Chapter 40

Saturday, July 4, 1987- Evening

Magnificent shades of orange, red, green and blue exploded above Silver Lake. Crowds of people cheered and whistled with each burst of color.

Sitting on a picnic blanket, Julie leaned against Donovan's chest. Having decided what medications she could do without for the evening, she opted to try the new wine coolers actor Bruce Willis crooned about in commercials.

Julie had a nice buzz going. In just over an hour, she'd downed two drinks. She hadn't drank since Christmas at Steve's last year, when she'd had a horrible argument with him and his mother about how many of his children she'd have.

Donovan shifted against her, his arm reaching into the cooler for another beer.

"Want another bottle, or are you cozy?" he asked.

She felt the cool mist of beer spray onto her arm as he popped the tab.

"I'm cozy, but I'll take another." She scooted up further against his chest as he lifted the can to his mouth and gulped.

A loud explosion thundered in the distance.

"Remind you of anything?" Julie asked.

"What, you being cozy?" He slid the cold wine bottle into her hands.

"Miiike," she hissed. "I meant the noise."

"Gunfire," he said. "Going on raids with you." He took another drink then added, "Except the last one. That sucked."

"I know. You were mean to me."

"What?"

She felt his eyes on her. "Yelling at me because I didn't wear a… bullet-proof vest." She tried to unscrew the lid on her bottle, but the metal dug into her hand.

"Well…" he replied.

Julie placed the bottle in his free hand. "Open it for me."

"You're the boss." He pressed a kiss to her forehead then opened the bottle.

"What was that for?" She giggled.

"Because, you're the boss." He twisted the cap and returned the bottle to her.

"Of?" she asked.

She felt him shrug against her back and wondered if he might try to kiss her on the mouth. He moved his arm again, and pressed the light button on his watch.

"We've still got another twenty minutes," he said.

She lifted the bottle to her mouth, chugging a few gulps.

"You don't have to finish that before we leave," he said. "There's one more."

"I don't want to waste it."

"You feeling okay?"

"Sure."

"Your chest is okay?"

"My chest is perfect."

He snorted. "No comment."

"Mike!" She glanced at him. "I thought you might've brought me out here to seduce me. Now I see—"

"On the grass?" He snickered.

She elbowed him in the side.

With a grunt, he lay back on the blanket, not taking Julie with him.

Julie twisted herself to see him. He wasn't looking at her, but the sky again.

"Hey, you should try this," he said. "The view's even better from this angle."

"I'll bet."

He took her hand, chuckling. "Well, come on. What are you afraid of?"

"You getting us kicked out of the park for indecent behavior."

"No." He laughed. "That wasn't what-"

She lay beside him, holding the bottle upright on the blanket, her head in the crook of Donovan's arm.

"Hey." There was a twinkle of mischief in his eyes as he said, "The view is much better from this angle."

Certain he meant the view of her lying next to him, and not the fireworks, she wanted him to kiss her forehead again, but he didn't. He turned his face toward the sky. Julie watched the rest of the fireworks show with him.

#

A few pops and whistles filled the night air as Donovan pulled into his driveway. He looked over at Julie in the passenger seat, holding onto her last, almost-empty wine bottle, and regretted letting her drink all four of them.

"You awake, Julie?"

"Mmm hmm," she said.

He pulled the key out of the ignition then exited the car. He was about half way up the walk before he realized he hadn't heard the passenger door slam.

He went back after her, and opened her door.

She smiled at him with a dopey grin.

"Are you sure you're okay?" he asked.

"I don't think I can… walk."

"You don't know that. You haven't tried yet." He snatched the wine bottle from her lap. "You through with it?"

"I'm… fine." She made a noise that could either pass for a burp or a hiccup.

"Do you plan to sleep in the car? Because if you do, the only thing I ask is you don't puke or anything."

"You must think I'm drunk or someth…" Placing her hand on the dashboard, she tried to pull herself up.

"Not at all." He smiled at her. "You're just having trouble for no reason."

She grabbed his hand. "C'mon, help me."

He gave her a gentle pull. She stood, stumbled backward into the car door and giggled.

Should've stopped her at two. He slipped his arm around her shoulders then drew her away from the car to close the door.

"Julie, can you walk?"

"Yeah, but I think you should …carry me anyway."

"Of course." He swooped her up. She didn't make a peep, and he realized she was so hammered she felt no pain.

She wound her hands around his neck as he pushed the car door closed with his rear.

"I think I've missed you, Michael," she said softly as he trotted up to the porch.

Ignoring the remark, he fished his keys out of his pant pocket, unlocked the door then pushed it open.

"You didn't hear… meeee," Julie squealed.

He fumbled for the light switch. The lights came on. "You missed me."

"You missed me too."

He looked down at that old familiar sparkle in her eyes, not trusting his heart to answer her. When he went to put her down on the couch, she still held on tightly to his neck.

"Wanna let go?" He tried to pry her fingers away, but she held on tighter.

"Not particularly, no." She smiled again. "Sit with me for a while. We need to talk."

Haven't you said enough? He lowered himself to the couch, taking her with him. His arm slightly cradled around her back, she sat on his lap, her legs hanging over his knees.

She found his hand, pulled his arm tighter around her waist then snuggled against his chest. "I miss you holding me like this."

I wasn't trying to… Aw hell, here she goes.

He felt her soft lips against his neck, her warm, tender kisses against his skin.

"You miss your big brother?" he teased.

"Big brother?" Lifting her head, she made eye contact. "Did that feel like something a kid sister would—"

"Dunno, I never had one."

"Right. You were an only child." Leaning close to his earlobe, she whispered, "You poor thing."

A chill went down his back.

As she planted several more kisses on his neck, he contemplated how to stop her.

"Julie, what are you trying to accomplish?"

She didn't answer, instead, going after the other side of his neck, she sucked ever so lightly. He held his hand in front of her mouth, but she kissed his palm instead and then planted a kiss on his lips.

He jerked back. "C'mon, Julie."

"What, baby? You don't miss me?" She leaned in and kissed his lips again.

He kept his mouth closed tight. He knew better. He turned his head sideways. She planted one on his cheek.

"You're injured," he reminded.

"I feel wonderful." She started to kiss his neck again, then his mouth. He gave in this time.

As he enjoyed the sweetness of her tongue in his mouth, he tried to picture waking up in bed with her. If they crossed the line, he doubted he could devote the time and attention a relationship with her would demand. It would just be a repeat of what went on in the past.

Julie pulled away, slightly, holding onto his hands. "See, I knew you still loved me, Mike."

Yeah I do.

She tried to steal another kiss but he pulled back from her.

"I'm sorry. We can't tonight."

A look of hurt washed over her face.

"You're not healed," he reminded again, gently pushing her off his lap. "Wait here. I'll get your blanket and pillow."