Another Day in Nashville

It was a rather chilly Nashville day. I pulled my hoodie over my head and walked out to my car, "Emilee..." his voice called.

I turned over and saw James Neal walking towards me in a preds hoodie, his hair a mess and his glasses on. It had been about a week since the incident. "James...I don't want to talk."

"You don't have to. Just listen..." James sighed "Technically, yes. Melanie and I were still together. We hadn't broken up officially, but we pretty much were broken up. She hadn't even spoke to me since I got here!"

"That doesn't really matter James! You told me she broke up with you. That things were over and she showed up at your door. Calling herself your girlfriend and judging by what she said and how she acted, this isn't the first time you've cheated on her is it?"

James sighed, "No. It wasn't..."

"How many other girls have there been?"

"None!" James said defensively

"Stop lying!" I yelled back, crying. "Just tell me the fucking truth for once, James!"

James sighed, looking down and not meeting my gaze, "Since Nashville? Or since Pittsburgh..." he said quietly

"James..." I sighed

"There were a lot of girls in Pittsburgh...and a lot on the road." he admitted, still not looking at me. James sighed adjusting his glasses "There were a couple here, but not after you..."

I huffed "And you really expect me to believe that?"

"No, Emilee, I don't. I don't expect you to believe a damn word I say, but it's the truth. I slept around a lot in Pittsburgh. A lot. I'm not proud of it, but it's what I did. When I got here, yeah they're were a few girls here and there...but after I met you...I wanted you and only you. I thought Melanie was out of my life. Yeah, I lied...we didn't break up per say, but I assumed we were done. She hadn't talked to me since I moved here...so I was just as surprised as you when she showed up at my door. But it is done now, Emilee. I ended it. I want to be with you..."

By now, I could see Rich was standing in his door way. He didn't say anything, but stood there, shaking his head at the situation ensuing on the piece of lawn that separated our properties. "James..." I sighed again, as if that was the only thing my brain could think to say.

"I understand if you can't or don't forgive me. I just wanted you to know." he replied walking back to his car, getting in and driving off

"You okay, Donahue?" Richie called

"Yeah..." I sighed

"Don't fall for it, Emilee..."

"Fall for what?" I asked looking over at him

"That." he said nodding towards James' car that was well in the distance "That bullshit apology and that dumbass' smile."

"Richie, I think he was being sincere..."

"Maybe. Maybe not. But he was still a dick to you."

"Richie, I gotta go..." I sighed getting into my car and heading off. Richie was right...I shouldn't fall for it. But at the same time, James' excuse made sense...I sighed and shook my head. I needed to get James Neal and Rich Clune off my mind...
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I had went to the store and bought a bottle of wine. I was sitting on my couch with the bottle, a bag of candy and was flipping through the channels. James Neal's face flashed on my screen. Something about him struggling to score goals. I threw a piece of candy at his picture on the screen downing another portion of the bottle. "Fuck him." I mumbled

An hour or two had passed and I about had the bottle finished. I finished my bag of candy and sighed grabbing my phone from the stand and going to my picture gallery. The first picture that popped up was one of me and James. I was wearing his hat and he had that dorky smile on his face. Fuck, I loved that smile. I flipped over to my contacts and stopped over his name, pressing the little phone beside it.

I drank down more of my bottle as it rang. "Hello?" he said his voice deep and groggy. It was obvious I woke him up

"Hey, James!" I said

"Emilee?" he mumbled in confusion

"Yes, silly." I laughed "Who else would it be??"

"Uh...are you okay?"

"Yessir. I'm great. What are you doing right now?"

"Uh...well I was sleeping..."

"That's great. Can you come over?"

"What?"

"Can you come over?" I repeated

"Why?" he asked

"Just come over. Please, James?" I begged

"Emilee...are you drunk?"

"No officer." I laughed

"Emilee...I have practice at 6:30 in the morning. I can't come over right now. Also...you're drunk. Sober you wants nothing to do with me right now."

"How do you fucking know what sober me wants?" I snapped

"Because that's what you said. I'm going back to bed, Emilee...when you sober up and if you still feel like talking or having me come over call then. Night." he said hanging up

"Fuck you!" I yelled back to the silence tossing my phone down. Maybe he was right...drunk me wanted James Neal. Sober me...sober me wasn't sure what I wanted. All I knew was...I couldn't get James Neal off my mind; sober or drunk...

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