Chapter Text
There's nothing a little bacon couldn't do to satiate the hungry pains from the growing alien in AJ Lee's abdomen. She could drop a pound of mouth-watering pork back in the air fryer for a few minutes and make it a holiday. Some chopping and dicing would make this treat proper for salads or soups. Maybe she felt feisty and toasted bread and added lettuce and tomato to the party.
As AJ carried the offspring of either a psychotic rockstar or a blonde-streaked hella gay football player, she realized the pressure in her gut sat lower than where baby Pablo currently resided. Alexa warned her that "feeling cute and breedable" were some side effects of carrying her child. Society would assume that her fiance would be her main source of poontang, but the equally cute and breedable girl down the hall became AJ's supply of "sexy time."
But no amount of bacon and Skye's juicy ass would make up for the craving that had been eating away at AJ's brain for almost a month: getting the hell back to Stamford. Once news broke that Ambliss Baby #2 had arrived to wreak havoc upon the world, AJ tried getting a plane, train, or automobile ticket out of town to visit her best friends. When finalizing the payment arrived, AJ needed "two-step verification" or a blood sacrifice.
No matter which room of their sh*tty penthouse apartment she was camping in, after her attempts to escape were foiled by "insufficient funds" or changed passwords, Punk's heated stare was waiting for her behind the door. She could take the physical and sexual abuse like a champ. The hardened, bloodshot glare with silent intentions threw her for a loop. She couldn't guess what was next. Until Punk acted, she waited in her bedroom for whatever her punishment was.
The night was a danger to AJ's psyche. When Punk wasn't home during the day, AJ was free to frolic and do whatever she pleased. Most of her free time these days was spent behind the easel with her paints. Her muse involved her fur babies or the girl down the hall. Her dad sat atop the mantle piece of the flameless fireplace for moral support. Sometimes AJ would try to paint something from memory to reminisce better days, but once the brush touched the canvas she could only think about her current f*cked up situation.
AJ's paintbrush dipped into her rinsing water. Her vision blurred as her focus faded into her thoughts instead of the task.
"Is everything ok?" The young woman posing on the couch asked.
AJ blinked. Her rapidly changing attention flickered around her mind like strobe lights. One moment she was picturing yet another escape plan from this hellhole to the half-naked beauty on her sofa. "What was I doing?" She asked.
"Drawing me like one of your French girls," Skye repeated a line from a movie she still hadn't seen.
AJ shook her head. "You're too clothed for that. This is a tastefully nude painting."
Skye's entire wardrobe wouldn't get a second glance at the beach. Her bikini top and jean shorts resembled a young co-ed needing a dip. In the living room, in front of a bisexual tortured artist, it spelled "problematic" in all capital letters. She posed with her head on the armrest, staring seductively like Kate Winslet before her.
"That'll be a first," Skye teased with a giggle.
AJ studied her half-painted tapestry of raw sex appeal. The outlines and shadings were done - it just needed color. Skye's hair was as black as night and those eyes could pierce the soul from this canvas.
Skye recognized the failing attention to her. "Bacon?" She suggested.
AJ turned her head toward her neighbor but her eyes stayed glued to the canvas. "I'm still here, babe. I'm just thinking about something..."
Skye sat up. When AJ was determined, she'd finish a painting if the house was on fire. But it was a lost cause once she lost motivation. "What are you thinking about?" She wondered.
"Dick," AJ muttered.
Skye's grin stretched her face deviously. "I can wake Mr. Wazowski from his nap," she offered.
AJ blinked. "No... dick-dick. Real, fleshy dick. The kind that makes a mess if you play with it too long."
Skye giggled. "Seth?" She guessed.
AJ sighed. "I miss his sorry ass. Which is..."
"f*cking stupid," Skye figured.
AJ shrugged. "Yeah, but he might be the father to the mutant in my tum-tum, so it's not TOTALLY f*cking stupid. Thinking about him pinning me against the ice machine in Cabo during coitus with my future hubby would be f*cking stupid."
"I thought you said you think about me," Skye said.
AJ shook her head. She finally looked at the young girl on her couch. "I think about you when it's you. How have you never had a girlfriend before, but you can eat like you're the experienced dyke here?"
Skye shrugged. "I write the alphabet with my tongue. I stick with whichever letter makes your legs squeeze my head."
AJ nodded approvingly. "Clever girl..."
"Do you know when Punk will be home?" Skye asked.
AJ had noticed "Phil" had become "Punk" to Skye. She used to address each of her neighbors by their given first names. AJ asked to be called by her preferred nickname, but Punk hadn't said anything. It made AJ chuckle to think Skye no longer cared what Punk wanted to be called. "No f*ckin' clue," she admitted with a sigh.
Skye sat up. "I should get changed in case he comes back soon. I don't think he'd like seeing me in this."
"'Cause he's gay," AJ replied under her breath.
Skye joined AJ's side, studying the work done so far. "She's pretty," she giggled.
"And flexible," AJ added.
Skye grinned. "I like the shading around my black eye. It makes me look badass."
"Anyone can get a lucky shot," AJ stated. "I think you could take him if it were fair."
"Thanks, babe," Skye chuckled. She kissed AJ's cheek before heading into the bathroom.
AJ took a deep breath and slid off her stool. She set aside her latest project to let it dry. With the grumbling in her loins and stomach, she popped open the fridge to retrieve another package of bacon to satisfy the bun in her oven.
"I wonder what that f*cker is up to," AJ wondered. She changed her ratty painting shirt for the "Taking Back Sunday" t-shirt she'd stolen, returned, and stolen again.
Jerking off to his ex's pregnancy nudes was not the lowest Seth Rollins had slumped to in his life. She sent them with the intention of driving him insane, and it worked. Late-night Snapchats led to sweet dreams which ended with him waking up with a tent in desperation for a release.
Adam met Seth in the living room. One needed to get his rocks off and the other was on his way out. Seth propositioned his roommate to some "bonding time," which Adam never declined. Seth slurped the morning dew from the pink co*ckhead protruding from the zipper of Adam's jeans. It didn't take long for a courtesy tug on his hair to warn his roommate that he was close to the end.
Seth struggled to swallow the bitter seed sliding across his tongue. He muscled the fluid down his throat and made a mental note to throw out any leftover fryer food.
"Thanks, man," Adam sighed, fixing his belt. "I needed that."
Seth chuckled. "No problem. I needed it too. You mind..?"
"Actually, I'm running late," Adam revealed, hopping to his feet. "I'm supposed to exchange notes with this medicine major. She's a dentist or some sh*t. I don't know. She's cute."
The throbbing in Seth's pants would argue, but he couldn't surrender his main source of blowj*bs. "No problem, man. I can figure something out," he assured.
"Thanks, dude," Adam said, slapping his teammate on the shoulder before taking off.
"Goddammit..." Seth muttered, trying to remember if he still had Humberto's number.
Seth settled on helping himself with the aid of his pregnant ex. He watched an older video of her slurping his dick like it was spaghetti. She once admitted she layered too much spit on his shaft to annoy him but found out it added an element of pleasure when her mouth and hand glided up and down with no resistance.
"Holy sh*t! This sorta rules," AJ told the camera. The waterfall of drool leaking down her chin wasn't as hot as her mouth on Seth's dick. But gagging herself to force more saliva into her mouth did its intended purpose.
Present day Seth pumped his fist in his lap. He would give anything in the world to have this tiny psychopath working him over in real-time. The one time she told him to watch a video of her while she blew him was a surreal experience that he hadn't fully recovered from. AJ, for as someone as inexperienced as she was with guys, came up with the best ideas in the bedroom.
"Dude, it's like a pickle-flavored sucker, and I'm totally into it..."
AJ's doe eyes and puckered lips were replaced with her sneer and middle finger. Seth nearly dropped his phone when his senses snapped back in order and he realized he was getting a call.
"AJ?" He answered.
"Quit jerking off, I need to talk to you," AJ answered.
Seth held his pulsating meat in his free hand. "How do you know I'm jerking off?" He asked.
"Wait, you are?" AJ questioned. "I was f*ckin' with you. What are you watching?"
"Who do you think?" Seth chuckled.
"Dani Daniels? Chloe Foster? Dillon Harper?" AJ guessed. "That bitch Mia Khalifa?"
"You, AJ," Seth snickered.
"Oh!" AJ said, sounding surprised but honored. "Did you like the progress pics I sent?"
"I did," Seth admitted. "I had tears in my eyes when you showed me the little bump. Then I had other thoughts when you sent me a picture of your other progress."
"My titt*es are huge now!" AJ giggled.
Seth sighed. "And I want to titty f*ck them so badly..."
