Josi, Stalberg, and Seth all bugged out. Richie went to get ready for practice. James was still in the kitchen with Tori Lynn. He was bringing dishes over beside the sink as she was loading the dishwasher. They were working quietly. She wasn’t sure why he hadn’t gone to get ready for morning skate.

“Shouldn’t you go get ready” she asked.

“Probably but I wanted to help clean up” he said.

“Pauly make you do the dishes” she teased.

“Actually yeah” he replied.

“Well I’m glad someone tried to teach you manners” she responded.

“My mom tried but with 4 boys and 1 girl we were kind of feral.” he laughed “You’ll meet Pete tonight. He is around your age. He plays for Knoxville.”

“You all play hockey” she asked

“Nah Beck gold medals in shopping” explained James “She is set to graduate from high school this year. She is majorly unimpressed by everything hockey.”

“Little sisters are tricky creatures” she laughed

“No kidding.” he said “I never know what to do with her. So I hand her a credit card and turn her loose. She was even less impressed with me being traded to Nashville than when I got sent to Pittsburgh.”

“There are two awesome shopping areas in Nashville and lots of cool vintage places.” replied Tori Lynn “when she comes down I can show her if you want.”

“She would probably enjoy it. She hates when we are all in full hockey mode.”

They managed to get the last of the dishes in the dishwasher. James was leaning against the counter. Tori Lynn was bent over digging in the cabinet under the sink for dishwashing detergent. James was busy staring at her ass when Richie came back into the room. Richie elbowed him in the ribs.

“Ow! damn it.” yelled James.

Tori Lynn turned around to face the boys. James was rubbing his rib cage. She wasn’t sure what was going on. “Rich where is the dishwasher detergent?”

“Um on the ledge of the sink” he replied still glaring at James.

“No dumb ass that is dish liquid” she admonished “If you put that in there we will have bubbles everywhere.”

“I like foam parties” said Richie teasingly.

“Come on Neal” she said “Let’s got raid your kitchen to see if you have dishwasher detergent.”

James just nodded and fell into step behind her. Richie called out that he was leaving in 10 minutes for skate. James indicated he would be back and ready. They walked down the hall and James opened the door. His apartment was mirror image of Richie’s. She made her way to the kitchen. She pulled open the cabinet and found nothing.

“I’ve never turned the dishwasher on” he admitted. She then opened the dishwasher. She turned around and showed him the small packet from inside the dishwasher.

“Sample” she said “Guess it’s a good thing your cleaning lady hand does the dishes.”
“Um I don’t have a cleaning lady. In fact other than Richie no one other than family has been in this apartment. Oh and the film crew but that was not my idea at all." he explained.

"Uh sorry, i kind of invaded." said Tori Lynn

"No big deal" he replied "Let me throw a shirt on and grab my gear so I can go with Richie." She surprised James by following him through the apartment. She sat down on the edge of his unmade bed. He didn't have time to fully take in that view because he needed to get dressed. He grabbed a practice shirt out of the built in dresser in his closet. He pulled it over his head as he shoved his feet in his flip flops. Tori Lynn was sitting on the edge of the bed looking at his guitar.

"Is it for looks or can you play it?" she asked looking at the beat up guitar.

"I can play it. Not like you could play it" he remarked.

"I'll make you prove it Neal." she said playfully

"You skate I'll play the guitar" he replied.

"No problem" she answered "But I haven't skated in a long time. Probably last time with Bodie."

James noticed this was the second mention of Bodie but she offered no explanation. But she looked sad when she said his name. He didn't like that look on her.

"Get out of my bed or I am going to be late for practice." he said smirking at her.

"Say that a lot do ya Neal" she laughed standing up and following him out of his bedroom.

"Not here" he replied laughing.

"Sure Neal" she remarked as they walked down the hall. Richie was standing beside the door in practice gear and flip flops.

"I was beginning to think I needed to send a search party." said Richie "You want to come to watch practice."

"All my stuff is still packed." she replied "I will stay here and get unpacked."

"Throw my hoodie on and your shorts and come on." said Neal "You can unpack while we nap."

"Nap?" questioned Tori Lynn "What are y'all kindergarteners?"

"Power napping for the game" said Richie.

"You know I always thought you and Bodie made that up to get rid of me." she replied.

"Yes and No" said Richie laughing "Hurry up so we aren't late. We'll blame Neal's hungover ass if Lavy gets mad."

Tori Lynn headed into her room. James eyes followed her as she left the room. Richie turned and pinned his gaze on Neal.

"What the fuck man?" said Clune smacking him in the chest "She is like baby sister little cousin type. Keep your hands and your eyeballs to yourself."

"What?" asked Neal "You said be nice. I am being nice. Besides you brought Jos and Viktor down here and let her parade around half naked. Why am I getting the lecture."

"Because I know you Nealer" he said "You are my boy. But she can't be one of your harem. She isn't made that way. So whatever Taylor Swift fantasy you are harboring get it out of the thick head of yours. She isn't someone who fucks around. Plus I promised Bodie that I would take care of her. So between that and Nana you are firmly on the no list."

"Fuck you, Clune" he said and turned and walked out the door "I'll meet you at the fucking rink."

Tori Lynn came in as James walked out the door. She grabbed his hoodie off the kitchen chair and slid it on. She watched James through the open door as he shoved open the stairwell door and disappeared.

