Fighting Love (Love to the Extreme) (3 page)

“Tommy! It’s been a while. How’ve you been?”

“All right. Keeping busy.”

There was a moment of silence. “So what’s up?”

Tommy rubbed the stubble on his jaw. He had never been big on asking for help. “Uh, yeah…I

had a fire at my place. Looks like I’m going to be out somewhere to live for a bit, so I was

wondering if I could crash over at your place.” He left out how bad the fire actually was, not

wanting Dante to feel obligated.

“Fuck, Tommy, I’m sorry. Of course you can stay here. I’m warning you, though, this place will

be a madhouse for the next two weeks. We’ve got family coming in who decided to make our

wedding a vacation trip. On top of that, Caitlyn is on edge. She’s pushing me to elope and call off

the wedding. She’s so over the planning.” He chuckled softly. “But you are more than welcome to

stay.”

Tommy grimaced. Yeah, he wasn’t doing that to Dante. “You know, don’t worry about it; you

have your hands full now.”

“Are you sure?”

“Certain.”

“Well, just know the offer is open if you want to crash here.”

“Will do. I’ll talk to you soon.”

He went to hang up when he heard Dante’s, “Tommy. Wait a sec,” and he brought the cell

back to his ear.

“Yeah?”

Muffled mumbling came across the line. He figured Dante had put his hand over the speaker.

Then Dante came back clear. “Caitlyn just reminded me you never responded to the wedding

invitation. She needs a final head count. Are you coming?”

Tommy grimaced. A wedding. The last place in the world he wanted to be. But Dante had

always supported him, so he needed to return the favor. “Yeah, I’ll be there.”

“Are you bringing anyone?”

“Julie, probably.”

There was a moment of silence, where Dante’s mumbling came through again. “Are you her

extra, then?”

“What are you talking about?”

“She’s already RSVP’d and checked the extra person.”

Tommy blinked. She hadn’t mentioned that to him.

“Well, put me down as attending.”

“And a date?”

He was sort of in between women right now. Not from lack of interest from them, just on his

part. He wasn’t too worried about it. He figured he was still adjusting to the changes from the

fallout. He’d get his groove back. “Nah. Just me.”

“All right, then. Looking forward to seeing you, buddy. Been too long.”

“Yeah. Me, too.”

They said their byes and hung up.

While Dante might be happy, Tommy knew his buddy’s wedding was going to be a bitch to

face. He’d see people he hadn’t seen in months, which was why he hadn’t answered the invitation

yet. He actually kept going back and forth about it. He’d been planning on bringing it up to Julie

this week, but apparently she was already going, and with a date.

Good for her. The woman worked too damn hard and didn’t play enough.

It’d do her good to let loose a little.

After he returned to the car, he climbed in, tossed the envelope on the dashboard, and said,

“Well, you’re stuck with me.”

She narrowed her eyes. “What are you talking about?”

“I gave Dante a call to see if I could stay with him and Cait for a while. He said yes, but things

seemed pretty chaotic with the wedding and all, so I figured I’d better not add to it.” He sighed.

“I’d do a hotel, but—”

“Shut up.” She groaned as she shoved her fingers into her thick brunette hair. “I already said

you could stay with me. As long as you want. So just. Shut. Up.”

“It could be a few days. Weeks, even.”

“What part of ‘as long as you want’ don’t you get?”

He smiled. Okay. He’d just try not to be in the way. “Dante told me you had a date.”

She sort of jerked back and peered at him. “A date?”

“For the wedding. I was going to ask you to go with me, but, you know, if you can get a little

—” He waggled his eyebrows.

She shoved him, laughing. “Jesus, Tommy.”

“What? I can’t be excited about my best friend getting some action?”

As far as he was concerned, she needed to get more of it. With her long, dark hair, expressive,

hazel eyes and easy smile, Julie was a beautiful woman. He had little doubt men lined up to take

her out. Her problem was her inability to freaking relax.

