Either You Do...Or You Don't

James’ POV:

I arrived in Dallas shortly before 7pm. I got in my rental, and headed off to the hotel. It had been a tiring flight and I was ready to take a nap. I got to the hotel and checked in, heading up to my room. I plopped down on the bed and sighed.

I messed on my phone for a bit, before changing into pair of shorts and pulling my t-shirt off. Just then, my phone buzzed. Melanie Hendrix. “Hey.”

“Hey. How was your flight?” she asked far too casually

“Fine…what’s up, Melanie?”

“Well…um…I thought I’d call and let you know that Allison is heading to Dallas.”

“She what?!?!”

“I didn’t tell her, I swear! She heard it from Kuni and she came over here yelling at me! She’s pissed you told me and not her…she’s even more pissed you left without saying good-bye.”

“Fuck…she’s heading here?” I rubbed my head

“Yes. That’s what I said! She left a while ago, so I’d say she’ll land soon…”

“She left a…why didn’t you call me sooner?!”

“I knew you were still on the plane…”

“Fuck…I don’t want to talk to her right now…” I mumbled

“I know. I tried to tell her to leave you alone, but she won’t listen. She’s so…”

“Stubborn? Headstrong? Demanding?” I finished for her

“Yeah…”

“I think that’s why I love her. She pushes my buttons. Drives me fucking nuts.”

Melanie sighed, “Yeah…so I thought I’d give you a heads up…I gotta go.”

“Okay. Thanks for the warning.”

“Yeah. Don’t tell her I told.”

“I won’t. Good night, Melanie.”

“Good night…” she hung up before I could say anything else…

I sighed and laid back on the bed…what was I going to do? It wasn’t that I didn’t want to talk to Allison…I did. I just wasn’t quite ready to, yet. Things were such a mess with Jennifer…I hadn’t had time to even think about Allison…I mean, I always thought about her. Every second of every day I regretted what I’d done to her and was still confused as to why she continued to give me chances…why I had given her so many…

I’d never felt this way about a girl before. She mad me so angry, but at the same time, so happy. Allison challenged me and I hated it, but I loved her for it…

Allison’s POV:

I got to Dallas around 7:45 and hailed a taxi. I didn’t know where he was, who he was staying with, if he was even there yet, or why he was even there, but I went to look for him. I couldn’t take this any more. I wanted an answer from him…

I had already known my answer. I’d known since he said he needed to figure things out. I’d known since the day I met him. The thing with Brian was just that, a thing. Just a tryst to get James angry…to get back at him for what he’d done with Melanie.

My answer was, is, and always will be that I love James Neal. That I want to be with him, not Evgeni Malkin. Not Maxime Talbot. Not Brian Cunnigham. I wanted to be his and only his. I pulled out my phone and dialed the number of the one person that I knew would know where he was. Whether he’d tell me or not, I didn’t know…but I hoped he would. “Hello?” Paul asked, his voice groggy

“Paul. Sorry to wake you…”

“It’s okay. I don’t need my beauty sleep.” he chuckled

“Paul…where is he?” I asked point blank

“Where is whom?”

“Do not act like you don’t know! Where’s James?”

“Uh…Dallas?”

“I know that! Where is he staying?”

“He didn’t tell me.” he lied

“Paul…please…it’s important!”

Paul sighed, “Why should I tell you, Allison? Why should I betray my best friend’s wishes and tell you where he is?”

“Because I love him, Paul! I’ve always loved him. I know I’ve done a lot of stupid shit to him. I know that I’ve fucking hurt him and I hate myself for it. I realize now that I only did those things because I was scared…scared of letting myself be with him. Scared of being committed to him…scared to even marry him. I’ll be honest, when he asked me to marry him, I should have said ’no’ because I wasn’t ready. But I am ready now! I love him and I want to spend the rest of my life with him. Please…” I fought back tears as I breathed out, “Please tell me where he is…”

Paul sighed, “He’s at the Hilton downtown. Room 342.”

“Thank-you.” I replied, hanging up and putting the address into the GPS and driving. I headed inside and snuck up the stairs to his room. I took a deep breath before knocking…

James’ POV:

“Hi.” Allison breathed when I opened the door

“Hi.”