"Aww! You're still a piece of sh*t," AJ cooed. "Maybe baby daddy or not, I know you're still a horny bastard. Did you screw anyone with pigtails and a dump truck yet?"
Seth tutted his tongue. "No. Just guys, like you wanted."
"Ha! Gay..." AJ snickered. "I can't believe you like weiner."
"Shut up," Seth chuckled. "What did you want to talk to me about?" He asked.
AJ sighed through the phone. "I don't know. I guess I get lonely sitting at home without my guy and I... miss your sorry ass. I was watching Birdemic last night and had no one to make out with during the sh*tty parts."
"That's just a sh*tty movie, AJ," Seth recalled.
"And you see why it's perfect when Mama wants to make a move," AJ explained. "It got me thinking about all the sh*tty sh*t we'd do to get in each other's pants and I thought about stuff. I miss you, f*cker."
Seth smirked. "I miss you too, babe. I guess I never realized how much I like being belittled every day until you left."
"That's called a kink, hun," AJ pointed out.
"No, you choking me while you're on top is a kink," Seth continued. "Wanting me to pull out so you can be my toaster strudel is also a kink."
AJ cringed. "Dude, don't remind me about the dumb sh*t I say when I'm horny!"
Seth cackled. "Sorry. I should've known."
AJ sighed. "Turn on your FaceTime real quick," she requested.
Seth did as he was asked. When he hit the button to turn on his camera, the regular one turned on. AJ's eyes shot open, Seth muttered, "sh*t," before switching the camera to show his face instead of his semi-erect member.
AJ's eyes stayed wide. "Is that a banana in your hand or are you just happy to see me?"
"Sorry," Seth muttered. "I hit the wrong button."
AJ checked over each shoulder. "You should turn it back..."
Seth co*cked an eyebrow. "Really?" He asked.
AJ nodded. "Yeah. Do you have any idea the last time I wanted to see a dude's penis?"
Seth switched the camera to face his lap.
AJ giggled. "Nice. Just as above average as I remember."
Seth chuckled. "Thanks, AJ. I'm glad to see you're still the same."
AJ shrugged. "Mentally scarred and spending a ton on concealer, but I'll live to fight another day."
Seth sighed sharply through his nose. "Punk's lucky I don't finish him off for what he's doing to you."
AJ dropped her head but her smile remained. "It's weird hearing you threaten my fiance while I'm staring at your dick."
Seth shrugged. "It was your idea, man," he chuckled.
AJ gazed into the call. "I had a dream about us the other night... A weird one..."
"What happened?" Seth asked.
AJ rubbed her neck. "We got married," she admitted. "We were happy. I wasn't trying to stab you when you carried me into our hotel. The receptionist was a penguin. Our bellhop was a penguin. Then you went down on me and I woke up."
"Sounds pretty awesome," Seth stated.
AJ smirked. "You wore the dress, by the way. I think I insisted I wore the tux so I looked like my penguin brethren."
"I'd do that in a heartbeat," Seth chuckled.
AJ shrugged. "I want to wear a dress if I get married. I'd nail the sh*t out of it."
"Hell yeah," Seth agreed.
"Is that Seth?" Skye asked off-camera. Ignoring AJ's protests, Skye appeared on screen. "Hey, Seth- OHMYGOD!"
Seth turned off his FaceTime. "sh*t! Sorry, Skye!"
"She's fine," AJ said. "Sorry, babe! You've seen worse! Don't worry! You won't have to die for me with this one..."
"What are you talking about?" Seth asked.
"It's a long story..." AJ sighed.
"I've got nothing to do today," Seth offered.
AJ tutted her tongue. "I hate how much I fall for your bullsh*t... but, Skye got in the way the other day..."
Being a stay-at-home mom sounded like a full-time job on paper. Constantly tending to her teething children while they taught themselves to navigate the gated community in the living room while keeping up with her studies and household chores was going to be the hardest job in Bayley Ryder's life... or so she thought.
Closing her laptop after submitting an essay on computer mechanics three days early, Bayley studied her son and daughter on their "Little Einstein" playmats. Freshly fed, bathed, and changed, Michael and Minerva Ryder were more concerned with the multi-colored stuffed animals and jumping on each other. Their infectious giggles filled the otherwise silent homestead.
Bayley's post-partum hormones were as relentless as ever, pumping tears to her eyes when all her kids did was exchange baby babble and inaccurately use an abacus. How could two tiny humans be so unbelievably perfect in every way? Sometimes Bayley wanted to put them in their first timeout when they spilled cereal all over the dining room floor, but then they'd flash puppy dog brown eyes and all would be forgiven.
Thinking about these adorable creations brought up impure thoughts of how they were conceived. Bayley cleared her throat and sipped from her water bottle. Zack was doing "lawyer stuff" with his study group, meaning he couldn't drop everything and take her to bed while the kids played. Dana couldn't satiate the post-birth hormones either as she was showing her Florida State friend around town.
Bayley exhaled a deep, overdramatic sigh. Her Facebook pictures with her husband reminded her of better days. Days where she could merely make eye contact with him would be enough to entice some alone time. Her at-home workout routine, which consisted of mostly pushups, situps, yoga, and curling her diaper bag, filled the free time when the kids were asleep and Zack wasn't home.
"Maybe a phone call won't hurt," Bayley decided. She needed a mental break when she studied, and she loved her major. Maybe Zack felt the same way about his.
Two rings and an answer. "Hola mi amor," Mr. Ryder answered in slightly off Spanish.
"Hey, babe," Bayley cooed with a massive grin. "How are you doing?" She asked, keeping an eye on her kids.
"Eh, we're fine," Zack stated. "The group is fine. We're practicing debating different topics. What's your opinion on provolone cheese on pizza?"
Bayley flinched. "Uh, that's a sandwich cheese, Zack."
"Good, good," Zack muttered. "I'm glad we're on the same page, counsel. I was worried there for a second. I'll bring this evidence to the court on Monday morning."
Bayley giggled. "I don't think I'll ever understand your lawyer talk."
"Me neither," Zack admitted. "So, what are you up to? How are the babies?" He asked.
"They're perfect," Bayley lulled, her soft stare watching her kids babble. "They're talking to each other. I have no idea what they're saying. But I'm done with my coursework, Dana's still with her friend, and my hubby is with a study group. I don't have the TV on so we don't overstim the kids..."
"Right," Zack agreed.
"I think I'm bored," Bayley guessed.
"Play that new candy crack game on your phone," Zack suggested.
"It's Candy Crush, babe," Bayley giggled. "And I was. But that's repetitive and gets old. I forgot where we hid my Switch, but I don't want to be distracted if Michael or Minerva need me."
"Well, I'll be home in an hour or so," Zack mentioned. "We're almost done here. I told Kev I'd stop by BPO to discuss some stuff."
Bayley's interest had been taken for the first time that day. "What kind of stuff?" She wondered.
"Some legality mumbo-jumbo about a party they want to throw in a few weeks," Zack explained. "Making sure it's within the guidelines put in place by Pearce. Heaven forbid we have a few extra over the limit. I don't want to give them an excuse to shut us down."
Bayley smirked. "And it has nothing to do with Hell Week next week?" She giggled.
Zack didn't respond, then chuckled. "Yeah, you got me, babe. They have this idea that they're making the pledges run through the quad into the gym in their underwear to test their loyalty to the house. I think it's a sh*t storm waiting to happen, but Alpha Iota did their Miles of Hell this week without causing a ruckus."
"Lexi put a few of us in charge of Hell Week next week," Bayley mentioned. "I suggested strip trivia on the lakeshore at four in the morning."
"That's evil, babe," Zack chuckled.
"Oh?" Bayley cooed. Minerva stood beside the couch, looking at her mother and bouncing on her toes. "Minnie requires my attention," she told her husband.
"Oh, yeah?" Zack chuckled. "Did she wanna say hi?"
"Wanna say hi to Papa?" Bayley asked, scooping her daughter into her lap. As she moved the phone to her daughter's ear, a shooting pain greeted her scalp as her daughter yanked a handful of hair. "AH! YOU LITTLE SH- love of my life..." Bayley stopped herself when Minnie threw her a look and giggled with glee. "You are the naughtiest little devil ever!" She cooed like it were loving words. "Yes, you are! You give Mama owies and I LOVE it!"
Zack was cackling wildly on his end of the call. A firm "ahem" calmed him down. "Are you ok?" He asked.
"I'm fine," Bayley sighed. "Just bored. Now Minnie is playing tug-o-war with Mickie over her stuffed monkey. I guess they haven't figured out they each have one."
"I'm sorry, babe," Zack cooed. "I'll be home soon, ok? I'll bring you back lunch if you want."
