James jogged down the stairs and found Pete and Tori Lynn sitting on the tail gate of her truck. Pete was handing her phone back to her. She was busy inputting something into Pete's phone. She handed it back. "Bout time you showed up" said Tori Lynn. He wanted to laugh but knew better. She was still wearing his hoodie, a pair of jeans, and a pair of bright blue toms. All of her wild curls were up in a messy ponytail. She was effortlessly beautiful. Pete got up from his perch and headed to his vehicle.

"Later Bro" said Pete sliding behind the wheel of his SUV. "See you soon Tori Lynn." She stood beside James as Pete pulled out of the parking garage.

"You planning on dating Pete" he asked.

"Nope" said Tori Lynn smiling at him "I am coming down there to meet Lauren and watch him play."

"I didn't think he told you about Lauren." James replied

"Yeah he told me yesterday when we had lunch. We actually facetimed her." Tori Lynn got really quiet and said "Neal I don't roam around from bed to bed kiss to kiss with brothers. The puck sluts you are used to are a different breed than me. But if you can't see that you can keep your mouth and your opinions to yourself."

James was slightly taken back. Okay so he did kind of imply that. He wasn't used to what G called real girls. He was used to puck fucks and social climbers. Tori Lynn flopped down on the hood of his Ferrari. His first thought was he wanted to push her on back against the hood and show her he was the better Neal brother. "Fuck" spat James "I can't do anything right with you. I'm sorry."

"Yes you are" said Tori Lynn "And for that reason I get complete control of DJing on the road trip." James laughed and nodded his head to the white Land Rover in the second spot.
Tori Lynn walked towards the passenger door of the SUV. He stepped in front of her and opened the door. Tori Lynn climbed inside the SUV and he ran around the back and got in the driver seat. James showed her how to dock her phone with the sound system. Then input her home address into the navigation system.

"All set" he asked Tori Lynn.

"I guess but we need snacks and drinks" she replied.

"We'll stop outside of Nashville. If I can get us out of Nashville"

"Go towards the Bridgestone and make 2 rights and a left and we will be on 65." she instructed.

James nodded that he understood. Tori Lynn kicked off her blue Toms and tucked her feet underneath her.

"Sorry" she said putting her feet back in the floor.

"About what?" he asked

"I shouldn't put my feet up in your seats. I don't think I've ever been in a SUV that is that this white." she looked around "Maybe we should skip the snacks"

"It's fine, get comfy. This thing is pretty much stain resistant. My mom asked what the hell I was thinking?" he replied "It's not a big deal we can have it detailed when we get home if something goes wrong."

He watched as she pulled her feet back up underneath her body. She leaned across the console when he got to the first light. She told him to smile and snapped a quick pic. She was busy with her phone as he pulled into traffic near the Bridgestone. They made their way down Broadway. She looked up and told him to take the next right as the GPS said the same instructions. She shrugged then checked her phone when it chirped. He heard her giggle and looked her way. She was typing on her phone.

Martin: You and Neal are taking a road trip. He is a huge pain in the ass on road trips.
Geno: Hey Pretty. He going because you hurt his feels. Very funny. Now you know Lazy.
Letang: Cute photo Fumee` especially if you cut out Nealer's giant 'ead.
Tori Lynn: Well so far we are less than 5 minutes in and everybody is alive. Be nice Letang if you hurt his feels you have to take him home with you. Do I even want to know what Fumee`means?
Letang: Smoke.
Martin: Damn Letang laying it on thick with TL
Geno: Pretty is as you all say Smoke.
Tori Lynn: Thanks I think.

Tori Lynn looked up and they were pulling on to 65. She told Neal that it was straight on 65 North until the Hodgenville exit. He set the cruise control as she was reading the group conversation. She started laughing again.

"What are you laughing about?" asked Neal

"Your boys" she replied "I sent them all the pic I took. Martin said you are a pain in the ass on road trips. Letang called me Smoke and then said the pic was cute but for your giant head. Geno agrees that I am Smoke but still thinks we need to bond. Martin is giving Letang shit for calling me Smoke." Her phone chimed again.

Martin: He gets cranky if he doesn't eat.
Geno: Give Lazy chance. He needs more than xbox and hockey.
Letang: Forget Nealer Fumee` come stay with me. You can sing to me. Oui?

Neal frowned at Tori Lynn. He was pretending to pay attention to the road but he was really watching her face as she interacted with his friends.

