Ride (Reposted)

December 2013

"Ugh I miss you!" Emily cried out over FaceTime.

"Are your parents home?" Jamie asked with a grin.

"Yes they are." She gave him a dirty look
.
"Just a quick flash. That's all I want."

"Jamison!! I'm trying to get ready so I can go to the barn party." She squealed.

"You shouldn't have picked up. Baby, I'm frustrated and frisky."

"I'll be back in Dallas in 4 days. For my birthday. Also, don't ever call yourself frisky. It sounds weird. I'm heading to Charleston tomorrow." Emily laughed.

"Just think. Next year we'll be in our own house, and we'll have the whole family together for Christmas."

"I know I can't wait. We need to start looking for a realtor."

"I'm sure I can find one no problems. One of the guys will be able to get us one." He mentioned as she pulled another top out of her suitcase, peeling the shirt she had on off, "now babe, I thought I wasn't getting a show."

Throwing the shirt she had just taken off onto her laptop to cover the webcam she groaned.
"Your not. I just don't have anything to wear.

"You are no fun." He moaned.

"I know." She laughed as she pulled the shirt off the webcam.

"I miss you." He smiled.

"I miss you too honey. I gotta go. I'll keep you updated throughout the night."

"I love you. Don't get to wild tonight."

"I'll try not too. It's a barn party so no guarantees." She winked, "I love you too babe. I'll call you tomorrow when I get to the airport."

"Talk to you later. Have a good night."

"You too."

She blew him a kiss and closed down face time, followed by shutting her laptop.

Putting on her winter coat she made her way downstairs, giving her parents a quick kiss on the cheek and starting up her 2003 diesel Chevy she had since she was 17.

***

"What's the wifey up to tonight? I haven't seen you this miserable in a while since she went to California for five days." Tyler asked as Jamie flopped on to his couch.

"Going to a barn party. I might go up and surprise her tomorrow." Jamie bit on a nail, Emily wasn't around so she couldn't nag him about it

"Skipping practice to go see her. That's risky man. Just let her have fun. Isn't she going to South Carolina tomorrow anyways?"

"Ah shit that's right. Her high school friends aren't that keen on me anyways. She's not keen on that group anymore anyways."

"Why's that?"

"Because a majority of them have kids or are married. And she is neither, and she hasn't really expressed interest in a baby. She went away to a big university on scholarship and they stayed home and went to a local college. And they aren't keen on me because of the whole professional athlete, not gone to college thing. I think it's because I'm not really a redneck like she is either, along with a majority of her friends. They all drive big jacked up trucks or jeeps."

"Makes sense. But you hunt and fish and shit."

"Ahh just fish, I like shooting guns but that's about it."

***

"So what have you been up too? Where are you at now?" Lexi, a girl Emily used to be quite close too in high school, asked.

"I live in Dallas! I'm an executive with Fossil actually. I just made the move there officially in August once school and rugby was done, but I've been there since January." Emily smiled after taking a sip of beer.

"And what's this we hear about a boyfriend? A professional athlete? That's not like you." Her husband, Mitchell, stated.

"Jamie! He plays for the Dallas Stars. He's great. We're moving in together next summer. I know hockey players are usually not my thing since I was so close to the Bulls in high school, but he's great. Super supportive."

That was what the gossip of her former high school peers had been.

They always looked down on her for going away to school, not staying in the area, getting a two year diploma, getting married and having a child or two by the age of 22.

Now she was living in a big city, dating a fantastic, successful, good looking man, and having an amazing job. Soon to have an amazing house as well.

"Are you two planning on moving in with each other soon?" Lexi asked.

"We're going to start house shopping after the Olympics. He just got his visa approved for Russia so all we're waiting for is for him to get named to the team."

"But he didn't get invited to the summer camp." Mitchell pointed out.

"Yeah, he's still got a huge chance of being named though. The scouts like him and are at games twice a week. I'm 99% sure he's going to be named when it's announced in a few weeks."

"I'm pretty sure they have to attend camp."

