Confessions of An Ice Girl

It had been almost a month since I spoke to James. I was a few weeks away from my due date and wasn't even talking to the father. He'd tried to call multiple times. Leaving me many drunk voicemails but I didn't have time for his bullshit. Sure I had "ended things" but less than 24 hours, he was in some other girl's pants? I was angry and in my mind, I had every right to be.

I was laying on Jordyn's couch when my phone went off. Paul Martin. "Hey Paulie."

"Abby. What happened with Nealer?" He asked

"Paul..."

"He's a fucking mess, Abby. He won't tell me what happened. He just calls me from the bar to pick his wasted ass up and I want to know what the hell happened?"

"We went to meet my parents. I didn't tell them who he was or that I was pregnant. They were angry. Some things were said. I got upset and I took it out on James. I broke up with him and came to stay with Jordyn. The morning after I realized I was just upset about what they said so I went over to apologize and some skank was standing in his kitchen wearing one of his shirts and her fucking underwear! Not even 24-hours later, Paulie, and he was banging some slut."

"Now, Abby..."

"Don't you now Abby me! I know he's your best friend and that yeah we were technically broken up but he said he loved me Paul. He begged me to stay and he didn't even give it a full fucking day. He went out and found some other girl right after I left."

"But it's not like he cheated on you...and from what you just told me, it sounded like you made it clear things were done. Not saying what Nealer did was OK but that doesn't give you a right to be more pissed off at him."

"How does it not? His bed hadn't even cooled down from me being in it and he brought some other girl into it, Paul. I went back there to make things work and she's just standing there in his kitchen. And judging from the fact that he actually knew this one's name without having to ask her, she was a frequent guest."

"Abby, I get that you're angry...but you broke up with him. You can't be mad about what he did."

"I can too! And I am mad! He made his intentions clear, Paul."

Paul sighed "can you at least call him? He's a mess, Abby. He's drunk, he won't get out of bed...just call him. He's miserable...there's these rumors going around..."

"Good! And no. I'll call him when I go into labor. Bye, Paul." I snapped. I pulled out my phone and pulled up Twitter. When I saw his tweet.

"All of these rumors couldn't be further from the truth. I love being a Pittsburgh Penguin. I hope to remain a Penguin and win as a Penguin."

I searched his name and saw multiple tweets saying James had requested a trade. Loads and loads of fans tweeting at him saying shit and being angry with him...and there was James' tweet, denying the request. I had actually thought for a minute about calling him and hearing the truth from the horse's mouth. But I quickly changed my mind. I was not in the mood to deal with him.

Jordyn walked in through the door "You will not believe the deal I just got on baby clothes."

"Jordyn...you didn't have to."

"Pssshh I wanted to. They had so many cute outfits." She said digging into the bags and showing me the different outfits. "Is everything okay, Abby? You seem distant and upset?"

I sighed "It's James...someone started a rumor that he requested a trade from the Pens and the fans are really backlashing at him..."

"Abby, you should call him..." Jordyn said

"No! I can't do that..."

"Abby..."

"Jordyn, I'm not just going to call him and forgive him for what happened."

"You don't have to do that, but you do need to talk to him. You're about to have his baby and you're not on speaking terms? You can borrow my car. Go over there and talk things out with him. Yeah, what he did was shitty. But you were technically broken up so he didn't cheat...yeah it was jackass-ish of him to screw some girl hours after you and him broke up, but some people handle things differently. I know Neal can be a real jerk, but deep down...he cares about you a lot."

I sighed "You're right..."

"You gonna go over there?" Jordyn asked

"Yeah. I'll call him first..." I said dialing his number

"Hello..." he mumbled

"Neal?"

"Abby? Are you going into labor..."

"No. I'm not going into labor...James we need to talk."

James sighed "Abby...I'm really not in the mood for you to yell at me some more I've had a shitty week and-"

"James, I just want to talk, okay? No yelling. We need to talk. Can I come over?"

"Yeah...yeah that's fine." he stammered

"Good. I'll be over in a few, okay?"

"Ok."

I quickly showered and changed into a comfortable pair of pants and a shirt. I slipped on my shoes and threw my hair into a ponytail. "Thanks for letting me take your car, Jordyn."

"No problem. Good luck." Jordyn said

I nodded and drove Jordyn's car to James'. I took a deep breath and headed up to his door, ringing the bell. After a few minutes, James answered. He had his glasses on, his clothes were wrinkled and his hair was more of a mess than it usually was. "Hey." he said

"Hey. Can I come in?"

James nodded and stepped aside letting me in. His place was a mess. There were empty beer and whiskey bottles filing his sink, clothes tossed all about..."Sorry about the mess...I...that's not what I should be apologizing for. Abby, listen, I'm sorry about what happened...I just...after you left that night, I went out and got wasted...I brought Callie back to my place and we fucked. I know it was stupid and kind of shitty, but you made it clear you wanted to be gone...I just...I'm sorry. I'm an ass."

"It just felt like you didn't care that I was gone. I felt like you just moved on just like that and I was angry. So angry, James...you said you loved me. Did you even mean that?" I asked trying not to cry

"Yes, Abigail. I meant that. I did what I did because I was hurt and angry and I fucked up. I know my apologies will never be enough to make up for what I did and how I made you feel, but I am sorry and I do love you." he choked out

"I just...things can't go back to how they were, James."

"Why not?"

"Because they just can't, but I want us to be in good standings and at least talking. I'm having your child in a few weeks."

James nodded "Yeah. That would be best."

"Are things going okay...I saw on Twitter."

James shook his head "I didn't request a trade. I don't know where all of this came from. I want to stay here...why would I ask for a trade?"

"I don't know..." I replied "So you didn't ask for one?"

James shook his head "No. I didn't. Did you think I did?"

"Honestly? Yeah. I did."

"Why?"

"Because of what happened with us..."

"Abby, I'm not going to voluntarily leave you and our child..."

"I know that, James...I'm sorry."

"You don't have any reason to be sorry."

"Neal...James...I should go."

"Okay."

"I'll call you?"

James nodded "Yeah. That'll be good."

"Okay. Bye."

"Bye." he replied walking me out the door and to the car. He stood in the driveway until I pulled off. I headed back to Jordyn's and got inside .

"Thanks for letting me borrow your car...I need to get mine fixed...James was going to do that while we were still together." I sighed

"No problem. How'd it go?"

"It went okay. We talked a bit, I guess. We are fine now. He didn't ask for the trade."

"I knew he didn't. Bortz said he didn't."

"You talked to Bortz?"

Jordyn nodded "Yeah. The guys frequently ask about you, Abby..."

"So I take it they all know?"

"Yeah. They all know."

"What about Mya and Ava?"

"They know too, but there's nothing they can do. You quit the team."

I nodded, "Yeah."

"Don't stress about it, Abby. Things will be okay!"

"Yeah. They will be." I replied, little did I know...things were about to get worse...much worse...

Notes