Tori Lynn was sitting on a throw pillow in the floor in front of Neal, she was trying not to laugh as Neal was attempting to detangle her hair. She would be bald if she didn’t stop this attempt soon. Tori Lynn grimaced and Nixon laid his blocky head on her lap. He would intermittently growl at Neal.

“Babe, this is not sexy.” said Neal in defeat.

“Mr. I’ll Brush It Out.” laughed Tori Lynn taking the brush from him. Tori Lynn kissed his scowling face. Her hair was a damn mess. It was like a series of bird nests. Tori Lynn got to her feet and headed to the bathroom. “You coming, Neal?” she asked.

“Where we going?” asked Neal following her. His white t-shirt hit him in the face as he came into the bedroom. Well fuck, she’s naked, so I am following her to the fucking moon if she wants. Nixon was also following them. The dog seemed to be following Tori Lynn and pouting. Neal petted the dog and shut him outside the bathroom door. He immediately heard a high pitched whine. Sorry boy. Only have a few more hours.

James flopped down on the counter in the bathroom. He knew if he got in the shower with Tori Lynn she’d never make it to the bus on time. “When are you all leaving?” asked James.

“We are supposed to meet at the Bridgestone parking lot at 5pm.” answered Tori Lynn “I don’t think we roll out until closer to 7pm.”

“That seems late.” replied James watching her lather up her hair. He could watch her do anything and be content. He wasn’t sure how he was going to walk away tonight. He hoped she liked the surprise he had for her. In the past, James would have given a girl something ridiculously expensive to keep her attention. That wouldn’t work with Tori Lynn. He had put a lot of thought into her gift. He wasn’t used to thinking when it came to women. But he’d never been with a “real girl” per Pauly.

“Apparently, with a big convoy like we have it’s easier to travel at night. Plus, we can sleep through the majority of the driving.” she explained.

“Babe, you sleep when the wheels roll.” laughed Neal “Do they realize that the sound of the open road renders you catatonic?”

“I am not that bad!” exclaimed Tori Lynn.

“Hodgenville, Prestonsburg, Hodgenville, Nashville, and St. Louis.” replied Neal.

“Maybe I just trust your driving!” called Tori Lynn from under the spray “Hey, toss my conditioner in here.” James grabbed the neon green bottle from the bag in the floor and handed it to her. She tossed out the matching shampoo bottle. James dried it and tucked it into the bag. He looked around, his bathroom looked neat. He hated it. All of her stuff was packed into the bags at his feet.

“I give it an hour before you are passed out on Chase or Colby.” said James.

James watched Tori Lynn working the conditioner through her hair. It was getting longer and longer. It was almost to the waist band of the cutoffs she favored. She mostly kept it up. Yesterday he had pulled it down, and she was still trying to untangle it. They had both woken up tangled in her hair. He frowned it was going to be 15 days before he woke up with her again. The conditioner bottle flew out of the shower at Neal’s head. He caught it, dried it off, and put it back in the bag. Tori Lynn started to turn off the shower “Leave it on, I’m getting in.” he stated. Tori Lynn stuck her head out of the shower and Neal handed her a towel. She wrapped up in the towel as he climbed in.

Tori Lynn grabbed the shirt he took off and the one she had been wearing. She made a t-shirt turban out of the one she had been wearing. His she folded and tucked into the bag she was using as her carry on. She might need a support group. Hello my name is Tori Lynn and I have at least a third of my boyfriend’s dirty laundry in my suitcase. Okay, it wasn’t that bad. She now had his Pens hoody that she considered hers, a Stars shirt that she loved, one of his button downs, and a Nashville hoody. And now the shirt she had just stolen. Of course she had packed his jerseys and a lot of her Preds shirts, a girl had to represent. Colby had laughed that the amount of navy and gold was rivaling the amount of black and gold.

“Brat, do you have my 412 shirt in your hair?” questioned James coming into the room.

“No, Sir.” she replied as she pulled her shirt on.

“That’s what you are wearing?” asked James taking in her outfit.

“No one to impress.” said Tori Lynn “What’s wrong with my outfit?” she asked turning a full circle.

“They’re your pajamas.” intoned Neal. Tori Lynn laughed. She flitted over to James and kissed him again.

“You keep being scowly.” said Tori Lynn “You’re the only one I want to see my Pjs. Besides, your hoody covers to my knees.” Tori Lynn pulled his mouth down to hers she kissed him “Please don’t be pouty until I leave. You have to take me and Colby over in about an half hour.” He nodded and headed to his closet to get dressed.

