A/N: Thank you all for the reviews to Chapter Two. Sorry for the wait time between chapters but 1. benova13 got me adding extra scenes and 2. My birthday was on yesterday so that kinda took precedent. But I was able to finish this chapter before I continue my birthday celebrations so here we are. Anyway, here's the next chapter. Enjoy.
Three
Dean pulled into a parking spot and killed the ignition. He turned to face Alexandria, observing as she stared out the window at the scenery surrounding them. It was their last day in Georgia before the two of them flew back to Tampa. Although their trip started off horribly with the visit to Alexandria's parents' house, the remainder of it definitely made up for it. The two spent the last few days holed up in their hotel room and spending some much needed quality time with one another. It felt good to be by themselves after being apart to due to Dean's hectic schedule. If it was up to Alexandria she would've remained in the bed until their checkout time the next day. But Dean woke her up bright and early at 10 that morning (which was surprising since he rarely woke up before noon on his days off), instructing her to show him to the places she used to frequent as a child.
Alexandria was surprised by the request. Despite being together for almost a year, the two of them didn't know much about one another's past. Alexandria didn't push Dean for too much information because she knew the topic was a sensitive one for him and in her mind it didn't matter what happened in his past, because it had no bearing on the person he was today. However, the fact that he was so interested in what she was like when she was younger made her beam. From the outside looking in, one would think that all Dean and Alexandria did was have wild and crazy sex. But deep down, there was more to their connection. They may not have known each other as long as her other friends knew their significant others but that didn't change how either of them felt about each other.
"You okay?"
Dean's voice cut through Alexandria's daydream. Her eyes locked with his and she nodded. She watched as he exited the car and lightly jogged to her side. He helped her step out the car, his muscular arms immediately wrapping around her slender waist.
"I was just thinking about how I don't wanna leave. This is the most relaxed I've been in a while."
"I know. But I think your cousin would kick both of our asses if we missed Ethan and Isaiah's christening."
Alexandria giggled. "She definitely would. And anyway the God Father has to be present."
Dean cleared his throat nervously. "I just hope I don't get struck down the second I walk into the church."
"You won't get struck down Dean," Alexandria assured him. "Anyway after the things we did these past few days, I would get struck down right along with you."
Dean's raspy laugh filled the air as he pulled Alexandria closer to him, his large hands grabbing her butt. He placed a soft kiss on her lips, groaning when she pushed him against the passenger door of the rental car. Her hands gripped his short hair and she parted her lips slightly, her moan flowing out her mouth and into his. The sun beamed down on the couple as they continued to kiss, ignoring the people that walked by and gawked at them. Alexandria was sure somebody who knew her father would see her damn near devouring Dean's face and she could care less. Matter of fact, her new feisty side hoped they would take a picture and show it to her father to prove to him her and Dean weren't breaking up anytime soon.
"We betta quit before we give one of these old ladies a heart attack," Dean warned as he pulled away. He nipped Alexandria's lip and grinned.
"They're just jealous they don't have a man that's sexy like mine." Alexandria winked at Dean and grabbed his hand. The couple started to walk down the street.
"So this is the last stop on the Alexandria Stewart childhood tour?"
Alexandria nodded. They had already visited her old grammar school, the church she used to sing at every Sunday, and the used bookstore she always visited on Saturdays. There was only one more place that was a mainstay in her childhood and that meant the most to her.
"So remember how I told you how I didn't want to become an accountant but it was kinda forced upon me by my parents?"
Dean nodded his head. "Yeah you said you wanted to be a dancer. But they said there was no money in that and they would be dammed if you became a stripper."
Alexandria rolled her eyes at the memory, biting her tongue to stop herself from getting angry. They approached a one story brick building and opened the door, walking inside. "Well this is the place that first helped me fall in love with dancing. The first dancing studio I went to when I was a little girl."
Curious blue eyes wandered around the corridor, examining the decor. Dean felt like a giant inside the building since the ceilings weren't very high and it was somewhat bare. He watched as Alexandria greeted the receptionist near the entrance, holding a quiet conversation with her. With the exception of the basic white paint on the walls that was slightly chipped and the outdated furniture, the space appeared to be in good shape. Alexandria suddenly grabbed Dean's hand and dragged him down the hall.