"Can you make something?" Bayley asked. "I love it when you cook... shirtless. If you want."
Zack laughed loudly. "Sure, babe. I'll cater to whatever needs you might need."
"Perfect!" Bayley chirped. "I love you so much, my hubby."
"I love you too, wifey," Zack promised.
Once Bayley hung up the phone, she took a deep breath. The stinging on her scalp lingered, but seeing her husband soon kept her spirits high.
A text message arrived on Bayley's phone. "Auntie Dana is on her way," she informed her kids. "And she's bringing her friend from Flordia State. Are you two going to be on your best behavior?"
The twins answered as Michael spiked his milk bottle and threw his arms down like he was celebrating running into the endzone.
"Great," Bayley chirped, giggling through a sigh while her kids babbled.
Roman Reigns' early start to his day had potential. He crushed his workout before breakfast to get an early start on his final papers for his prerequisite classes due before the school year ended. Juggling scrambled egg whites and low-sugar orange juice while typing about mathematic formulas and scientific equations had no issue. He had a wide-open day with nothing to do but finish his work.
Then a woman in his "SU Football" t-shirt and black cotton underwear strolled out of his bedroom to grab a Gatorade. Roman remembered putting the juice on the bottom shelf because it fit. He didn't expect it to be a blessing and a distraction until that beautiful minx bent over at the waist.
One glance, a bashful smile, and a sleepy "Hey, big dog" reminded Roman that under all the machismo and bravado he was still human.
Thirty-seven minutes, an aching quad, and an exhausted girlfriend later, Roman realized he should've grabbed a Gatorade before following Sasha into his bedroom.
"Thank God Trevor isn't home," Roman thought, studying the red handprint on Sasha's bare glute. A light pat got the juices flowing, but a hard smack when making love from behind created a look over the shoulder that almost derailed all his efforts.
The post-coital cuddling was as satisfying as the events leading up to it. They lie under the covers, nothing between them but skin and slow breathing. Roman held Sasha like a fragile doll, while she melted into her man like her frame was meant to fit his like a puzzle piece. Silence filled with the occasional smooch was the chaser to the liquid-hot fire a moment before. Sasha had a few papers to write and a test to study for, but that could wait a few more hours.
Roman's phone buzzed on his nightstand. He kissed Sasha's shoulder, earning a soft grunt in response, then rolled over to check the caller ID.
"Yes, sir?" Roman answered upon reading "Coach Jones" on the screen.
"Reigns? You awake, son?" Jones asked.
Roman glanced at his girlfriend beside him. "Yes, sir," he answered. "Just working on some essays. Is everything alright?"
"Yeah, yeah, it's all good," Jones continued. "Listen, some boys from ESPN are here for some interviewin' sh*t. They named you as one of the players they want some time with. You got a few hours to come down to the practice field and talk to these people?"
Roman sat up, startling Sasha awake. "Uh, yeah. Of course, sir. I can be there in twenty minutes."
"That's good, Reigns," Jones chuckled. "I'll see you soon. We're gonna have you run some drills, so bring your pads."
"Yes, sir," Roman confirmed. He stared at his phone until his coach's name faded. "Holy sh*t..." he muttered, still unsure if he heard the news correctly.
"What?" Sasha muttered, voice heavy from slumber.
Roman grinned. "Coach says some guys want to interview me. ESPN sent a crew to film us running drills."
"Holy sh*t," Sasha unburied her face from her pillow. "That's huge, Ro," she stated, brushing her dark-blue hair out of her face. "When do they want you to go?" She asked.
"I said I'd be there now," Roman mentioned.
"Then go!" Sasha encouraged, lightly smacking her boyfriend's shoulder. "You better not keep them waiting for you!"
Roman scrambled to get his clothes on. His mind raced around the room faster than he could keep up. He nearly put his sneakers on the wrong feet until he caught himself, paused, then switched them around.
"I'm proud of you, baby," Sasha cooed from the bed. "Go kick some ass and show those motherf*ckers who the Tribal Chief is."
Roman couldn't be more in love with his woman. "Thanks, boo," he rumbled, leaning in for a kiss. A soft grunt escaped his lips when Sasha's polished fingernails tugged at the flaccid member in his shorts. "Still need more of the Big Dog, huh?" He chuckled.
Sasha co*cked an eyebrow. "My man on ESPN? Do your football business quick and you're gettin' that slurp business when you get home."
Roman's heart skipped a beat. "Yes, ma'am," he chuckled. He kissed his girl goodbye and hurried out of the apartment.
Charlotte Flair's alliance in being a "sugar baby" wasn't the worst time in the world. Having a weekly allowance reminded her of childhood. But her suitor had an employee to mow the lawn and clean the dishes. When asked, her only responsibility was to be available whenever she received a text or phone call.
"Merci," the youngest Flair daughter told Mr. Rhodes' personal chef. François was a sweet man who spoke little English. The brief interactions they had were mainly left in the kitchen. This morning, he prepared her a slice of toast with strawberry jam, a croissant, a vegetarian omlette, and a cup of coffee. Like always, Charlotte was encouraged to begin her meal while the unoccupied seat at the head of the table let its food get cold.
Charlotte was familiar with the empty dining room. She thought the crystal chandelier overhead was overkill, but the fine decoration must've cost more than her tuition. The mahogany dining set was so polished that she could see her reflection. She never cared about expensive china or ivory silverware, but she could feel the dollar signs whenever she enjoyed a meal in this castle.
"I don't care about logistics," Mr. Rhodes argued into his cellphone. Still wearing his gym clothes, the young man entered the dining room from the kitchen. "I want this property purchased for historical preservation..."
Charlotte tuned out most of her suitor's phone calls. They came frequently enough that she barely noticed them anymore. They weren't annoying unless they were mid-coitus and Charlotte's hopes of achieving any ecstasy faded when Mr. Rhodes muttered "I need to take this" and stopped.
The young bureaucrat paused behind Charlotte. "Then we have a deal..." his well-spoken enunciation made up for the slight lisp. Charlotte hadn't noticed it until she overheard him using "precipice" while practicing a sales pitch. "Wonderful," he continued. He pecked Charlotte's cheek and joined her at the table. He showed affection when he was winning an argument.
Charlotte sipped her coffee, side-eyeing the blonde man chuckling to himself. She waited for him to set his phone down before speaking. "Another imposing victory?" She asked sweetly.
Mr. Rhodes beamed a million-dollar smile. "I make everything work," he bragged with a chuckle. "Persistence goes a long way in this business. You irritate enough people and they will see your vision. That is why I am the head of precisely ninety percent of all acquisitions through this company."
"You are an innovator," Charlotte praised with a smirk.
Mr. Rhodes waved off the praise. "It's nothing my father didn't teach me. He was the innovator." He brought a forkful of eggs to his mouth. He moaned with delight, chasing the bite with a sip of freshly squeezed orange juice. "Parfait, bon monsieur!" He bellowed across the room. "Wonderful, François!" He said loudly enough for his chef to hear.
In a way, it was like old times from her youth: Sitting semi-uncomfortably at the breakfast table while a grinning buffoon with bleach-blonde hair boasted his financial success to those who made the mistake of listening.
Mr. Rhodes lay a gentle hand on Charlotte's wrist. "Enough about my indifference toward my finances. How have you been, my shining beacon of normality?"
Charlotte chuckled from the jolt of affection that strange nickname gave her. With all the chaos in her life, she couldn't help but think it was ironic that he felt she was the normal one.
"You had a study plan finished for this afternoon," the young mogul recalled. "Was it as tedious as you feared?" He asked.
"Worse," Charlotte played along. "It takes more brain cells than I have to force myself to complete it."
Mr. Rhodes chuckled heartily. "I do not miss the daily coursework. I'm glad you found your strength to do it."
Charlotte brought her coffee mug to her lips. "What do you have planned for us today?" She asked.
"I have a conference call before lunch," Mr. Rhodes noted, glancing at his watch. "I'm teeing off at two to finalize a deal with our friends at DiBiase and Son. Then I believe I have the evening to myself. I don't suppose you would enjoy having dinner with me in the city?"
"Are you able to get a table on short notice?" Charlotte questioned.
A boisterous laugh came as the response. "I can purchase the restaurant and fire the management before they can deny us a table, my darling."
Impressive but Charlotte wondered if this man was only about his money and looks. Since he won her at ZBZ, he had thrown his checkbook around like it was made of diamonds and gold. Taking his performances in the bedroom out of the question, his display of depth failed to reach past his wages and conference calls.
"Maybe I can get to know him more tonight," Charlotte thought as she ate breakfast. "See if there's more to him than how much money he can make. It's probably the right move since I've been with him for almost a month."