Tori Lynn: Okay boys have a safe flight home. I am going to torture Neal with my music now. I'll keep your offer in mind Letang. But Pauly is still my best bet.
Martin: Damn straight
Geno: What about me?
Tori Lynn: Too many feels G. I will send road trip selfies.

Her phone chimed one last time and it was a shot of all the boys in the airport smiling at the camera. She turned her phone towards Neal. "Your boys sent a selfie." James chuckled at them.

James took an exit just outside of Nashville. He pulled the truck to a stop. He and Tori Lynn ventured into the gas station. He pulled his ball cap down low. TorI Lynn smirked at him.
"Quit acting like you are going to rob the place. No one is looking at you." she laughed "We are outside of Nashville. It will be fine. Right now you just look suspicious. Come on we need junk." She looped his arm through his and pulled him along the soft drinks. She grabbed 2 bright green bottles. James moved over and grabbed a gatorade and a water. Tori Lynn swatted at his arm. "Junk Neal. It's a fun day. You can run or skate later. "

James laughed but kept his water and gatorade. She drug him over to a rack of candy. She smiled triumphantly as she held up a container of gummi bears and another of sour patch kids. He shook his head. "You are gonna drink one of these Skis and you have to at least try and understand the joy of gummi candy."

"Not my thing Tori Lynn." he replied. Tori Lynn pouted at him as he grabbed some beef jerky and added it to their haul. Tori Lynn walked with him to the counter. She tossed all the junk on the counter. She was digging in her purse when she heard the cashier say thank you. She glared at him. "What" he asked taking the bag from the cashier.

"You didn't have to pay" she replied.

"I know" said James. He grabbed her by the hand and walked her to the passenger door. He opened it for her. Once she was seated he handed her the bag of junk food and then climbed back in the drivers seat. She pulled out one of the green bottles and handed it to James. He looked at the bottle skeptically.

"Just try it James" implored Tori Lynn "It's a regional soda. Only Western Kentucky and Tennessee." He was still just staring at the bottle. Tori Lynn opened the bottle and handed it back to him. "Please."

Well he was fucked she had called him James and said please. He would have walked across Tennessee and Kentucky for those two things. He took a drink of the bright yellow soda. He swallowed and handed the bottle back to Tori Lynn. "That's kind of like sugary battery acid."

"It's an acquired taste." laughed Tori Lynn. She handed the bottle back to him and snapped a picture. She retrieved the soda and took a drink.

"I thought you were a cherry coke girl?" asked James pulling back on to the interstate.

"Only because you can only find Ski certain places. We will probably bootleg a few a cases back to the apartment." she smiled at him "Just wait until I find an Ale-8-1. You have to try it too."

"Fine but I am subjecting you to Canadian junk food. I'll have mom bring it down."

"Deal" she said opening the bag in her lap "Water or gatorade?" James shrugged. She opened the bottle of gatorade and put it in his cup holder. She then opened the gummi bears. James was mystified by her eating gummi bears in matching pairs. "Yuck" she said taking a drink of Ski "those minty green ones taste like perfume." She held the container out to him. He took a few gummi bears. He threw the clear one in his mouth.

"Well this one tastes like your hair smells" stated James it was a smell somewhere between sugar and pineapples.

"I guess it does. Those clear ones are pineapple and my shampoo smells pineappley." she replied. She was surprised that he noticed her shampoo. She continued eating gummi bears 2 by 2. He laughed.

"Time to go on a voyage of musical enlightenment." said Tori Lynn "You are getting a musical education."

"I know music" he shot back. She fiddle with the iPhone before looking at him.

"I'm not talking about Celine Dion, Nickleback, and Justin Bieber. Or any of that stadium crap." replied Tori Lynn.

"You are hurting my feels again" he laughed "Jesus Bieber,"

Tori Lynn ignored him and sang along with the stereo. He wasn't sure who he was listening to, but he was more intrigued with her singing along with the song than the band actually singing. She slid a pair of giant sunglasses over her eyes. Those glasses blocked her eyes from him and he couldn't quickly tell what she was thinking. James wasn't sure he liked that.

"Who is this?" asked James.

"It's called Broken Window Serenade. It's by a Texas band Whiskey Meyers. I'm kind of obsessed with them."

"It's dark." he replied. She smiled at him. When the song was over she clicked on a more upbeat tune. He laughed. She had went from meth addiction to Shake It Off by Taylor Swift.

