Confessions of An Ice Girl

A few months had went by since I moved to Nashville with James. Things were going great. I was getting things organized for Ella's first birthday party. I was fiddling with my pen when the door clicked shut. I looked up as James walked in with a few grocery bags. "Hey." he smiled

"Hey. So I'm working on a list of who all to invite...so far I have us, of course, your family, my mom and dad, Paulie, Vero and Flower, Geno, Bortz, Jordyn, Mya and Ava...is there anyone from the Preds you wanna invite?"

"Well Cluner, Mike Fisher, Shea Weber, um...the Swedes all went on a trip together...probably Colin Wilson. Yeah that's it." James replied "Oh and Jared Boll...he isn't on the Preds he..."

"Plays for Columbus."

"Yeah. We played together in Plymouth. He's one of my best friends."

"Okay sounds great." I replied "I'll need the addresses for people you wanna invite."

James nodded as he put away groceries "I should have them in my address book...it's in the cupboard." he said

I got up and went to the cupboard, grabbing the small blue address book and sitting back down to write the addresses down along with our list of names. "James?"

"Mmm?" he asked looking up from the fridge

"For the food for it? I figured we could just do like sandwiches or pizza...something easy. And I can order a cake."

"Sounds good. Whatever you like, cost is no issue."

"But..."

"No buts. It's my daughter's first birthday. Cost is not an issue. We can have whatever you like. Do not worry about price. Do you want a sandwich?" he asked pulling lunchmeat, veggies and mayo from the fridge and dropping it on the counter

"Sure."

"Ham or turkey?"

"Turkey please."

"Olives, lettuce and tomatoes okay?"

"Yeah that's fine."

James handed me a sandwich and sat beside me at the table finishing his in a few bites. Just then, Ella started crying from the guest room. I started to get up to go and grab her, but James motioned for me to stop "I'll get her." he offered jumping out of his seat and heading into the guest room. He came back with Ella in his arms and her crying had subsided "She just wanted her daddy. Stopped crying the second she saw me."

I smiled "She loves you."

James smiled and sat down with Ella in his lap "I'm really glad you're here, Abby."

"Me too, James."

"I mean it. You and Ella mean so much to me and it means a lot to me that you both moved here, to Nashville, with me."

"I'm happy you asked. It's nice here. I mean, don't get me wrong, I love Pittsburgh, but this place really has become home."

James nodded "It has that effect on people."

"So does next weekend work for you for the party?"

"Yeah that's fine."

I smiled "Okay. Well, I better get these invites done."

"Okay. Do you need any help?"

"Just keep Ella entertained for me?"

"Can do. We'll be in the den with some toys and a movie." James smiled taking Ella into the living room

While I started writing out invites and putting them in their envelopes, I thought about everything that had went on this past year. Having Ella, the trade, the situation with Bortz...moving to Nashville with James. So much had changed in such a short time, but things were piecing together.
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I took a handful of plates to the kitchen and sat the forks in the sink. "The party is great, Abby." Bortz said leaning against the sink

I smiled over at him, "Thanks."

"So, how have things been here?"

"It's good." I smiled

"Nealer treating you right?"

I nodded "Yeah."

"Good. Otherwise, I'd have to kick his ass."

"You don't have to worry about James."

"Alright." he smiled

Just then James walked into the kitchen with an empty bowl, "Hey, Abby, where is the extra-- Oh, hey, bortz..."

"Hey, Nealer. I'll talk to you later, Abby." Bortz said walking back to the living room

"You need more chips?" I asked James as I grabbed a bag of LAYs

"What was that all about?" he asked

"What was what about?"

"With Bortz..." James said his voice starting to fill with anger

"What do you mean? He was just complimenting the party..."

"I'm not stupid."

"What do you mean, James?" I sighed

"I saw the expression you gave him!" James yelled

"What expression?!" I yelled back

"You were fucking flirting with him."

"What?! No I was not. You're being ridiculous..."

"I am being ridiculous?! You're the one who is still fawning over Robert Bortuzzo! This is exactly WHY I didn't want him here."

"You SAID to invite him!"

"To make you happy! I didn't want him here!" James snapped

"Is everything okay?" Paul asked walking into the kitchen

"Yeah everything is fine..." I said trying to just drop the situation

"Everything is NOT fine!" James said "Admit it. Admit you still like him!"

"I never liked him, James!"

"Hey, can you guys keep it down? What's going on?" Bortz asked walking into the kitchen

James turned to him, punching him in the face and storming out of the house. "What the fuck, Nealer?!" Bortz snapped before James slammed the front door shut. I just sat down and started crying. Paul ran off after James and Bortz sat beside me "Abby? What happened?"

"You...you should go, Rob...." I choked out

"What? Why?"

"Please? Just go...you shouldn't be here when he gets back..."

"Why not?"

"Please just go, Rob!" I yelled, crying harder

Bortz just nodded and got up "Thanks for having me." he said walking out the door

Notes