"Mr. Rhodes?" A dark-skinned brunette entered the dining room with a planner pinned to her chest. Her smile seemed to fade when she noticed her boss wasn't alone. "Uh, your conference call is ready."
"Please, Brandi, I've told you a hundred times," Mr. Rhodes responded. "You can call me Cody. There's no need for formalities when it's outside business hours."
Brandi smiled. "Of course, sir."
"Why are they calling now?" Cody asked, checking his watch. "I was led to believe I had a few hours before my presence was required."
"Mr. DiBiase insisted, sir," Brandi mentioned.
Cody nodded loosely like he was being told to do the dishes for the twelfth time. "Sure. I'll finish my breakfast later." He stood to dismiss himself. Before leaving, he kissed Charlotte and squeezed her shoulder. "Have Brandi write you a check if you need any walking around money for the week," he whispered to her with another peck.
Charlotte stood. "I should be on my way. I have class."
Brandi's smile faded again when her boss left the room. "You're not going to justify Mr. Rhodes' expenses?"
"Excuse me?" Charlotte asked, taken off-guard by the question.
"I'm in charge of keeping his finances in order," Brandi continued. "He's spent a lot on... you. I would think you would spend more time with someone who uses a decent portion of their wages."
Charlotte only had a few interactions with Cody's team. When she had, it was quick "hellos" and hardly anything else. She didn't think she had any issues with them, but she was wrong in this case. "What's the issue?" Charlotte asked. "Your boss and I have a mutual relationship."
Brandi scoffed. "Please. He pays you to be his escort. You're a trophy to him."
Charlotte smirked. "Is somebody jealous that she doesn't reap the benefits of Cody's hard work?"
"I prefer working hard," Brandi snapped.
"So do I," Charlotte cooed, sliding her designer sunglasses on. "That's why I f*ck your boss on your desk while you're on a coffee run. Ciao, bella..."She almost lost her composure when Brandi recoiled in disgust. She pulled through with a finger wave and left the house, but not before sending her suitor a text.
I'll see you after class. I can't wait for dinner 😘😘😘
Charlotte approached the driver she'd come to know well. "Mr. Cutler," she greeted the man as he opened the passenger door for her.
"Ms. Flair," the driver said with a professional grin.
Charlotte sat back, crossing her legs and opening a complimentary bottle of champagne that cost more than her tuition. The smile that crept across her lips hadn't been seen in months, but her spirits were once again lifted thanks to a chance encounter at the Zeta house.
Between his friends being occupied and his love interest living across the country, Seth Rollins didn't have much to do. No one answered their phones either. If he didn't know better, he'd think his buddies were kidnapped and turned over to the authorities for a bounty. The more the possibility lingered, the more Seth wondered if he had any outstanding warrants.
Seth figured the hospital was a safe bet to find someone to kill time with. Dean spent most of his time in and out since the birth of his son. He could always chat with Sika for old-time's sake if Dean weren't around. The older man carried a lot of wisdom, and Seth knew he could use some.
Rollins nodded at the head nurse who had come to recognize him each time he visited. He glanced at the incubation room Dean mentioned housed Toa for the next few weeks. "Toa Jonathon Ambrose" squealed with fury while the nurses tried to change him. Seth chuckled, recognizing that scowl from anywhere.
Seth poked his head in the hospital room he knew belonged to his best friend's ex-girlfriend. He drummed his knuckles on the door, making a blonde head of hair lift from her computer. "Hey, Lex," Rollins greeted the girl.
"Hey, Seth," Alexa beamed a soft smirk behind her prescription glasses. "Dean's not here. I think he's with BPO."
Seth nodded. "Yeah, I'm supposed to swing by soon, too. I was stopping by to see how you were doing."
Alexa closed her laptop. "You weren't looking for Dean?" She asked.
"I was, but I can talk," Seth assured. He sat beside the hospital bed. "I'm taking my time heading to BPO. It's Hell Week next week."
"Should be fun getting your turn to make the pledges' lives a living hell," Alexa chuckled.
Seth shrugged. "Yeah, we'll see. Dean asked me to look into a Costco membership to buy bulk peanut butter for... something."
Alexa rolled her eyes. "That sounds like something Dean would say..."
Seth nodded a few times, then continued. "So, how are you? How's everything?"
"Good!" Alexa chirped. "I'm just sore and tired. I'm hungry all the time. I still can't hold Toa for a few more weeks. I take walks to keep my sanity."
"How's the tuna salad?" Seth quipped.
Alexa threw her head back with a grimace. "Ugh! Did Dean tell you to ask that?"
Seth chuckled. "Yep. He said they won't let you eat anything else from the cafeteria."
Alexa shook her head. "It's such bullsh*t. I can pay for the frickin' chicken sandwich! I have a debit card... It's Dean's, but he insisted I use it if needed."
"Sounds like wifey material to me," Seth joked.
Alexa chuckled softly. "Yeah..."
Seth never realized how little he had in common with Alexa until the silence following each topic conclusion drove him to near insanity. "Uh, I've been keeping in touch with AJ," he mentioned.
Alexa's face lit up. "That's great! She calls all the time and talks about you. She's really trying to come out here to see Toa."
Seth's brow lifted. "She talks about me?" He wondered.
Alexa smirked. "sh*t talks about you. "Seth's the f*cking reason my abs are gone! He's lucky I don't stab him with a rusty trident!" Typical AJ stuff."
Seth grinned. "I've noticed she hasn't talked about Punk being the father. I guess she's hoping it's me."
"I hope it's you, too," Alexa mentioned. "I don't want AJ to be stuck in Chicago. I wish she'd leave tonight and be done with it, but she insisted she has a plan. So, I'm going to let her do her thing."
"You're not worried about..." Seth paused, a bitter taste flooding his mouth.
Alexa frowned. "It's AJ. If she were worried for her life, she'd be in prison or Stamford. I think Punk is a piece of sh*t but he's not dumb enough to hurt AJ when she's possibly carrying his child."
Seth nodded. "I saw some article or somethin' where Punk was talking about becoming a dad. I just..."
Alexa reached out and lay a gentle hand on Seth's shoulder. "It's yours; Call it a mother's instinct."
Seth chuckled. "You've been a mom for two weeks."
"What's your point?" Alexa challenged. She popped open her water flask and took a sip.
"Can I ask you a question?" Seth asked. He took a breath when Alexa nodded. "Can I have your permission to ask AJ to marry me?" He asked.
Alexa projectile spat water across the room. She coughed, holding the heel of her hand over her mouth.
"Is that a no?" Seth chuckled.
"No! No, of course not," Alexa rasped. She cleared her throat. "Why are you asking me?" She wondered.
Seth shrugged. "You're her best friend. Her dad is gone, so you were my best option. She mentioned that her dad and I would've gotten along. Maybe that's a sign he would've said yes."
Alexa smiled warmly. "You and Henry are a lot alike."
"You met her dad?" Seth asked.
"A few times," Alexa said. "AJ brought me along to visit him a few times. He was a great man. I guess he made some bad decisions in the past, but he tried like hell to make up for them."
"Sounds familiar," Seth muttered.
Alexa looked at Seth again. "Did you buy a ring yet?" She asked.
Seth shook his head. "No. I've been looking around at some places. But I can't find something that's... AJ. None of them look like something she'd be into."
"Buy her another RingPop," Alexa suggested. She giggled once noticing Seth's grin. "I'm serious. AJ would love that. I know that's what you gave her in Mexico."
"I still haven't legalized that marriage here," Seth remembered. He rubbed his chin, trying to keep the thoughts of Tijuana out of his jeans. "We could say "f*ck it" and do a shotgun wedding. We could have it carried over and legalized here."
"You can do that?" Alexa asked.
Seth shrugged. "That's what Zack said. He should sign off on the papers just in case."
"It sounds very AJ to have a wedding in a drive-up chapel and bar hop the rest of the night," Alexa agreed.
"That's what we did in Mexico," Seth chuckled.
Alexa rubbed her hand over Seth's shoulder. She stuck out her bottom lip and spoke in a deep voice. "You have my permission to ask for my daughter's hand in marriage. Don't f*ck this up or you'll be sleepin' wit' duh fishes."
Seth slowly shook his head. "You spend too much time with Dean."
Alexa giggled happily. "That might be true. I'm spending more time with him now."
"He's in here every day," Seth chuckled. "I told you almost two years ago that he'd move heaven and earth for the people he cares about."
"I never should've doubted him," Alexa whispered, shaking her head while staring at the tan line on her left ring finger.
"Dean will never give up on you," Seth told the tiny blonde. "He's been going through the worst trying to get over you. I know he looks like a f*cking moron sleeping with half the Greek sisterhood, but he's hiding how f*cking torn up he is by everything."