"This was the studio where my class was held," she informed him while she pushed a door open. She flicked on the light revealing a small studio. One wall was mirrored, a barre sitting in front of it. A fan was attached to the ceiling and a small window was on the opposite wall.
Dean leaned against the doorframe and watched as Alexandria walked inside the room. She dragged her hand along the barre and twirled around in a small circle. Her eyes twinkled as she looked in her reflection before turning around and catching Dean staring at her.
"Dancing was so graceful to me. Gave me the opportunity to push all thoughts and worries out of my mind and just focus on the movements."
"What kind of dancing did you do?"
"Pretty much of everything. Ballet, tap, contemporary. I wanted to try some hip hop but I already knew my parents weren't going for that shit," Alexandria said with a chuckle. "There's a larger room down the hallway where I had my first recital at. I was 9 and I was so nervous I thought I was gonna piss on myself in the middle of the show. But once I got out there, it seemed like all of my fears evaporated and I just danced. Gave it my all and left it on the stage. A lot of people were shocked I was able to perform in front of such a large audience because I was so introverted when I was younger. But when I danced, I turned into a different person."
"So you doing the burlesque dance for me was kinda up your alley?"
A crimson blush crept onto Alexandria's cheek as she nodded. "I still remember when I told Alyssa my idea. She thought I would chicken out but I proved her wrong. Preparing for that performance kinda reminded me of rehearsing when I was younger."
Alexandria slid down the wall and crossed her long legs as she sat on the hardwood floor. Dean moved from his spot and sat next to her, lacing their fingers together. She laid her head on his shoulder and the two of them stared at their image in the mirror.
"My dream was to go to a performance arts school to major in contemporary dance. Then travel the world dancing and entertaining people once I was done with school."
"But your parents stopped that?"
"Yeah. They told me it wasn't an acceptable profession for someone of my pedigree. They didn't care it made me happy or it was my life. They just wanted me to carry out the dream they created for me."
The couple fell silent as a couple of tears trailed down Alexandria's face. Dean's grip on her hand tightened, fury growing inside of him at the sight of his girlfriend crying.
"What about now?"
"What do you mean?"
"Well you've finally removed yourself from your parents' authority and are making decisions for your own life. So what's stopping you from getting back into dancing?"
Alexandria chuckled and shook her head. "I'm totally not in dancing shape."
"I think your shape is marvelous darling."
"Of course you do perv," Alexandria joked, lightly punching him in the shoulder with her free hand. "Anyway, I'm content with my life right now. I actually enjoy my job for the most part and me becoming a dancer would make it harder to spend time with you as well. And we don't want that do we?"
"We don't. But I would support you regardless," Dean told her honestly.
A wide grin spread across Alexandria's lips at the statement. She loved how supportive Dean was of her, the thought making her stomach do a weird flopping sensation. She tilted her head upwards and placed a soft kiss on his cheek.
"That's sweet honey. Look at Roman rubbing off on you and turning you into a sap."
Dean scowled at Alexandria making the younger woman laugh. "If you tell anybody, I'll deny it til my last breath."
"Your secret is safe with me Ambrose." She held her hand up in a scout's honor pose. "So what about you? Any hobbies before wrestling consumed your life?"
"Unless you count trying to survive on the streets a hobby then no, not really."
Alexandria frowned. While she was busy getting upset for how her parents micromanaged her life as a child, she had forgotten that Dean was pretty much his own parent while growing up. She resented her parents for forcing their ideals and expectations on her but at least she had parents. Dean spent the majority of his youth without a reliable adult presence and had a much rougher childhood. She immediately felt foolish.
"I'm sorry. I shouldn't have brought up your childhood."
"It's okay Lex. I'm at the point in my life now where I can talk about it and not get pissed off thinking about it. I know I don't talk about it much but I don't want you to be afraid of asking me questions about my past. Whatever you want to know, I'll tell you."
"Really?" Alexandria's eyes sparkled.
