smiled at him as he wrapped her in a hug, too. "You did good, dad." She murmured quietly.
He didn't speak but squeezed her a little harder, dropping a kiss on her forehead before heading onto the bus.
Julie stood beside her mother for several more seconds, still no sign of Tim.
Julie sighed. "I'm gonna go see if Tim's still in the locker room." She said to her mother, turning to head back toward the stadium.
She knew that he had to be upset. She wasn't sure what she was going to say once she found him, but she had to make sure he was okay.
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Tim walked slowly off the field, his head down as he left his cleats behind, leaving it all on the field where he played his last game as a Panther.
He ambled toward the bus, his head was down, and his old, sheepskin jacket thrown around his shoulders, the sling on his arm keeping him from wearing it properly.
He looked up, surprised to see Julie walking toward him, a worried look on her face.
Despite feeling tired and weary, he had to smile. She looked so cute bundled up in her jacket, with her cheeks and nose red from the cold.
"Hey." She said softly as he came to a stop in front of her.
He smiled down at her, pushing his wet hair out of his face. "Hey."
She gingerly wrapped her arms around his waist, obviously not wanting to hurt him. "Are you okay?"
He nodded slowly. "Just dislocated it." He mumbled, wrapping his good arm around the back of her head and pulling her against his chest.
Tim sighed, holding her against his chest for a few seconds, enjoying the warmth and the comfort that Julie offered.
"I was worried about you." She muttered against his chest, nuzzling her cold nose against his neck. "You played a good game."
Tim nodded slightly, tightening his hold around her and resting his head on hers.
It was nice to have someone worry about him.
And she was right. He had played a good game. A great game really.
He definitely had given it his all in his last game. No one could deny that.
"I love you." Julie mumbled softly, the words almost just a breath against his neck.
Tim paused, holding his breath as his arm tightened around her instinctively.
After a few seconds he slowly pulled back, lifting her chin so that she was looking him in the eye, wanting to make sure he didn't just imagine those words.
"Say it again." He said huskily.
"I love you." She said again, giving him what he was sure was the sweetest smile he'd ever seen.
He grinned, leaning down and kissing her lips tenderly. "I love you, too." He said softly as he pulled back, seeing the sparkle in her eyes as he said the words.
And he did love her.
He wasn't good with words, but he could say those, and he sure as hell enjoyed hearing 'em back from someone who truly meant them.
He leaned forward to kiss her again, knowing that he may have come up short in the game, but that he had won the prize – he had the girl he loved in his arms.
