Goodbye Girl

"I can't fucking do it, Sidney." Amber whined over the phone. "I don't want him being alone with her. I don't trust her."

"Then stay at his house." Sidney suggested.

"Isn't that really fast?" She sighed.

"I don't know. I don't date." He laughed. "Just do what you think is right."

"I think I'm gonna ignore him until as leaves." She admitted.

He rolled his eyes. "Be mature, Amber." The change room door opened and James strolled in. "He's here. I'll talk to you later."

He hung up his phone. James's eyes shifted to Sid's. He nodded his head at him as he walked to his stall. Sidney returned the gesture before he went back to what he was previously doing. James watched Sidney before he spoke.

"Have you heard from Amber? She hasn't answered any of my messages since we hung out after we got home from Boston." He frowned.

"Nope. She goes off the grid sometimes. She's crazy like that." Sid chuckled.

James sighed as he started getting changed. He was worried about her. She didn't messaged him about their Toronto game, she didn't answer his goodbye message before he left for Florida. He had gotten nothing. He knew Sid had just lied through his teeth, but he respect that meant she had asked Sid to not talk to him about her.

They defeated the Panthers, 5-1. James had a two point night and was more than happy with it. If only he could bask in the glory of winning, but his mind was somewhere else. Amber hadn't sent him the smallest congratulatory text for winning three in a row. He was hurt, but he knew why she was mad. Thinking about it, he'd be doing the same thing she was.

James and his team flew back home the day after. Emily was flying in the same day. Tyler heard the news of her leaving. He decided he needed to talk with her before doing so. He didn't want her to leave thinking she could never show her face in Dallas again. He knocked on her door.

She opened it, looking completely shocked. "Hi." She sighed.

"I heard you're going off to Pittsburgh and I just wanted to talk before you left." He explained.

"I was just about to leave for the airport." She gestured to her suitcase.

"Let me drive you." He smiled.

The two filed into his car. The drive started silently. Tyler knew he needed to man up. He looked at her to find her staring at him. He looked away.

"What?" He asked.

"I just don't understand why you're being so nice to me." She stated.

"I don't want you to leave Dallas." He took a deep breath. "It was your home before I came and I shouldn't be the reason you leave. Jamie said he needs time to cool off, but he still cares about you, Em."

She looked down, attempting to keep herself from crying. "I don't know if I can stay. All I've done since I got to Dallas was hurt people I care about."

"How about this," He paused. "You get away for a bit to give everyone some time to calm down, and when you get back, we'll start fresh?"

"Tyler, I don't,"

"Everyone needs a friend and I refuse to sit and watch you with no one. We can be friends, Emily." He smiled at her.

She nodded, smiling back. "Can I ask a favour?"

"I guess." He shrugged.

"Can I call Jamie on your phone? He ignores me." She laughed a bit.

"Yeah, of course." He pointed to his phone on his dash.

Emily reached for the phone. She surfed through his contacts before he found Jamie. He had some weird nickname because Tyler and him were practically lovers. She took a deep breath before pushing the call button.

"Hello?" Jamie answered.

"Uh, Jamie?" She stuttered.

"Emily? Why do you have Ty,"

"He's came to talk with me before I left for Pittsburgh." She explained. "Can you and I talk?"

"I don't have a choice now." He groaned.

"Jamie, please. I'm really sorry and I just miss you a lot." She sobbed.

He exhaled. "I miss you too, Em."

"I know I did something stupid but I really need you in my life." She let out a shaky breath.

"Let's meet up when you're back and we'll talk, okay?" He suggested.

"Okay. Thank you." She ended with that.

The rest of the drive was silent, but a peaceful silence. They pulled up to the airport. Tyler grabbed Emily's bag before she had the chance. He led her into the airport. She trailed behind him, not saying a word. They went through security. Emily wanted to argue that he didn't have to wait with her, but she stayed silent.

Tyler didn't know what to say. He was just enjoying his time with her. As much as he hated what she had done, he didn't hate her. He liked spending time with her, regardless of what had happened. He liked spending time with her as just friends. He looked over at her.

"When you come back, seriously, new slate. I won't talk about what happened, you won't either." He spoke.

She nodded in agreement. "Just friends."

Tyler nodded, although he had doubts. He still had feelings for Emily. He knew he did, and he understood why she texted James. Yeah, he was obviously upset, but there were times when he missed his exes too.

"Em," He broke his silence. She looked at him. "What if I can't just be your friend?"

She shook her head. "You don't want me, Tyler." She sighed. "My mind's in one place and my heart's in another."

Emily arrived in Pittsburgh. James picked her up, bringing her to his house. His spirits were up, considering Autumn had come over and spent the night.

Emily walked inside while he held the door open for her. She walked right in. He followed behind quickly and walked into the kitchen. Amber was sitting in there. She looked up from her phone when he walked in. He smiled and gave her a kiss. Emily walked into the kitchen and froze. She wasn't expecting to see Amber James sat down beside Amber, grabbing some of the fries she made. Emily sat down across from them.

"So are you like staying here?" Emily asked Amber.

"Uh, no. I just stayed the night." Amber explained.

"I asked her to stay and meet you." James added.

"That's cool, I guess. I mean, I thought we could just hang out and tal,"

"I was heading out soon, don't worry." Amber cut her off.

"Okay." Emily smiled. "I'm gonna go freshen up."

Amber waited for Emily to be upstairs before she laughed. James cocked a brow at her. She just shook her head. He sighed, pulling her stool towards him. He moved his hands up to her hips. She frowned at him.

"What's wrong?" He polled.

"She hates me. She doesn't want me around you at all." Amber whined, standing up. "I'll go. Just text me later. I don't know when I'll be,"

James grabbed her waist and pulled her back over. "She doesn't hate you. She has a l,"

"James, don't. Don't defend her. I know what she's doing because I'd do the same thing." Amber stopped him. She pressed her lips to his. "We'll talk."

James shot up the second he heard the front door closed. He went up to the guest room she was staying in. She opened the door in a towel when he knocked. She smiled at him.

"Em, listen. I'm not playing your game. You didn't come here to make Amber feel unwelcomed in my home. This isn't for you to get me back or anything like that. I'm with Amber and you need to respect her and that or you can leave." He explained.

Amber woke up to her phone ringing. She answered in a panic. "Hello?"

"Amber." James breathed.

She sat up. "Hey, are you okay?" She questioned.

"Can I come over?" He avoided her question.

"What about E,"

"I made her leave." He spoke.

"What? Why?" Amer gasped. "She's your best friend and she needed you."

"You're my girl. She wasn't treating you right and that's not okay with me." He stated. Amber let out a sigh. "So, can I come over?"

Notes