Goodbye Girl

Emily's plane landed around two thirty She called Jamie as she waited for his luggage. He mumbled on to her before he fell asleep. She sent Tyler a text, not getting a reply, and put her phone in her pocket. She went outside once her luggage came. She climbed into the first cab she saw, not caring it was someone else's.

She pulled up to James's house near three. She knocked on the door and waited a few seconds before the door opened. She recognized Paul. He smiled, stepping out of the way to let her in. She turned back around since she new he'd be wanting to get home.

"So, uh, it's his knee again." Paul began.

"He said it was his arm." Em shook her head.

Paul chuckled. "All his meds are upstairs in his washroom with everything you need to know." Paul spoke. "I'm home until the tenth so I'll come help you out when I'm not playing or practicing."

"Oh, Paul, you don't have to." Emily obliged.

"Hey, it won't be just me. The whole team'll be in and out. We take care of each other." He smiled. She returned the gesture.
"I'll be over tomorrow morning to cook you two breakfast."

"You're the greatest." She hummed.

"See you around, kid." Paul waved, walking away.

Emily watched him cross the street and walk into his house. She closed the door, walking into the house. James was asleep on the couch. His right leg was propped up. He had shorts on and his knee wrapped up.

She sat on the edge of the couch. His lips were slightly parted. He looked like a child. She smiled as she stroked his hair. He shuffled a bit. He rubbed his face into the couch before looking up.

He noticed it was Emily and a smile spread across his face. He draped his arm over her legs. His rested his face on her thigh. She continued to stroke his hair.

"I've missed you." He hummed.

"I've missed you too." She replied. His breathing steadied again. "Why don't I take you upstairs?"

"That would probably be a lot more comfortable." He said. "Although, I'm okay like this."

"I'm not." Emily stood up. "Come on."

She extended her hand. He took her hand, standing up on his right leg first. Emily let him put some weight on her. She frowned at him.

"What's that for?" He asked, squeezing her hand.

"I hate seeing you like this." She sighed.

"I'll be okay, Em." He reassured her.

They slowly made their way upstairs. James got into bed. Emily went back downstairs to grab her luggage. She brought it back upstairs. He looked up at her in the doorway.

"Which room am I staying in?" She asked.

"This room." He rolled over. "If you think you're staying here and not cuddling with me, that's your first mistake."

Emily rolled her eyes. James held his arms open. She shook her head, opening her suitcase. She pulled out some clothes for bed before walking to the washroom.

She changed into the shorts and t-shirt she grabbed. Looking in the mirror, she saw it was a Dallas shirt. She laughed and looked at the '14' on her shoulder. She went back to James's room. He looked over his shoulder at him.

"No." He shook his head.

She laughed and climbed in next to him.

"I can't believe you're wearing that in my bed." He whined.

"I could go to one of the gues,"

"No!" He shouted.

He spun over and pulled her into him. He let out a small groan, pain shooting through his knee. She sat up, looking him over.

"What? Are you okay?" She pulled the blankets off to see his knee.

"Emily, I'm fine. Just sleep." He calmed her down.

He threw the blanket over top of both of their bodies. His arms wrapped around Emily's shoulders. She nuzzled her face into his chest.

"Thank you for coming. I don't know what I would've done if you didn't come." He admitted. "The guys would've been around to help out but it wouldn't be the same as having you here."

"I'm glad I came. We've been drifting." She muttered.

"I know. I'm sorry for being such a dick." He stroked her hair. She squeezed his body to show that she accepted his apology. "How long are you staying?"

"As long as it takes." She said.

"What about work?" James asked.

"I can do anything I need to do over my computer and phone." She explained. "I'm with you until you're better."

"You're too good to me." He chuckled.

"Shut up. Go to bed." She shushed him.

"Love you, Em." He whispered, burying his face in her hair.

"Love you too."

The next morning, James woke to an empty bed and a throbbing knee. Emily heard the groan he let out from downstairs. Paul was in the kitchen cooking. They looked at each other, frowning, before Em shot up. She practically ran up the stairs.

"Emily?" James called.

"Yeah," She breathed, walking into his room. "Are you okay?"

He looked over what she was wearing. Simple tights with a v-neck. He was winded for some reason. His eyes made it to hers which were boring into him.

He nodded. "Knee just hurts a bit." He tried to get up.

"No, I'll get your pain killers." She said, going into his bathroom.

She filled a glass of water and grabbed the bottle. She brought them into his room, sitting on the edge of the bed beside him. His hand rested on the small of her back and he rubbed it. She could feel her cheeks going hot but tried to keep her composure.

"Still gets you going, eh?" He noticed her flushed cheeks.