"I know this one" said Neal "They play it all over Nashville."

James smiled as she sang along with the song. The next song surprised him as it was an older rap song by Tupac. He was constantly surprised by Tori Lynn. She was rapping along. James laughed out loud.

"Whatcha laughing at Neal?" she asked.

"You" he replied "Maybe you should stick with the singing. I'm not sure your rap skills will pay the bills."

"Damn and I thought maybe I could be the next Snoop. Now I'm not going to be famous."

"You'll be famous Tori Lynn." said James "It might take a minute but someone will realize you belong somewhere other than a dirty bar."

"I like dirty bars" she laughed she flipped the song and Bar, Guitar, and Honky Tonk Crowd poured out of the speakers. "This song is all about dirt bars."

James listened to the song on the stereo. Tori Lynn was drinking her Ski listening to the song.

"Who is Curtis Loew?" asked James. Tori Lynn's head whipped towards James. She stared at him.

"The Ballad of Curtis Loew?" she replied " Lynyrd Skynyrd"

"Sweet Home Alabama?" James answered.

"Yes. But that isn't the only song they have."

"Free Bird" he replied.

"They have a lot more songs." she laughed. She was poking at her iPhone as they crossed into Kentucky. "Here it is."

Tori Lynn smiled over at him as the guitar riffs started. She obviously loved the song. She was almost bouncing in her seat. "Oh we are in Kentucky!"

James listened to the song. He had gathered that Curtis Loew was not a real person but a person in the song. Tori Lynn was singing along.

"Well" asked Tori Lynn

"It's not bad. I like the sound of it." he replied.

"Then you will probably like most blues guitar stuff. Do you like the Rolling Stones?" she asked.
"They are fine" he replied honestly.

"Fine" she scoffed "that how you describe bad pizza. Not the Rolling Stones or Skynyrd"

Tori Lynn looked so offended he almost laughed out loud. " They aren't my favorite but I don't actively dislike them."

"You know nothing James Neal!"

"You watch Game of Thrones?" he asked.

"Yes. Don't change the subject" she replied causing him to laugh. "Okay let's see what you think of this one."

"Yes Ma'am"

"Smart ass."

"What do you like about it so much?" he asked

"The guitars are awesome. It's just clean. True musical talent. Eventually I will own a Dobro from the 30's or 40's."

"Dobro?"

"It's a type of guitar. It makes that blues sound you are picking up on."

"Richie said you can play anything with strings?"

"Richie has a big mouth. I don't play the upright bass or the Cello." she replied.

"Why not" asked Neal.

"Well they are huge for starters. I could probably play them. Just really never had an inclination." she answered "The guitars and fiddles are my favorite. But I have a mandolin, banjo, ukulele, and a hammered dulcimer."

"Ukulele little Hawaiian thing right?" he asked

"Yes." she beamed at him. "It can be used for other things too."

"No clue on the hammered whatever?"

"It's a dulcimer." she laughed "I'll show it to you when we get home."

"And how much further is home?" asked James

"About an hour we are almost to Bowling Green."

"I see no horses" stated James "Aren't you all supposed to be horse capital of the world or something."

"We have Derby" she laughed "But they don't just roam free. If you want to see the Throughbred race horses we have to go to Louisville or Lexington." She smiled at him "If y'all aren't in the playoffs we can come up to Derby."

"You plan on hanging out with me until Derby time?" he teased.

"Haven't decided yet" she responded "I've always told Richie we should go. So it could be fun for all of us to go."

"We clean up well" he replied.

"No I am talking about the infield. It's kind of Mardi Gras meets horse racing." she explained "I've never watched Derby from the dressy side."

"Well maybe that's what we should do then."

"What" she asked

"Do the whole dressed up thing. I think I would look good in a spring plaid suit."

"You and the damn plaid." she responded.

"I rock my plaid. I just get bored with all of us having the same suits."

"Maybe for Derby we can get you all decked out in Southern chic. Seersucker or linen."

"I will defer to you my Belle." laughed James. She looked at him and laughed.

"Does that make you the Beast?" she asked.

"I guess so" he replied. James glanced out the window. He then turned around and did a double take. "Was that a giant T-Rex?"

"Oh yeah, Dinosaur World." she replied as if it was no big deal. "We've passed the Corvette Museum, Kentucky Down Under, now Dinosaur World, Mammoth Caves and when we get to my home town it's the land of Lincoln."