Dean nodded and stood up. He helped Alexandria stand and tossed his arm over her shoulder before they walked out the room. The old Dean would've balked at the idea of sharing such intimate details of his life with a woman. But he wanted Alexandria to know all about him, from what his favorite cartoon was growing up to the first time he got into a fight at school. He was slowly getting rid of the nagging feeling that she would leave him once she figured out the true him. By him confiding in her about his past, it was a signal of him taking a leap of faith with the Georgia native.
"I'll tell you what. One of these days, we'll go back to Cincinnati and I'll take you on my own tour of my old stomping grounds. Just make sure you carry a shank on you to protect you at all times. And don't wear the khaki pants you have on now."
Alexandria stopped walking and looked at her beige pants. She looked back at Dean. "What's wrong with my pants?"
"You look like the president of the Math Club doll face."
"I was the secretary. And we were called the Mathletes. Thank you very much."
Dean chuckled and shook his head. "That really doesn't surprise me at all. But word of advice: don't tell nobody else that okay?"
Alexandria pushed him in the shoulder, making his laughter intensify. Dean grabbed her hand and pulled her close, placing a soft kiss on her temple before they continued to walk towards the exit.
Golden brown irises fluttered open before quickly closing as the unapologetic sun streamed through the hotel room window, exacerbating the pounding headache that currently assaulted her. A few seconds passed before she tried prying her eye open again, turning her head to the other side. Once her gaze fell upon the freshly shaven face, a soft sigh fell from her lips.
'Same shit, different day,' Alani thought to herself.
While she watched Randy sleep peacefully beside her, Alani realized that she was the true glutton for punishment. She constantly did the same shit over and over and over again despite knowing deep down inside what was happening was wrong on so many levels. How did she allow herself to even get involved with Randy? Sure he was a very attractive and charming man but dammit that was not an acceptable excuse. But as much as she tried, nothing could disrupt the trance Randy had her under.
Alani shook her head and climbed out the bed, wrapping her naked body in the crisp white blanket. As she shuffled towards the bathroom, she wondered how did things ever get as fucked up as they were now. Never in a million years would she had thought she would be in this predicament. Yet here she was.
It seemed as if it were just yesterday when she met WWE superstar, Randy Orton. Alani was working as a cocktail waitress at a nightclub in New Jersey, trying to pay off the student debt she accumulated once she graduated from college. The job offers weren't flowing in like she had hoped and at that point she was just desperate for some type of income. She hated her job and hated dealing with the different men openly groping her under the guise of 'being too drunk to know what they were doing'. But if it meant she got a hefty tip from them, then she swallowed her anger for six hours and flashed a seductive smile as if everything was alright.
The night Randy came to the club with other WWE superstars, Alani wasn't even supposed to be there. She had did one of her co-workers a favor and came in on her off night since the other woman couldn't secure a baby sitter. The moment she approached the VIP table carrying the bottle of liquor that cost more than her entire outfit, Randy instantly took a liking to her. While she engaged in small talk with the other wrestlers, she could feel his eyes boring a hole into her. Not once did he say anything but she knew he was interested. But Alani wouldn't dare approach him. She was there to do a job and that was all. Anything else wasn't on her radar.
Alani didn't see Randy again until two months later. She was on her way to work and as she approached the back entrance of the club where all the employees entered, there he stood. Thinking he was waiting on somebody else, Alani tried to walk around him and enter the nightclub when she felt a hand clamp down on her arm. Before she could curse him out for touching her, Randy smoothly introduced himself and got straight to the point, inviting her to dinner.
Alani remembered staring at Randy wondering if he was joking. It wasn't often that a man in well tailored clothing invited her to dinner out the blue and she immediately became weary of the offer. But once Randy flashed her a smile, she agreed despite the tiny voice in her head telling her to go to work.
Dinner between the two was not as awkward as she believed it would be surprisingly. The conversation flowed effortlessly and it was apparent how charming Randy was. He was confident without being too cocky. He stared at her with an intensity that made her squirm in her seat that no other man had been able to do before. And his voice flowed through her ears like butter, making her clench her thighs together. As she sat across from him, daydreaming about how his lips would feel against hers, Alani couldn't help but thank the heavens above for making her cross paths with Randy once again.
Alani was having the best time of her life that night. That was, until Randy unceremoniously dropped a bombshell on her.
"I have to admit I was kinda apprehensive to coming out with you tonight," Alani told Randy before she took a sip of her sparkling water.