Alexa sighed. "I just wish he'd do it with something other than his dick."
"He's boozin' pretty hard too," Seth mentioned.
Alexa chuckled dryly. "I have the drunk texts to prove that. And a few voicemails. It's just him ranting about how much he misses me. Then he chugs his beer and loses his train of thought."
Seth nodded. "That's definitely Dean..." He glanced up as the man mentioned stepped into the room. "Speak of the devil..."
Dean furrowed his brow. His voice dropped like he stumbled in on something he wasn't meant to see. "What the f*ck-" his tone changed to his normal cadence. "Kidding. How y'all doin'?" He greeted two of his closest people.
"I'm good," Seth snickered.
"I'm ready for lunch," Alexa said, grinning when she noticed the Roadies to-go bag in her ex's hand.
Dean handed one takeout box to his baby mama. “One crispy chicken sandwich; sub for chicken tenders. Just about blew Hangman’s mind when I ordered it.” He removed the other box of takeout. “I only got two sandwiches. I ordered a bunch of fries so we can split them.” He told Seth.
Seth shook his head. “It’s cool. I was just dropping in to say hi.”
As Seth stood to leave, Nurse Cora entered the room. “Hello, everyone,” she greeted the room with a warm smile. “I see it’s lunchtime.”
”I have my personal UberEats on speed dial,” Alexa giggled. She offered Dean a wink when he threw her a smirk.
Nurse Cora continued. “Great to hear! I’m just here to check on your sutures.”
”Oh!” Alexa reclined, laying on her back. “I noticed they don’t burn like they used to. They’re still itchy.”
Nurse Cora nodded along as she gracefully lifted the hem of Alexa’s top to her chest. She peeled back the surgical bandage over the c-section stitches. “Those look great! I don’t notice any problems. Have you noticed any discharge? Funny smells?”
Alexa shook her head. “Nope.”
”You’re badass, baby,” Dean praised with a grin.
Alexa flashed her ex a smile. She blew out a low breath when the nurse applied a thin layer of antibacterial cream over her stitches.
”I will be applying some on your internal stitches as well,” Nurse Cora mentioned.
Seth and Dean exchanged a look. They both could guess what was going to happen but neither said a word.
Alexa pushed her jogging pants around her ankles. “It’s to prevent an INFECTION,” she sternly reminded her ex and his best friend.
Seth turned away. Dean’s jaw dropped when the nurse’s gloved fingers disappeared between his ex’s legs.
“Any pain or discomfort?” Nurse Cora asked.
Dean's wide eyes weren't as funny as they typically could be. "Not from this," Alexa whispered.
Dean cleared his throat. "You know-"
"I will kill you," Alexa cut in.
Dean shrugged. "I was just saying I'm glad you're doing ok, babe."
Alexa nodded stiffly. "Mhmm, I'm sure you were."
Nurse Cora removed her fingers. "Can you take a deep breath? I need you as relaxed as possible."
Alexa did as she was told. She threw her ex another glare that could melt the polar ice caps. Dean's sudden curiosity about human anatomy frustrated her, but she chalked that up as a side effect of her lack of sleep.
"I know it's strange, but I need you to relax," Nurse Cora calmly repeated.
"I'm trying," Alexa sighed.
"We can leave," Dean offered, reading the panic in Alexa's eyes. "It's probably not easy doing this with an audience."
Nurse Cora turned her head around. "Actually, if you are willing to try, you can apply the ointment."
"Why?" Dean asked.
"Familiarity," the nurse continued. "Alexa is more comfortable around you. She may relax if you were to try it."
Dean shrugged. "I mean..."
"Dean and "stressful" go together like cookies and milk," Alexa chuckled.
Nurse Jade removed her gloves. "It's worth a shot. I can check back in five minutes."
Seth moved toward the door like a cheetah. "I'll walk you out," he offered, ignoring the snickering from his best friend.
The door closed behind the departing adults. The only thing left in the room were new parents, a box of medical gloves, and a tube of antibacterial ointment.
Dean lowered his voice. "You come here often, little lady?" He bellowed.
"I hate you," Alexa said, slowly shaking her head. She narrowed her eyes. "And what did I tell you about calling me little?" She playfully warned.
Dean snapped a glove over his fingers. The second skin hugged his hand tightly. "That I'm insanely lucky to have you as the mother of my son," he cooly replied with a smirk.
The butterflies in Alexa's stomach betrayed her manufactured frown. "I'm sure you're loving this," she whispered.
Dean poured the cream over his fingers. "Actually, I'm a little curious how this'll go," he admitted. "It's fascinating how the human body works. We get nervous and sh*t tenses up. We relax, we feel happier, and I'm doing something cool and weird."
Alexa spread her legs as far as she could. "This might be the least romantic way you've ever touched me," she chuckled.
Dean leaned his head back, rewinding two years of experience with this woman. "Well... there are a few "hate f*cks" in there that might compete with today."
As Dean's left hand hovered in front of Alexa's womanhood, his right hand snaked under her shirt as he leaned in for a kiss. He managed to steal a feel of Alexa's breasts and slip a taste of his tongue before a polite shove against his chest reminded him where they were.
He blinked. "I'm sorry," Dean whispered. "Force of habit."
Alexa tutted her tongue. "You're lucky I love you."
Dean slid his fingers in. He tried fighting the grin twitching his cheeks, but he failed and chuckled. "I seem to have made contact, doctor."
Alexa sighed heavily. "Shut. Up."
Dean's brow raised. The quaking of Alexa's thighs and her shallow breathing would've been a welcoming beacon if they were alone together. "I know I'm good-looking, but..." he chuckled.
Alexa inhaled sharply, her piercing blue eyes locked on Dean like a honing missile. "You're buying me a house, raising our son, and going to therapy. You're in f*cking TROUBLE when I get cleared."
"Hmmm... Interesting..." Dean muttered. He removed his fingers and discarded the glove despite Alexa's glare. "Patient seems horny and hostile," he noted, feigning taking notes on a clipboard with a pen. "I fear for the safety of myself and my hospital staff."
Alexa pulled her pants up. "You know how crazy you make me?" She giggled.
Dean could guess but he played along. "Crazy enough to give my stupid ass multiple chances..."
Alexa sat up. Her feet dangled over the side of the hospital bed, her fingers curling around the waistband of Dean's jeans.
"Holy sh*t..." Dean whispered.
The door opened. "How is everything?" Nurse Cora asked.
Dean took a step back. "All good," he said, his eyes wide with most of his blood supply in his pants. "Everything seemed fine."
"Great!" Nurse Cora said. "I will be checking in again soon. Your friend told me to mention he was going to BPO and Dean should be going there soon too."
Dean sighed. "Shoot. I forgot I have to do some stuff."
"After lunch?" Alexa asked.
Dean checked his watch. "Yeah, I can spare a few minutes."
"Feel free to page me if you need anything," Nurse Cora added as she left the room.
Dean sat in his assigned chair beside the bed. He flipped open his Roadies takeout to a mouth-watering aroma of grilled perfection waiting for him. As his mind raced with his impending fulfillment, he caught a sharp eye from his peripheral.
Alexa tilted her head and raised her brow as if to say, "Oh, really?"
Dean gestured at his food with his eyes as if to say, "I'm hungry."
Alexa shrugged, looked away, and probed the inside of her cheek with her tongue as if to say, "You're a f*cking idiot for choosing food over me."
Dean sighed, then spoke like he was begging Alexa not to be angry. "Baby, I can't facef*ck you like the naughty little MILF you are in the hospital."
Alexa chuckled aggressively. "I love you, Dean Ambrose."
"The world is healing," Dean chuckled, sinking his teeth into his sandwich.
Bayley Ryder answered the door with a baby on each hip. "Hi!" She chirped excitedly, stepping aside to let in the two blonde women on her front porch.
Dana gushed over each baby, showering them with kisses. "I could just eat you up!" She giggled.
"Please do," Bayley joked, chuckling under her breath. "They refuse to go down for their nap and lunch was NOT fun."
"I'm sorry, hun," Dana soothed. She turned to her friend. "By the way, this is my friend CJ. She's visiting from Florida State."
"Everyone calls me Lana," CJ giggled. "Like the Russian figure skater."
Bayley hadn't a clue what CJ was talking about. "It's nice to meet you," she stated. "I've heard so much about you. Dana says you roomed with her in Italy- OWW!" She screamed in pain when Minerva once again grabbed a fistful of her hair and yanked as hard as she could.
"Minnie!" Dana gently cooed, taking the giggling infant from her teary-eyed mother. "That's not very nice! Mama doesn't need her hair pulled like that!"
