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.