Ride (Reposted)

Early February 2014

The moment Emily was dreading was coming. Jamie promised her space if they could talk by the time she got back to Dallas. She had been in town for a week without anyone knowing. She even went to a few games and sat in the nosebleeds so no one would know.

Walking towards their favourite coffee shop downtown she had promised to meet Jamie so they could talk. She made sure to dress as sharp as she could so he could see what he fucked up. To spite him. Wearing a tight orange bandage dress that showed off her curves with a leather jacket over top. The dress wasn't that comfortable at work but it was hopefully worth the reaction from Jamie.

Walking past the window she caught a glimpse of him sitting at their usual table. He was unshaven, which she preferred and he had his dark hair covered by a toque and dressed in dark clothes as per usual. He still looked good despite looking sad. Pulling herself together she pulled open the door, keeping an eye on their table she slid her jacket off so she could show off her curves.


She noticed he already ordered her favourite cup of coffee by the time she made it to the table. Her heels obnoxiously clicking on the floor she hoped he wouldn't turn around. Out of habit she found herself reaching for his shoulder, squeezing it as she walked around the table, giving him a startle.

Being stern with him had gone out the window by the time she saw his sad eyes. She immediately felt bad for taking off and spiting him with smoking weed and snorting coke, along with some hallucinogenics at a night club.

***

She looked so hot. He knew she had dressed like that purposely to show him what he fucked up.

"Hey." She smiled sheepishly as she sat across from him.

"Hey." He smiled back, "you look good."

"So do you." She started playing with her hair, something she did when she was nervous.

"I definitely don't feel like that." He let out a small laugh, "I, uh, saw your truck so I ordered what you usually get."

He's been sleeping like shit and it was starting to show in his play. He hadn't shaved in days, some days it had been hard to even get out of bed or go in the shower.

He watched her take a sip of her coffee as she flipped her long dark hair over her head, messing it up.


"I'm sorry I fucked up." He said quietly.

"Some girl took advantage of you even though she knew you are in a relationship. You got her off." She mumbled.

"Your not mad at me?" He perked up.

"No. I semi-overreacted Jamie. We were both drunk when that happened. Your going to be mad at me though." She sighed.

"How much did you do."

"A bit of coke. A bit of weed. Maybe some Molly." She bit her lip.

"Em. Babe, you didn't." He couldn't believe it. He knew about the weed, but he hated the thought of her all strung out of coke and high on ecstasy.

"I'm sorry Jamie. I was hurt, and mad. And I wanted to hurt you. You know how I get." She choked.

"I can't fucking believe this." He shook his head.

***

She knew he was going to have a negative reaction to it. He was holding himself together well though. Every bit of sadness in his eyes had been replaced with anger though. From being slouched over with his hands on his coffee cup he was now sitting straight up with his arms crossed and his jaw clenched, the first sign of him being pissed off the ice.

"Jamie. It won't happen again." She promised.

"How can I trust you not to do it." He deadpanned.

"Because you are worth it to be clean. Jamie please listen to me."

"If you come to Russia, how can I trust you to stay off anything if you hit the hills." She watched him place his arms back on the table.

"I won't go snowboarding. It's as simple as that. You gotta believe me Jamie. I was mad, I overreacted." She reached for his hands, holding on to them tightly.

Hearing him make a huff he pulled his hands away from her, crossing his arms across his body. Putting up his shield up again.

"Babe." She pleaded, she could feel her eyes well up, and she wasn't holding back.

Tears helped her get away with just about anything.

"Ray suggested we maybe see a therapist." Jamie said through gritted teeth.

"We don't need one. It's just a blip in the relationship, Jamie. We can get through this. I promise I won't do that again. The only thing I'll smoke are cigarettes."

"I don't even want you smoking those."

"You dip. That's fair game."

This made him laugh. She loved his laugh.

"I suppose that is fair." He gave her a small smile, "but the drugs. Emily, why?"

"I was hurt. I didn't want to feel the pain anymore. I wanted to hurt you." She sniffled.

"I don't understand how you can just do that."

"Old habits die hard Jamie. I can quit that cold turkey. Jamie. I, you. I was hurt." She said sadly with defeat.

She looked down at her coffee cup and shook her head so her hair would conceal her face from him and shed a few tears.

She heard him sigh as she felt him take her hands in his. They were soft, and warm.

"Let's go for a walk." He said quietly.

"Okay." She agreed.

She got up quietly and followed him out of the coffee shop. She was nervous now that they were not in a quiet place he could freely let her have it as loudly as he could without getting looks or having to leave somewhere. Jamie had a short fuse, and a big temper. He would never physically harm her but he's torn into her just as much as she's torn into him.

As they made their way to a park she officially was at a loss as what to expect.

"Jamie." She said quietly, reaching for his arm.

Before she knew it he had her wrapped into his arms and holding her as tightly as he could. She wrapped her arms around his waist, rubbing his back.

"I'm never going out. If shits like that is going to happen." He said into her hair.

"Just don't let girls into the VIP area. I trust you Jamie." She said into his chest, "I'm sorry I overreacted."

"Just don't do it again." He said firmly.

"I promise." She turned her head to look up at him.

"Can I kiss you?" She said quietly.

"Absolutely." She smiled up at him.
He cupped her face and placed his lips softly into her's, letting her deepen the kiss. She missed him. His soft stubble tickling her chin, she smiled into the kiss.

"I missed you." She said quietly, snuggling back into his chest.

"I missed you too. Should we continue our walk?" He suggested.

"I gotta go back to work." She frowned, she didn't want to, but she had too.

"Really?" He said sadly.

"Yeah. Did you want to come over later?" She said softly.

"Yeah. Let me know when your done. I'll walk you back to your truck."

"Thanks babe." She grinned up to him.

***

He opened her car door for her and helped her get into her truck with her tight dress. He had no idea how she managed to get into this thing. He hated driving in it. It was too big, too high up, and too loud.

"I'll see you later babe." She grinned as she leaned down for a kiss.

A couple of hours later he came in quietly to her apartment, finding her in the converted loft sitting on the couch in comfortable clothes, glasses on and hair up in a bit messy bun. And still working.

They still had a long way to go, but having a quiet night in was a good way to start on the right foot before heading to Sochi next week.

Notes