Chapter 3: Sure Thing.
Joe's P.O.V.
The cool air made my lungs burn as I pushed the last mile on my run. The sun was almost up, the world was still in the twilight stage. I lived in a somewhat rich neighborhood. I had never really realized how beautiful the houses and scenery was. My phone rung, snapping me out of my thoughts. I stopped running and looked down at the caller I.D.
It was unknown.
"Hello?" I asked, trying to catch my breath.
"Joe?" Her voice cracked out.
"Aria?"
"Yeah, hey." She said, I could hear a little smile in her voice.
"Hey…how are you?" I smiled.
"I'm…well…I've been better." She said.
"Why don't we meet up sometime and catch up?" I asked, hopeful.
"I…I don't know, Joe." She stammered, "I don't think its safe for me to be out in public right now."
"Well…I'll come to you." I offered.
Aria's P.O.V.
I don't know why I was so nervous about Joe coming here. Aaron couldn't find out because he didn't know where my mom lived. I watched Jessica as she played in the sandbox with her cousin. My sister sat out beside of me drinking a tall glass of tea.
"How long have you been with him, Aria?" Destiny asked.
"Almost five years."
"And he's been abusing you all five years?"
"No, he didn't start until I got pregnant. He tried killing Jessica, he wasn't ready for a baby." I said, rubbing my arms.
"When will Joe be here?" Destiny asked.
"Any time now." I said, jumping as Jessica started screaming.
My head snapped in her direction. She was screaming due to Jackson chasing her. She was happy. I hadn't seen her smile like this in a while. She still had a death grip on her teddy, though.
"Relax sis. He can't hurt you here. He doesn't know where you are." Destiny rubbed my back.
"I..I'm just paranoid, Des." I said, pulling my knees to my chest.
"I know you are." She whispered.
A couple minutes later, there was a big black escalade pulling into the dirt road that lead to the house. Jessica ran to me and held onto me tightly. The car parked a couple feet away from my black car and outstepped Joe. His long black hair was pulled back into a tight bun and he had on a black shirt that hugged his defined arms in all the right places. He smiled at me as he took off his sunglasses.
"Well if it isn't Mr. Anoa'I himself." My sister smiled, sitting up straight.
"Hey." Joe nodded at her, walking up to me.
"Is that all I get is a 'hey', Joe?" She laughed, walking off.
"No, you can get a 'bye', too." He smirked, sitting in her place beside of me.
"Jessica, this is Joe. Remember me telling you about how, before I met daddy, I was training to be a wrestler?" I asked her, watching her eye Joe.
"Yes." She said, her lips in a full on pout as she glared at him, "Can I go play now?"
"Well I never said you had to stop playing, honey." I chuckled, putting her down.
Joe and I both watched her run to the back of the yard to play with Jackson.
"How old is she?" He asked.
"She just turned three last month." I nodded, pulling my knees back to my chest.
"She's beautiful." He smiled, "Looks a lot like you."
"Thank you. A lot of people say she looks like her dad." I grinned watching her.
"Where is he at?" Joe asked.
"Hopefully half way to hell by now." I said, earning a chuckle from him.
"That's not very Christian of you." He grinned at me.
"Guess I really am nothing but a hypocrite." I smirked.
"So what's going on between you two? Really.." He looked down at me.
"I left last night…he…uh…he" I trailed off, not wanting to say anymore.
"He what?" He asked, raising a eyebrow.
"He's abusive, Joe. He was a good man at first..I got pregnant and then he turned into a complete ass." I shook my head.
Joe's P.O.V.
I watched her tell me things he's done to her. I watched her cry. This wasn't the woman I had known a couple years ago. Arianna was a strong independent woman with life and spunk in her. This was a shell of Arianna. He had broken her, wore her down until she felt she was nothing in the world. This wasn't my Arianna. I didn't really know how to comfort a sobbing woman other than to hold her, so that's what I did. I wrapped a arm around her shoulders, pulling her into my grip. She soon stopped crying hard, now it was nothing but sniffles.
"Does he know where you two are now?" I asked, looking down at her red face.
"No, at least I don't think so." She shook her head, her hand laying on top of mine that was resting on her shoulder.
"You know..you and Jessica could always come live in the condo my parents own. I'm sure my dad would allow you two to stay there." I suggested.
"No, no. I'm fine here for a couple more weeks. I just have to be careful out in public." She said.
"You shouldn't have to do that."
"I know." She said, "He's so strong though, Joe. He doesn't look like it, but he is."
"You're stronger than this, Aria. I remember you taking me down in arm holds when I was standing on my feet." I said, rubbing her back.
"I don't know, Joe. I'm not that same girl." She shook her head.
"Yes you are. You're just bent a little, that's all." I said.
"How's your situation?" She asked, looking up at me.
"Complete hell," I shook my head, "I..I walked in on her cheating on me with some other man in my bed."