“Can I come in?” she asked

“Okay.” I said, stepping aside

“Don’t say anything else. Let me say what I came to say, then you can say whatever you want. When I moved to Pittsburgh those three and a half years ago, I never expected any of this. I never expected I’d slowly fall in love with a guy who plays for a hockey team that I was raised to hate. I never expected to almost lose that same guy to my best friend. That day we met at Whole Foods, I knew right then and there that I was in love with you. I didn’t want to believe it at first…that’s why I cheated on you…that’s why the thing with Brian, Max and Geno happened…I was scared of what might happen with you…fuck, I was scared that I was actually in love with you. So I convinced myself that what I was feeling wasn’t real…but I can’t…I am in love with you. Fuck, I love you, James Neal…I want to spend the rest of my life loving you. Being with you. Sharing late nights watching shitty movies, eating cold pizza, taking long showers, comforting you after a loss and drinking my ass off with you when we win. I want you at your worst and at your best. I…I love you.”

“I…I love you too. I’ve just been so stupid these past few months…I just…I’m sorry I don’t have anything to say…”

“You don’t have to say anything.” she said kissing me. I held her tight, kissing her back and never wanting to let her go. I pulled her up into my arms and she giggled, kissing me again. “So…does this mean we’re official?”

“Yes.” I laughed.

Allison smiled at me, “I love you.”

“I love you too.” I replied, “Allison?”

“Yeah?” she asked looking up at me

“I know this isn’t the most romantic way to do this, but…” I got down on one knee and looked up at her. “Ever since I met you, I’ve been crazy about you. You make me feel like I’ve never felt before. You drive me crazy, you make me wonder ‘What is this girl thinking?’ You make me laugh, you’re beautiful, you’re a firecracker.” I laughed, choking back tears. “And I am crazily in love with you. I know I haven’t been the best boyfriend in the world…I know I’ve hurt you in ways that I can never fix…but I want to spend the rest of my life trying to. I want to spend the rest of my life with you. Allison Dawning, will you marry me?”

Allison started crying as she nodded, “Yes. A million times yes.” she said kissing me.
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Allison’s POV:

I took a deep breath as the music started playing. I looked up at my dad and he looked back at me, smiling through his tears. “You’re so beautiful, Ally.”

“Thanks, dad.” I whispered back as everyone stood, watching us walk down the aisle. I looked up at James, standing beside his brother Michael, smiling at me. He looked amazing in his tux.
I smiled up at him as my dad kissed me on the cheek before handing my hand to his. “I love you.” he whispered

“I love you too.” I whispered back

The minister started the ceremony and I couldn’t keep my eyes off of James. He didn’t look away from me once. It was perfect…

We said our vows and I started crying as he slid the ring onto my finger. I felt like it was only us in the room, when the minister spoke bringing me out of my thoughts. “You may now kiss the bride.” James smiled at me, kissing me softly on the lips. “It is my honor to introduce to you for the first time, Mr and Mrs. James Neal!” the minister announced and everyone clapped and cheered as the “Wedding March” played from the organ…
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*Video Camera footage*

“Is this thing working?” Beau Bennett laughed

“The cap is still on, dipshit.” Paul said pulling the cap off the camera, “Hey, James and Allison it’s Paul. I just wanted to say congrats! To both of you. Nealer, I’m sure gunna miss our breakfasts together and picking your drunk ass up from the bar. Allison, Nealy likes his bacon crispy, his eggs scrambled and his OJ ice cold. Love you guys!”

“Hey, it’s Beau. Congrats to you guys! Hope you enjoy this video Pauly and I made of your wedding!"

“Hey, it’s Kuni” Kuni started

“And Sid!” Sidney added

“Congratulations to both of you. James, try and be good for Allison, okay? Allison if Nealer causes you trouble, let us know and we’ll kick his ass. Love you guys.” Kuni smiled

“I always knew you too would get married some day and I’m happy to have been a part of your special day. Love you guys!” Sid added

“Bro! So jealous that you snagged such a hottie. You better treat her right! Allison, if James ever doesn’t, you call me and I’ll handle him.” Pete Neal laughed

“So happy for you big brother.! Love you so much. You too, Allison!” Rebecca Neal smiled

“Lazy and Allison! Congrats to my two best friends. We have many fun times together.” Geno said

“Allison and James.” Melanie started before tears started filling her eyes, “I love both of you so much. Allison, you’ve been my best friend for forever and I love you like a sister. You’ve always been there for me through so much and I’m so happy to have been able to see you marry an amazing guy, who loves you more than I do. Fuck, I told myself I wasn’t going to cry, but I can’t help it. I’m so happy for both of you and wish you many happy years, decades and eternities together.”

The End

Notes

asdfghjkl; Thank-you so so much to everyone who has read this! It's been so much fun to write and I hope you've all enjoyed reading it<3