CHAPTER 2
"Are you sure you don't wanna take a nap or anything?" Robin set Chloe's suitcase down in her room and went to open the drapes to check out her view. They had just picked her up from the airport and were trying to make her as comfortable as possible.
"Yeah girl, you've GOT to be tired!" Liv brought in the last of Chloe's luggage before closing the door.
"I slept on the plane and I'm ready to catch up with you guys!" Chloe wrapped her scarf around her neck, checked her hair and lip gloss and stood by the door. "So where are we going?" Liv and Robin couldn't believe she had so much energy after all of her layovers from Brazil.
"Let's go to the café down the street and figure it out from there!" Olivia grabbed her purse and headed for the door and Robin followed.
The three of them gabbed for what seemed like 5 minutes, but it was actually 4 hours. Robin's phone rang with Dean's ringtone breaking the conversation. She talked to him for a few minutes, then returned to the girls.
"Dean said the guys are in the last leg of their media appearances and they're starving."
"What else is new?" Liv laughed as she grabbed her purse.
"Chloe, we were just gonna meet up with the guys for dinner. Are you sure you don't wanna get some rest?" Robin really didn't want Chloe to be overwhelmed on her first day back in the states.
"Stop worrying about me! I want to meet these wonderful husbands of yours, and my niece and nephew!" Chloe ran her fingers through her hair and reapplied her lip gloss.
"Well, Piper is with her uncle Seth for the day, but she'll be back tonight. Mason is with his Dad in Kansas, but they'll be here tomorrow." Robin stretched and stood up from the table.
"But the husbands, we can handle…hey you might even find someone that sparks your interest!" Chloe nudged her cousin and exchanged a glance with Robin.
"Guys, I'm not trying to meet a man. I'm here to meet your families and have a good time! That's it!" Chloe wasn't a die-hard wrestling fan like Liv and Robin. She watched it casually when she was hanging out with Olivia and Robin, but it wasn't typically her cup of tea.
"We hear you, Chlo!" Robin dropped the subject but not before winking at Olivia. "We have a couple of hours to kill before we meet the guys. How about some shopping?"
"You don't have to ask me twice!" Chloe sprung from the table and the three of them were off.
Around 7 o' clock that evening, the girls emerged from their respective hotel rooms after changing for dinner. The guys had been talking to reporters and fulfilling media obligations all day, so they were ready for a nice meal and a few drinks to unwind. The women walked into "The Blue Duck Tavern" each adorned with their own unique take on the little black dress. They were escorted back to the chef's table where the guys were already seated. Wade and Dean stood to greet their wives while Chloe stood back waiting to be introduced. Robin pulled her lips away from Dean's, but his arm was still around her waist.
"Guys, this is the last piece to the puzzle, my BFF and Liv's cousin, Dr. Chloe Toussaint. Chlo, this is my husband, Dean." Chloe extended her hand to Dean and he pulled her in for a hug.
"Nice to meet you, Chloe! I've heard a lot about you!" Dean stepped aside so she could meet the rest of the group.
"Chloe, this is my husband, Wade." Olivia draped her arm around Chloe to bring her over to Wade. He gave Chloe a hug before elbowing Dean and gesturing for him to look at Randy. He hadn't taken his eyes off of Chloe since the women walked in.
"It's a pleasure to finally meet you, Chloe." Wade went on to introduce her to the rest of the wrestlers. "This is Roman, John, Cesaro….and on the end here is Randy." Wade gave Randy a look to reinforce his previous warning. Dean, who was standing behind Wade, balled up his fist making sure to get Randy's attention. Randy stood up from the table allowing Chloe to see every inch of his 6'5 frame perfectly cloaked in a tailored black suit. She tried her best not to stare, but this man was beautiful.
"Hi Chloe." He extended his hand wishing he could hug her like Wade and Dean did, but he knew it would be completely inappropriate, since they just met.
"Hi…Randy, was it?" Chloe tried to be coy. Robin and Liv laughed because they knew full well that she remembered his name.
Wade and Dean saved seats next to them for their wives and it just happened that Chloe's seat was in between Robin and Randy. Even though Chloe loved stealing glimpses of Randy, Randy was unable to control himself. He blatantly stared causing the women to trade "Oh Shit!" glances throughout dinner.