"Stop." She whined, standing up. He smirked. "Take those and I'll bring you up some of the food Paul's making."

James chuckled. "Pauly came over to make us food? What a guy."

"I like him. Keep him around!" Emily exclaimed.

"Only if I can keep you around too." He shot back.

She rolled her eyes. "Take your pain killers!" She shouted.

James did as he was told. He chugged back the glass of water after taking two of the pills. He held out one finger while he swallowed to show he had more to say.

"You can't tell me you've never imagined how it would've been if you moved out here with me." He argued.

"I have, and I'm sure I would've adjusted, but I like Dallas." She stated.

Because of fucking Seguin. He thought, but restrained himself from making the comment. He nodded before rolling away from her.

"Okay."

"Now you're mad." She sighed.

"Just still upset." He shrugged.

"About our break up, three years ago?" She laughed.

"Yup. I don't know about you, but my feelings didn't just go away, Em." He hissed.

She scoffed. "You're ridiculous. Don't act like I never cared."

"I couldn't tell if you did." He spat.

"Yeah, moving from home when I was eighteen to be with you sure shows I never cared." She walked to the door.

"No, staying in Dallas for your new little fuck buddy while I moved out here does." He growled.

Emily spun around. "This is about Tyler, isn't it?"

"No."

"Don't lie to me." She shook her head.

"I don't buy that you two are just friends, not the way he is with you." James sat up. "It's like he's more important than I am now."

"I don't know how he feels but I'm platonic. I don't want to be with him." She told him. "No one is ever going to be more important to me than you are, James. I don't know when you started doubting how much I care about you but it breaks my heart."

"Having you so far and not being how we were is so,"

"Weird, I know. But we're both grown adults with our own lives. It was bound to happen." She sighed.

They just looked at each other before Emily made her way downstairs. James lay in his bed, hating himself for having no filter. A beeping noise pulled him from his thoughts. He looked at the empty space of the bed and saw Emily phone. He picked it up to see a message from Tyler.

Hey, glad to hear from u. Sorry I didn't text back, was sleeping. Missing u already. Not the same seeing Jamie walking around in his panties ;)

James scoffed. What a bitch. He deleted the message and left Emily's phone where it was. He rolled towards his TV in his room. Emily came back up to give him breakfast.

"Hey." She called.

He looked at her then turned me back to the TV. "Not hungry."

"James, eat." She demanded.

"No thanks." He replied.

"Why are you being like this?" She cried.

"I'm in a lot of pain, Emily. Just leave me alone for a bit, alright?" He hissed.

"Okay. I'll leave the food."

"No, I won't eat it." He stated.

"Whatever." She laughed, walking out of the room.

She slammed his bedroom door shut before stomping downstairs. She sat at the island, sliding the tray she put James food on away from her. Paul noticed the expression on her face. He set down a plate of food on front of her. Eggs, bacon, hash browns, and toast. She gave him a small smile.

"Is he being a dick?" He asked.

"Yup." She popped the 'P' as she stabbed a potato on her plate.

"Want me to talk to him?" Paul suggested.

"Nope. I don't care about him right now." She hissed.

"Okay, Emily, but I'll kick his ass if need be." He smiled.

"Thanks, Paul." She chimed. "Do you think it'd be okay if I came down to the rink to see Matty today? I won't like interrupt your practice or anything. I could just come before it or af,"

"It's open practice today, Em. Do what you want." He laughed. "And you can call me 'Pauly' like the guys do. Paul is so formal."

"Okay. I'll definitely come for a bit. I need to get away from him." She pointed towards the stairs.

"Don't we all." Paul whispered. "I can give you a lift to the Centre if you don't mind going early and leaving later."

She scoffed. "Fine by me. More time away from James."

"Finish eating and then we can both get ready."

"Okay, Father Paul." She teased.

"Father Pauly." He pointed his fork at her.

After they finished, Paul went to his house to get ready, and Emily went upstairs to grab a sweater and her phone. She quietly opened the door. James looked over his shoulder right away. She pursed her lips, walking towards her suitcase.

Em pulled out a purple sweater, zipping it up. She grabbed her phone off the bed and walked back to the door. James watched each one of her actions.

"Where are you going?" He called.

Emily stopped with her hand on the door knob. "Out with Pauly." She didn't look back at James.

"He has practi,"

"I'm going with him." She cut him off.

"You came to take care of me but you're going out with my team mates, nice." He laughed, looking back to his TV.

"Yeah, I would stick around but you're being a total asshole." She spat and yanked the door shut.

James looked at the door. He debated on calling for her, but realized she'd probably ignore him. He let out a growl, burying his face in his pillow. He needed to let go of the resentment he had towards Seguin if he wanted Emily to stay for a while.

Notes