(Complete) When Tim Burke meets Julie at a party, she isn't impressed. When they see each other again, Julie decides to give him a chance. As Julie faces burdens and sorrow in her own life, Tim and his family provide the support and love she needs...
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"This is delicious. Julie, maybe I should marry you."
She smiled at Danny, because they always teased each other. Her friend would have acted on it years ago, if he liked her. He had once when they were fourteen. It had been only one kiss, and it had upset Danny afterward. It convinced Julie she was a horrible kisser. She avoided kissing for a long time. The problem was when she tried it again all the men wanted more, until Tim.
Tim was different because unlike Danny, he liked to kiss her. She like to kiss him, too. She may have enjoyed kissing Danny, but she was too preoccupied with trying to do it right. The memory haunted her for years.
"You must fight him for her." Her father pointed at Tim.
Julie was about to finally tell her father off when Tim invited Danny outside. What was he thinking? He wasn't a fighter. Tim had a gentle soul.
Danny smiled and nodded, but Tim just squeezed her shoulder. He had to have a plan.
After they left, Kenny and Keith started laughing. Kevin pulled her to the window, and they watched with his arms around her.
Kevin whispered as she leaned against him. "They're just talking."
"Come on Danny-boy swing. The guy's a pansy!"
Kevin tightened his grip. "Don't."
Julie watched as Tim's face looked more and more serious. Something in his look gave her a bad feeling in her gut. The unease settled in and wouldn't go away, not after Tim came in and winked at her. Not even after they drove away from her house and Tim let out a large sigh.
She directed him back to the entrance to the pike. "Why did you take Danny outside?"
Tim smiled. "To shut your father up."
"And you talked?"
"Uh huh."
She blurted. "Something he said upset you. Did he tell you the truth?"
"What truth?" Tim asked slowly.
"That we kissed once and he hated it. You don't hate it?"
"Oh Jules, no! I love kissing you."
"You do?" She needed confirmation. The dread still hadn't subsided. She thought of watching them from the window. There was something about Danny - something different.
She thought about some fleeting thoughts that had niggled at her through the years.
"Tim, is something different about Danny?"
"What do you mean?"
She thought about all the times she hung out with Danny and Kevin. They always left her feeling like there was a secret they weren't sharing. She pushed it aside time and time again, as if in denial. Did Tim have the same feeling?