“First show is in Pittsburgh, right?” called Neal.

“Yep, at the Consol.” replied Tori Lynn bouncing into his closet. “Just us and 23,000 Pens fans.”
She smiled up at James. “I’m probably gonna get booed by your legions of adoring female fans.”

“Good thing I don’t care about them.” answered James. “Might as well add this to the stash of my clothes going on tour with you.” he mused as he handed her a Pens jersey. Tori Lynn looked at him and frowned. “You wear my Pens hoody all the time.”

“That’s different.” she said still looking at the jersey. “Plus, Pauly and I have this on lock down for tomorrow night.”

“So you’ll wear Pauly’s jersey, but not mine.” teased James pulling her up against him.

“I did not say that, James Deter Neal.” she answered “I just happen to know that the other boys will all be getting Pens jerseys. I on the other hand have a plan, and if you push your luck I’ll wear Sunshine’s jersey.”

“Sunshine, eh?” he said backing her up against the closet door “Sunshine is just a kid. He can’t handle you.” James mouth descended on hers. It wasn’t long until her legs were wrapped around his waist and she was lost in all that was James Neal. They broke apart when someone cleared there throat in the door way of his bedroom.

“Well, I’m packed and ready to go.” said Colby laughing “We need to leave in 20 minutes. Bad news is the guys are here now to load our instruments. Are you planning on getting dressed?”

“I am dressed.” she groused as James sat her on her feet.

“I asked the same question.” shrugged James “So, I need you to call when she falls asleep. I’m betting under an hour.” Tori Lynn growled at them and flopped down on James’ bed.

“Will you please go with Colby to get my instruments loaded? I need to do something with my hair.” asked Tori Lynn. James nodded. He simultaneously smacked her ass and stole a kiss.

“Oww, Neal!” she pouted.

“Maybe if you had on clothes that wouldn’t have hurt so much.” said Neal instructing Colby to grab several of Tori Lynn’s bags. They might as well load the Rover as the instruments were loaded.

Tori Lynn watched as Neal and Colby carried her last two bags down. All she had left upstairs was her carry on and her purse. Tori Lynn watched Nixon snoring in his bed. She was going to miss Nixon. Addi had promised to take care of him during away games. Tori Lynn unwrapped her hair and brushed it out. She managed to braid it into submission. She pulled on a bright pair of tribal print harem pants that matched the tank top and sports bra that she had on. Apparently the boys felt she needed more clothes on. She grabbed a black cardigan out of Neal’s closet and pulled it on. Tori Lynn pulled on her black glittery Toms. She walked around Neal’s apartment and made sure she didn’t leave anything. She tucked her charger and her cables into her carry on. She grabbed her favorite guitar and put it in the case. It was going on the bus with her. She had one thing left to do for Neal. Tori Lynn grabbed her notebook and wrote him a note.

Jamie,

I recorded this for you. No one else has it. You can download it on to your laptop and put it on your iPhone or iPad. This way I can sing to you anytime. There are a few other songs with it that I think you will like. Take care of yourself and Nixon. I’ll miss both my guys. It’s just 14 sleeps until I get home. Funny how this apartment became home. I love you. Don’t forget me.
Love,
Tori Lynn

Tori Lynn left the note and the jump drive on his pillow where he would find them. She stopped to pet Nixon. She kissed his boxy head. “Be a good boy for your daddy and Auntie Addi.” said Tori Lynn. She walked out of Neal’s room when she heard the door open.

“You ready, babe?” asked Neal. Tori Lynn shook her head. She could do this. She could leave Neal here in Nashville. She could trust him. She could trust in their relationship. She could go on tour. “You sure? You don’t look so sure.” he said opening his arms. Tori Lynn snuggled into his embrace. She wrapped her arms around his waist and laid her head on his collar bone. She squeezed him. “I’ll be right here when you get back, Tori Lynn. Nixon and I will mark the days off on the calendar. If I can fly out to one of your shows, I will.”

“I’m just used to you leaving.” she said quietly.

“I know, this shit sucks.” he groused “I’m not sure how you do it every week. I am nearly batshit crazy here.”

“Well I know you will call me, text me, and Face Time me. And I get to see you on TV.” she explained.

“I will still call you, text you, and Face Time you.” he replied “I’ll be seeing you on TV soon enough.” James kissed her quickly “Come on, or we are going to be late for your first tour.” She nodded as James grabbed her guitar and bag. “I see you got dressed. Do I have any clothes left in my closet?”