"So Chloe, what were Liv and Robin like back in the day?" Wade wrapped his arm around Liv, waiting to get some good dirt.
"Oh boy, I have some stories!" Chloe sipped her wine as Dean and Wade sat up preparing to hang on Chloe's every word. "They're both pretty much the same. Liv was laid back, but when she has something to say, you'll know!" Wade kissed Liv on her neck as Liv silently thanked Chloe for leaving out any incriminating stories. "And Robin!" Chloe sat up and turned towards Robin in her seat as Robin's eyes begged her to show some mercy. "Robin has experienced a lot in her life, but from the letters she's written me, I know she's in love with you, Dean." Robin exhaled and leaned into Dean.
"That's sweet, but I call bullshit! We want the juicy stuff, Chloe!" Dean's reaction had everyone at the table laughing except Randy who appeared to be trying to move closer to Chloe.
"What about you, Chloe? Tell us about you." Randy's question caught Chloe off guard. John Cena leaned over to Cesaro and whispered something that made him laugh.
"Oh you wanna know about Chloe, huh?" Liv sat up again and shot a look at Robin. "Randy, Chloe is one of the smartest, kindhearted, outgoing women I've ever met."
"All that and beauty? You're too good to be true." Randy fell back in his seat and put his hand on his heart as if he were shot by cupid.
"Oh she's good….but she's got a naughty side too." Robin stuck her tongue out and Chloe elbowed her in embarrassment.
"Oh I don't doubt that!" Randy moved closer to Chloe before looking at Dean and Wade, and falling back a little bit.
The group finished their meal around 9 and everybody prepared to head their separate ways. Some of them chose to hit the hay early in preparation for Survivor Series the next day. Robin and Dean went to pick Piper up from Seth and turn in for the night, and Wade was ready to take Liv back to the room for a nightcap, but Chloe and Randy sat at the table deep in conversation.
"Hey Chlo, me and Wade are gonna go back to the hotel. Are you ready to go?" Liv gave her a sly smile, but the look on Wade's face was stern.
"Oh I guess I should go back with you guys." Chloe stood and grabbed her wrap and purse.
"I can take you back to the hotel…I mean, if you're cool with that." Randy stood and helped her with her wrap, leaning in to breathe in her perfume.
"That would be great, Randy. Thanks." Chloe flirtatiously placed her hand on his arm and Olivia knew Chloe would have an interesting story for brunch. Olivia said goodnight to Randy and Chloe, and pulled Wade outside of the restaurant.
Still standing, Randy adjusted his suit and smirked at Chloe knowing she was loving the view.
"So, what would you like to do tonight?"
"Excuse me?!" Chloe moved away from him.
"I didn't mean it like that. I'm sorry." Randy realized how creepy he sounded and apologized profusely. "I just meant, I have a rental and the night is still young. I'll take you anywhere you wanna go."
"Don't you have to get some rest for the event tomorrow?" Chloe wanted to spend more time with him, but she didn't want to deprive him of his sleep after the long day he had.
"I'm fine. Besides…" Randy held out his arm for Chloe to take. "If I went back to the hotel right now, I wouldn't get any sleep anyway. I'd just be thinking about you."
The two of them left the restaurant and went to Randy's car. Randy scanned through the radio stations looking for the right music for their drive, but he was coming up empty. Chloe thought his determination to find the perfect music was adorable.
"Do you mind if I play something?" Chloe took her cell phone out of her purse and attached it to the adapter that was already plugged into the car. Within seconds she pulled up her favorite Bossa nova/jazz playlist. Sounds of "So Nice (Samba de Verao)" by Wanda de Sah filled the car and Randy opened the moon roof allowing some of the crisp air to enter the car.
Someone to hold me tight
That would be very nice
Someone to love me right
That would be very nice
The smooth sounds of Brazil provided a perfect background for their conversation. Sometime during "Agua de Beber" by Sergio Mendes, Randy found the courage to take Chloe's hand and he didn't let it go until he dropped her off at her room around 3 am.