Chapter 21// Love is right in front of you

Me and Lauren walk though the arena as we finally made our way back to the locker room as Ryan and Justin stood outside.

"Well, well, well where were you two?," Ryan asks.

"Ryan don't start it please. Lauren is hurting," I say as Ryan walks over to her.

"Whats wrong?" Ryan asks as he talks to LC.

I just stand there as I listen to him as they hug.

"Everything will be ok, I know how getting trade and losing a girlfriend feels like. Happened when I went over to Aniheim then coming here," Ryan says.

When Ryan got traded the second time, he was dating the best girlfriend that he has had in a long time. She wouldn't leave the place where her family and job is at. I was sadden but on the other hand I understood.

I just stood there as I see James coming out with his whole gear on. He has everything that once was penguins changed over to Blue Jackets.

"I see you got the jacket thing going on," I say as he walks over to me.

"Yep, they did it over night, gotta where my black stuff because I think the away stuff is at home in the other bag," James says.

He will look out like a sore thump going out there in black instead of blue.

"Your going to stick out,"

"Yea I know, if they wouldn't have fixed the penguins, ill be an odd ball,"
I laugh as he leans in a kisses me.

"Neal, lets go practice,"
That was RJ Umberger.

"I'll see you after practice baby,"
He walks away with his teammates as I look over at Ryan and Lauren hugging.

"Are we gonna go to practice?" Justin asks as I laugh.

"Yes, do you guys remember where you sat at yesterday?" Ryan asks as I see him keeping his sitance from Lauren.

"Yes I do," I say.
I lead the way to where we sat at yesterday.

We walk into the main arena down the stairs.

"This feels weird," I hear Ryan says.

"Yea it does, we used to play here," Justin says as we make our way down to the seats we sat at yesterday.

I sit down as Lauren sat besides me with Justin and Ryan besides us.

I look down at the rink as I see James skating around doing drills.
He looks outta place.

"James looks like he is on another team," ryan says.

"Guess he forgot his away bag at home," I say.

"He has two bags?"

"I dont remember,"
I cant remember if he did or not.

I watch as the Blue Jackets did their drills and practice games until they got off the ice and the Oilers took onto the ice.

"Should we head back?" Justin asks.

"I don't know if someone is coming to get us or what," I say as we stay put.

Lauren and Ryan begin talking again as Lauren switchs places with Justin.

"Whats your name?" Justin asks me.

"Kimberly, nice to meet you Justin," I say.

"How you related to Whitters?"
Ryan must have told him.

"He is my cousin on my mom's side. He is my aunt's son,"

"Ahh ok,"

"Hey you guys coming back?"
Looking up I see Mark Letestu standing there.

"Yes," Ryan says as all 4 of us got up and heads up the stairs then to the locker room.

Lauren walks besides Ryan as I follow them with Justin besides me.

They seem to get more cozy like when they dated back when Ryan was in Pittsburgh.

Walking around the corner, I see James all dressed back up.

"You looked like an ood ball," I say as I walk up to him as his wraps his arms around me.

"I know, alot of the guys called me odd ball,"
I smile as he kisses me.

"So what are the plans?"

"Well I don't have to be back here until 6:30 tonight. So why don't me and Lauren go get lunch and we will meet you back at the hotel," James says.
I made a face as he started to lip talk to me that he wants to talk to Lauren without me or
Ryan around.

I nod my head as I understood him. He probably wants to try to prevent Lauren from dating someone else so quickly.

"Alright," I say.

"Where are we going?" Lauren asks.

"No idea,"
James kisses me as he and Lauren makes their way out of the arena together.

"So now what?" Ryan asks as I hit him.

"Go to the hotel," I say as me and Ryan begin to walk out with Justin in tow.

"Which one is it?"

"The Fairmont Hotel,"

"Thats south of here for sure, we might need to pick James and Lauren up. Thats too far of a walk for them,"

"Agree,"
Me and Ryan head out of the arena and head for his car as I text James to let him know.

Walking up stairs, I see his two door car that he had when he was back in Pittsburgh.

"You still got this car?" I ask as I open the door.

"Yeah, I love this thing,"
I smile as I get in and close the door behind me.

Ryan gets in as he begins his car up.

"So show me a picture of my little second cousin,"
I smile as I touch my phone.

James left me a text saying "ok, we are at Coliseum Pizza place down the street"

I then head to my galley and pick out a picture of James and Eddie together.

"Here he is with James," I say as I hand him the phone.