“James Deter Neal, you have more clothes than me, Colby, and Addi put together.” she admonished as they rode the elevator to the garage. She was shocked when she got off the elevator and the mafia guys, a few of the Preds, and Addi were all standing around Neal’s vehicle.

“There’s our girl!” called Matti. He pulled her into a hug. “Kick ass, bae. If you need us, call. I’ll take care of Addi while you are gone.” Tori Lynn squeezed Matti before being pulled in the opposite direction. Carter Hutton swung her around.

“No fraternizing with other goalies.” instructed Hutton “Don’t except drinks from strangers. Always open your own cans and bottles. Keep your finger over the opening of the bottle or can you are drinking from.”

“I’m going on tour Hutts,” she laughed “Not to a frat mixer.”

“It’s probably kind of the same thing.” replied Hutts sitting her on her feet “I’ve seen Almost Famous. You want my goalie paddle for protection?” He gave her a smacking kiss before Prince hugged her. He was quiet, but promised to feed Neal while she was away.

Shea stepped up and gave her a big bear hug “I’ll watch your idiot on the ice. You just be safe out on tour.” He hugged her again “I’ll watch him off the ice, too.”

“I can hear you all.” said Neal.

“Good,” growled Shea “Maybe you’ll refrain from needing watched.”

Kase stepped up and hugged her “You watch my boy.” he said quietly. Tori Lynn promised she would. Addi squealed and bounced. Tori Lynn hugged her and promised to talk daily.

Calle stepped up and hugged her and kissed her gently “For once I don’t envy Neal. Be careful, Alskling. If you need us or want to come home just call.” Tori Lynn nodded.

“I love all of y’all!” exclaimed Tori Lynn “I’ll be back in 15 days. Take care of Jamie for me. And try and win a few games while I’m gone. Addi take care of Nix. Kase, I got you.” Tori Lynn climbed into the Rover and was almost in tears.

James grabbed her hand on the console “Babe, don’t cry. I told them not to overwhelm you. It will be fine. I’m going to miss you like fucking crazy.” Tori Lynn nodded. James rolled down the window “Kase, you want to ride with me? Misery loves company and said bullshit.” Kase nodded and climbed in the back beside Colby. Tori Lynn waved at the rest of her friends as they pulled out.

The drive over to the Bridgestone seemed even shorter than normal. Kase and Colby were talking quietly in the back seat. Tori Lynn didn’t want to eavesdrop but she did notice that Colby was snuggled up whispering to Kase. They pulled up beside the grouping of buses.

Chase, Sam, and several band members were throwing around a Nerf ball. There were instruments and set pieces everywhere. It was object chaos. Neal pulled to a stop near the buses. They climbed out of the Rover.

“Catch, Neal!” yelled Chase as he whizzed a football at Neal. James caught it and tossed it back. The guys all came over.

“Where do you want all her stuff?” asked Neal. Tori Lynn smacked him.

“I have a guitar, one bag, and my carry on.” replied Tori Lynn “everything else is ready to be stowed.”

“For sleeping purposes, one of you will be with me, one of you with Sam. For riding purposes, you can come and go from bus to bus. You might want to be on one of FGL buses for makeup hair purposes. They have the girls.” explained Chase. Neal was eyeballing Chase. “Dude, we have multiple bunks in the bus. Plus, the couch makes a bed.”

“You mean I don’t get to snuggle with Sam?” asked Tori Lynn smacking Neal “I don’t assume you are going to shack up with Ribs.”

Sam laughed “You’ll be sick of all of us baby girl. But I am down to snuggle whenever you want.”

“Sorry,” said James hugging her tightly “Not used to real girls.” Tori Lynn kissed him gently. “Wait right here. I need to grab something.”

“You’re boy gonna be okay?” asked Tyler. She nodded. “The girls are super excited that you are coming.”

“I’m excited to get to know them as well. Nervous.”

“Don’t be baby girl, you and Colby are gonna do great” said BK.

The load in took less than an hour. They were loading on to the buses. She was going to be with Chase and Colby was going to go with Sam. Depending on who was on who’s nerves they would switch. James had calmed down. He wasn’t ready for her to leave, but he had accepted it.

James had his arms wrapped around her. “I love you. I’ll see you soon. I left something on the bus for you. Don’t open it until you are outside of Nashville.” His mouth found hers. He didn’t want to let her go.

“I’ve got to go, Neal.” she said against his mouth.

“I know.” He replied kissing her again “I love you. See you in 360 hours, babe.”

