Tori Lynn was currently sitting in her living room floor laughing hysterically at Mattias Ekholm. How could the boy be that athletic and be so uncoordinated. It was mind boggling. Matti wanted to be able to dance with Addi the next time they were out. Tori Lynn had assured him that Addi was content to grind on him, but Matti wanted to do better for her. However, Mattias Ekholm had no rhythm. Tori Lynn looked at her phone. Matti and the Mafia had been home for about an hour. Still no Neal. She knew he had his diving fine meeting this morning after skate. She just hadn't realized that it would take this long. She was watching Matti struggle to count the beats in the song. She laughed again.


"Matti, can I call in back up?" asked Tori Lynn "Please just Sam and Chase?" Matti was sweating and red faced. He flopped down in the floor beside Tori Lynn. He nodded consent. Matti pulled his shirt off and tossed it on the couch. He laid on the floor while Tori Lynn texted the boys. Somehow he thought a few minutes and he could dance with Addi. Now, he was sweaty and pretty sure Tori Lynn though he was rhythm less and tone deaf.


TL: SOS I need help
Sam: Whatcha need doll?
Chase: You okay?
TL: I'm fine but I am having a dance emergency
Sam: The fuck Tori Lynn?
Chase: What the hell U-turn?
TL: Trying to teach Ekholm to dance with Addi. He needs help. Boy help
Chase: No guy needs boy help to dance
Sam: So Footloose
TL: Worse HELP!!!! I'll feed you
Chase: Be there in a few.
Sam: Me too.


Tori Lynn left Matti laying in the floor and headed to the kitchen. She threw some water on to boil and pulled a few things from the freezer.


"Matti, are you allergic to anything or anything you won't eat?" asked Tori Lynn. Matti shook his head no and ventured into the kitchen. Tori Lynn laid out several tomatoes, spinach, shrimp, garlic, and parmesan cheese. Matti laughed when she climbed on the counter and pulled down a grater box, several spices, pasta, and strainer.


"I would have gotten those down." he replied "You want me to chop tomatoes or grate cheese?"


Tori Lynn eyed him suspiciously and handed him the grater. He smiled at her. "I can manage to help in the kitchen, Filip puts us all to work."


"Prince is a smart man." said Tori Lynn "I'm teaching Neal." She chopped the garlic and tomatoes. Matti watched her heat a large skillet. She added olive oil to the pan. She then tossed in the garlic. "Can you get me 2 cans of crushed tomatoes down?"


Matti pulled them down and handed them to her. The door flew open and Colby came into the kitchen.
"Shirtless Swedish sous chef? I approve, babe." smirked Colby "Where is your Canadian?"


"Still in the principal's office." said Tori Lynn. Matti went back to grating cheese. The mafia boys all seemed to just roll with Colby's shenanigans. Tori Lynn managed to get a sauce built and simmering. She had salted the water and was waiting for it to boil.


"I think I could make this on my own" said Matti.


"So I teach you to cook you teach me Swedish?" asked Tori Lynn because their first deal was an abysmal failure.


"No deal" laughed Matti "I'll get it I swear."


"What is he going to get" asked Colby filching a tomato from the pile.


"I'm teaching Matti to dance" replied Tori Lynn "He is rhythmically challenged"


"White boy" said Colby shrugging his shoulders.


"Should I be offended?" asked Mattie


"Yes" replied Sam and Chase coming in the apartment.


"Thought so" said Matti looking at Colby


"If it's any help most white boys have no rhythm." explained Colby "However Tori Lynn brought the hips and abs twins to help you."


Chase and Sam laughed. "Alright let's see it" said Chase. Tori Lynn left Colby sitting on the counter in charge of the pasta. She pulled Matti into the living room. Tori Lynn cued up Chains on her iPhone. Chase and Sam were standing near her and Matti. Tori Lynn started moving her body to the beat against Matti. Ekholm was moving his hip in an awkward side to side swaying motion. Chase, Sam, and Colby were all assessing the situation.


"Tori Lynn turn around." instructed Sam. Tori Lynn turned her back against Matti and started moving her hips against him.


"Grab her hips." said Chase. Matti awkwardly grabbed her. "Now follow her hips with yours." Matti was still out of rhythm.


"You have to roll your hips." said Sam "Not just shake your ass."


"Sam's right. You're swaying side to side. Works at concerts and for slow dancing but not for what Tori Lynn is showing you." Chase held his hand out to Tori Lynn and motioned for her to come to him. Chase turned Tori Lynn so that her back was against him. He motioned to Sam who restarted the song. He began swaying slowly side to side in time with the music. "You can start that way. But you got move your hips." Chase started moving against Tori Lynn. They were both rolling their hips grinding in time to the songs. Matti was watching. Sam was leaning in whispering to Matti. Chase spun Tori Lynn around so they were face to face. His hands dropped to her hips and he pulled her closer against him. He rocked his body against hers.


"See what he is doing. It's the same mechanics just your clothes are on." said Colby.


"Same way you would grind on a girl if you were making out on the couch. It's just vertical." replied Sam.


"I'm sure there isn't a lot of side to side, Ekholm" admonished Colby "Addi is fucking loud enough. Shit's going down."