"Aww, he looks just like Neal and he looks like you too,"

"Yeah, he probably misses both of us,"

"I bet he does, guess I get to see him often now,"

"Ryan, he has to get comfy with you first. He will be shy around you,"

"So how is life living at home?"

"It's alright, me and James are going to find a home in Columbus before we go to Toronto in the off season,"

"Your going to Canada for a vacation?"

"I did it for the passed two years with Lauren. This year it will be with James. Then while we are there we are going to visit his side of the family and lets Eddie meet his Neal side,"

"You going to change his name?"

"Yes, his name will be Edward James Neal, I'm dropping his current middle name which is Michael,"

"I'm glad your happy cuz,"

"Me too, but I still have a soft spot for your ex teammate in Pittsburgh,"

"He didn't do anything to you, has he?"

"Nah, he did hit James but he has said he was sorry for it. I think I'll always has a soft spot for him,"
Me and Ryan just talk about our lifes and what has happened since we last seen each other.

"Should we go meet up with Lauren and James? I'm getting hungry," I ask.

"Yeah I'm about straving, where are they at?" Ryan asks.

"Thats Coliseum Pizza place,"

"Alright, thats not far from here,"
Ryan began his car as he pulls out of the parking lot down the road to that place.

He turns into the parking lot and parks right in front of the building.

I Get out of the car as I wait for Ryan to get out.

"Go ahead in," Ryan says.
I laugh as I open the door and walk in as I see James as he looks up at me. Then I hear the door open again as I knew it was Ryan.

Lauren looks back as she gets up from her seat and runs over to Ryan as he hugs him.
I look at James as he walks over to me.

"Lauren's love has been in front of her the whole time, it's Ryan. She told me they used to date. She never got over him,"
I watch as Ryan kisses her as I smile as I turn to James.

He places a kiss on me.

"So where is the food?"
Only Ryan can ruin a moment.

"Let's head back over to the table so the cousins can eat," James says as I elbow him as he did the same to me.

All four of us walk back over to the table as me and Lauren get by the wall and the guys on the outside.

"Thank you James," Lauren says.

"Your welcome, your family and I seen how hurt you were. Now if you two do start dating again, please be careful,"
He's in daddy mode right now.

"Alright dad,"
We all laugh as the waiter comes over to take our order.

After me and Ryan ate, all four of us head back to his car as me and James are in the backseat.

"Back to the hotel or you wanna hang out at my apartment?" Ryan asks.

"Go to your apartment," Lauren says.

"What about you two?"

"Head to your apartment. Thats fine," I say.

Ryan pulls out of the parking place and heads back onto the road to his apartment, where ever that is at.

Chapter 20// Better life stands ahead of you

I shut my phone as James emerges from the bathroom in a grey suit with a white shirt and purple tie on.

"Your turn," James says as I walk over to him as he plants a kiss on me.

"You look handsome," I say as I make my way passed him to the bathroom/

Closing the door, I take out my clothes, which were at the bottom of James's bag.

I change from the clothes I had on to a purple flowing shirt and a pair of jeans.

Opening the door, I walked out as James attacks me.

"James,"
He just places his lips onto mine as we kiss passionately.

"I'm glad you came with me,"

"Me too, can't wait for how Lauren's night was,"

"You know how sex feels,"
I begin to laugh at the comment.

"Your funny,"

We just sit there on the bed and watch TV until it was time to go down and get breakfest.

"I'll text Lauren to see if she is up," I say as I pick up my phone and begin to text Lauren.

Me: You up?
I hit send as I got a reply

Lauren: Yes I am up. Meet you at breakfest
I close the phone as I get up off the bed.

"She will meet us down there. Do you have morning skate?" I ask.

"Probably will find out once we get there," James says as he makes his way over to me as he wraps his arms around me and begins to kiss me, very passionately.

Just as James places his hand on my leg to go up, my phone began to ring like crazy.

"Grr phone,"
I pick it up and say hello.

"Good morning sweetie. How is Edmonton?" Mom asks.

"It's good, me and James got to bunk down together last night. How is Eddie?"

"He is great, just playing outside right now. Want to say hi to him?"

"I'll call before he goes to bed tonight. We are heading down to breakfest. Tell him mommy and daddy loves him,"

"Alright, go eat and I'll talk to you tonight,"

"Ok, Love you mom,"
I close the phone.

"Hows Eddie doing?" James asks as I place the phone in my pocket.

"He is good, he's playing outside,"

"I can't wait to see him,"

"Me too,"
We made our way out of our hotel room and head for the elevator.

James pressed the down button as the doors open as Steve and Lauren are there.

