Hometown Blues

[prettyserpentine]

Julie frowned, looking up at him. "A Porsche is a little out of my price range. Not all of us run big successful restaurants and have posh cars lying around unused. But go ahead and rub your unnecessary wealth in my face..."

She smiled as he toyed with her hair, feeling more relaxed than she had felt in an age. "It's not my style anyway. I'd probably need a truck or something, for the business. Maybe a Chevy. I've always liked them. Porsche is such a girly car."

Julie looked up at him. She held her hand out. "You should give me the truffles. If that thing gets any worse people will think it's another satellite mast."

 

[musicankane]

Kevin glanced down and shrugged, "Don't like looking at it, feel free to tame the snake until it goes back to bed." He teased then laughed, "Oh my god remember that time we were drunk at Stacy Kramp's party and you got dared to reach into my pants and cup my junk. We were so red by the end of that I thought we were going to pass out."

He smiled and sighed, "You were really good at cupping junk thought. Probably the best junk cupper I've ever known."

 

[prettyserpentine]

Julie snorted a laugh and slapped him. "Oh my god, do you mind? I was, until recently, a respectable married woman! Have a little respect!" She elbowed him. "And from what I remember you were dared to put your hand up my skirt. I don't recall that being a bother for you, either."

She sighed. "I wish we had been better at staying in touch. I could have really used a friend."

 

[musicankane]

Kevin snorted and flopped onto his back, "Yeah but now you are a desireable single woman and fuck it." He told her.

He wished that they could have kept in better touch too, but the past was past and there was no sense dwelling on it any longer.

"Look it's done and now we're both here to continue our lives. Hopefully we will spend much more time together. I would love to go back to being best friends, it can be just like old times. Who knows, maybe it can be even better than ever."

He looked at his watch and groaned as he sat up, "Ugh come on, I better get you home before your father comes chasing after me with a shotgun." He patted her thigh and then got to his feet.

Bending over he scooped her up like she weighed nothing and stood her up. Then gathered the blanket and desert remnants, and moving back to the car. "Oh before I forget you should come check out my place tomorrow. I have the most bitchin pool. Fucking indoor and heated. They told me having a pool in Maine was dumb, and I said screw that!" He laughed. "Do you still have an awesome swimsuit body?"

 

[prettyserpentine]

Julie looked down at her slender form. She'd lost a lot of weight when she was going through the divorce, and was a little on the skinny side. "No, look at me. I'm huge. Why do you think my husband left me?" She rolled her eyes sarcastically and hopped into the car. "I have a swimsuit at my folks. Just let me know the time, and I'll be there. I'd love a swim." She smiled, fidgeting with her seatbelt.

"Having a pool in Maine is fine, as long as it's an indoor pool. Outdoor is just silly in this climate. Do you still live at your parents or did you get your own place?"

 

[musicankane]

Kevin smiled and chuckled, "I haven't lived with mom and dad in four yesrs. I bought a house up on Wendy drive 3900 square feet. It was really the onky expensive purchase I made for myself after the restaurant exploded with popularity." He shrugged and they started back to the car. "I'm finally living comfortably. Money is good. Business is great. I'm even thinking about opening a new place in New York. But that is a few years away."

They got back in the car and Kevin drove back to Julie's home. "So whenever your free again we need to meet up. Here is my new number. Call text whatever. I miss you and I ak not letting you go again Julie." He insisted. "I am always at the restaurant but I can have any free time I want just let me know when you want some company." He gave her a wink. "Better get inside before dad comes knocking with his shotgun."

 

[prettyserpentine]

Julie leaned across the seat and kissed Kevin on the cheek. "I had a great time, Kevin. Thanks." She opened the car door and stepped out, closing it quickly and moving around to his side, smiling.

"I thought it was the guy's responsibility to call after a date." She smirked, giggling and waving coyly as she moved back to the porch, waving to him as she let herself back into the house. She watched him drive off from the front room, and when he was gone, she went upstairs.

Once she had changed, she crawled into bed and lay down. She looked up at the wall where her wedding photograph used to be. She turned away from it and closed her eyes, and then cried herself to sleep.

 

[musicankane]

Kevin couldn't sleep, he was far too many excited that Julie was back in his life. The only problem was her depression. He wished he could do something about it but he feared that all she needed was time. Although maybe he could remind her how grest they were together and help ease her pain. After all nothing was better than a best friend right?

He stayed up all night thinking of ideas to help out and came up with the idea for a barbecue for her family and his family as well as friends. A big gatheri g which would be nonthreatening for her and he could just have time with her around. Then perhaps after the party she would stick around for a few drinks.

The next day he sent out the invites for a big party Saturday. Then went to Costco to stock up on all the meat and party foods he would need. He recruited a couple waiters from the restaura t to help him set up everything in the backyard. Extra tables, settings and plates, plus a few decorations. He set up a line of cupcakes that read: "Welcome back Julie" in the frosting.

