Raining on Sunday

BAM.

I heard the front door slam, and sat right up immediately in bed. A blanket clad Sidney was asleep next to me, snoring lightly. I quietly stood out of bed, throwing on a pair of sweatpants. I adjusted the tshirt I was wearing and quietly left the room. I skipped down the stairs as fast as I could, as soon as I reached the last step I saw James throwing anything he could on the floor. His face was red like he had been crying. “James? What’s going on? Stop!” I tried to calm him, grabbing onto his arm. He swatted me away and walked over to the backdoor. “I’m leaving. I’m done in Pittsburgh. They sold my contract.” He spit out. My mouth dropped, the trade went through. “Oh, James.” I ran into his back, wrapping my arms around his waist. I felt him collapsing to the floor, so I sunk with him. “Why does this keep happening? I thought I was going to be here forever. I thought I was going to be here with you forever.” He sobbed into my shoulder. I felt my heart shatter. He pulled me into his lap, and cried into my shirt. I held him tight and ran my fingers through his hair. “I can’t believe this.” I felt myself choking up. “First, Dallas gets rid of me. Now my own family is getting rid of me, Eisley. What’s wrong with me?” I shook my head, and kissed his forehead. “James, I don’t know what to tell you. You’re a great player, you know they love you here.” I answered. “It’s because I’m a ‘dirty player’ isn’t it? They don’t want me because of that. I can change, Eisley! I don’t want to leave Pittsburgh.” That sent me over the edge, tears were running down my face into his hair. “I love you, James. You know that. I would never lie to you. I think it’s more of a financial decision. I wish I knew.” I told him. “Let’s go lay down, come on.” I led him to his bedroom, which I was glad was downstairs so Sidney and James wouldn’t cross paths. I laid him down and pulled his blanket over him. “I’m going to go clean up real fast. I’ll be in to check on you in a few.” I told him, playing with his hair. He nodded and kissed his forehead. I snuck out of his room and ran upstairs. I shook Sid awake lightly, “Is everything okay?” He sat straight up, noticing the tears that were wetting my face. I shook my head, “The trade was approved, James is crushed. I just took him to bed, but I think you should go. I’m not sure how he would react if he saw you right now.” I sighed. Sid nodded, getting out of bed and pulling on his clothes.

“I don’t have my car here, I’ll call a taxi.” He said looking for his phone. I shook my head and handed him the keys to my Jetta. “Take mine, it’ll be an excuse for me to see you later.” I smiled. “You sure?” He asked. I nodded and pulled him into a hug. He lifted me off the ground and I wrapped my legs around his waist. “Everything’s gonna be okay.” He whispered in my hair. I nodded, and squeezed him. He let me down and I kissed his cheek. “I love you, Sid.” He kissed me deeply, and smiled at me. “I’ll call you, in a little bit, babe. Let me know if you or James need anything.” He kissed my forehead and I walked him out, giving him another kiss before he left. I walked back in the house and snuck into James’ room. He was messing with his phone when he heard me, and looked up. I climbed onto his big bed and laid down next to him. “Where are you going?” I asked quietly. “Nashville.” He put his phone down and turned to look at me. I faced him too, and held his hand. “Look, I wanna talk to you about some stuff.” He sat up, pulling the blanket over his legs. “About what?” I asked, twisting a thread in the sheets. “I need a favor from you. I need you to keep the house.” He said, my eyes shot up at him, “What?” “I don’t want to sell it, I’ll lose money if I sell it. So, do me a favor and just take care of it. Do whatever you want with it, but I just want someone living here.” I shook my head, “James I can’t just do that. I need to pay you rent or something then.” “Send me a couple hundred dollars every couple months then and we’ll call it even. You’re my best friend. I need you to do this for me. I don’t even want money, you’re doing me a favor.” I nodded and felt the tears welling in my eyes. “Another thing too. Come with me to Nashville to find a new place.” I nodded and let the tears fall. I can’t believe this is happening the way it is. Part of me thought that when I first moved into the house, James and I would somehow end up together, and we would spend the rest of our days in this house. He pulled me back onto his lap and rocked me back and forth as I cried, “I don’t want you to leave James.” He played with my hair, and rocked me back and forth till I fell asleep.

“Hey, you got a couple texts from coach, Eisley.” I heard James shaking me awake. I was laying on his chest when I felt him shaking me awake. I rubbed my eyes and he handed me my phone. I unlocked my phone and read the text.

Coach J: Hey Kemp, I need you at the Consol ASAP if you can make it

Coach J: Let me know

Me: I will be on the way soon, you still there?

Coach J: Yes see you here soon

I stretched and felt James grip on my waist tighten. I looked up at him, he was laying with his hand behind his head. “What’s going on?” He asked. “I don’t know, coach just said he needs me at the Consol as soon as possible.” I traced circles around on his chest. “Wanna go out tonight?” He asked. I looked up at him. “Where to?” I asked. “Dinner, and then I’m not sure. Maybe w can go dancing. Just you and I.” I nodded and smiled up at him. I stood out of bed and changed into a pair of shorts and another Penguins polo shirt. I ran downstairs and remembered I didn’t have my car. “Shit.” I mumbled to myself. I ran into James bedroom, and opened the door. He turned quickly, he was shirtless getting ready to take a shower. “I’m so sorry!” I exclaimed turning around. He busted out laughing, “It’s not like you’ve never seen me naked before, Kemp.” I raised an eyebrow at him, and crossed my arms. “I left my car at the Consol, can I use yours to head over there?” I asked. He nodded and opened his bedside table, and pulled out a pair of keys, and threw them to me. I told him thank you and ran outside to the Mercedes parked in the middle of the driveway. I hopped in, and drove over to the Consol.

“Ah Kemp, good to see you. I take it you heard about Nealer’s trade.” He asked. I nodded, sitting in front of him at his desk. I leaned back in his chair and threw my leg over the other. “What can I do for you Coach?” I asked. “I need a favor from you, Kemp. My daughter just got a job at UPMC as a nurse in the ER. She just moved here, and I was wondering if you could show her around, introduce her to some people.” He folded his hands on his desk. “Sure, I have no problem with that. Only I might not be here for a little bit, I’m going with Neal to Nashville to help him find a place and then I’ll be flying back.”

“Going to Nashville with Neal? I thought you were close to Crosby.”

“It’s platonic, sir. He’s my best friend.”

“How’s he taking the trade?”

“Not as well as you would hope.”

“Ah. Well, let me know. I think you and Sam would get along.” He said. I nodded and stood up, shaking his hand and making my way out of the Consol. I sat in James’ car and drove back home. When I got back, I found him in the backyard, sitting with his shirt off, Nixon was laying next to him and Sadie running around. I sat next to him, and put my head on his shoulder. He threw his free arm around me and kissed my forehead.“Let’s get fucked up tonight.” He sighed deeply. I laughed and nodded.

Notes

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