"No guys have been named to the team without attending camp. And Rich, Jamie's agent, says he still has a chance too."

"That's not true."

"My boyfriend plays in the NHL, he's the captain of his team. And so does my best friend. I didn't come here to argue." Emily shook her head and walked away.

Talking to most people at the party from they mostly asked about Jamie.

"Would you be with him if he didn't have money?" Bianca asked.

"Yeah I would. He's such a humble guy. When I met him last year he was still this husky guy who dressed like a frat boy. If you met Jamie on the street you wouldn't know he was a hockey player." Emily laughed.

She had every intention of getting drunk to be the asshole they all knew her to be. But she couldn't really be bothered. She had to catch a flight early to South Carolina to go to a wedding anyways.

Making a few more rounds she decided to head on home. She decided to get a good nights sleep in her childhood bed then on a cold air mattress in her truck tent with a space heater.

***

Standing in her hotel room he felt nervous as he straightened his tie for the third time. An odd off day coincidentally fell on the same day two of her childhood friends get married in Hilton Head, South Carolina. A friend of Emily's knew he was coming to surprise her. And he was hoping Calin didn't ruin the surprise.

It was risky, as they were all staying in the same resort, his hotel room had been floors down from her's. He had gotten in late last night so he wouldn't have been seen as she was in bed, and today he managed to get out for breakfast as she had been having breakfast with friends out on the island as well.

She had been getting ready in Calin's room and was going to be in her room any second. Checking himself in the mirror once more she had sent a text to him to let him know she was just heading up to her room to put her things away.

He had forgotten to shave. But she preferred him scruffy anyways. Picking up the bouquet of flowers he stood in the middle of the room, hand in one pocket. Hearing the key card slide into the door he swallowed. He wasn't sure what her reaction would be. Surprised for sure.

She had her head down as she came into the room. Her dark hair pulled into a loose side braid, her red dress with hugged her curves perfectly, and still tasteful with a high neck line.

"Hey baby." He said quietly.

"Jamie?! What are you doing here?!" She jumped.

"I have today off so I thought I would surprise you. I came in late last night." He approached her,

"I uhh, got these for you." He handed her the flowers.

"You're so cute. I missed you." She grinned, accepting the flowers, "how did you get in here."

"Calin helped me. I missed you too." He placed his hands on her hips, pulling her in.

"You look so handsome in that suit." She eyed him up and down, playing with his lapel.

"Now that dress on the other hand. You make me look good." He leaned down for a kiss.

"I'm so happy your here." She wrapped her arms around his neck, "let me put this in a vase and we can get going. I'm so excited for you to meet everyone."

"More then your high school crew?"

"Way more then my high school crew. You'll love these people." She planted one more kiss on his lips before pulling away.

He watched her, mesmerized by the shape of her body in the red gown. He was torn between wanting to tear the dress off of her or taking her everywhere and showing her off.

"I know what your thinking." She drawled out, bringing him back to reality, "c'mon baby. I wanna show you off."


***

"Where the hell did you find him?" Lyndon asked, eying her very dapper boyfriend.

"At a bar in Dallas, or a gun range I guess, that's where he asked me out." Emily laughed.

"That scar on his lip is sexy as fuck."

"I know. Trust me. I know. That's why I prefer him a little on the scruffy side. I'm so glad he didn't shave. He was missing a tooth when I first met him too."

"You redneck."

"He's a hockey player. Unfortunately it comes with the territory." Emily rolled her eyes.

She glanced over at Jamie who seemed to be enjoying himself, drinking a beer with some of the guys she knew growing up. He looked so handsome in his black and grey suit, sans tie.

"You think he's the one?" Rylee asked Emily, pulling her out of her trance.

"Yeah. He is." Emily smiled, looking back over at Jamie, catching his eye.

"All we heard is how much he spoils you. You are a lucky girl."

"I am lucky. Beau spoils you too Ry. Running for congress too."

"Yeah, he does." She saw Rylee blush.

Beau and Rylee were the definition of Southern high society. Born and raised in Charleston, their families had roots there since the colonial days.

