Another Day in Nashville

It had been two days. Two days, 6 hours and 24 minutes 10 seconds 11, 12, 13...to be exact from that night after Shea's. I was laying in bed with a bowl of rocky road watching some random chick flick on Netflix. James had tried to call numerous times. I ignored every call and didn't even read a single text. I spoke briefly with Richie, but from what I knew, the guys were now on a road trip.

I felt my phone buzz and looked at it, seeing a surprising name flash across the screen. Roman Josi...

Roman-Emilee what happened?
Emilee- He lied to me, Roman.
Roman- I know...I heard the details from Fish.
Man word traveled fast...Emilee- Richie was right. I shouldn't have trusted him.
Roman- He's an ass, Emilee. Just forget about him. Boarding the plane now. Must go. Just wanted to check up on you.
Emilee- Thanks, Roman. Have a good trip.

I sat my phone down and sighed. I wanted to forget...but for some reason, I couldn't. I would close my eyes and see that stupid smile. I could hear his voice over and over in my head saying those words--those lies to me. I grabbed my book from the stand and started reading to try and take my mind off James Neal.
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It was nearing midnight and I was just getting out of the bath. I dried my hair off with a towel and heard my phone ring. Without thinking, I answered it...

"Hello?"

"Emilee..." James' deep voice replied. I went to hang up as he spoke again "Emilee, don't hang up." he slurred

"Are you drunk?" I asked

"Why does that matter..."

"James, I'm hanging up..."

"Please don't. Let me exp..explain."

"Explain what? That you lied to me? You told me you and her had broken up! You told me you wanted to be with me!"

"I did! I do..."

"You have a girlfriend!"

"I want you to be my girl...girlfriend." he stammered

"James...no."

"I thought you wanted to be with me..." James said his voice cracking

"I did. Until I got to your place and your girlfriend showed up. You cheated, James. You made me cheat with you. You lied to me!"

"I didn't make you do shit." he snapped. His sudden change in tone surprised me "I never made you do a fucking thing. You wanted me. And yes I know. I lied about Melanie, but I planned on breaking up with her. She was supposed to come the next day. I was going to break up with her then..."

"That doesn't matter! You still lied! You're still with her!" I shouted back

"Don't shout at me!" he snapped "You led me on. You were never going to date me. Admit it."

"James, you're drunk. Get a taxi to your hotel or wherever and go to bed." I said hanging up as I heard him say something inaudible back to me. I sighed and silenced my phone, feeling the tears fall down my face again. He was a jerk...why was I letting him make me feel this way?
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Morning came faster than I would've wanted. I sighed and got dressed for work. I had told Rachel about what happened, so no one mentioned it or James. It was nice to get out of the house and do something instead of laying in bed. But at the same time, it was hard to focus.

I could hear his words ringing in my head, "You led me on...You were never going to date me."

They stung. They weren't true, but it hurt knowing that's what he thought. I was angry. Angry at him for making me feel like this was my fault. Angry at myself for believing him. Angry at myself for not believing Richie. I finished my last scheduled hair cut for the morning and went to get some lunch. I saw a message flash on my screen

James- I'm sorry.

Was all it said. Two words. Many meanings. Was he sorry he lied? Sorry about leading me on? Sorry for himself for being caught? I shook my head and deleted the message. I didn't have time to hear another bull shit excuse about why he did what he did. I got my Subway and sat down to start eating when my phone started ringing again. It was Richie.

"Hey!"

"Donahue? You okay?" he asked

"Yeah, I'm ok." I lied

"I'll kick his ass for you."

"No, Richie, it's okay."

"I'm sorry, Emilee...I knew he was a jerk, but I never thought he'd do that. I'm sorry."

"It's not your fault."

"I introduced you."

"You didn't make him lie, Richie."

"True."

"He called me. Last night. Drunk."

"Yeah. He, Filip, Craig and Collin went out last night..."

"He said I led him on. I led him on!"

"Fish yelled at him. So have I."

"You guys don't have to do that on my account..."

"He's a dick, Donahue."

"Yeah..." I sighed

"Emilee..." Richie sighed

"What?" I asked

"You don't still like him, do you?"

"No." I lied again.

"Alright. I gotta go to practice. Watch the game?"

"Richie..."

"Come on? For me?"

I sighed "Alright. I gotta go, Richie. Bye."

Notes