"It's just a giant fake dinosaur?" he asked

"Well not just one." she said "There is an entire collection over there. We can stop on the way back and look if you want. G and Pauly would get a kick out of you and the dinosaurs."

"Whatever you want to do as long as I am home before the road trip." he replied.

"How long are y'all gonna be gone. Richie said it is CMA week."

"We going on a 2 week swing in Canada and out west. We won't be back until 10th of November."

"James" she said pulling her sunglasses off "Why in the hell did you agree to this trip knowing that it was just adding time to the big trip you have this week."

James shrugged. "That is not an answer James Neal."

"You didn't want to go by yourself. I didn't particularly like the idea of you making the trip by yourself. And Pete is right I would have played video games and laid on the couch. I might have packed. But more than likely I would have procrastinated and done it in a rush in the morning." he explained "Besides you smell a hell of a lot better than my team."

"I'm not so sure" she laughed "This is day 3 in your hoodie."

"Yeah well it will be like day 18 by the time I get back from our Western swing."

"I'll give it back after I get my stuff from home." she replied.

"It's one of my Pens ones. Hang on to it. It's not like I can wear it a lot right now."

"You had it on at the bar that first night."

"I did Eh?"

"Yes, Eh you did. You really are Canadian"

"Yep, Whitby boy." he replied " I was not really happy with Rich for dragging me out of the apartment. I was pretty content to be drunk and wallow in my misery on my own couch. I was watching the boys play. G had texted and bitched at me for drinking alone. Then Richie's hyper ass busted in and made me go watch some kid sing."

"I'm not a little kid" she said pushing those sunglasses down her nose.

"I am aware Belle" he replied looking at her " I don't make a habit of kissing little girls."

She turned in her seat and glared at him for a minute. She then relaxed back in her seat. Tori Lynn said nothing in reply. But clicked the iPhone to another song. He heard the opening strains of When I'm Gone by 3 Doors Down.

"I know this song too" he said. He actually liked 3 Doors Down. She didn't say anything to him. Instead she was singing along with the song. He listened to her sing. She really could probably sing anything. He had heard her take songs like the one playing and rearrange it for a country sound. She was amazing.

"Will you record yourself singing that one?" asked James.

"Why?" asked Tori Lynn

"I like that song and I like the way you sound singing it. In fact I think you should record several songs for me."

"You can see a some of my music on YouTube." she shrugged " Richie can put just about anything into digital form for you."

"YouTube eh?"

"Yes. Good to know you didn't Google me, Neal"

"Question is have you Googled me?"

"Didn't have to thought I knew all about you." she replied.

He studied her expression for a minute wishing she wasn't wearing those giant damn sunglasses. She should play poker because she had no tell in the situation.

"What about now" he asked cautiously. He was about half afraid of her answers.

"Still making up my mind Neal." she answered truthfully "G is right I guess I do need to get to know you before I decide if I hate you or not. Plus I keep hurting your feels. G says that is no good you no make score if your feels hurt."

"I'm going to kill that Russian bastard. My feelings are fine. I score just fine."

"Yeah because everyone knows that fine is a great feeling." laughed Tori Lynn.

"I'm really am fine." said James

"Well let me know when you want to stop being the Real Deal who is fine. I think I like you better when you are yourself and show you have feels."

"It's all the same Tori Lynn" he replied "What you see is what you get with me."

"That's not what Pauly and G say. They keep telling me get to know you. There is more to Lazy. That you are more than the guy who plays dirty" she responded "I guess they are wrong, Nealer." She got quiet and sat back in her seat. She was looking out the window humming along with the radio. She didn't look at him again until she told him the next exit was the one to her home.

James took the exit. Since the GPS seemed to be giving him correct directions Tori Lynn had once again stopped talking to him. James didn't want her mad or even disappointed in him. In fact he was pretty sure in the long run that a disappointment is all he would ever be to Tori Lynn. He never managed to have lasting relationships. They either wanted fame, fortune, or a chance to be with Sid. He wasn't sure he had ever dated anyone who just wanted him. He knew Melanie just wanted to have the Real Deal on her arm in the Burgh. She hadn't even made it down to Nashville. She made it pretty fucking clear that she had no intentions of coming to Nashville. It still stung a little. But he had Tori Lynn sitting across from him she was his here and now. Could he let himself just be James? Fuck if he knew but maybe it was worth the effort to drop his shields.

Notes