"What the hell got into him?" asked Tori Lynn

"Needed to go meet his little brother." replied Richie easily lying to Tori Lynn. "Let's go"
The drive to the ice center had been quiet except for Tori Lynn singing in the passenger seat. Richie got her settled into a seat close to the glass. It wasn't long until the boys started skating around the ice. She was watching the goalies stretch out. She was paying no attention to the glass until Viktor crashed his large body into the glass. She jumped startled from the impact. He smiled and waved at her. Tori Lynn waved back at him. Soon most of the Preds had waved to Tori Lynn. She was watching James on the ice. He still looked pissed off. Maybe his brother had flaked on him. She wasn't sure but he hadn't even acknowledged she was there. Not that it mattered to her but still.

Morning skate seem to drag by at a glacial pace. James and Richie had been skating circles around one another but there was none of their playful banter. In fact James had shoved Richie into the boards fairly hard. But Richie just laughed and shook it off. Tori Lynn decided that pants, socks, and boots were required of sitting this close to the ice. She shivered. Finally having enough of her frozen toes she kicked off her flip flips and tucked her legs and feet up under James' hoodie. Hopefully it wouldn't stretch it out too bad. Tori Lynn turned her gaze back to the ice where the Preds were all firing pucks at the goalie from all different directions.

Tori Lynn had not noticed the lanky boy walking down the steps until he flopped down beside her. She turned her and looked at the boy. Before he even opened his mouth she said "you must be Baby Nealer."

"Nope I am the middle Neal brother" he replied "However I am at a disadvantage here."

"How is that?" she asked looking at James' brother.

"He breaks up with Melanie and three days later he has a hot girl watching him practice in his Pens hoodie." replied Pete "I'm Peter by the way."

"Yeah James mentioned that." she said "Tori Lynn. I guess we are going to be hockey buddies tonight."

"So you and Jamie?" he asked looking at her.

"There is no me and Nealer." she replied.

"Good" said Stalberg opening the door near Tori Lynn "That's exactly what we all want her hear. Come on down to the locker room Tori Lynn I will get you that jersey." He then took notice of the boy beside Tori Lynn "You too little Neal. I swear you Neal boys are like Staals and gremlins. You are everywhere."

Tori Lynn started laughing. "I told you I am not wearing a Preds jersey."

"You said you aren't wearing a Preds jersey or Pens gear. You have already broken your word by wearing that ugly hoodie again." laughed Viktor.

"I was cold." she challenged "I haven't even unpacked yet. Apparently I get to do that at nap time."

Pete Neal stood up and offered Tori Lynn his hand since she had her legs completely folded up under his brother's hoodie. She unfolded her body and let him pull her to her feet. They followed Viktor towards the locker room. Pete had positioned himself between Tori Lynn and Viktor. Once down at the locker room Viktor yelled into the room that they had a girl with them. Tori Lynn could hear the whoops and catcalls. She then heard Richie threaten the entire lot of them over her.

"Come on in Tori Lynn" said Richie from the door. Tori Lynn walked in followed by Pete Neal who had his hand on the small of her back "Jesus what is with you Neal boys. Baby Neal hands off Tori Lynn."

"I told you like Staal's and Gremlins" said Viktor leaning in close to Tori Lynn.
"You too Stalberg" called Richie "Baby sister....understand guys. Same as if she was my biological baby sister."

James was sitting in his locker watching the entire event transpire. He knew Pete's temper and he might just grab Tori Lynn for the hell of it. Of course he would hate to explain to his mother why he killed his younger brother, but she would eventually understand. She always told them she wished she had more girls in the family. Fuck that thought had no business in his head. Pete didn't move his hand from the small of her back. In fact he pretty much tucked Tori Lynn into his 6'1 frame away from Viktor. Tori Lynn was opening her mouth to speak and Pete cut her off.

"So no to Pitt and no to Nashville. Wanna rock my Knoxville jersey tonight since we are gonna be hockey buddies" asked Pete?

"Better than my other options." stated Tori Lynn. She whipped her head around at Richie "and you are so not in charge."

"Just watching out for you Boo. I promised Bodie." said Richie.

Tori Lynn crossed the locker room and walked out the door with Pete following behind her. Richie wasn't sure if that was a good thing or a bad thing.

"So that's a no on her wearing my jersey" laughed Viktor. Shea Weber smacked him upside the head as he walked out of the locker room.

Tori Lynn was fuming when she got to the concession stand of the ice center. Richie wants her to be around then treats her like she is 12. She was going to kill him in his sleep. And why was the baby Neal stalking her.

"Why are you following me?" she questioned.

"Because you just walked out on the only ride you have to the apartment. So you can either go back to Richie. Go wait on Jamie and cause friction between him and Richie. Or you can go grab lunch with me and then I will take you over to the apartment." explained Pete.

"Depends" she said

"On what?" asked Pete

"Can we run by a bar on the way home?"

"Hell we can hit a liquor store if you want" replied Pete smiling.

"Oh put that charming smile away Baby Neal. Not to drink. I need to see if I can get in there rotation for open mic night." she explained.

"I can't help but we charming. It's a gift all us Neal boys have. Well except Nicky, but he is an ass to everyone." smirked Pete "We can hit however many you want while they nap."

"Deal" she said smiling at him for the first time. Holy shit, Jamie was going to kill him but he might not give her back.

"Can I at least text Beavis and Butthead and tell them what we are doing? I would prefer Cluner not rip my head off before my NHL debut."

"I guess" replied Tori Lynn "Tell them we will see them at the game."

"You don't want to change before the game" he asked.

"Crap I don't have a key." she replied.

"I'll tell Jamie to leave Cluner's key on the counter so you can get in."

"You are a thinker Peter Neal. I just might like you." she replied as she climbed into his SUV.

Notes