“Unfortunately, I’m not getting any action. My date fell through.”

“Well, that’s a bummer.” He winked. “I won’t be as exciting a date, but you can go with me.”

She studied him for a minute, then shrugged. “You’ll do, I guess.”

He feigned hurt. “That was bitchy.”

“You said you wouldn’t be exciting, so what did you expect?”

Laughing, he leaned over and kissed her cheek. “I’ll still make sure you have a great time.

Promise.” He sat back and put on his seat belt. “You know, this does beg the question of dating.”

She shot him an uncertain look. “Dating?”

“With the fire and all, I’ll probably be too preoccupied to fool around with anyone, but you…

Well, just because I’ll be staying with you, don’t think you have to be home every night with me. I

want you to continue on like I’m not there, okay?”

Something flashed across her eyes that he couldn’t decipher. “Yeah. Sure.” She glanced out

the windshield, and when she glanced back, the look was gone and mischief sparkled in her eyes.

“But when I am home and I cook, you eat.”

“Woman, I just lost everything I own. Are you trying to take my life, too?” She just stared at

him in that impish way he loved, and he started to laugh. “Fine. I’ll scarf down that god-awful crap

you like to call food.”

“As long as we’re clear.” She cranked the car.

“Yep.” It wasn’t the perfect solution, but at least the only thing he’d have to worry about while

he got himself resettled was a possible case of food poisoning. The less drama he had right now

the better.

And Julie never came with drama.

Chapter 2

Tommy scowled at the one-story light blue vinyl-siding house as Julie parked her car in the

driveway. Man, he was in a dick mood. None of it was Julie’s fault. She was just trying to help out

a friend, but four hours ago he’d had his own place. His own possessions. His own life, dependent

on no one. It’d been nice. His. And now it was all nothing but ash.

Hell, he’d even lost the hat— “Fuck,” he muttered.

“Tommy?”

“Hmm?” he murmured.

“Will you please tell me what you went back into the house for?”

Damn it. Leave it to her to pick up on the only thing that came close to making him want to

break down. He refused to cry like a fucking girl in front of Julie.

“It’s gone now, Julie, so it doesn’t matter.” He cursed the hoarseness in his voice and fumbled

with the handle.

Her hand clamped down on his arm. “It matters to me. Warrior was safe. I can’t imagine what

else would’ve pushed you back into the house.”

Groaning, he closed his eyes and leaned back against the seat. The joys of having an almost

quarter-century friendship with someone? She was way too comfortable pushing shit because she

knew he’d fucking tell her. “It was my box.”

“You can replace that. I can’t replace you.”

“Yeah. The box. Not what was inside it.” Opening his eyes, he turned his head. “The Atlanta

Braves cap you gave me for my sixteenth birthday was in it.”

Shock widened her eyes as she placed a hand to her mouth. “You still have that?”

How could she think he’d get rid of it?

“Jesus, Julie, I have everything you’ve ever given me, including that horrible mix tape of Vanilla

Ice and New Kids on the Block. It was all in that box.”

“You ran into a burning building to save the cheesy presents I’ve bought you over the years?”

He scowled at her. “They weren’t just presents. They’re memories. Our memories, Julie. You’re

the only family I have. That box meant a lot to me.”

“Oh, Tommy. I-I…” She paused, brows pulling together in thought.

Ah fuck, she was going to say something to make this worse. Before she could find the words

she was searching for, he waved his hand. “It’s gone now. Let’s just leave it at that.”

Out of everything he’d lost, that hat had hit him the hardest. Which was crazy, really. He never

went into the box of mementos he kept of his and Julie’s decades-long friendship. But knowing it

was gone, it felt as though someone had torn his guts out.

Grabbing the envelope, he opened the door and moved to the back of the car. Thumping the

top of the trunk, he waited for Julie to pop it. After he grabbed the shopping bags, he strode up

the walkway.

When it came right down to it, Julie was his family. His only family. He didn’t have any siblings.

