Chapter Fourteen

Jimmy was sitting high in the stands, his eyes on the ice in front of him, his hands clasped in front of his mouth, deep in thought. Hearing footsteps Jimmy glanced up to see Rizzo dropping into the seat next to him. He returned his gaze back to the ice, letting out the tiniest sigh.

"How'd you find me?" he asked finally.

Rizzo lent back in his seat, staring down at his hands.

"Kat told me you come here to think sometimes, after I spent fifteen minutes knocking and yelling through your door," Rizzo confessed.

There was an awkward silence between them as Jimmy clenched his jaw as her name rolled off Rizzo's tongue. The thought of them together was driving him crazy.

"We need to talk Jimmy," Rizzo stated his eyes on the other man's solemn features.

"It's none of my business what you and Kat get up to," Jimmy told him, rising to his feet.

Rizzo reached out and grabbed his wrist. Jimmy fixed him with a hard stare, but Rizzo matched his with determination.

"There is no me and Kat," Rizzo informed Jimmy.

"Sure there isn't, don't worry I'll keep my mouth shut," Jimmy seethed, yanking his arm from Rizzo's.

Rizzo jumped to his feet as Jimmy turned his back on him and began to walk away.

"Jesus Christ Jimmy, are you even listening to me?" he shouted at Jimmy's back. "The only reason I was in Kat's room was because of you."

Jimmy froze before turning to face Rizzo, arms folded over his chest. The expression on his face was one of disbelief.

"Something happened between the two of you, and she won't tell what it is and I know you won't but I can see it," Rizzo accused.

Jimmy looked away, back down at the ice.

"It was nothing," he mumbled.

"Does Kat know that? Because I was the one that was there comforting her last night when she was crying over you. I was the one being a friend," Rizzo retorted.

Jimmy stared at Rizzo, mouth open.

"What?"

"At least if you could still act like you're her friend insisted of shutting yourself off to anyone. I know your going through a tough time man, but serious you need to open up to someone because this is affecting the team," Rizzo decided maybe it was time to start telling some home truths.

"I did open up Rizzo and this happened!" Jimmy's voice was rising.

"What happened?" Rizzo shouted back.

Jimmy closed his eyes momentarily. Before swallowing hard and meeting Rizzo's gaze straight on.

"I fell in love with her." He whispered.

Rizzo's expression changed as Jimmy dropped back into his seat, his arms wrapped around himself sadly. Rizzo sat next to his friend and shook his head slightly.

"I didn't see that coming," Rizzo admitted.

Jimmy laced his fingers together, and bowed his head as if he was praying.

"Yeah, me neither."

"No wonder you…" Rizzo began, remembering Jimmy's behaviour.

"Couldn't stand the idea of the two of you together," Jimmy finished before turning to Rizzo.

"I'm not ready for this man; seriously I can't take that step with her just yet. There's too much stuff I need to sort out, to get through before I can consider it. This was the last thing I expected to happen." Jimmy rubbed his eyes whilst he spoke. "I thought it would go away if I took a step back you know, give her some space, but it's worse now, I miss all the little things. Just hearing her laugh…" Jimmy shook his head. "You have no idea what it does to me."

Rizzo could see how much this was tearing his friend up inside.

"I mean how can I explain this to her, how I can I make her understand this?" Jimmy asked himself.

"Don't you think that maybe she feels the same way?" Rizzo asked Jimmy quietly.

Jimmy brushed his hands through his hair, shaking his head.

"I have no idea, and right now I can't focus on it. I need to focus on the team and the Olympics. I'm already off my game enough as it is," Jimmy admitted.

Rizzo nodded, agreeing with Jimmy's words.

"What happened at Christmas?" he asked quietly.

A small smile crossed Jimmy's face as he thought of that perfect moment.

"I kissed her. It was just the perfect moment and then suddenly, there were all these feelings and I couldn't go through with it, because I couldn't deal with a those emotions building up inside of me. I just…I need time," Jimmy confessed.

Rizzo patted his friends back knowingly.

"You need to get things back to normal with Kat, before you even contemplate getting into something, because it's not going to be long before somebody else notices something's been going on."

Jimmy nodded his response.

"Look thanks man…And I'm sorry about last night," Jimmy said meeting Rizzo's gaze.

Rizzo shrugged.

"If I was you I would have thought the same thing, come on let's go and get some coffee, I know I didn't sleep to great last night," Rizzo said rising to his feet.

Jimmy nodded his agreement as they both stood up and left the rink.

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The scent of coffee filled my office as I looked up tiredly to see Jimmy standing in the door way. I pursed my lips together as I leaned back in my chair.

"Hi," I uttered wearily.

"Hey," Jimmy responded before setting the take out coffee cup in front of me, and setting a brown paper bag next to it.

I frowned slightly suspicious.

"It's a peace offering," he stated, whilst I reached forward and opened the brown paper bag.

I could feel my face light up as I took out one of the muffins form the bag. It had a little iced picture of a cat on it. I grinned up at Jimmy as he perched on the edge of my desk, his own warm smile spreading across his handsome features.

"Look, I know I've been an ass lately and I am really sorry. You don't deserve to be treated that way, and I want things to go back the way they were before…" he hesitated not sure how to continue.

"Before Christmas?" I added helpfully.

Jimmy gave me a grateful look, knowing I was trying to make this as easy as possible for him.

"I'm not ready for anything like that right now, and I'm sorry if I led you on, but I can't. There's too much going on in my life right now," Jimmy said honestly, studying the look on my face.

I looked down at the muffin in my hands.

"I understand, really Jimmy I do," I told him, raising my head and giving him a brief smile.

"So we're ok?" Jimmy asked pointedly.

I nodded, before taking a bite out of my muffin.

"We're fine." And I meant it.

Well firstly I'd like to dedicate this to two people.

katydid13 has been a fab beta, she has helped me with plot ideas and making this story as authentic as possible in regards to the fact it was set in the 80's and the wicked way she has with the chars.

Secondly to browneyedgirl75, you made me blush like crazy with that review and with what you said your profile. I just want to say thanks.

Also thankies to all those reviewers and lurkers!

Enjoy!

Bluehavan4220: He's not stupid, he's just upset. He doesn't like all the feelings he has swimming around and then to see someone he regards as his close friend coming out of her room with rumpled hair, it got to him. Jimmy would rather not be feeling those things at all and he hates the fact he is. Lol If I wasn't wicked to my chars you wouldn't read.

Rejazzz: lol I want to hug him too, he's been thorough so much. Lol It's just bad timing for the two of them and of course well they made up in this chapter. I do love them both, because they seem so right for each other.

Browneyedgirl75: lol hope you like this chapter! I would love to read some of your stuff. Feel free to email me at any time. I work really hard on these stories so it's always nice to know their appreciated.