"Turn on Ride" said Tori Lynn. She motioned for Sam to come to her.


"How the hell is that fair?" asked Chase "It's my song! We sing it together."


"Exactly" replied Tori Lynn "Save it for the stage mister."


Tori Lynn had her back against Sam's front and was swaying in time with the music. She put her arm up and touched Sam's face and neck. He moved against her as his hands skimmed down her torso. They moved against each other. Sam moved her so she was facing him. His leg was now between her legs. Tori Lynn was rolling her hips against him and Sam was matching her movements. Chase and Colby were giving a running commentary. Matti wasn't sure Neal would appreciate Sam nearly fucking Tori Lynn in the living room. When the song was over Sam turned loose of Tori Lynn and she grabbed Matti.


"Ready?" she asked. Matti shook his head no. Tori Lynn laughed and smiled. "Yes, you are." Sam turned on his song Speakers. "This one is slow. Now come on Matti. I've seen you skate backwards, I know you can move it." Matti started out with the swaying. But soon enough figured out and found a rhythm. He wasn't leading by any means but he was able to follow Tori Lynn's movements. Tori Lynn moved so she was in the same position with him that she had been with Sam. She moved herself against his leg. She leaned back away from Matti and moved her hips closer. He managed to hold on to her and pull her back flush up against him. She wound her arms around his neck so they were more slow dancing than grinding. Matti spun her around and wrapped his arms around her. By the time Bed of My Chevy poured out of the speakers Matti was ignoring the boys and was just moving with Tori Lynn. Chase cut in and taught him the basic two step. Then handed her back to Matti. Matti picked it up quicker less pelvic action. Sam showed him how to spin her and pull her into sweetheart position. Tori Lynn pointed out it was strange looking because Sam was 17 inches taller than her. Sam then played Shake That by Eminem.


"This one is very dirty and Addi loves it" laughed Tori Lynn she started dancing around Sam. Matti's eyes got big when she started moving. Sam was behind her dancing. She pulled Matti against her front. She was dropping down and grinding against them both. Matti was able to keep up. Tori Lynn was laughing and started moving faster. Sam abandoned them and watched them move.


"Hell yeah!" said Chase "Get it, Matti."


"They grow up so fast." teased Colby.


As the song was going off, Neal walked into the apartment. He stopped looked from Chase, to Sam to Colby. Then finally looked at Matti and Tori Lynn. He wasn't sure what was occurring in Tori Lynn's apartment. In fact, he was wondering if he walked out and came back in if the scene before him would disappear. Neal shook his head. Knowing Tori Lynn it would only get worse.


"Do I even want to know?" asked Neal "What the hell, Ekholm?"


Tori Lynn untangled herself from Matti. "I'm teaching him to dance." she replied as if this were a normal response to the ghetto block party in her living room. Neal looked at them skeptically and nodded at Chase and Sam. "They helped."


"Why does it feel like dad caught us with boys in the apartment while he was at work?" asked Colby "Lunch is ready." Everyone filtered into the kitchen. Colby was handing out plates.


"So, can I send the video I took to Kase, if I make him swear to show no one?"


"No!" said Matti panicked "Last thing I need is it on the Tron at the arena."


"Oh, it's nowhere near that good. Half naked Swede or not." teased Colby. Matti looked at Tori Lynn for help.


Tori Lynn laughed and hugged Neal. "Everything okay?" she asked looking up at him.


"Fines" he answered "Lots of bitching. Lots of Nealer behave speeches. A lot of be on your best behavior for Boston."


"Did you tell them I've threatened you over my boys?" asked Tori Lynn.


"What are you wearing to the game tonight?" questioned Matti "We can't have our girl rocking black and gold tonight. Not even the socks Tori Lynn."


"I'll wear my boots, they won't see the socks. They are my lucky hockey socks. James made me promise that I would be neutral!" exclaimed Tori Lynn. She looked up at Neal "I have to wear my socks."


"That's fine." smirked Neal "If they win your socks aren't lucky for me and they lose your socks aren't lucky for them. So, I get rid of the Bruins socks either way."


Tori Lynn gasped and smacked him "You are nappin' alone!" she sassed "Without me and my socks mister."


The guys laughed. All of them including Neal were busy stuffing their faces with pasta. Tori Lynn sat on the edge of the counter with her bowl. She was happy they all were in the apartment and getting along. Matti put his plate in the dishwasher and kissed Tori Lynn's cheek. "No black and gold, Bae. None. Since Addi's at work feel free to come nap with me." He winked at her and grabbed his shirt.


"There will be no napping with the Mafia boys!" called James pouting.


"Shut it, Neal!" called Tori Lynn "the mafia boys didn't curse my lucky socks. Finish lunch so you can go nap. ALONE!"


"She gets mean when people mess with her Bruins." said Colby "I will be wearing my Smith jersey tonight. What about you guys?"


"I have a Smashville shirt." replied Sam "No bad juju my way."


"I'm going with a Fisher one." said Chase, he smiled evilly at Tori Lynn. He sidled up to her on her counter perch. "I have a bet for you, Miss Hall."