He smiled and waited for guests to arrive.

 

[prettyserpentine]

Julie's parents hadn't told her it was a welcome home party in her honour. If they had, they knew she would fight tooth and nail against going. As it was, she was shy enough about attending.

It took her ages to find a suitable outfit to wear. In the end up, she decided on a short summer dress, a vintage cherry one she had bought as part of her post-divorce wardrobe.

"Jules? Are you ready honey?" Her dad called from downstairs.

She ruffled her short choppy curls and slid on her shoes. "Coming, dad!"

As she came down the stairs, her mom gasped. "Oh honey that dress is so cute!"

Julie shrugged. "Yeah it's nice. I bought it in a boutique in New York. I liked the style and I never really got to wear stuff like this. I thought it'd be nice for the barbecue. It's just us and Kevin's parents, right?"

Her mom looked up at her dad. "Martin?" He shrugged. Julia and her dad were so alike.

The family went out and got in the car, driving the short distance to Kevin's place. It was pretty big, she was impressed and was looking forward to looking around. The designer in her was always interested in how people's houses were laid out. There were a few cars out front and Julie frowned uncertainly.

"Mom? I thought you said..."

Her mother smiled, avoiding her gaze. "It's probably a neighbour or something. Come on, let's go. I'm starving."

Julie smoothed her dress down as they walked around the house to the garden. Just the family, huh? She blanched as most of her old friends, Kevin's family and some of her cousins all waved. Her eyes sought out Kevin and she clasped her hands in front of her dress.

She smiled at him, and then, with a sly twinkle in her eye, mouthed: 'You are SO dead...'

 

[musicankane]

Kevin smiked as Julie appeared in the backyard. She looked mad which onky made him smile brighter. She mouthed how dead he was and he held up his beer then pointed to a chest by the door indicating that she begin drinking as soon as possible. Then his attentions turned back to the grill where the meat needed flipping and another coating of sauce. He decided against pouncing on Julie the moment she arrived. Instead choosing a more subtle approach of ignoring her completely until she came to him.

Jeff Bateman of Bateman Tools was talking to him about his grill. The guy was just rambling about the features. "See with the Kingman you get more heat evenly for less propane."

Kevin nodded and began to stack meat on a plate. He passed it to Jeff and said, "Be a pal Jeff and set this on the time please." He told him which silenced the tool man for the moment. "First round ready everyone get it while you can!" He shouted.

Kevin began cooking the next round of meat and wondered how Julie was handling his parents pestering her about her glorious or rather not so glorious return. Maybe inviting his parents was a bit mean. But he needed a blanket of people to make it look like he wasn't simply just trying to get together with Julie.

 

[prettyserpentine]

Julie hadn't seen Kevin's parents in a long time, and was enjoying catching up. They had always been good to her, when she and Kevin had been kids. Even when she got married, Kevin's mom had bought her a lovely set of china as a wedding present. The subject of her divorce came up, and Kevin's dad wandered off, leaving Julie alone with Annie.

"Yeah, we tried for a while, I wanted to try IVF but Clark wouldn't hear of it. He just got more and more closed off. The last straw for me was finding voicemails from some girl called Della..." Julie's voice drifted off. "I called him and asked who she was, then he moved out that night. The next week he had the papers drawn up. It's been hard, but I can't say I didn't see it coming."

Annie put a hand on her knee. "Oh Julie. You'll get past it. And there's someone out there for you, someone better. You're still young, plenty of time for a family. But it's good to have you home sweetie. Kevin's been beside himself, just so excited that you're back."

Julie smiled, looking over at Kevin as he stood at the grill. "I can't believe he isn't married."

Annie gave her a knowing look. "He never got over you, you know. You two were so special together, and so blind when you were young."

Julie nodded. "I know. I wish I could turn back the clock, you know..."

That was when Julie got up, excusing herself. She wandered over to Kevin, lifting a beer on her way and handing it to him.

"Hey Chef. I'm not sure I like your idea of 'small family get-togethers'..."

 

[musicankane]

Kevin grinned as Julie came up with a beer for him. He promptly killed his kast beer and took the new one she offered. He flipped the meat and said, "Next time I will make a big gathering. If you like." He teased.

He pulled a frank off the grill and slipped it into a bun. "Still like them plain?" He asked offering her the weiner. "Look I wanted to invite you over but I needed a casual excuse. Tell you what everyone will be gone Iin a couple of hours. Why don't you stick around and we can fire up the hot tub tonight?" He offered.

"Besides I have a gift for you." He said. "But you can't have it if you don't come swimming with me." He winked.