"Hey," I say as we walk on and the doors close.

"Hey, how did you guys sleep?" Lauren asks.

"Yep, how about you?"
I knew what they did.

"We slept great, well we didn't get much sleep,"

"I kinda figured that, was it good?"
She pushes me as I laugh.

"So James, you ready for today?" Steve asks, going on to a different topic.

"Yep ready as I'll ever be," James says as the doors open.
We all walk out then head for the ballroom of the hotel.

Walking down the hall and into the ballroom, it was beauiful.

We go over to a table and sit down with a few people.

"So how was your first night James?"

"It was good, got some good rest. How was your night RJ?" James asks.

"I didn't sleep, this man wouldn't allow me,"
He pointed to a guy that I swear I saw before.

"Where you on the Penguins at all?" I ask.

"Me? I was yes. How did you know?"

"Your Letestu, right?"

"Yeah I am, your a pens fan?"

"Yep, I remember you from a few games I went too,"

"Ahh well please tell me you are a jackets fan now?"

"I'll become one, takes time,"
He laughs.

"I have a young son who is a diehard pens fan and Neal fan,"
I point to James.

"Well hey thats who he likes, so be it. So you dating him?"

"Yep,"
We all talk some more as I got to meet almost the whole team.
The one that stood out was Jack Johnson, when me and Sid tried to date before we became fuck buddies he would talk about Jack as well as Colby Armstrong aka Army.

After talking and breakfest, we head onto the bus and head for the arena.

The bus pulled up to the back of the arena as the doors open.
James let me me walk off the bus first as I make my way off onto the ground.

Looking behind me I see Lauren walking down with James and Steve behind her.

"Steve come with me," Jarmo says.

"I'll be back Lauren," Steve says as I watch him kiss her on the head as he walks off.

"Wonder whats going on?" Lauren asks.

"No idea," James says as all three of us walk into the arena and head for the locker room.
Once at the locker room Ryan and someone else is standing outside.

"Why are you doing here Whitney?" I ask as he turns to us.

"He just got traded here this morning," Ryan says.

"What??" Lauren asks.

"I guess they made a deal early this morning, me and Justin here are Blue Jackets,"
Wow my cousin is coming to Columbus.

"Come in here gentlemen, we need to get you fitting for clothes and get jerseys on you,"
They both walk in.

"Did Steve get traded too?" Lauren asks.

"Let me go see,"
James heads into the locker room as me and Lauren stay put.

"I hope he didn't get traded," Lauren says.

"He probably didn't get traded," I say.
After a few minutes go by, Steve emerged from the locker room.

"Lauren, I got traded to the Flyers," Steve says.
I walk a little bit from them cause I know what Lauren is gonna do.

"You got traded? What the fuck Steve. We had a great night and you get traded today.?"

"Lauren I didn't know. Come with me,"

"No I'm not leaving the only family I have to be with you,"
Lauren ran off in the direction of the exit.

"Steve, you don't know LC, James Ryan!!!" I yell as I head down the hall after Lauren.

"Lauren wait up!!"
She just kept running as I had to stop and breathe.

"Whats wrong babe? Why are you here?"
I turn to see James behind me.

"Go..get...Lauren. She is running away," I say as James immediately begins running in the direction I showed him.

I breathe as I see Steve walking up.

"I wish she wouldn't have reacted like that," Steve says.

"Lauren got her heart broke before we left Pittsburgh, now you broke it. she's been through enough Steve. I moved with James when he got traded but thats because I love him and our son loves him," I say.

"I wish she would move with me,"

"Steve she wouldn't leave unless she has some kinda family with her like me. I'm her friend and only family she has,"
Me and Steve talked more until he headed back to pack his bag up and leave.

"I found her,"
I turn as I see James walking without Lauren.

"Where is she?" I ask.

"She is in a women's bathroom upstairs. I talked to her a little from the outside and she just cried. I told her I'll come get you,"

"Thank you,,"
I hug him as she showed me the way to the bathroom.

"Head back downstairs and get suited up,"
I kiss James as he begins to head back to the locker room.

I knock on the door saying "Lauren it's me. Can I come in?"

"I can't believe he got traded,"
I walk in and I see her crying into the sink.

"It's ok Laur,
I tried to comforted her as she let the tears come down her face as she lets her feeling out.

After she does that, she wipes her eyes.

"Feel better?"

"A little, I'm just upset still,"

"I can understand, Steve isn't here anymore he left the building before I came back here,"

"I'm gonna miss him though,"
I told her it will be ok and someone else will come into her life and never leave. That's the way I feel about James.