What Dreams Forget

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Tori Lynn snuggled into the blankets. Well that was odd. Where was Neal? She rolled over and looked at his side of the bed. It was empty. Not really Nixon was curled up in his spot. Tori Lynn was positive that she had cuddled up with Neal for a nap. She grabbed her phone and looked at the time. It was 6:30 pm. She had been asleep for 3 hours. Tori Lynn stroked a hand over Nixon. She has never spent much time around pit bulls but if Nixon was the norm for the breed they had gotten a bad rep for no reason. Nixon laid his giant head on her torso. Why did all the males in this apartment think she was a pillow. She scratched him behind his ears.


"Where's your daddy Nixon?" she asked the dog. He perked up when he heard his name but quickly snuggled back into his place on Tori Lynn "Well you act like Jamie. You both ignore me and sleep on me."

"I don't think it's all that dramatic" laughed Neal from the bedroom door.


"It's horrible" said Tori Lynn "I go to sleep with you wake up with dog. You were all about the snuggling then you disappear. You are going to give me a complex Neal."


James crawled on to the bed and stretched out beside her on her side of the bed. "Had to take care of something" he replied "Didn't want to wake you up. Kind of hoped I could crawl back in the bed with you." He pulled the duvet back and slid in next to her. He pressed his body up against hers.


"Damn it Neal you are ice cold" she whined "Now I am cold." James wrapped himself around her. She wiggled as he put his cold hands on her ribcage.


"I hate you" she said with her teeth chattering. James laughed. He then stuck is bottom lip out and pouted at her.


"You don't hate me." he said "I went and out and braved the snow for you."


"Snow" she asked "It's snowing?"


"Yes" he replied "Well it's flurrying and the entire city is panicking."


"Do we have bread, milk, and eggs?" quizzed Tori Lynn


"Chase said that would be your first question." laughed Neal "I'm gonna lie and say your first question was it's snowing?" Neal intertwined their legs. "My lips are cold. I think we should warm them up too."


"No way mister" she said "I'm still not warm from your hands." James put his cold lips against her neck. "Oh you are cold. What did you do?"


"I ran down to meet Chase" he replied placing open mouthed kisses up the column of her neck to her ear. She shivered James was pretty sure it wasn't from the cold.


"What did Chase need?" asked Tori Lynn


"Umm to see me" said Neal kissing the corner of her mouth. "He brought me a little something to pay me back for the Preds tickets. Plus I gave him tickets to the Boston game tomorrow night so you have Chase and Sam with you tomorrow night. At least 2 people in my seats will be wearing Preds gear." Neal kissed her mouth. "Wanna see what he brought me?" asked Neal kissing her again. Tori Lynn started to respond but Neal didn't give her a chance. His mouth covered hers. James moved so that she was flat on her back and he was on top of her. His tongue pressed against the seam of her lips. Not to be denied it slid against hers. Lazy drugging kisses that made her want to stay in the bed with him forever. Forget the tour, forget hockey, and hide for the rest of her life and kiss Neal. Neal stopped kissing her to tease her "wanna see or not?"
"Yes I want to see" said Tori Lynn as he kissed her neck again "But you keep distracting me. And you scared poor Nixon away." He rolled them on to their sides with her trapped against him facing him. "Jamie" she said as she moved her hips against his.


"In my hoodie pocket" he replied.


"Is this some kind of trick" she asked.


"Nope" said Neal stealing a quick kiss. He rolled over on his back and laid very still. "Check my pocket." He felt her hands move over his abdomen. Then one slide into his pocket. She got a hold on the pair of passes. Tori Lynn pulled them free and brought them out of the blanket. She levered up and sat in the bed and looked at the lanyards. James rolled over on his side an was leaning on one arm.


"Whiskey Myers" she exclaimed "These are for tonight. It's 7 pm. The concert starts at 9pm."


"I guess you need to quit lounging around in my bed and get ready" said James. Tori Lynn tackled him and gave him a smacking kiss.


"I'll be ready in 30 minutes. You pretty city boy better move your ass." she instructed as she climbed out of his bed.


"Chase said to tell you dress for the stage." said Neal "But I say it's snowing"


"You'll keep me warm" she replied as she sashayed out of his apartment.


James climbed out of his bed. He wasn't sure what to wear to a country concert. He never really watched anyone other than Tori Lynn. James grabbed a pair of jeans, a black under shirt, and a green and black buffalo plaid shirt. He pulled on his beat up hiking boots. Close enough to redneck wear for him. He fussed with his hair for a few minutes. He grabbed his phone, wallet, and passes for the concert and went next door to retrieve his girl.


Colby answered the door for James. Colby then flopped back down on the couch. He and Kase were watching Game of Thrones. It looked like the first season to James. He sat on the loved seat and watched with the guys.


