Another Day in Nashville

"Why?" Rich asked leaning against my door frame. It had been a couple weeks since the talk. I'd told Richie that James and I were starting over. He wasn't happy.

"Richie..."

"Donahue."

"I like him a lot Richie...and he opened up to me."

"He still lied."

"He thought they were broken up."

"Oh sure."

"Richie..." I sighed "James is a sweet guy and I like him a lot. Please just be happy..."

Rich sighed and gave me a look "okay...just be careful, Donahue."

"I will."

Richie hugged me "you're a good kid." He teased

I laughed "shut up."

"I should go. See ya Donahue."

"Bye Richie." I replied as he headed out. I grabbed my phone and saw a snapchat from James. It was an adorable picture he'd taken with nix. I sent him a snap reply of me with the caption "cute!" A few minutes later, he sent me a text.

James- did you mean me and nix or yourself;)
Emilee- lol both;p
James- hahaha what are u doin??
Emilee- just got done talking to Richie.
James- about me?
Emilee- yeah. But I told him that we talked and it's all okay:)
James- okay:) other than that? Are you free tonight?
Emilee- yeah, I'm free lol.
James- awesome. Wanna come over?
I thought for a minute about the last time there...the wine...what proceeded it. I was about to say no when he texted again. As if he'd read my mind
James- just to watch a movie? Maybe play scrabble. No alcohol. I don't even have any at the house right now.
Emilee- okay:) when do you want me to come over?
James- like 6:30?
Emilee- okay! Sounds good:)
James- see you then:)
______________
I pulled up to James' a little before 6:30. I checked my make-up in the mirror before heading to the door and knocking. I could hear Nixon barking and James telling him to be quiet "hi." James smiled as he answered the door.

He was completely shirtless with just a loose pair of sweatpants and his glasses on. His hair was messy and tufts of hair were still stuck in its normal gelled form. His pearly white teeth flashed into another smile as I looked up at him.

"Hi." I said smiling as our gazes met

"Sorry. I just woke up from a nap." He chuckled grabbing a shirt from a nearby laundry basket and slipping it on

"I like your tattoos."

James smile widened "oh yeah?"

"Yeah. Your sleeve is beautiful."

"Thanks! It's taken a lot of work."

"I have a tattoo."

James tilted his head to the side as he eyed me, "you do?"

"Yeah." I giggled

"Can I see it?"

I nodded and sat on his couch, pulling my TOM off to show him the tattoo. The shooting star that was on my foot "see?"

"Awesome! Did that hurt?"

I nodded "yeah. A lot."

James pulled the up the sleeve on his right arm showing me the underside. 'Neal' was tattooed in elegant lettering. "This one hurt like a mother fucker. My sleeve wasn't two bad. Closer to my wrist hurt and on my bicep."

I nodded "I bet."

James smiled "anyways, want a Gatorade or water?"

"Sure. Gatorade." I replied

"Blue or red?"

"Red please." I smiled as he headed to his kitchen, returning with two bottles of cherry Gatorade. "Thanks, James."

"No problem, Emilee. So do you want to play a game? I have scrabble and monopoly." He laughed

"You promised scrabble. So scrabble it is." I giggled

James grinned and got up, retrieving the game from a closet. We sat cross legged on his floor with the coffee table between us. We each grabbed our letters. "You can go first."

I smiled and laid my first word, "Place. That's 8 points and since it's first, 16."

"Nice first word." James smiled laying his letters down "Catch. Thats 9 points."

We continued back and forth spelling words and chatting in between turns. We talked about our families, hockey, baseball, and life in Nashville. "So...are you liking it here so far?" I asked

James nodded "Yeah, it's nice."

"Do you miss Pittsburgh?" I asked

James half smiled "Honestly?"

I nodded "Yeah."

"I miss my friends. Paulie, Sid, Geno...I don't miss the team. The Pittsburgh Penguins have a lot of media presence. You can't go out without being noticed. Also because of Crosby...the whole team is just in the news."

"I see. Do you still talk to your friends?"

James nodded, "Yeah. I text with Geno and Paulie. What about you? Do you miss Tampa?"

"Yeah...sometimes. I mean Nashville is a great city. But I miss my family and friends."

"Yeah. I get that. I miss my family."

"They all live in Canada?"

James laughed "Sort of. My brothers play hockey. Peter is in Knoxville, so he's close. Michael plays in Kalamazoo. Rebecca's in Canada at college and Nicky is at home with mom and dad."

"All of you play hockey?" I asked

"We've all played. My dad used to coach. Nicky used to play, but he doesn't now. Becks also played when she was littler but now she does pageants."

"That's cool." I smiled

James nodded, "Yeah I text them all the time."

"I miss my siblings..." I sighed

"Have you tried talking to them?" he asked quietly

"Yeah. They won't respond."

"I'm sorry." James said

"It's okay. So anyways, you guys are doing pretty good."

"Yeah. We have a stretch of home games coming up."

"I know. Richie told me."

"Can you make it to a game?"

"Probably." I smiled

"I'd really like for you to come. I can get you a ticket."

"James, you don't have to..."

"I want to." he smiled

"Okay." I smiled

James smiled over at me as he placed his final word and we added up our points. I'd beat him by 5 points. "Emilee...can I ask you something..."

"Sure, James."

James took a breath, "Well...we have a team event coming up and I was wondering if you would go as my date?"

"James I..."

"It's okay if you can't...I'll understand."

"No, James. That's not it. I want to go...I just..." I sighed

"You don't trust me?" he finished

"Yes and no..." I sighed "When's the event?"

"This weekend."

"Well let me think about it, okay?"

James nodded, "Alright."

I looked at the time. It was almost 10. "I should go. I have to work tomorrow and I bet you have practice."

James nodded, "Yeah, I do."

"Thanks for inviting me over." I said heading to the door

"Thanks for coming." he said following me "Have a good night."

"You too." I said hugging him "Bye."

"Bye." he smiled watching me get in my car and leave before heading back inside.

Notes