Another Day in Nashville

I finished putting the last of the decorations on my Christmas tree and sat down on the couch, sipping my hot cocoa. The past few weeks had been hectic. A couple of girls where fired from the salon, so Rachel and I had been picking up their shifts. James had been busy with hockey, so we hadn't talked much. Texted on and off. I'd help watch Nixon when he was gone and we went out a few times for dinner.

I heard my doorbell ring, confused as to who would be coming over. "Hello??"

"Flower delivery for Miss Donahue?" The man said handing me a boquet

"Thanks." I smiled signing for the flowers

"Merry Christmas!" The guy said with a smile taking the clipboard back from me

"Merry Christmas to you too." I smiled heading to the kitchen with my flowers. I grabbed the little card and read it.

'Merry Christmas.-James' It was a bouquet of orchids and lilies, my favorites. How did he know that? I grabbed my phone, dialing his number.

"Hey!" He greeted me. I heard laughter in the background "guys be quiet!" James said

"Aw come on, James. It's Christmas." I heard a male voice chuckle back

"Shut up Pete." A girls' voice said

"Sorry." James laughed

"Oh. That's right you're at home in whitby."

"Yeah. That was Becks and Peter. What's up?"

"Just calling to thank-you for this lovely bouquet."

"You got them? Awesome!"

"How did you know?" I laughed

"How did I know what?" James asked confused

"That orchids and lilies are my favorites?"

James laughed "I didn't. That was the best bouquet I could find. I wanted to find the most beautiful ones that I could..."

I smiled "Aw James."

"They're really your favorites?"

I laughed "yeah."

"Awesome!"

"Thanks so much, James. You didn't have to do this."

"It's fine. I wanted to. Just a thank-you for helping with Nix and for being a good...friend."

"Is that your girlfriend?? Why didn't you bring her?" I heard another male voice asking

"Go away, Nicky." James said

"Ow. Stop hitting." Nick laughed

"Get off of me and I won't have to hit you." James laughed "sorry. Nicky kept trying to sit on me."

I laughed "Siblings."

"Right." James laughed "Are you doing okay? Hows Nix?"

"I'm great and yeah Nixon is good. When are you getting back?"

"Probably tomorrow or the day after."

"Okay."

"I have to go though. It's time for dinner."

"Okay. Bye, James! Merry Christmas!"

"Merry Christmas, Emilee."

I smiled and hung up. Just then, there was a knock at the door. I sat my cocoa down and answered it "Merry Christmas, Donahue!!!" Richie yelled hugging me

I hugged him back "Richie! What are you doing here? Shouldn't you be in Toronto?"

"My family came here for the holiday. I came over to see if you want to come for Christmas dinner. I know you and your family don't talk and that Nealer is in Whitby..."

"Thanks, Richie! But..."

"No buts, Donahue. Don't just sit here all alone. Come for dinner."

I smiled "Okay. Let me get dressed."

"I'll wait here for ya." Rich smiled sitting down

I went to the bedroom and got changed into a pair of skinny jeans and an "Ugly" Christmas sweater that I'd worn to the salon's Christmas party. I put on some light make-up and headed back down the steps "Okay, Richie!"

"Donahue, you look adorable." Rich smiled, noticing the flowers on my coffee table, "Nealer?" he asked

"Yeah." I got them today

"That was nice of him." Richie smiled

"Yeah, he's sweet." I smiled "Let's go!"
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Dinner with Richie's family was great. Everyone was so nice and welcoming. After dinner, we played some games and watched A Christmas Story. After the movie, Richie walked me home. "Thanks for inviting me, Richie."

"No problem. No one should be alone on Christmas."

I smiled "Thanks for thinking of me."

"Again. It's no problem. So...why didn't you go to Whitby with Nealer?"

"Cause things aren't like that with him."

"Do you want them to be?"

"Yeah. I mean...I like him a lot, but I don't know Richie...I'm trying to trust him more...but there's a little voice in the back of my head reminding me about the whole Melanie thing."

Richie shrugged, "Nealer is a good guy...I mean he's a little...flirty, but he means well."

"Yeah."

"Well good night, Donahue." Richie smiled hugging me

"Night, Richie." I replied hugging him back. He headed down the steps waving as he walked back to his place. I locked the door and filled Nix's food bowl, letting him eat a little before taking him out the back. I sat on my back porch watching him play in the snow when I felt my phone buzz.

James- Hope you're having a good Christmas.
Emilee- I am:) Richie invited me for dinner
James- That's great:)
Emilee- What did ya get?
James- my mom got me a new coat and some ties.
Emilee- That's great.
James- You?
Emilee- The flowers from you.

A minute after I responded, he called me. "Hi?" I said confused

"I was the only one who got you a gift?"

"Yeah...I don't talk to my family."

"Not even on Christmas?" he asked, his voice quiet

"No..."

"I'm so sorry, Emilee...If I...I should've stayed there..."

"James..." I sighed "It's okay. I went to Richie's for dinner."

"I'm sorry..."

"Stop apologizing. You didn't make me move to Nashville. You didn't make them stop talking to me."

"I know that...I just...I feel bad."

"It's fine. I'm used to it. Can we not talk about it though?"

"Okay, Emilee..." he replied. After sitting there for a minute of silence, James sighed "I miss you..."

My eyes widened. That was unexpected, "You miss me?"

"Yeah...I'm sorry...that's probably a weird thing to say."

"No. It's okay. I kinda miss you too."

"Really?"

"Yeah." I laughed

"Emilee?"

"Yes, James?"

"Uh...nothing. I should probably go..."

"Okay..." I said confused

"I'll talk to you tomorrow?"

"Okay."

"Good night, Emilee."

"Night, James." I said hanging up. I headed inside with Nix and got into my PJs curling up in bed and soon falling asleep.

Notes