"Really? Why is that?"
"Because I don't know you. For all I know you could be some serial killer or serial rapist waiting to drug me and have your way with me before disposing my body parts all across the east coast."
Randy's deep chuckle filled the air, his blue eyes twinkling in amusement. "You have a very vivid imagination."
"I'm from New Jersey. I just learned how to be very cautious and on guard at all times," Alani clarified. "That and I watch a lot of SVU."
Randy smirked and leaned back in his chair, folding his arms over his chest. "And what about now?"
"Now I'm glad I took a chance. I had a great time tonight."
"I'm happy to hear that. I'm enjoying myself too. But Alani, there's something I have to tell you because I don't want to hide anything from you."
"Okay. What would that be?"
Randy exhaled and dragged a hand over his face. Alani watched him with a bated breath, feeling her heart pounding in her chest, her leg bouncing slightly underneath the table.
"I'm kinda involved with someone."
Alani blinked her eyes, trying to comprehend the words she just heard. She stared at Randy, her smile quickly falling. "What does kinda involved mean exactly? Either you have a girlfriend or you don't."
"It's not that simple."
"It actually is. Do you have a girlfriend?"
Randy bit the inside of his jaw before he nodded. Alani scoffed and shook her head, grabbing her purse from the floor to leave. Of course she would pick the man that was taken. Of course she would.
"Wait, please don't leave." Randy grabbed Alani's hand to stop her movements.
"There's no reason for me to stay Mr. Orton. You're in a relationship and yet you're out with me, flirting with me. You should be ashamed of yourself," Alani admonished, yanking her hand away from Randy's grip.
"Please just let me explain."
"There's nothing to explain."
"Alani just give me a chance to tell you my side and if after that you want nothing to do with me then I'll respect your decision."
Alani turned her head away from Randy's, her conscience battling with her. There was nothing he possibly could say that would make her feel sympathetic towards him. She had been on the receiving end of being cheated on multiple times and that shit wasn't fun at all. If anything, she felt sympathy for his girlfriend that was waiting for him back home, none the wiser to her boyfriend's womanizing ways. A role Alani herself was all too familiar with.
Despite her mind imploring her not to, Alani turned to look into Randy's eyes. Her resolve slowly crumbled as he gazed at her. She exhaled and crossed her arms. "Speak."
Randy sighed in relief and began to pour his heart out to Alani. According to him, him and his girlfriend were currently going through a rough patch. They were high school sweethearts but the love they once shared for each other was disintegrating due to him barely being home due to his hectic schedule for WWE. However he couldn't bring himself to end things because they had so much history between them and he desperately wanted to work things out.
But the night he walked into the club months ago, everything changed.
Randy claimed the moment he saw Alani, he knew there was something about her. Some inexplicable force that drew him to her. Despite his best efforts to be the faithful and loving boyfriend to his girlfriend, his thoughts were constantly plagued with Alani. Everything from the way the fitted black dress she wore that night hugged her curves in all the right places, the way her eyes twinkled when she smiled, and her soft and sultry giggle infiltrating his ears like a seductive symphony. He tried to forget about her but he just couldn't and before he knew it, he was on a flight to New Jersey hoping to catch her again at the club. When he finally did see her, he vowed to himself to take a chance and invite her to dinner, unwilling to let her slip through his fingers again.
Once Randy finished talking, silence surrounded the two as Alani stared at him blankly. She reached for her glass and took a sip before placing it back on the table. "How exactly am I supposed to respond to that?" she asked.
Randy shrugged his shoulders. "However you want to."
"You know what I think? I think you believe you're being an upstanding man. I mean you did let me know from jump that you're taken. You're basically telling me that this night can't develop into a relationship since you are kinda involved with someone and all. So if I start having feelings for you, it's not your fault because you warned me. Matter of fact, it would be my fault because I should've known my place." A short, wry laugh fell from Alani's lips and she shook her head. "You must feel proud of yourself. Give yourself a round of applause."
"Alani," Randy sighed. "I just wanted to be honest with you. I'm hoping that we can be somewhat cordial to each oth-"
"Bullshit. You just want to fuck," Alani interrupted.
