He walked through the corridors of Rogers Centre backstage. He was glad that he was finally indoors. The coldness of a Toronto night was like nothing he had ever experienced. Boston isn't even this fucking cold, he thought. But it didn't even compare to the coldness he felt inside. Not any amount of warm clothes would help him. He held his head high and acted as if nothing was wrong even though it only had been four months. It was obvious to his co-workers that he was crumbling from inside. But they didn't say anything.
As he was just entering his locker room, Cody Runnels came running towards him, wearing only his wrestling gear and a Legacy t-shirt, waving his hand and calling his name like a lunatic.
"Cena, wait up. I need to fucking talk to you. It's important". Cody rambled as he finally got to John.
"Slow down Codes, you look like as if you just ate a whole jar of jalapeño". John said with his infamous smirk. But as soon as he looked into Cody's blue eyes, his smirk fell and instead worry took over.
"It's Randy". Cody hesitantly said while chewing his bottom lip. As soon as John heard his ex-lover's name, he took a sharp breath. Everyone backstage knew that Randy is a forbidden word and should not be mentioned, EVER, in front of John since their nasty break up 4 months ago. However, that was not what John was concerned about at the moment. As much as John wanted to know what Cody had to say, he tried to conceal his concern with a nonchalant response.
"Cody, I don't give a fuck what's happening in that fucker's life. He is no longer my business".
Cody just gave him a look of disapproval before he jumped in to his rambling. "John what the hell is wrong with you? Randy needs you right now and all you can think and fucking care about is yourself. He was your friend before he became your fucking lover and you should act as a friend right now."
With a humph, he turned his back and was about to leave when he felt John's hand on his wrist, stopping him. "Cody wait. What's going on? Is he okay?" John asked. After seeing Cody's anger, which was rare, he knew something disastrous has occurred.
"So you give a damn now?" Cody replied.
"Will you just fucking tell me?" John asked in an annoyed, yet desperate tone. Cody gave him a skeptical look, trying to see if John was messing with him before saying, "it's grandpa Bob". John gave him a confused look, trying to figure out why Cody was calling his own grandpa by a wrong name when he realized he was talking about Randy's legendary grandfather. "I'm sorry John to tell you this, but he passed away this morning".
John had a blank expression on his face as he slid down his locker room door. He didn't notice the tears that slid down his face silently. The only thing on his mind was Randy. With a sudden urge to see his ex-lover, he got up and determined to find Randy. "Where is he?" John whispered. He couldn't imagine what Randy was going through at the moment since he knew how close Randy was to his grandfather. Grandpa Bob was the first person in Randy's family who found about their relationship and gave them his support hundred percent.
"He went back to St. Louis this morning John". Cody replied back in the same whisper tone.
John nodded his head, patted Cody on his shoulder and left his locker room. With determination in his steps, he went into Stephanie McMahon's office, without knocking. Stephanie with a raised eye brow looked up from behind her desk. She opened her mouth to ask him if he has forgotten his manners when John beat her to it. So she closed her mouth and listened to what WWE's most popular wrestler had to say.
"Steph, I can't wrestle tonight. I need time off. I need to be with him". The McMahon heiress just knew who exactly John was talking about, being close friends to both of them. She also knew about Randy's loss. Seeing that John was about to continue, she held up her hand to stop him. Now it was John's turn to close his mouth.
"John, I know you want to be there but you are my top star". John wanted to interrupt her but everyone knew you should never interrupt a McMahon. "Now with that in mind, I know you haven't had a proper time off in a long time. So I want you back by next Monday. I'll deal with dad myself" Stephanie carried on.
She got up and walked towards John. Giving him a hug, she whispered into his ear, "forget about the past and take care of him". He hugged her back and nodded his head slowly, agreeing with her fully. He let go of her, looked into her big eyes and said, "I will, thanks so much Steph."
Stephanie gave him a warm smile and asked him to give Randy and his family her condolences and to inform Randy that she'll try her best to come to the funeral.
After saying goodbye to Steph, he ran to his rental and sped off to his hotel. While driving, he kept wishing for patience 'cause he knew he needed this. For the sake of himself but more importantly for the sake of Randy.