"Some people just don't know when they've got a prize." Aria patted my knee.
"I'm far from a prize but I know that I shouldn't have to be treated like that." I said, "What are you guys doing for dinner?"
"I usually just go with what Jessica wants." She shook her head, "Probably pizza."
"Yeah? I could go for some pizza." I nodded, watching a smile spread across her face.
"Yeah?" She smiled, "Jessica! Come here please."
x
Jessica ran up to the two and smiled bashfully up at Joe, her eyes darting around nervously.
"Did I do something?" She asked, crossing her little hands in front of her.
"No honey, what do you want to eat?" Arianna asked.
"Pizza!" She smiled.
"Told ya." Aria smiled back at Joe who shook his head.
"How about I take you and your mommy out for some pizza?" Joe asked, watching the little girl nod happily, "You'd like that?"
"Uh huh." She blushed.
The three went to the old pizza palace where Aria and he used to go all the time while they were training. They sat in the very back; Arianna and Jessica were out of the view from the public. They ordered a pizza and sat and chatted. They told Jessica of stories when they were training, Joe told the story of Aria pissing her pants after she took a tumble from the ring which made the small girl erupt in laughter.
"That is not funny!" Arianna smiled, poking the little girl softly in the forehead.
"Yes it is, mommy!" She laughed, holding her sides even tighter.
"I find it funny." Joe smiled.
They finished the pizza off and soon made their way back to Arianna's mother's house. He watched her as she unbuckled the sleeping child, it was probably past her bedtime since it was going on eleven now. Joe walked her to the porch where they were greeted by her mother, Lucy.
"Well hello, Joe!" Her soft old voice had a smile to it.
"Hello." Joe flashed a smile to the elderly woman.
"How have you been?" She asked.
"I've been better, but I can't really complain." Joe smiled.
"I heard that," She smiled as she turned to Aria, "Would you like me to lay her down so you two can talk?"
"Mom, you don't have to do that." Aria shook her head.
"Arianna, give me my granddaughter." Lucy demanded, making Aria smile.
Joe watched as the two switched arms of the sleeping child. Aria and him then walked off of the porch and down by the lake, the moonlight was their only form of light.
"I had forgotten how pretty it was down here at night." Aria almost whispered, looking up at the stars.
"Definitely a sight to see." Joe agreed.
"Joe..how's everything going for you? With the business and stuff." She asked, leaning against a tree.
"Well, I'm done with NFL completely now. With FCW and all, I've risen to the top almost. I got a match this weekend against Dean Ambrose. That guy is just plain out fucking weird but he's a good guy." Joe sighed, "I'm guessing you're done with all the church stuff huh?"
"Pretty much." She laughed, earning a smile from Joe.
"You should come out. A lot of the same guys are still there." Joe nodded, "And I..I've got a medical screening with WWE."
"Joe!" Arian smiled, "That's amazing! When is it?"
"Not for four more weeks." Joe shrugged, "They are probably going to slap me in developmental."
"That's still amazing, though." She smiled.
"Yeah, it's a good start. I've just got to get a foot in the door somehow someway." He shook his head.
"They recognize talent when they see it." Aria smiled, "You've definitely got it."
The two talked for a little bit more, talking about their careers and all the good times before they started walking back up to the house.
"Shit Joe," Arianna groaned, "It's almost two AM."
"Seriously?" Joe gasped, checking his watch, "Shit. I forgot to feed the dog."
"I'm sorry." She said.
"No, no. It's completely fine. The dog definitely isn't going to starve to death. He's fat as it is," Joe smiled, "I had fun tonight, Arianna. I've missed you."
"I've missed you too, Joe." Arianna whispered, "Maybe we can hang out again tomorrow. Maybe take the kids to the park or something."
"Yeah," Joe smiled, "Yeah definitely."
Joe walked her to the porch, making sure she got in alright. Before she closed the wooden door, she turned and waved at him.
"Good night, Joe." She said.
"Good night, Aria." He replied, turning to leave.
She sighed and watched him get into his car before she turned the porch light off. She turned to see her sister, Destiny standing there with a smug smile on her face.
"What's all that look for?" Arianna asked, crossing her arms.
"You know what." Destiny smiled, "You've still got it bad for him."
"No I don't." She shook her head, "Joe's just an extremely attractive man."
"I can agree with that last statement, but those feelings are still there between the both of you."
"Joe's just getting out of a marriage and is trying to get his career started out again. He doesn't have time for me." Arianna whispered, walking past Destiny.
"He had time for a marriage; he's definitely going to have time to rekindle an old flame." Destiny followed her to her room.
"GOOD NIGHT, DESTINY." Arianna raised her voice slightly, shutting and locking the door in her sisters face.
Arianna settled down beside of her sleeping daughter, brushing the strands of blonde hair out of her innocent face as her mind wandered to Joe.