Had no clue who his father was. His mom had been worthless—an alcoholic who’d marched men in

and out of the house like it was the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade. The only good thing that

woman had ever done for him was rent the house next door to the one Julie’s family moved into.

Julie was all he had. And he’d just lost every single memory of their friendship that he’d kept

buried in the back of his closet like a goddamn treasure chest. Fisting his hands around the

shopping bags, he shook off the thought, focusing on reaching the front door and not the torrent

of emotions that was threatening to take him down.

The house was small, as was the front yard, and it was perfect for Julie. In the spring, the now-

dead garden beds in front would no doubt overflow with colorful annuals that she’d plant when

she got spring fever—which she got like clockwork each April. She’d sit on the swing hanging on

the front porch reading a book, sipping a glass of Merlot. She’d mow the lawn in her ratty tank top,

cut-off jeans, and the MMA baseball cap he’d given her a few years ago. A small smile came to his

lips.

Maybe being here wasn’t such a bad thing.

Warrior raced past him up the stone path to the front door, not even needing a leash to keep

him headed in the right direction. The dog was probably excited about their new living

arrangements. Tommy spoiled that dog rotten, but the one thing he didn’t have was a doggie

door. Julie did, and even though her pup was miniscule in comparison to his, she’d bought a larger

opening so Warrior could follow Lucy around since they spent so much time over here. Now his dog

would be able to run around the spacious fenced in backyard whenever he wanted.

As he climbed the steps to the entry, he heard Lucy yapping and clawing at the door on the

other side. When Julie unlocked the door, the white fur ball bolted through, and she scooped the

Pekinese up in her arms.

“Someone’s glad to see you,” Tommy said.

She smiled. “She’s always happy to see her mommy. Aren’t you, sweetie?”

The tiny tongue flicked out across Julie’s jaw. Then Lucy noticed Warrior. She struggled against

Julie’s hold, and when Julie placed her on the ground, the two dogs danced around, pawing

playfully at each other. It always amazed him how well those two got along, considering the size

difference. The way Warrior towered over Lucy never intimidated the little dog. She gave as good

as she got.

Just like Julie.

As she started to walk into the house, he grabbed for her hand. Squeezing her fingers, he said,

“Thank you…for letting me stay.”

Her eyes softened. “Anytime, Tommy. Really.”

After a quick squeeze of her own, she released his hand and waved him and the dogs inside.

When he crossed the threshold into the living room, he stopped. The house overwhelming him in a

way it never had before, reminding him that he now owned nothing but the few shopping bags he

gripped in his hands. The living room was completely decked out. A matching sage couch and

loveseat with plush striped pillows sat before a brick fireplace. In the corner was a large flat-screen

television sitting on a light oak entertainment center that matched the hardwood floors.

Pictures in black frames of her parents, sisters, and him hung on the wall. His heart tightened

as it always did when he saw his picture included as part of her family.

Proof that he was just as important to her as she was to him. Thank God for that. He wouldn’t

know what to do without this woman.

A gentle touch landed on his bicep. “You okay?”

He blinked and looked down at her. “My photos are all gone, too.”

“Tommy. I’m so sorry.”

“All I can do now is move forward.” He nudged her with his shoulder. “A wise woman once told

me that.”

“Don’t think you’re going to get out of dinner with flattery.”

He grinned. She always knew the right thing to say. “Not working, huh?”

“Nope.”

“It was worth a shot.”

She shook her head. “I’d show you to your room, but you already know where it is. So I don’t

see the point. You know where everything is. Make yourself at home.”

Home.

No. This wasn’t his home. It was Julie’s. The entire house breathed her.

He left her standing in the living room and strolled down the hall, past her room, then into the

guest room. Now, his room. Dropping the bags on the bed, he glanced around. This room wasn’t

as decorated, at least. Didn’t feel so much like Julie as every other room in the house did. The

walls were light beige and went well with the white and blue paisley comforter. Two glossy black