“I love you too, Jamie. 14 sleeps sounds way better.” She gave him one more kiss and climbed on the bus. Chase leaned towards Neal for a kiss.

“I see how it is man.” laughed Chase “No worries, I’ll take care of her as if she was my little sister.”

“Thanks, man.” said Neal shaking hands with Chase.

Chase winked at him “We are from the South though.” James groaned and watched him climb on the bus. Was it too late to pull her from the bus and run. James stood beside Kase and watched the convoy pull away from the Bridgestone.

“Let’s get drunk.” said Neal looking at Kase. Kase nodded and followed Neal to the Rover.

Tori Lynn was sitting on the couch in the bus staring at the giant blue box Neal had left for her. She wanted to open it but she was trying to wait until they were out of city limits.

Chase was sitting in his recliner adjusting the satellite feed for the TV. “Whatcha got, baby girl?”

“Gift from Neal. But he made me promise not to open it until we were out of Nashville.” She explained. Chase looked out the window.

“I don’t see the Batman building, so I think it’s fair game.” explained Chase “Plus, I am super nosy at this point.”

Tori Lynn laughed and pulled the card off the box. It had open me last in James messy handwriting. She sat the card aside and removed the lid from the giant box. Tori Lynn pulled a six pack of bottles of Ski from the box and sat them on the couch. She then found a huge container of clear gummy bears. She started laughing. Where had Neal found 5lbs of pineapple gummy bears? She kept digging, there was a box inside the box, she pulled it free. She found chocolate bark with gummy bears in it. She then found a six pack of bottles of cherry coke.

“He afraid I’ll starve you?” asked Chase looking at the junk food.

“No, I always make him stop just outside of Nashville for snacks. Usually, Ski and gummy bears.” explained Tori Lynn. She pulled a guys UK shirt from the box. She read the sticky note on the shirt “For the loser!” She started laughing and tossed the shirt at Chase. He caught it and read the post it and started to laugh. She then pulled out a beautiful notebook with a cherry blossom cover out of the box. She opened the cover, it just said Love you with an 18 in the bottom corner. Next was a cream colored version of the red cable knit couch throw. Tori Lynn pulled another box out. She opened it and found a beautiful monogrammed button down. The sticky note said “So you don’t mess up your hair and make up.” She shook her head and pulled the last box out of the bigger box. It was a DSLR camera and instruction manual. The post it read “You only go one your first tour once.” She shook her head. He did it again, it was too much. It was always too much.

Tori Lynn pulled her legs up underneath her and covered up with her throw. All that was left was the card. She opened the envelope and pulled the card free. A black AMEX card fell free from the envelope on to her lap. Damn him, she had given this card back to him. She picked the card up and looked at the message from Neal.

TL,
Yes, I broke the rule again. But you really do only go on your first tour once. Now I know you have snacks. I know you have something to catch all the thoughts you want to tell me. I know you can capture all the memories with the camera. And I know you’ll think about me while you are gone. I am going to fucking miss you. I am counting down the seconds, minutes, hours, days, weeks until you are home.


Before you get mad at me over the AMEX, it makes me feel better to know you have it in an emergency. I know you said you weren’t going to traipse around the country with my card. So you aren’t. That one is yours. I just want you to have it and not need it, than to come up on situation where you need something and we can’t get it to you. Yes, overboard again. I’d say I’m sorry, but I’ll never be sorry for taking care of you.

I realized until you were leaving on this trip that I had never cared when someone left me. I’d never been concerned if they had everything they needed. I just assumed they’d be fine and make it back home. You make me think about someone other than myself. You make me realize that I don’t want to be without you. So try not to be too mad at me. I can’t help it. I love you Tori Lynn Hall.
18

Tori Lynn looked at the AMEX. How in the hell had he managed that? Who knew even AMEX probably bowed to the hockey gods. Chase raised an eyebrow. She tossed him the AMEX. He looked at the black card and tossed it back.

“Baby girl, nothing says love like , I trust you with a credit card with no credit limit.” laughed Chase.

“He can’t do anything normal.” said Tori Lynn “The gummies and cokes are too much. But then everything else.”

“I can’t wait to find the girl who makes me not be able to do normal,” replied Chase “because normally I’m gone before they wake up doll. Normally, I don’t remember their names. And normally, I don’t care if I hurt her. Might make me a dick, but that is what normally looks like.” Tori Lynn listened to Chase. Suddenly she was glad there was nothing normal about her and James.

Notes