"No bets on this game!" wailed Tori Lynn "I'm torn enough as it is."


"Not this game." smirked Chase "Saturday. UNC vs UK."


"My Wildcats can beat your old Tar Heels any day of the week." replied Tori Lynn "Name your terms."


"Whoever's team wins, the loser wears the winning team’s shirt at the first concert venue." supplied Chase. Tori Lynn nodded at him. She then looked at Sam and Colby.


"I say you've got a bet." said Tori Lynn "My Cats will be all over y'all. Sam, Colby? Y'all want in?"


"If you play UAB we'll talk darlin'." laughed Sam "I think you'll look good in Kentucky blue, Rice."


"Absolutely not" said Colby "I bleed orange and football."


"You're girls are awesome." said Tori Lynn "Pat Summitt, is the original head bitch in charge."


"Aww, now U-Turn Carolina blue will match your eyes." teased Chase heading for the door "You in Neal?"


"I'm just going to back her play and loan you a UK shirt when you lose." said Neal smiling at Tori Lynn.


"He's just trying to get you to nap with him." retorted Chase.


Tori Lynn wrapped an arm around Neal "It's working. He knows my heart is with my Cats."
Neal nodded. Chase and Sam grabbed their tickets and called their good byes. "Be careful guys sees you tonight. We have glass seats."


"Please keep my alleged girlfriend from climbing the glass to leave with Brad Marchand." said Neal.


"No worries" sassed Tori Lynn "I can only handle one asshole at a time." The boys laughed as they left the apartment. James smiled down at her. It was that ‘you know you love me’ smile. She wanted to smack him. But he was adorable when he did that. Why was he so fucking adorable? Somethings she would never know. "Keep smirking and you'll be napping alone, James Deter Neal."


"Two more sleeps and you'll be gone babe." he pouted "You won't make me sleep by myself. It messed with my hockey juju." Tori Lynn smiled deviously. "You brat!" exclaimed Neal "You are trying to destroy me. Cheating for your Bruins."


"We're in your head Neal!" she called over her shoulder as she walked into her bedroom. Neal stared after her for a minute. He was trying to decide if she was serious. He walked into her room and found her sprawled out on her bed on her phone. She motioned for him to be quiet.


"Yes, I just need to borrow it for tonight. Yes, it was Neal's idea. No problem. I'll run up before y'all leave." she answering the questions from the person on the phone "Yes, I promise it's fine. You are the best." She clicked the phone off and smirked at him.


"What are you up to?" asked Neal coming to stand beside the bed "We napping here?"


"I don't think I've agreed to nap with you, Mr. Neal." she said smiling up at him from her bed. James crawled across her bed and stretched out beside her. Neal maneuvered until he was laying on her torso. Tori Lynn stroked a hand into his hair. "I guess trapping me in my bed is one way to go about it."


"Tori Lynn can we please just snuggle?" he asked "It's been a shit day already. And I know I have to share you later. So, can I be completely selfish and just hold you for the next 2 hours."


Tori Lynn nodded and continued to rub his scalp. "You want to talk?" she asked quietly. James turned into her touch.


"Not at all" he replied "I just need to be around you."


"We napping here?" she asked. James was up and off the bed before she got an answer. He grabbed her by the hand and towed her out of the room. Once inside his apartment Nixon greeted them with slobbery kisses. James slung her over his shoulder and carried her to his room." Jamie, I can walk."


"I know but I like carrying you around. I might act like King Kong and climb up to the catwalk tonight with you."


"Jamie, I don't want any of the Bruins. I love you." she said kissing his lips. "Well, maybe Miller but he is dating Hadlee Reynolds."


"Miller, eh? So if he wasn't dating anyone?” asked James tossing his shirt in the hamper. Tori Lynn crawled into the bed and laughed. "Should I know Hadlee Reynolds?"


"She was a UK cheerleader. Her bro was our quarterback. I've met her a few times. I danced for UK for 2 years. Then Bodie died. I doubt she remembers me. But I remember her. She is gorgeous. Miller is a lucky guy."


"Wait you were a college cheerleader?" asked Neal laying beside her.


"Nope" replied Tori Lynn "I was a Dance Cat. Not a cheerleader. They are 20 time national champs. They are amazing."


"There are pics of you as basically a UK ice girl floating around?"


"Yeah" she replied "Not a big deal. But I thought Brad might bring it up."


"Marchand knows?" he asked


"Yes, they came and watched us at a tournament with Bodie." James laid his head on her chest. He wrapped his arm and leg around her. Tori Lynn realized he was insecure. He had no need to be. "Jamie, I love you."


"I love you, too." he said snuggling her closer. "Now, Miss Thing, you have to sing to me."


Tori Lynn thought about it for a few minutes. She began singing to him. James smiled. She was singing Like I Can by Sam Smith. James listened contently. She began singing his favorite. He was asleep before the second verse of She Talks to Angels. Tori Lynn watched him sleep for a moment. She wanted to laugh, sings, or yell. Jamie had a bad day. He didn't reach for booze. He reach for her. Somewhere in the back of her mind that screamed he loved her. And that was all she wanted at that moment.

Notes