Confessions of An Ice Girl

"You're seriously moving with him, Abby?" Bortz said putting a stack of my boxes into the U-haul.

I nodded "Rob, I'm sorry...about everything I just..."

"You love Neal. I know. We all know, Abby. I shouldn't have tried to mess around with you. No apologies are necessary, I just...are you sure this is what you want?"

"Yeah, Bortz. It is." I smiled

"Well then, I'm happy for you. Neal better treat you right or I'm kicking his ass."

"He will."

Paul came out with the last batch and placed it onto the trailer "well that's all of it."

"Thanks guys." I said pulling them each into a hug "I'm going to miss you so much."

"So is James meeting you halfway? Or?"

"No. I'm just heading right to his place. He and one of his Nashville buddies are gunna help get everything into his place."

Paul nodded "I'm gunna miss you, Abby."

"I'll miss you too, paulie. But we can visit. Maybe in the summer or when you guys come to Nashville?"

Bortz smiled "yeah maybe."

I smiled and got Ella into her car seat, giving Bortz and Paulie one last hug "thanks again guys. 9 hours until Nashville."

"Call when you get there." Paul said

I nodded "I will."

"Bye Abby." Bortz said with a half smile

I gave them a little wave and got into my car, checking on Ella in the mirror before heading off. In 9 hours I'd be in Nashville and back with James Neal.
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I pulled up to the address James has texted me. The house was gorgeous. As soon as I placed the car in park, he walked out of the house. "You made it." he smiled adjusting his glasses

"I did." I smiled stepping out of the car and hugging him

"I'm glad you came, Abby."

"Me too."

James smiled and carefully got Ella's car seat out of the back, "I got my guest room set up for you and her, if that's okay."

"That's perfect." I smiled

James walked me inside and sat Ella's seat on the floor. He pulled me over into a hug and I buried my face in his neck. The familiar scent of hair gel and old spice filled my nostrils. "I missed you." he said quietly

"I missed you too. How have things been here?"

James shrugged "Good, I guess. Making some new friends...finding new places to eat."

I laughed "Still haven't learned to cook, have ya, Neal?"

"No. I still order out. Nightly." he laughed nodding towards the trash where a few empty Chinese food containers were

"Same old, Nealer." I smiled

"Well, I've learned some things. I actually did my laundry the other day without fucking it up." he teased "Anyways, I'll help you unpack, then do you want a tour?"

"Of Nashville or this house?"

James laughed "Either one."

"Both?"

"Okay, both." James smiled

I smiled back and helped him unload my stuff. The guest bedroom was perfect. He had even got a crib set up for Ella. I glanced over to the closet and noticed some of his old Penguins jerseys, "Uh...James?"

"Sorry about those. I'm packing them up and shipping them to my mom to take to my house in Canada."

"Okay. You kept your pens jerseys?"

James nodded, "Yeah. Why?"

"I just figured you were mad about the way things ended...you know...the rumors and all."

"The past is the past." James shrugged

He was right. The past was the past. Pittsburgh was the past and Nashville was the future...at least, I thought it was.

Notes

I apologize this has taken so long. Trying to take care of some things in my personal life. Hope those of you who are still around enjoy<3