Another Day in Nashville

Neal and I had arrived at his new house. It was decently sized. Nixon came running to us when we opened the door. "Hi, Nix." I smiled

"So this is it." James said "Still getting stuff set up."

I started walking around with James and Nix following. There were a few unpacked boxes. The first room was his kitchen. It was big. I walked into the next room and my mouth dropped, "Did you do this?" I asked. The room had a couch and a humongous book shelf that was color coordinated.

James laughed, "Thanks for thinking highly of me, but no. I have a decorator. It's about done. She's going to be doing more work on it next week. Then it'll be done."

I smiled, "It looks great so far."

"Thanks, Emilee."

"It's big."

James laughed, "Yeah. Will be enough room for my family when they come."

"That's right. You have four siblings?"

James nodded "Michael, Peter, Nicholas, and Rebecca."

"And you're the oldest?"

James nodded again, "Yep. You never told me about your family..."

"It's complicated. I have a sister, Erika and a brother, Ethan...but we don't talk."

"Why?"

"They didn't agree with my decision to move here. Or stay here after Josh."

"Oh...I'm sorry."

"It's okay, James."

"What about your parents?"

"I still talk to them once and a while, but they aren't happy about what happened with Josh."

"Oh. I see."

"I told them about you...."

"Huh?"

"I told my parents that I met a new guy and that we'd been talking."

"Did you tell them who I am?"

I shook my head, "No."

"Okay." James laughed

"Why? Can they not know you're James 'The Real Deal' Neal?" I teased

James laughed again "No. They can know. But not until we figure out what this is."

I smiled "Okay."

"You want a drink?" James asked

"Sure."

James smiled and poured each of us a glass of wine. "Dickie is mad at me."

"Why?" I asked taking a sip

"You."

"Me? What about me?"

"He thinks you're taken with me. I think he's jealous. He likes you."

I nearly spit my wine out "Richie doesn't like me, James. We're friends. Just friends. Only friends."

"Maybe to you, Emilee, but he likes you."

"Well, I don't like him. I like you." I replied finishing off my glass as he poured us each another

James smiled "You like me?"

"You knew that."

"I know. I like hearing you say it."

I smiled. James and I moved ourselves to his living room and put on a random channel. We continued drinking and chatting. Before I knew it, the bottle was almost gone. James had his arm around my shoulders as we talked, "When's the next game?" I asked staring up into those blue eyes

"Um not tomorrow but the next day." James laughed, smiling at me

I smiled back at him and I leaned up, kissing him. He kissed me back and pulled me over to his lap so I was straddling his hips. We continued kissing. I felt his tongue slide into my mouth as we started French kissing. "James..." I breathed, slightly pulling away

"Hmm?" He asked his lips still close to mine

"Can you show me to your bedroom?" I asked

James nodded, picking me up. I giggled as he carried me to the bedroom. His bed was big. He gently laid me down "Emilee?" He asked looking at me

"Yeah, James?"

"You sure you're okay with this?"

I laughed "James, if I wasn't okay with this, I wouldn't have asked you to bring me to your room."

James smiled and pulled his shirt off, tossing it to the ground. I sat up on his bed and threw my shirt off, grabbing his hand and pulling him down onto the bed. He positioned himself above me and kissed me.

He tugged on my yoga pants and slid then off along with my panties. I pulled on James' belt and undid it letting his jeans slide off. James reached over to the drawer on his nightstand pulling a condom out. I bit my lip as I watched him slide it over his cock before looking at me "are you comfortable?"

I nodded and gripped onto his sheets as he slid inside me. I moaned as he steadily thrust inside me. James kissed my neck, gently biting. "James..." I moaned running my nails down his back

James moaned "fuck..." He said grabbing onto his headboard for support as he pushed deeper inside me

I moaned and buried my face in his neck feeling my body tense up as I orgasmed. Shortly after I had finished, James finished as well. He smiled and kissed me before excusing himself to the bathroom. "Whoa." I said trying to catch my breath. I don't know if it was the wine or what, but sex with James was great.

"You okay?" He asked coming from the bathroom. I was disappointed to see he'd put boxers on

"Yeah." I nodded.

James smiled climbing back in bed with me and pulling me into his arms. I cuddled up against his chest and fell asleep.
___________________
I woke up still in James' arms. He was still sleeping. I freed myself from his grasp before heading to the bathroom. I looked at my phone seeing missed calls from Rachel and Richie. A text flashed across my screen

Richie- are you okay, Donahue? Didn't see you come home yet.
Emilee- I'm at james'.
Richie- it's almost midnight. Is Neal gunna bring you home or do you want me to come pick you up.
Emilee- I'll have James bring me home soon Richie.
Richie- I can come get you, Donahue.
Emilee- No that's fine. He'll be bringing me home soon.

I sighed and walked back to James' bedroom, tapping him on the arm "James?"

James stirred awake and smiled at me "Hi."

"Hey. You better take me home..."

James frowned, putting his glasses back on "You can't stay?"

I shook my head, "No. I better go home. Richie will suspect something...and..."

"Oh. I see." he said grabbing his sweater and throwing that and a pair of sweat pants on. "Well let's go."

"James, I..."

"It's okay, Emilee. You're right. You don't want Dickie to worry about you." he said as we headed out to his car. He was quiet the ride home, pulling into my driveway. "Good night, Emilee..." he said quietly

"James, let me explain...I like you, I do...and I want to be more than friends...I just didn't want to stay the night with you the first time I come to your place. I know you're probably used to girl's like that, but that's not who I am...and I know we had sex but..."

"Emilee, it's okay. I understand. Dickie is staring out the window..."

I looked over and sure enough, I could see Rich peaking out the window. I shook my head "Thanks for tonight, James. Everything was great."

"No problem. I had a great time too."

I smiled and kissed his cheek before getting out of the car and starting towards my door as James left. "What, Richie?"

"You had sex with him, didn't you, Donahue?" he asked

"Richie..."

"Emilee, James is my friend, but I'm warning you about him. You do not want to get involved with him. Trust me."

"Richie, it's a little late for that. I'm involved. I like him a lot, Richie. Can't you be happy for me?"

"I don't want to see you hurt."

"And James won't hurt me, Richie. Okay? He won't. Good night, Richie." I said heading inside and going up to bed.

Notes