She was a tall, blonde blue eyed southern belle and he was a polo player, tall with dashing good looks with his sandy brown hair and brown eyes. And they were a ridiculously good looking couple.

A few hours later Jamie and Emily were walking arm and arm down the beach, Emily wearing Jamie's suit jacket. She loved having him in South Carolina, even if it had an expiry. They had decided to come back in the summer.

"We should really be careful walking on the beach at night." She said quietly.

"Why's that?"

"Gators baby." She smiled up at him.

"We got gators in Texas love. I feel so out of place with all the Southern accents here." He laughed.

"Then do you feel out of place with all of our Texan friends too?"

"I'm used to their accents. And the only Southern accent I'm used to is yours when it comes out."

"Do you like my Southern accent?" She drawled out, then decided to switch it to a English accent, "what if I talked like this? Do you find this annoyin?"

"I prefer your maritime accent to that." He laughed, "what do you say, we go back to the room?"

"Yeah. I missed my boyfriend and you look so sexy in that suit. I wouldn't mind seeing what's underneath." She leaned up for a kiss.

By the time they got back to the room he could barely wait to undo her dress.

Laying in a hot sticky mess on the bed, she rested her head on his chest, playing with the soft hairs on it.

"Do you wanna get married?" She asked him quietly.

"Yeah. In the next couple of years." He stated, playing with her hair.

"House first?" She moved so she could look at him.

"Hmm." He agreed, looking at her with sleepy eyes.

"This is perfect though. What time are you flying back to Dallas?"

"I gotta be to the airport for 8, so I gotta get up in 5 hours holy shit, they're going to list me as a game time decision." He yawned.

"Babe, your missing game day skate because you wanted to be my hot date?"

"Of course. It was worth it. You looked beautiful." He smiled.

"You didn't look to bad yourself." She giggled, "I gotta take my make up off."

She gave him a quick kiss before she got out of bed, taking his dress shirt with her to wear.

He couldn't wait one more day to see her, it warmed her heart and it meant the world. And to see him in a suit looking the exact way she always preferred him was even better.

Sneaking back into bed she cuddled in next to him and studied his features. She loved doing this, from the scar on his lip to his perfectly shaped brows and his long thick black eye lashes. His perfectly pouty lips and the roundness of his jaw. She loved the few faded freckles on his face left over from summer as well.

She was an extremely lucky girl. Educated, her dream job, soon to have a gorgeous house, she had an amazing boyfriend who was just as successful. He also happened to be extremely good looking.

"You gonna stop staring at me and fall asleep or?" He opened an eye.

"I was just admiring how pretty you are." She giggled, pulling herself into his chest.

"I thought so." He laughed, kissing her forehead.

"I was offered coke tonight." She said quietly.

She was very open about her past drug use. How she faked piss tests at the height of it to stay on the national team. She used some of her trust to buy the drugs, whatever it would be. Usually weed, but some harder stuff like coke or prescription drugs like OxyContin.

After a few moments of silence from Jamie, she added "I didn't take it."

"I would never think that would be a thing here."

"Lifestyles of the rich and spoiled honey. I was one of those." She kissed his collarbone.

"Were you still doing drugs when we met?" He asked quietly.

"I snorted my last line after our first date. I still smoked weed until I made the official move to Dallas. You are worth being sober for."

"You know how I feel about weed."

"Weed is harmless. Coke on the other hand. I was never high around you. You know this."
He stayed silent for a while. She wasn't sure if he was holding off an explosion of fury or falling asleep.

"I love you." She said quietly.

"I love you too. You just scare the shit out of me sometimes." He kissed her forehead, "I'm gonna try to get some shut eye now. Long day tomorrow."

"Okay. Good night baby."

"Night."

She stayed snuggled into his chest, but sleep was not happening for a while.

She kept on playing over the scenarios of what happened if she took the line, and she had been honest if she had, or if she hadn't of been honest.

But seeing it gave her a craving she wanted to give in too.

Notes