Bayley rubbed the sore spot on her scalp. "That's Papa's job," she muttered with a giggle.
"Do you know what you need?" Lana asked, clapping her hands like a magician about to reveal the card's suit. "A brand-new, mommy-friendly, modern housewife haircut!"
"A haircut?" Bayley repeated, her brow low and curious.
"Lana's a beauty major," Dana mentioned, bouncing Minnie on her hip. "She's opening her own beauty shop after graduation."
"Oh, wow!" Bayley chirped. She couldn't remember the last time she had a haircut. She vaguely recalled her mother trying to restrain her to a metal folding chair in the kitchen while wielding a pair of scissors. After that, she was sure she only wore her hair in its usual sideways ponytail. "I haven't had a haircut in years," she told the other women.
"I can happily give you a free sample," Lana gushed.
"I can watch the kids for a while," Dana offered. "You need a break, and Mickie needs a million kisses," she said in that bone-chilling "baby talk" tone while scooping up the young Ryder.
Bayley sighed. "What the heck?" She said with a shrug.
She wasn't sure how it happened, but Bayley soon found herself sitting in a dining room chair in the kitchen with a beach towel wrapped around her body to catch stray hairs. Lana returned from her car with a travel haircare kit packed with essential items and tools for a hair day on the go. Bayley fiddled with her hands under the towel, watching her friend's friend rummage through her bag and organize the items on the kitchen counter.
"I need to dust," Bayley noted, discovering cobwebs in the room's corners.
Lana bore a proud grin, standing behind her one-time roommate's best friend. "Ok, Bayley. I know you said you haven't had work done in a long time. But no need to worry. I have the PERFECT style that says, "Hey, I'm a mom, but I also like to have fun!"
Bayley chuckled sparsely. "Ok..."
"First things first: Is it ok if I touch you?" Lana asked.
Bayley's brow pressed together. "I... yeah, you can."
"Wonderful!" Lana giggled. "And what are your preferred pronouns?"
Bayley searched the cosmos for an answer. "Uh... whatever the normal ones are?"
Lana nodded slowly. "Ok... anyway, what I have planned for you today is a California bob with a little sassy flair I like to call, "Ravishing Lana." It's the perfect blend of professional, mom-friendly, and sexy for the hubby."
Bayley forced a giggle to cover her second thoughts. "Ok," she stated.
Lana dragged her fingers through Bayley's long, charcoal hair, allowing it to fall behind her shoulders. Bayley considered calling off the haircut. She liked her long hair and didn't have an issue with it before her daughter decided to use it like a scratching post. It caused some drain problems in the shower and cost a fortune for shampoo, but she didn't think having long hair was a problem before she had kids.
As Bayley thought to protest, Lana sprayed water in her hair. She ran a comb from the back of Bayley's head through her long black locks. As she tried to protest again, the first snip cut off a substantial length of her hair.
"How are you feeling?" Lana asked with another snip.
Bayley watched her hair fall to the floor. "Weird..." she whispered.
Lana couldn't help but giggle. "You are doing great, honey," she assured, combing and snipping more inches from Bayley's hair.
The tingling in her fingertips could have this on Bayley's top five most nervous she felt. Finding out about Michael and Minerva would take the gold medal. She could place this above kissing Zack for the first time but below her wedding day. She heard horror stories and watched videos of children freaking out over a minor change in their parents' wardrobe or appearance.
The snipping scissors didn't help her anxiety. "What got you interested in cosmetology?" Bayley asked to fill the silence.
"I have loved making cutie tutorials since I was twelve," Lana spoke like she was giving an award speech. "I never knew you needed to study it to earn a degree! I thought anyone could open their own beauty parlor."
"Are you opening your shop by yourself?" Bayley asked.
"It's me and a few friends from Flordia State," Lana mentioned. "Do you want to hear the name we picked out?"
Bayley giggled. "Sure."
"Pridurok (moron)," Lana said like it was the name of her secret admirer. "It means "beauty" in Russian."
Bayley nodded, none the wiser to the broken translation. "That's pretty," she agreed.
Another twenty minutes passed while Lana worked on Bayley's hair.
Lana applied black latex gloves. "I'm going to add a little hair accenter. It'll make your hair shine brighter and give natural highlights. It's perfect for your hubby."
Bayley giggled. "Great. I hope Zack loves it."
"He will. And so will Dana," Lana said with a wink. "She mentioned how close you three are. I think it's very sweet."
Bayley blushed. "Dana's the best. I can't thank her enough for everything she does."
"I think you do more than enough," Lana giggled. She knelt in front of Bayley. "If you feel like adding a fourth..."
Bayley's eyes widened. "Oh... Uh, that's generous of you, Lana. But I'm only attracted to Dana and my husband."
Lana lightly shrugged. "Suit yourself. I'll be in touch if you change your mind."
Bayley sat in her chair for another fifteen minutes. The snips stopped but that's where the styling started. Lana sprayed more cold water into Bayley's hair, using her fingers to massage her scalp and manually untie any knots.
Bayley felt Lana step back. "How does it look?" She asked over her shoulder.
Lana produced a handheld mirror. "See for yourself..."
Bayley's understanding of mirrors was as common as the next person's. But when she locked eyes with the girl in the glass, she didn't recognize her for almost five seconds.
"Holy sh*t..." Bayley's long, flowing black hair was gone. In its place was a short bob with a parting on the right side. Her bangs hung beside her left eye. Hints of deep maroon were sprinkled throughout, nearly blending in with the glowing black.
Lana smiled brightly. "I'm glad you like it."
Bayley couldn't think. "I-I... I love it! It's... holy sh*t! I look like I should be in Paramore."
Dana wandered into the kitchen. "How's it goin'..." she trailed off as her married friend turned to face her. "Oh..."
"Is it bad?" Bayley feared.
Dana took a deep breath. "It's... very... I'm struggling to describe how I feel. Very, uh, h-word."
Bayley giggled. "Really?"
"H-word?" Lana muttered.
Dana combed her fingers through Bayley's bob. "It's very nice, hun. Zack will love it. It's very mommy and also very... holy sh*t..."
"That's what I said," Bayley chuckled.
"You'll want to take a shower before you do anything else," Lana mentioned. "Let the color set in. Don't freak out if some of the dye comes off with the water."
Bayley blushed deep enough to match her highlights. "I wonder what Zack will think," she sighed. "I should send him a picture."
"I'll watch the kids while you take a shower," Dana stated.
"And I'll clean up in here," Lana promised.
Bayley thanked her friends and headed for the master bedroom. She picked out a comfortable outfit for the evening before entering the bathroom. She flipped on the light, catching her reflection in the full-sized mirror for the first time.
"Holy sh*t..." Mrs. Ryder whispered. "Swear," she giggled. She grabbed her phone and aimed it at the mirror.
"I'm struggling to describe how I feel. Very, uh, h-word."
"My haircut makes Dana want to have sex with me?" Bayley pondered. Would the reaction be the same with her husband? Either way, Bayley needed to find out. She opened her camera app while reaching for the hem of her shirt.
A half-dozen TV cameras present for a few football standouts drew in a small crowd of college fans who aspired to be on the small screen. The producers and cameramen paid no attention to the cheering SU faithful outside the fence. Roman Reigns, Xavier Woods, and Adam Cole were their main focus.
"Who woulda thunk it, huh?" Dean Ambrose asked those sitting with him in the stands. "Roman couldn't say two words to a girl a few years ago, now he's dating a smoke show and being filmed for TV."
"Our boy's all grown up," Seth Rollins chimed in.
Zack Ryder gave his two cents. "It makes sense. He's got NFL teams talking already. He'll make it further than we can."
Dean shrugged. "True. Ro's been bustin' his ass since he was eight. I'm just saying I can't believe he gets laid."
"Fair," Zack chuckled.
On the practice field, Roman lined up against a blocking sled. Coach Jones, barking a cadence standing on the sled, added extra weight to the blocking dummy to give his lineman a bigger challenge. Roman burst out of his three-point stance, shoved the dummy back five yards, then shed the block and chased down an assistant coach acting as an opposing quarterback.
On the sideline, watching the three prospects like hawks, Coach Graves talked up his boys like he was trying to sell them like used cars. The TV producers took notes, jotting down notable attributes and moments of excitement.
Graves gestured at his players. "Anything stand out?" He asked.
The first producer spoke. "We like what we see," she mentioned with a sigh, writing more notes. "But it's up to our boss who makes the cut for the show."
Graves nodded, feeling a mild twinge of annoyment in his chest from the coldness. "Sounds good. Will your boss be joining us today?" He asked.