 

[prettyserpentine]

"Dammit Kevin you know gifts are my Achilles heel..." Julie put some mustard on the hot dog and took a bite. "Mmmm this is great, thank you." She ate it while they chatted at the grill.

Julie couldn't help but notice her parents and Kevin's parents talking, looking their way.

"I think our folks are gossiping about us," she surmised. "Hey, by the way, you don't need an excuse to invite me over... But getting to see everyone has been nice, I will admit." She smiled.

"I'd love to hang around after, I'm dying to see your house. It looks like a designer's dream. I want to see what you've done with it. But I'm afraid I'll have to go home and get my swimsuit."

 

[musicankane]

Kevin glanced at her. "I never said anything about swimsuits. We will go naked just like whe we were five." He paused and looked at her. "No? Already you can get your swinsuit. Whatever." He said piling up another plate with meat and taking it to the table. This time he grabbed himself a piece of tritip and a bun, making himself a sandwich.

He nodded about their parents, "You kidding? You and I hanging out again is like the biggest dream of their. Of course I think they expect grandkids out of it but that is because they're old."

A couple hours later people cleared out and Julie got ready to leave with her parents on the promise that she would return with her bathing suit. Kevin used the free time while she was gone to clean up and tie a bow around her new car in the garage. She was probably going to fight him on it. But he never drove the fucking thing and she needed a car so it was a perfect gift. Just very expensive.

 

[prettyserpentine]

"Will you be having a sleepover?" Julie's mother asked when they got home.

"Oh my god mom!! People our age don't have sleepovers!"

Her dad jingled his keys. "Well, if you need a ride home you can call my cell. Don't want you waking your mother."

Julie shook her head as she ran upstairs and started packing. She packed her favourite swimsuit, a green and blue bikini, fresh underwear, jeans and a top. She put in a towel, shampoo, body wash, and after a long deliberation, a nightshirt. She wasn't sure if she'd be staying, but better to have something than nothing at all, right?

She didn't see her mom lingering at the door. "Honey, don't forget to be safe."

"Mother!" Julie hissed. "Do you mind?" She zipped her bag closed and met her dad in the hall. He was leaving her back at Kevin's.

"Anything you need, baby girl. You just call my cell. Hope you like your present," he winked.

Julie frowned, and gave him a kiss on the cheek. "See you soon dad."

"Uh huh..."

She closed the door, and hotfooted it up to the front door, standing there primly, fixing her hair and then she took a deep breath and rang the doorbell.

 

[musicankane]

Kevin finished cleaning up before heading upstairs to change into his trunks. In his room he heard Julie's fathers clunky car pulling up to the house and he smiled. Darting downstairs he stopped to make sure that the wine glasses wine bucket where in place by the hot tub as well as made sure the bubble were going and the temp was good.

It was perfect. He threw a towel around his neck and answered the door. "Hey Julie you made it. Come on in." He stepped back from the door smiling and waved at her dad.

Kevin shut the door and turned to Julie who was holding a bag. "Looks like an awefully big swimsuit in there. Did you buy one from the 1920's?" He teased, leading her toward the pool room. He stopped at the bathroom in the hall and gestured in, "You can't swim in your clothes so change real quick and I'll be right back."

Once she was in the bathroom Kevin darted to the kitchen for a last minute snack idea. He quickly pulled out a tray and cut some cheese onto crackers and brought it to the hot tub. Then he tossed his towel aside and slipped into the tub, moaning from the delightful heat.

 

[prettyserpentine]

Julie laughed as she got changed in the bathroom.

"I had to bring a change of clothes too, you know! And a nightshirt, in case by some freak of nature I can't get a taxi home." She felt a little nervous at the prospect of staying over. Being alone with Kevin had always been so relaxed and comfortable. What had changed? She pulled on her bikini bottoms and adjusted the top. It was a beautiful shade of deep purple, with little silver stars. Perfect for a dip in the hot tub at night. When she came out of the bathroom, she held her arms around herself a little self consciously.

She dropped her towel at the side of the tub, and smiled as she noticed the crackers and cheese. "God Kevin, you think of everything..." She stepped into the tub and felt the warm heat bubbling around her ankles, knees, thighs, and waist as she sat against the side.

"Oh my god," she whispered, her head leaning back as the water caressed her arms, right up to her shoulders as she sank in. "This is the best feeling ever."

 

[musicankane]

Kevin tried his best to hide the enjoyment he got out of seeing her in that bikini. The last thing he wanted was for her to feel uncomfortable around him. They had been friend for far too long and Kevin already lost her once. He was damn sure not going to loose her again. She remarked aboutthe wine and cheese and he smirked.

"When it comes to food. I know the perfect things for any situation. Besides I figure you could use a good drink after this afternoon. I know I could." He explained. As she got into the tub he took the liberty of pouring them a couple of glasses. He let her soak herself for a moment before he passed her a wine glass.