"I have 15 more minutes James Neal" she called from her door. She was wear just a bra and jeans. Her hair was in a ponytail and she had curlers threaded through it. He really hoped she was going to wear more than a bra.


"I'm just waiting babe" he replied "I just wanted noted that your city boy is ready before you."


"Suck it Neal" she called going back into her room. Kase and Colby were both laughing.


"What are you going to do while we tour?" asked Colby.


"I figure I will facetime a lot, call a lot, and fly to where ever in the hell you all are." said James. Colby snorted and snuggled up against Kase. James wasn't the only one dreading the tour.
Tori Lynn came out 10 minutes later. James looked at her. He was a lucky son of bitch. Tori Lynn had on jeans, a light colored plaid button down, with a cream colored quilted vest. She had on knee high brown riding boots with lacey socks peeking over the top. Her hair was down in a riot of waves. Her make up was flawless. James walked towards her and she laughed.


"Colby loan him a pair of real boots"


"Come you can wear my ropers" said Colby. The boys disappeared into the bedroom. "Neal I swear you can wear brown ropers with anything."


Tori Lynn giggled and walked in the bedroom "He's right Neal. Now who is holding up the show?"
Neal came out of the bedroom with the ropers on. He stood in front of Tori Lynn and the boys. "You redneck up pretty well" she said standing up and grabbing his hand "Now move your ass."


"Where y'all going?" asked Colby


"He got me tickets to see Whiskey Myers" she answered towing him out the door by his hand.


"She is a little excited" called Neal over his shoulder "Your game tickets are on my counter. We'll be back before midnight. I have a game tomorrow. Then again she might keep me out all night as a form a sabotage we play Boston tomorrow."


"Keep mouthing Neal you can sleep in your giant bed alone." said Tori Lynn as they entered the elevator. He laughed. "I'm serious. Better quit laughing."


"You make me happy" said Neal leaning in and giving her a quick kiss. "So I have another surprise."


"No more surprises" she admonished "We talked about this."


"You said normal date stuff was okay" replied James as he unlocked the Rover.


"Maybe" she answered as he opened her door. Tori Lynn climbed into the truck "What have you done now?"


James sat in the driver's seat and headed towards lower Broadway. "I talked to Bergeron today."


"Why" asked Tori Lynn


"Because you want to see them. Bergeron and Shea are going to make it happen."


"I don't need to see them. I get to watch them tomorrow night." she said quietly "I don't want anything to cause drama."


"No drama I promised Shea and Patrice" James smiled at her "Best behavior. I swear."


"James Deter Neal"


"I promise" he replied "I will not say anything to Marchand. Maybe you can convince Looch and Miller not kill me."


"Stay away from Miller"


"That isn't reassuring babe" laughed Neal


"I've never met him."


"Fine" said Neal "I hope I survive the night."


"Mamaw's right" said Tori Lynn as they walked into the bar "You are a drama queen. You'll be fine."


"I am not a drama queen. I haven't been on the ice with Marchand since the Orpik mess."


"My boys are gentleman. You'll be fine. Plus you have Shea and Jos."


"Yeah well they don't always like me." said Neal.


"Just don't be a dick, Jamie" she said as she pulled him near the stage "Just be you and play the way I know you can." James smiled down at her and kissed her. "I'm mean it hockey only."


"You got it" he answered kissing her again "Babe will you do me a favor?"


"Maybe" she said against his lips.


"Neutral clothes tomorrow" he asked "Even my ego can't take you at home in a Marchand jersey. They will never let me live it down."


"Neutral I can do" She didn't finish her sentence because the band fired up playing "Wild Baby Shake Me." James smiled.


Tori Lynn was bouncing up and down in front of him singing with the band. She was moving against him as the crowd moved in closer to the stage. She seemed at ease in the crowd. He however wanted to make people move away from her. James pulled her back against him. James was quickly learning that there was more grinding in country music than he thought. She danced and sang along for the next hour. She was in her element. Cole had set this up so he understood that this was like breathing for her.


Tori Lynn turned and looked up at him. "We don't have to go meet the band. Take me home Neal."


"We can stay" he said "We don't get a whole lot of normal dates."


"It's 10:15 pm the night before a game. The way I see it Neal you have an hour before the rules are invoked. So we stay and meet the band..." She laughed as James pulled her out of the bar. They walked out into the snow covered street.


"It's always pretty but I hate being cold" she said as the snowflakes fell around them.


"You have thin southern blood." he said smiling at her. James tipped her face up to his. "When we go to Whitby I'll have to keep you warm." He teased. Neal kissed her with the snow falling around them underneath the Broadway lights. Tori Lynn couldn't help but think she might like Whitby if it involved slow kisses in the snow.

Notes