"He'll be here shortly," the third producer mentioned.
"Get some water!" Jones barked. "You boys are workin' hard! This is why they want YOU and not nobody else!"
Roman pulled off his helmet. He took a deep breath, trying not to look gassed in front of the cameras. For two hours, he ran drills, tackled dummies, pushed sleds, and ran "suicides." He busted his ass for this TV show, and he hadn't been asked a single question yet.
"Bullsh*t," Roman thought. He'd have more rage if he wasn't taking it out on practice pads and tackle dummies. He exhausted himself for these assholes in suits, and none of them had the balls to ask him a question. "Whatever," he muttered, grabbing a water bottle from the sideline.
"BIG DAWG!" Dean cheered from the bleachers, enticing an explosive response from the student body.
Roman flicked his chin at his adoptive brother. He considered responding with a certain finger but decided to keep it PG for the cameras.
Woods and Cole jogged off the field. "Man, I'm beat," Woods stated. "My toenails are bleedin' and I got calluses on my calluses."
Cole chuckled. "What's wrong, man? You can't handle extra practice?"
Woods scoffed. "I'll have you know that I can run routes with the best of 'em, good sir. This is just cuttin' into my alone time with the snow bunnies at Sigma Nu."
Roman chuckled. "Nice," he said, bumping fists with Woods.
Cole scanned the producers. "When do they ask us sh*t?" He said to his teammates. "Coach said this was an interview or somethin'."
"I don't know," Roman answered. "But it's a pain in the ass."
"It's national exposure," Woods pointed out. "Who cares if they take their sweet time? It makes us look like studs, no matter what."
Roman had to agree. "True," he said.
Cole's head perked. "Oh, sh*t. Is that who I think it is?" He said.
Roman stood taller than his teammates. Arriving from the parking lot, walking with a studded cane with a gold handle, TV personality "MVP" arrived on the sideline and shook hands with Coach Graves. "f*ckin' A," Reigns rumbled.
"Word," Woods said. "MVP hosts the biggest football podcast in the country. Behind McAfee, technically, but I ain't tellin' him that."
"I didn't know it was his show," Cole said.
"Me neither," Roman growled. The man who spent the entire season sh*t-talking his skills was fifty feet away. If he didn't fear losing a draft spot or a jail sentence, Roman would've told MVP what he thought of him to his face. But he relented, especially since the man in question looked in their direction.
"Boys!" Graves called, waving his hand to his players to join him. He waited for Reigns, Woods, and Cole to approach. "I'd like to introduce you to Mr. Porter. I'm sure you know him as MVP - host of the VIP Lounge TV show and podcast."
"No need to fluff me, Coach Graves," MVP chuckled. "I'm sure these boys know who I am."
"I watch your show every morning, sir," Woods said like a sheepish fangirl.
"Glad to hear it, son," MVP said, shaking hands with Woods. He went to Cole next. "I see a lot of talk about you, Cole. You put the team on your back late in the season when Cutler got hurt. I admire that. It's a shame you're five-four without cleats."
Cole furrowed his brow. "I'm five-ten..."
MVP lifted his chin as he approached the final player. "Roman Reigns..." he said, peering at the younger man through maple syrup-tinted sunglasses. "I finally owe you the pleasure."
Roman glanced at MVP's outstretched hand. "Likewise, sir," he replied calmly... for now. He didn't trust this loudmouth prick as far as he could throw him. Still, he brought his hand over MVP's and squeezed firmly.
MVP rolled his shoulders. "Enough of the chitchat," he told his producers and camera crew. "Y'all got your shots. I got questions I want to ask these boys. We'll start with Reigns over here. Get two chairs set up."
"Gah damn," Dean said, slowly shaking his head. "MVP spends the whole season talkin' sh*t. Now he's begging for an interview."
"f*ckin' figures, man," Seth chuckled.
"What did he say?" Zack asked.
"Sayin' Roman was a hothead and was more hype than action," Dean explained. "Talked sh*t about me too. But I don't really remember what he said. Dumb sh*t, probably."
Roman apologized for his sweaty t-shirt while he was fixed with a mic. He cleared his throat again, unsure if the stirring in his chest was nerves or fatigue. He'd never interviewed for TV before. He'd given his opinion for newspapers on a pad with paper. Video footage was forever and would stay with him for the rest of his career.
"You ready, young man?" MVP asked his interviewee. "We're goin' live for the whole world to see."
Roman didn't flinch. "I'm ready," he stated. All he had to do was not say anything stupid and be golden.
MVP gestured at the camera trained on him. "Good afternoon, y'all. My name is Montel Vontavious Porter, but you already know me as MVP. I am here with an exclusive live edition of the VIP Lounge in Stamford, Connecticut to talk with the hottest prospects from SU's Titan football team..." he paused to let the crowd cheer for the show. He nodded across from himself. "I'm here firstly with Stamford's defensive player of the year, Roman Reigns..."
Roman kept his stare locked on the host. He nodded once at the camera and flashed a wink.
Sasha Banks was watching live on Roman's couch. "Me-ow, Big Dog," she snickered.
MVP began his usual hosting spiel. "Roman Reigns was ranked in the top 50 defensive players this past season. He led his conference in tackles and placed fourth in sacks and forced fumbles. What is your key to success on the gridiron?"
Roman spoke clearly and concisely. "It's simple: Stamford has one of the best programs in the country. Coach Jones and Coach Anderson lead this defense to success every season. Without them, I couldn't play to the best of my ability."
"Would you say you owe most of your success because of them?" MVP asked.
"I was a top prospect coming into my senior year of high school," Roman continued. "The coaching staff at SU brought out the best of my abilities. That's why I am able to perform at the level I do now."
"You're a very confident young man," MVP said with a smirk. "Is it possible that you're too confident?"
Sasha let out a heavy sigh. "Give him hell, Big Dog..."
Roman shrugged. "It's possible. But if I wasn't as good as I said I was, would you be talking about me on your show every week?"
MVP nodded like a father watching his son hit a home run. "I suppose I wouldn't be. Which brings me to my next question: How do you feel about NFL scouts already talking about bringing you in? Must be a lot of pressure."
Roman shook his head. "It's the opposite for me. It makes me work harder in the gym and during practice. There's no excuse to get comfortable when it's only beginning. Once I get drafted, I'll work harder to make that program greater."
"You're well-spoken for a collegiate prospect with everything being handed to him-"
"Nothing's been handed to me," Roman cut in, speaking low and calmly. "That's disrespectful. I earned everything I have."
"No disrespect intended, Big Dog," MVP said.
Roman shook his head. "Nah. That's not me. I'm your Tribal Chief. You'll acknowledge me or this interview is over."
MVP burst out laughing. "Tribal Chief? Young man, you have a lot to learn before you go around tellin' people to acknowledge you. This ain't high school no more. You can't talk big and act like the world revolves around you."
Roman stood from his chair. He unhooked the microphone from his shirt and took the battery pack from his pocket.
"Wait," MVP said. He sighed, shaking his head. "Please, sit down... I acknowledge you, Tribal Chief."
Roman nodded. "Great. You may continue."
Sasha's fingers curled by her side, her breathing growing heavier. "My Tribal Chief..." she whispered.
Dean turned to Seth. "What did Roman say to him?"
Seth shook his head. "I have no idea."
Zack's phone buzzed. "Probably something sh*tty to piss him off..." He glanced at his phone and nearly dropped it.
Seth and Dean looked over. "You good?" Seth asked.
Zack checked his phone again. "Uh, y-yeah. Bay's asking me to stop by for a minute. I'll, uh, be right back."
Seth and Dean watched their friend hurry away. "He's going to get laid," Seth said.
"Oh, without a doubt," Dean snickered.
Charlotte knew she should be spending more time at ZBZ. When she had to balance class and a job, she rarely had time to kick back and hang out with her Zeta sisters. Now with her free hours open thanks to a "wealthy benefactor," she could roam around the house more often than she used to.
Charlotte looked around the front foyer of the Zeta House. She didn't find it surprising the house was mostly empty in the middle of the day. With nothing to do until her dinner date with Mr. Rhodes, she entered the living room.
Raquel was the only person in sight. A bowl of popcorn was her snack of choice. "Hey, Char," she said with a friendly smile.
Charlotte sat beside her sister. "Hey. What's this?" She asked, gesturing at the TV.
"Yellowstone," Raquel confirmed.
"What's that about?" Charlotte asked.
"A ranch in Montana," Raquel mentioned. "It's pretty good."
Charlotte nodded along and settled in. Her phone buzzed as she started to pay attention.