"A toast." He said. "To the return of old friends. May new beginings bring only good memories and future happiness." He said clinking her glass gently.

 

[prettyserpentine]

Julie smiled as their glasses chimed, and took a mouthful of wine. She made a 'mmm' noise, and took a little piece of cheese.

"Wow, that's a great combination! That wine is mouthwatering," she said as she swallowed another sip.

She set her wine glass down and sank back into the water. "Mmmmmgod, I could get used to this you know. I can just feel the stresses melting away." She took a deep breath. "Is that eucalyptus and lavender I can smell?" She looked up at him. "The last hot tub I put in someone's house, Los Angeles, I think... But it had facilities for scenting the water. It ended up in the Better Homes catalogue."

She breathed in deeply again. "It's divine. I can't wait to really get a good look around your house. I'm so nosy when it comes to people's homes."

A blush crept across her face as she lay contentedly in the water, smiling and relaxed.

 

[musicankane]

Kevin laughed as she smelt the scents in the water. "Yeah like I said before my home is the only real thing I spent lavish amounts of money on once I got successful. I knew I wanted to live in Portland forever so I spent the expense of maki g this place awesome. I have a movie theater too, complete with recliners and xbox."

He smiled when she said she was nosy. "Hey my home is open to you. You are more than welcome to stick your nose anywhere you want. Just don't sniff my ass." He teased taking a piece of cheese and taking a bite.

He was glad to see her relaxing. It was almost like he could see the tension melting away from her. It had been a rough past few months for her to be sure and he felt like giving her this time to melt away the stress was something that she both needed and would very much appreciate. After all that is what friend were for right?

"So can I ask you a kind of stupid question? Did you ever think about me while you were gone?" He asked. "Besides seeing me on tv or the papers I mean."

 

[prettyserpentine]

Julie smiled warmly. "Of course I thought about you, silly. We've been friends for our entire lives. Did you think I just married Clark, moved to New York and forgot about everyone here?" She shook her head. "I did think about you. Especially in the last couple of years. It was quite a bit whenever things with Clark got rocky, I sort of found myself wishing I'd never left here, wishing I could just run home." Julie sighed, a sadness descending on her. "I guess that's exactly what I did when everything fell apart. I just came running home, back to my parents, this town... You."

She looked up at him. Her face was flushed with the heat from the hot tub, and her eyes sparkled with emotion and unshed tears. "I missed having someone to talk to when everything got so tough. When we couldn't get pregnant, it broke my heart. Clark wouldn't accept that it was him, and I had so few friends in New York. I felt so alone, Kevin. I missed you, I missed home. I couldn't have home without you."

She wiped her hand over her eyes, her voice breaking a little. "God, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to come over and pour my heart out like this..."

 

[musicankane]

Kevin frowned and regretting that he brought everything up. Although this was probably good for her in the long run. She needed to let everything out, to confess to her best friend, to bleed out the cancer of her sorrow. He slipped over to her and pulled her into his arms. He held her and hugged her against him.

"Julie, Julie, Julie, it's okay. Come on let it out." He said, rubbing her back gently. "It's over, all the bad shit is behind you. Think of the possitive now, you have a good business, you are back home, your parents are here, I am here, and you have a Porsche."

He smiled lightly as her held her, not letting her see his smirk though. He simply held her for comfort and let her process everything on her own.

 

[prettyserpentine]

She wept until she had it all out of her system. As Kevin held her and soothed her, she rested against his chest. She had never realised how strong he was, how good he smelled. He rubbed her back and she sighed, relaxing against him, settling in his arms.

She began to wonder why she had never noticed these things before about him, and then he mentioned how she had a Porsche.

A Porsche?

"Are you kidding me?!" She pushed herself off of him. "A Porsche? A freaking Porsche... Kevin I can't accept that. It's too much! You're crazy, you know that?"

But she couldn't hide her excitement.

 

[musicankane]

Kevin raised his hand and said, "Now wait a second. It's a used Porsche. It's just my old one, I never drive it anymore and I figured you could get better use out of it then I can now." He explained.

He grabbed his wine glass and said, "But you can't have it until we finish our hot tub time." He teased, sipping the wine. "Oh and your welcome."

He ate a piece of cheese and grinned at her. "Feeling better now?"

(Sorry short, but i couldn't resist teasing her

 

[prettyserpentine]

Julie smiled at his little teasing. "I'll borrow it then. Just until I get myself a car for the business." She lifted her glass and took another sip.

"And yes. I do feel a bit better. I haven't actually cried since it all happened. That was the first time." She sighed, and smiled widely. "It feels good, and it's cheaper than therapy I suppose."

"Are you at work tomorrow? Or are you organising another party for an excuse to see me because you're too chicken to just call?" She teased him straight back, laughing.