Laura's POV-

"Laura! Laura wait up!" the all too familiar voice of James Neal called. I had thought I'd seen him while I was shopping. He must've noticed me and followed me outside. I rushed back to my car and got in. Slamming the door shut as he caught up with me. "Laura? Will you just talk to me? Please?" he begged. I ignored his gaze and just looked straight ahead, starting my car. I sat in my car unmoving for a few more minutes before honking my horn. James slowly backed away from the door and I pulled out of my spot, driving away as quickly as I could.

It had been five years since I'd seen him last. Six years ago, James was traded from the Dallas Stars to the Pittsburgh Penguins. At the time, we were dating. Things had been going great, then he got the call. A mid-season trade was a stressful thing for any hockey player. We had tried to make things work, but I went to visit him once in Pittsburgh and found out the truth. He had been cheating on me the second he got to Pittsburgh. I had ended things and left. We hadn't spoken since.

He changed. His hair was a little longer. He had a lot more tattoos. He was in Vegas. Why was he in Vegas? I had fallen out of touch with the hockey community after we split. Hockey made me think of him. So I just avoided it. I had heard Vegas was getting a team, but I hadn't heard much else. I pulled my car into the driveway of my house and headed inside with my bags.

I pulled up my iPad and typed James' name into google to fill in the pieces. He had played in Pittsburgh for about three years after we broke up. He was traded to Nashville and then was claimed by the Vegas Golden Knights a few months ago in the Expansion Draft. So that's why he was here...he was playing here...

Just as I was scrolling through his Wikipedia, my phone started ringing "Hello?" I said

"Laura, you'll never guess who just called me!" my best friend, Katie said

"Who?" I asked

"James Neal. He was saying he needed to get a hold of you..."

"You didn't give him my number, did you?!"

"No! I told him I didn't have your contact info. I don't think he bought it though, but he left me alone...why is James Neal trying to get a hold of you."

"I ran into him today."

"You ran into him in Vegas?!"

"Yeah...apparently the new team got him from Nashville..."

"Whoa what are the odds..."

"You didn't tell him anything, did you, Katie?" I asked biting my lip

"I didn't say a word, but Laura, you should talk to him...there are things he should know..."

"Katie, the last thing I want is to talk to James Neal. The last thing I want is to tell him anything that has happened in the past five years. That's the reason I moved here. To stop answering questions...to get away from it all. And now that he's here, my main goal is to avoid him. Which should be easy... I have to go, Katie...promise me you won't tell him."

"Laura..."

"Katie, promise!"

"Ugh...okay. I promise, but I still think he should know..."

"I don't think he should. Him knowing won't change what happened. Him knowing won't make things any better...good night, Katie. It was good hearing from you." I said before hanging up.

My mind raced back to Dallas...to Pittsburgh. To the break-up...to the accident...tears started to form in my eyes and I quickly wiped them away. That was the past. Crying wasn't going to change a damn thing. I got changed into PJs and curled up in bed with Caleigh, my cat. I reached up and turned off the light with my last thought being hope that today was really the last day I saw James Neal.

James' POV-

"You don't have her number?" I repeated, skeptical that Katie Melarky, Laura's best friend, didn't have her contact information.

"Nope, James. Sorry, I don't." she replied, clearly lying to me

I sighed "Okay. Well if you do happen to hear from her...can you please tell her to call me? At this number...Thanks, Katie."

"Bye, James." she replied hanging up

I pulled my t-shirt off and threw it into the nearest laundry basket. My house was still full with unpacked boxes. Being moved sucked...what sucked worse was having even boxes to unpack. When I left Dallas, I didn't have much. Same with Pittsburgh, but I had really thought Nashville would be home...but that's the way the game goes. I dug around in a box for a clean pair of shorts and a towel. I turned the water on and kicked off my pants before stepping under the warm water.

My mind raced back to Dallas, meeting Laura for that first time. She had been a waitress at Nick & Sam's, a resturaunt that Brad Richard's and I frequented. She looked even prettier today than she had on that day almost 8 years ago... she was just as I remembered. Long brown hair, hazel eyes. A smile that could make you instantly smile back... Why was she in Vegas?

I hadn't seen her or spoken to her since that night in Pittsburgh when she stormed out of my door. I had made a mistake and things ended. When I was traded, I was angry and upset and I made a choice to be unfaithful. Laura found out and things went south from there. Her last words to me were "I never want to speak to you again." And she didn't.

She changed her number, deleted a majority of her email accounts and she privated her social media after blocking me from them. I had tried to get a hold of her for a few months after she left, but when nothing worked, I gave up. No sense looking for someone who didn't want to be found, that is until this afternoon.

I was walking aimlessly through the unfamiliar aisles of the closest grocery store I could find to my new house when I saw her. Cowgirl boots and all. I followed her for a few minutes, going unnoticed as she shopped. When she got to the checkout line, she caught me. Her expression dropped as she rushed out the door. I forgot about my shopping as I chased her down, begging her to speak to me...

I don't know why I thought she would, after what I did...but there was some hope in my mind that after five years, she would at least speak to me. I racked my brain for who else I could call that would give me her number, but no one came to mind. She had never really been a hockey fan, so she barely knew the guys from Dallas... her sister probably hated my guts... Katie was refusing to help.

I stepped out of the shower wrapping the towel around my waist. I grabbed my phone and hovered over Katie's number again. I sighed and sent her one last message as a last resort.

James- Katie, I'm sorry to bother you again...but I have to speak to Laura. I know you probably hate me for what I did, but I am truly sorry. Just please...please help me?

I sighed and laid back in bed waiting for her reply. Moments later my phone dinged and I glanced down seeing a number attached to her message.

Katie- On one condition? Promise me you won't tell her I gave it to you.
James- I promise! Thank-you, Katie! I appreciate this.

I tapped the number and added it into my phone. It was too late to call her now...also, what was I even going to say? I had thought about what to say to her if we ever crossed paths again for years, but none of that was even coming to my mind. I rolled onto my side and laid my phone on the nightstand, I probably wouldn't get any sleep tonight, but might as well try...

Notes