The next day…..
"CHLOE! Hey baby girl! You look amazing!" Shawn rushed over to the corner booth of the little bistro. At first, Chloe resisted but, instantly fell into his hug. She always loved Shawns big bear hugs.
Tearing up, she pulled him close. "I missed you...you big jerk."
"I missed you too, baby girl. Let's sit. Before we talk you should know. I am in some deep shit coming here. Hunter has been an ass all week. Pretty sure he wants to kick my face in." Shawn joked.
Chloe rolled her eyes and grabbed a menu. "Shawn. Really. That took all of two seconds."
"I know. I know. I won't say another word. Except for this. He still asks about you." She looked up frowning at Shawn. "OK! Gez. You two are both a couple of grouches."
"How is he?" Chloe looked up from her menu.
Shocked at her asking, Shawns brows raised. "Umm...good. I mean he's ok now...since...you know."
"His divorce. So. How much of this Evolution thing is real? He seems to be enjoying his bimbo entourage, who has been fawning all over him. It's sick really." Chloe looked annoyed but, curious.
"Oh. That. He does enjoy the attention but, doesn't mess with those women. All for Kayfabe. He does go out with Ric and the rest of that crew but, he doesn't mess with the women as it portrays on the show. Just them all over him for his character." Shawn hoped that eased her mind.
"Sure he doesn't. He seems a little too comfortable and full of himself to be just acting. He's always been pretty full of himself. How does Steph feel about him acting like a man whore?" She looked back at the menu.
"She just sees it as good ratings. You know Steph. All work with her. She is her father's daughter."
Chloe huffed. "Steph called me. She apologized for everything. Begging me to come back to WWE."
"REALLY?!" Shawn perked up. "On RAW?"
"HELL NO!" Chloe shook her head. "Smackdown with her. But, I have to admit. Pissing off Hunter by being at RAW would be fun. Just the sheer joy I would get of seeing him sweat me being there would be great. Anyway. I don't want to talk about that. How are you?"
Shawn grabbed a menu, "Good. I'm worried about you though. What is this stuff about you feeling like you're being watched?"
"Oh that, Brett says it's just PTSD or something. Paranoia. Doctors don't think so. The therapist says I'm doing good considering. I don't know. I just feel like at times there is someone watching. Like last night. After you called, I got a strange phone call. No one said anything. Just silence. After that, I thought I heard something outside Mik...umm...outside my spare room."
"What were you about to say?" Shawn noticed her change of wording.
"Huh?" Chloe looked like she was hiding something.
"You almost said something else and, changed it." Shawn always could tell when she wasn't forthcoming with him. One reason she stopped talking to him. She didn't want her secret going farther than the few people who knew the truth.
"Let's just eat." They sat and chatted about her fears and, basic small talk. Chloe quickly felt her long-missed friendship with Shawn come back. She was always close to him. He was like a big brother to her. "Shawn, I have more reason to worry than just myself."
He just sat eating. Noticing her change in tone, he looked up from his plate.
"Shawn. I need to confess something to you. The real reason I stopped talking to you. No one but Brett, Kevin, and his wife Tammy know. Promise if I tell you this you won't freak out on me and, start yelling. Also, you can't tell anyone."
"Ok. I promise. But, the sounds of it, I'm not going to like it."
"Shawn….OK...I'll... just out with it." Chloe looked serious into Shawns eyes. "I have a son. Shawn, you would love him. He's so smart and funny..."
Shawns eyes got wide. "A son?" He interrupted calmly.
"Yes. He's going to be four years old soon. Maina weekend. He wants to go for his birthday. He loves all the Kliq and DX is his heroes. Kevin shows my boy old shows. Uncle Kevy is planning to take him to Wrestlemania. It's a long story but, I made Kevin swear to keep it a secret. I'm not sure how I feel about going to the show though. I don't let him watch most the stuff at his age. Crazy thing is, Hunter, is his favorite." She stopped there looking at Shawn realizing he was figuring timelines in his head.
Shawn just sat waiting to hear who the father is. She quickly moved in with Brett after Hunter and her break up. Brett had been paying extra attention to her long before the breakup. Shawn didn't know what to think.
"What Shawn? Just say what you're thinking." Chloe knew the answer.
"Nothing...umm...Chlo, that's great. What's his name?"
"We call him Mikey. He's named after his father. I keep him almost a secret. To protect him from the limelight so he doesn't find out about the murders till he is older and, can understand." Chloe hoped that would deter any further probing.
"Since you mentioned it. Who is the father?" Shawn pushed back his plate.
"I think you know. His full name is...Paul Michael. Mikey for short" Chloe sat stone-faced. "I know what you must be thinking of me. Kevin is the only one who knows out of your group of friends. He swore he wouldn't tell. That's why I moved in with Brett. I was pregnant and had no place to go. Kevin offered but, you and Hunter are too close to Kev. I was let go from WWE a little bit before I found out, for reasons I had no idea why. I was told I couldn't speak of it publicly. Until...I saw why on my own. Hunter didn't want me anymore and, Steph wanted me out of the picture. He jumped right into her arms just weeks after he dumped me. I went to his house to tell him about the baby but, that didn't work. I was hoping we would work things out. Or at least apologize for shutting him out during the trials. Everyone thought I saw his wedding online. I lied about that. Truth was, I went there to tell him. I found out I was pregnant a few days before they got married. Anyway, Hunter was getting into a limo and, I followed him to the church. I sat there just hoping what I had been thinking was going on wasn't true. I sat across the street what seemed like forever. I saw him exit the church with her. He chose her Shawn. Not me. I did what I felt best for me and my son. I don't regret it. He will hate me forever but, I wasn't allowed to see him. I even went to a show and was refused entry. I received a restraining order delivered by a WWE lawyer that same week. So, I guess she made sure I was out of the picture. I don't blame Steph. She had her reasons, and I had mine."
"Does little Mikey know who his dad is?"
"No. I don't lie to my son but, he's a smart kid. He's always been drawn to Hunter. Can't blame him. I am...was too. Kev is always watching a watered down version of WWE with him when he visits. I censor stuff and make tapes for him. I sure didn't want him to see Hunter's segment with him coming out of a shower with two women. Truth be known Kev probably told him by now. Shawn, Mikey likes you too. Thinks old HBK is the coolest guy ever." Chloe shook her head smiling.
Shawn smiled, "Do you have a picture of him?" Chloe handed over her phone.
"Hunters little clone right?" She took it back looking at her son's happy face. "He's such a good boy."
"Don't you think Hunter has a right to be in his life? You know he always wanted a son."
"Of course. I tried several times. I was banned from WWE events. Stephanie admitted she is the reason I got a restraining order. After about a year...I gave up. Now after all this time. He is going to hate me. I'm trying to figure this out and, I will. I just need to deal with everything else right now." Chloe couldn't read Shawn's feelings. She could see he was upset. "I'm sorry for hiding this. But I have to protect my son first."
"I get that. But, you know you will need to tell him. My lips are sealed. Kevin is right. It's not our place to tell him." After a while of chatting about Mikey, Shawn got up. "I want to meet the little guy. Right now I have to go. Answer your phone or call me. I worry damn it!" He pulled her up into a hug.
