Chapter 2:
"You're the bestest best friend I've ever had. You know that?" Layla said fixing her hair.
"I know. You're so lucky to have me" I said adjusting my top.
"Did he really say that he wanted me to come?"
"In the words of Adam, he said that indeed" I said winking. "Just don't mess this up, please."
"I won't!" she defended. "I mean, I'll try not to".
"Let's go. They said they'll be outside 10 minutes ago."
"We look good, so it's worth the wait."
Both of us got our things and left the locker room. We found both men in the front waiting looking slightly frustrated.
"Finally" said Adam noticing us. "You look quite swell this evening" he said planting a kiss on me.
"Well if you two aren't done. I think me and Layla would like to get going" Phil said with a smile in Layla's direction.
"Yea, we would."
"Alright alright, we're going."
"The decorations are beautiful for a steakhouse" I said cutting into my food.
"Not possibly as beautiful as you are" said Edge with a smile.
"Lovebirds" said Punk turning to Layla.
"I know they're crazy for each other."
"It's just…"
"Cute?"
"Yeah, I guess. I just wish…"
"You could have something like that?"
"Lay, you take the words right out of my mouth."
He called me Lay!
"What can I say? Great minds…"
"Think alike" he said with a wink. Layla offered a smile. This night was going in her favor.
"Are you enjoying the food babe?"
"Yeah, it's great. The best I've ever tasted in fact."
"Rob knew you would like it."
I halted quickly nearly choking on my food. I tried gulping down some water to wash it down.
"Are you alright?"
"Yeah, I guess it was so good I forgot to chew" I chuckled, hoping Edge would laugh too. The last thing I wanted was for him to know what was going through my head tonight.
As hoped, Edge laughed along. The four of us ate and joked for the rest of the night. Layla and Phil flirted and socialized as I tried not to make my emotions so apparent to the Rated R Superstar. We both succeeded and the week went smoothly for both of us divas.
"And did you know he plays the guitar? I never knew that. He says it's his way of relieving stress and his secret weapon."
I smiled and got dressed while listening to my excited friend go on about Phil…for the 100th time. I was surprised I didn't find it annoying giving that she's been talking about him all week. But I was proud that my friend grew out of her shy stage when it came to the superstar. And if I wasn't mistaking, I thought he was pretty into her.
"He even said I inspire him to make a song about natural beauty!" she squeaked making me jump slightly then laughing.
When we finished getting dressed we both got out the locker room and walked around the arena. It was Laycool's way of relaxing before screen time.
"I think you should ask him out Lay."
"Ask him out? Michelle, you want me to ask him out? Giving my granny a kidney is easier than asking him out. He makes me so nervous, weak. What if he says no?"
"I doubt that, I honestly think he likes you."
"You do?"
"Yeah, I mean he asked for you to come to dinner last Friday, you've been texting him all week and every time you guys talk he can't take his eyes off you. It's only obvious."
Layla blushed; she loved hearing what she liked to hear partially because she knew it was possibly true.
"Well I know it's early but I must admit I'm starting to really like him."
"Lay—"
"I know your probably gonna say it's only been a week but I feel like I connect with the guy."
"I'm not I'm trying to—"
"He makes me so … crazy for him. I could talk to him forever. You know sometimes I even read over our texts messages to relive the moment? "
"Hey Layla."
The former diva search winner halted as she heard a familiar voice come from behind her. She turned around to see Phil.
"Uh Hey Phil…"
"Hey Punk, who I was trying to say was behind you."
"Lay, can I talk to you?"
"Uh, sure. Michelle I'll see you in a bit."
"Ok, you kids take your time now…" I said as they walked away. A smile grew on my lips. I never saw my best friend so happy as of late. It warmed my heart.
"Michelle McRule..."
I knew only one person would have called me that. I looked over my shoulder to see Rob. I froze again. It was getting an annoying habit. Hearing his name was bad but seeing his presence was worst.
"Hey…"
"Don't remember I used to call you that?"
"Yeah, I do. I guess I haven't heard it in a while it sounded a bit rusty."
"It'll come back to you soon, you're gonna hear it a lot again. Remember when you'd call me RVPee?"
I chuckled remembering one of our many classic inside jokes. "Yeah, I do."
"Man we were the best."
"We sure were." Right before you randomly walked out of my life and never called again.
"We need to catch up. It's like I'm talking to a different person. You up for dinner tomorrow?"
I stiffened. Dinner? Alone? Just me and him? It would be as awkward as having dinner with a dead body. I couldn't do it. I wouldn't do it. He couldn't just leave me then randomly come back and want to make plans like it's been a day later. It's been four years. There's a lot of a gap to fill. Like my improvement in the ring (without him), making new friends (without him), winning championships (also without him) and meeting the love of my life (someone that's not him). I refused to have dinner with him tomorrow.
"Sure. What time?"
"It's up to you. I'm free all day."
"How about 8?"
"It's a date." He said with a friendly laugh.
I stiffened but tried to play it off with a supporting laugh.
"I'll see you around though, I gotta do my stretching. You know that goes?"
"Yeah, just like you used to."
"Maybe one day we could do our stretches together again."
"Sounds good to me…"
The whole effin show walked off leaving me starring into his path down the hall and turning. It was like my mind said one thing and my actions did another. I couldn't looking at him for 30 seconds much less have dinner with him tomorrow. What have I gotten myself into?