Another Day in Nashville

The season was nearing the end of the regular season. The Preds were in playoffs and would be facing Chicago first round. I was curling a clients hair when I heard the bell to the salon ding, "I'll be there in a minute."

"Take your time, babe." James' voice responded I spun around and saw James standing there in a horribly yellow fleece and jeans.

"Hey." I smiled

"Finish with your client." He laughed "I'll be sitting here."

"Well, I can help you." Rachel said to James "need a hair cut?"

James laughed "no. I just need to talk with Emmy."

"You know James Neal?" My client asked

"She's dating James Neal." Rachel giggled. James' cheeks reddened as he buried his face in a magazine.

"I'll be done in a minute, James." I replied finishing up curling Kelly's hair and topping it off with hair spray. I paid her out and took my apron off walking over to James

"Why do women read these things?" He asked looking up at me from a Cosmo magazine "Awful advice."

I laughed "I agree. What's up?"

"Can we go outside real quick?" He asked

I nodded and grabbed my jacket, following him outside "what's going on?"

"Don't be mad."

"Why would I be mad, James? What's going on?"

"Your sister is coming. To Nashville."

"My sister...what?!"

James sighed "well, I stopped by your old house to grab the mail, like you asked, and I saw a letter from Tampa...I know I shouldn't have, but I opened it. It was from your sister." He said handing me the letter "I only read the part where she apologized, I didn't read the whole thing. I saw she put her number at the bottom so I called it...I just told her I was your boyfriend and I invited her to come here..."

I didn't know what to say. On one hand, I was upset with him for doing this without my permission, but on the other, I knew he meant well.

"Fuck. You're upset. I'm sorry...I wasn't thinking and..."

I interrupted him by kissing him "James, it's okay. I should make amends with them. While I am upset you didn't consult me on this, it needs to be done. When will she be here."

"Tomorrow."

"Okay." I nodded "well, we can make supper. Just Erika?"

James nodded "she said your parents were on vacation and that Ethan wasn't ready to forgive you yet..."

I nodded again, "Okay. I'll be off in a few hours and then we can go to the store and plan supper."

"I'm sorry, Emmy..." He said again

"James, it's okay." I said kissing him "Now you better go. Can you vacuum, please?"

James nodded "yeah."

"Bye, love you."

"Love you too." He said heading off
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James and I had got things to make spaghetti. James had already went to bed and I was sitting on the couch with Nixon drinking my glass of wine. I sighed and scratched the dog behind the ear, turning the channel to some crappy Lifetime movie. I felt my phone buzz and I looked down

Richie- Things going good, Donahue?
Emilee- Yeah. Things are okay?
Richie- Saw Nealer at your old place today...
Emilee- Yeah, I sent him to get the mail haha.
Richie- It's weird not having you next door.
Emilee- I know, Richie. We can come visit you:)
Richie- Sure. We can set up a night to meet up. What about tomorrow?
Emilee- Tomorrow won't work. Erika is coming...
Richie- Your sister?!
Emilee- Yeah. Long story...James sort of set it up. I'll call you tomorrow and explain, okay? I'm gunna head to bed. Night, Richie.
Richie- Night, Donahue.
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"James, where is the pasta sauce?" I asked

"Left cupboard." he replied putting the last of the dishes away "Everything okay? You've been quiet..."

"There's something I should tell you. About my family...about Erika..."

"What?" James asked

Before I could respond, the doorbell rang. I headed to the door and opened it "Erika, hi."

"Oh. My. Word. Emilee! You look so pretty." Erika said hugging me

I hugged her back "Hey, Kiki. It's been a while."

"It's been too long!" Erika smiled

James came around the corner with Nixon following behind, "Hi. You must be Erika. I'm James." he said extending his arm to her

Erika's eyes went from James' sleeve to me and then back. She forced a smiled and shook his hand "Hi. Can I borrow my sister for a minute? Alone?"

Fuck. James flashed that ever white smile "Of course. I'll take Nix outside." he said heading out the sliding glass door.

"Emilee...what on earth are you doing with a guy like that?!"

"Please be quiet...he'll hear."

"He has tattoos, Emilee!"

"I have a tattoo, Kiki."

"And you know how we feel about that!"

"Just give him a chance."

"Why so he can hurt you like Josh?!"

"He isn't like Josh! James is a good guy. He's really sweet and funny and he loves me."

"You said that about Josh too."

"Just please give him a chance. He set this whole thing up so we could make amends. He's a family man." I said grabbing the family photo I had taken for the Neals when we were in Canada. "See? His family is everything to him and he wanted us to work it out."

Erika sighed, "Fine. I'll give him a chance, but I am not making promises."

Notes