The meeting is pushed back. We will have to reschedule dinner. I apologize, my Queen
Charlotte frowned. She may not know Cody very well, but she enjoyed letting him worship the ground she walked on. The $500 Venmo notification made her chuckle. "That's one way to apologize," she muttered.
"Drew?" Raquel guessed with her eyes still glued to the TV.
Charlotte sighed. "No. I haven't talked to Drew in a few weeks. He was with some other girl at the auction. It's just this guy I've been spending time with."
"What does he want?" Raquel asked.
"He just canceled dinner," Charlotte sighed.
Raquel snickered. "Sorry, Flair. Boys are stupid anyway." She stood up as the credits rolled. "Want a beer?" She asked.
"Yeah, sure," Charlotte agreed. She sent Cody a generic "Don't worry, it's fine" message before turning her phone to silent and tossing it across the couch.
Raquel returned with a bottle of wine. "Uh, change of plans," she said, waving the bottle.
Charlotte chuckled. "I think that's Gigi's. But she's a bitch..."
Raquel popped the cork. "Her loss..."
Zack Ryder held his bride close under the covers, combing his fingers through her short, sweaty hair. He hadn't driven as fast as he did until today when he received a salacious bathroom photo captioned, "I miss you." It probably didn't intend to result in an afternoon romp in the sheets, but Dana and her friend agreed to take the kids on a walk for an hour to give the parents some alone time.
"Promise you don't hate it?" Bayley asked again, her doe-like brown eyes shining for a positive answer.
Zack pecked his wife's forehead. "I love it, babe. You look like a mom, but it's sexy at the same time."
Bayley nestled in her husband's chest, enjoying his answer. "That's what Lana said, too," she whispered.
"Lana is a genius," Zack chuckled.
"Dana said it made her horny," Bayley giggled. "I didn't think a haircut could do that to a person."
"It's a very different style than what you usually do," Zack admitted. "It's nice though. It's a good change."
Bayley raised herself to look in her husband's eye again. "Lana said she would have sex with us... That's weird, right?"
"And super straightforward," Zack chuckled.
Bayley shrugged. "I told her no. She's not you or Dana."
Zack parted hair away from his wife's forehead. "You should be in an emo-mom rock band," he chuckled.
"That's basically what I said," Bayley giggled. She checked her phone. "Dana says they're on their way back. That gives us twenty minutes to shower..."
"Buddy shower?" Zack asked.
Bayley scampered out of bed. Zack watched her natural extremities jiggle and ripple while she hurried to the bathroom.
"Damn, I'm lucky," Zack chuckled, getting out of bed to join his beloved.
Charlotte Flair took a long swig from her wine bottle, reclined back on the couch. "Why doesn't he just sell?" She muttered to the TV.
Raquel lifted her face from Charlotte's lap. "What'd you say?" She sighed, kneeling on the living room floor.
Charlotte raked her fingers through Raquel's hair. "Nothing, sweetie," she whispered.
Raquel shrugged and buried her face between Charlotte's legs. Charlotte took another wig from the bottle, her free hand in her sorority sister's hair.
AJ Lee could've sworn the forecast didn't call for thunderstorms tonight. The heavy rain pellets hitting the patio window with the night sky lighting up with white flashes would beg to differ. The terrified fur babies who go ballistic with every thunderclap knew the weatherman was a lying dick.
Skye sat at the kitchen table with a crossword game on her phone. "Five-letter word for "sugary treat," she announced.
AJ stirred her chicken and bacon noodle soup. "puss*," she guessed through a mouthful of bacon.
Skye tutted her tongue. "It starts with "S," babe."
AJ shrugged. "Sweet," she offered.
Skye shrugged. "It fits. How's the soup?"
AJ tasted a mouthful of salty goodness. "Almost there..."
Skye snorted and cleared her throat.
AJ nodded along. "That's what she said," she giggled.
Thumping footsteps and keys jingling meant this night was coming to its natural bitter end. Skye and AJ looked up at the same time when the former straightedge savior stumbled into the apartment reeking of the poison he dedicated his life against.
"There you are, sugar bear," AJ said, trying to play the part of ditzy housewife as best as she could. "You're just in time for supper! See? I'm saying supper just like a Midwest housewife."
"Great," Punk mumbled. He threw his hand toward Skye. "Why is she here?" He asked loudly.
AJ noticed Skye like she wasn't aware of her presence. "Oh! She's here to join us for dinner," she said.
Punk rolled his eyes. "Right. And the naked pictures you send each other are dinner invitations."
Skye stood. "I can leave, Phil. It's not an issue."
Punk pointed his finger at the young girl. "Sit the f*ck down and shut the f*ck up..."
Skye was at a loss for words. AJ rolled her eyes and turned back to her dinner.
"What?" Punk barked, quickly approaching the kitchen. "Are you mad that I'm drunk?"
"No," AJ muttered.
"Are you pissed off that you can't drink?" Punk slurred, getting in AJ's face. "You can't keep your f*ckin' legs closed so now you're stuck here all day with your whor* and the f*ckin' dogs?"
AJ's bottom lip trembled. "No..."
"Cheating, free-loading f*ckin' skan*!" Punk screamed. "You're lucky you're carrying my child, or you'd be on the f*ckin' streets where you belong!"
"That is enough!" Skye spoke up, accidentally knocking over the chair when she stood. Her eyes nearly popped from her skull when Punk made a feeling for her. "You're a bully and a f*cking coward-"
SMACK!
"You done?" Punk hissed.
The stinging on her cheek didn't deter Skye. She caught her bearings and stood up. "Eat dick, you limp-wristed fa*ggot!" She barked, tears in her eyes.
Punk co*cked his arm back. AJ watched in horror as the full-swing hook connected with Skye's chin. Open-handed slaps had been the norm for quite some time. Whatever Punk had been drinking during rehearsal brought out a level of him she hadn't seen before.
"You're done!" Punk ordered.
Skye had enough of this behavior. She couldn't stand watching her best friend go through this every day. Baby or not, she didn't deserve to be trapped in Hell with this man. "Done f*cking your wife? Not by a long shot, Phillip."
The act of defiance cost Skye a kick to the ribs. Punk turned on his heels and marched into the kitchen.
AJ found her wind. "What are you doing?" She questioned.
Punk stared hard into his fiance's eyes. "Don't," he warned, grabbing the biggest kitchen knife in the drawer.
Skye managed a deep breath as Punk headed in her direction. Her eyes widened, seeing the glint of the knife.
Punk shook his head. "I told you to keep your f*ckin' mouth- FUUUUCK!" He screamed, suddenly covered head to toe in boiling chicken broth. The knife clattered to the floor.
AJ stood her ground. "You leave her alone, you f*cking puss*!" She ordered, her eyes red with tears. She clutched tightly to the pot in her hand.
Punk's skin boiled from the soup and the rage. "You're f*cking dead..." He warned.
AJ noticed Skye get to her feet and fall into the mantelpiece. "f*ck you," she whispered to the man she once idolized. As Punk reached for her throat, she watched her neighbor lift a shiny steel urn over her head.
THUNK!
Punk crumpled to the floor like a sack of potatoes. The eery silence that followed twisted AJ's stomach enough that she felt ready to puke, or maybe that was the regret for wasting good soup.
”I guess you were right about that lucky shot,” the young girl quivered.
AJ stared blankly at the body lying in a heap by her feet.
Skye inhaled deeply. "Did I... Did I..?"
AJ shook her head. "He's breathing," she noted, watching Punk's chest heave.
Skye cradled AJ's face. "Hey! Get a bag packed. I'll be back in two minutes. We're getting the hell out of here!"
With no argument, AJ sprinted to her bedroom. She stuffed clothes, medication, stuffed animals, her dad, and any other vital necessities for her survival. At exactly two minutes, she returned to the living room as Skye ran in.
"Ready?" Skye asked.
AJ kissed her puppies goodbye and followed her neighbor out of the apartment. With the streetlights and lightning guiding them, the duo ran together hand-in-hand. Their feet ached and their vision blurred from the rain but they didn't dare stop until they reached their destination.
AJ stopped under the dimly lit awning of a ticket booth. "Two for the nonstop to New York," she told the cashier.
The older man nodded. "You just made it. Two more minutes and you would've been stuck here."
"f*ck that," AJ thought, scanning away the last bit of money in her checking account.
As the conductor called, "All aboard," AJ and Skye took two open seats on this empty midnight train. They breathed heavily, the adrenaline still pumping through their veins. Their heartbeats thudded in their ears until the train jolted forward and rolled out of the station.
Skye wrapped her arms around AJ's waist and leaned her head on her shoulder. AJ, her face twisting with a mix of relief and fear, cried silent tears as she wiped the soaked hair out of her face and placed a kiss on the top of Skye's snapback.