Randy lowered his head, choosing not to respond. Taking his silence for the only answer she needed, Alani quickly grabbed her purse and walked out the restaurant. She pulled her short coat close to her frame as the wind assaulted her the moment she stepped outside. Her leather boots clacked against the concrete as she looked around for a taxi. Maybe if she hurried, she could still make it into work and work half of her shift. How stupid of her to ditch an opportunity to make money she desperately needed to go out on a date with a cheating bastard like Randy Orton.
Eyeing a yellow taxi driving towards her, Alani raised her hand to hail it. Another hand clamped onto her wrist and twirled her around. Blazing brown eyes locked onto Randy's intense blue orbs. Alani opened her mouth to demand he release her when he placed a smoldering kiss on her lips. After trying to fight him off for the first few seconds, Alani quickly succumbed to pleasure, every logical thought disappearing from her mind. All she could focus on was how heavenly Randy's lips felt on hers. How skillful his tongue was. How moist her panties were becoming. How impressive his erection felt pressed against her thigh.
The moment the two parted to breathe, Randy stepped off the curb and opened the door of the cab that was waiting. He held out his hand for Alani, silently asking her for her decision. She stared at his outstretched hand, weighing her options. There were some women content with being the side chick. Celebrities were known to always have groupies on call in different cities and a wrestler was no different. Women that accepted the role felt like they weren't doing anything wrong. They weren't the ones stepping out of their committed relationships. They had no obligations to anybody but themselves. If anybody should've felt guilty, it should've been the men that were in the actual relationships.
But dammit she was a good person. She never lied. She never cheated. She just worked hard and kept to herself, knowing if she didn't step on anybody's toes, she would get far in life. Well at least that's what she was constantly told. But as Alani stood there, she realized that being the good girl didn't always equate to happiness. Because she could honestly say she wasn't happy. She was a broke, college graduate that was currently nursing a broken heart at the hands of her ex. Her days consisted of dodging bill collectors and being groped by men that were old enough to be her father. So far, being a good person wasn't doing shit for her.
Alani placed her hand in Randy's larger one. It was time that she stopped being concerned about what others felt or expected from her, and did something she wanted to do for once no matter the consequences. He quickly ushered her inside the cab before the resounding sound of the door slamming shut echoed in her ears.
Alani stepped out the shower and wrapped a towel around her body, glancing around. As she started her hygiene routine, she thought about how the past several months of being Randy's side chick introduced her to a life that she could only dream about. Ever since she was younger, Alani aspired to be a television host on shows like Extra and Access Hollywood. Mere months after sleeping with Randy, he managed to open doors for her that she couldn't do herself and pull some strings to get her a job as an on air personality for WWE. Although it wasn't like the shows she dreamed about as a young girl, it was close enough and she couldn't be happier to finally put her days of cocktail waitressing behind her. Nobody within the company knew of the true nature of Randy's relationship with Alani and that's how she wanted to keep it. Although she was excellent at her job, she knew the moment somebody learned she was sleeping with a top superstar, her abilities would be called into question.
Despite the fact Randy was cheating on his girlfriend with her, Alani would be eternally grateful to Randy. It was because of him she went from barely making ends meet to appearing on a popular weekly television program and visiting cities she never thought she would before. Who knows where she would be at that moment if she hadn't gotten in that cab with Randy. Hell she didn't even want to think about the other possibilities.
Alani's body flinched slightly when she felt arms wrap around her torso. She released a shaky breath. "Almost gave me a heart attack Randy."
"Come back to bed," Randy mumbled as he buried his face into the crook of Alani's neck. He pecked her softly and rubbed his face against her skin.
"Can't. I already rescheduled my flight to go back home and I'm not doing it again."
"Postpone your plans and spend the day with me. You know you want to."
Alani bit her bottom lip as she applied moisturizer to her face. Part of her wasn't opposed to staying in the bed all day and having Randy fuck her brains out. But the responsible side of her knew she had to get back to Jersey that afternoon and he had to get back to St. Louis.
"I have things to do. And you have to get back to your girlfriend."
An irritated exhale left Randy's lips at the mention of the woman patiently waiting for him back at his home. He dropped his arms from his lover's waist. Alani watched in the mirror as he stepped away and folded his arms across his chest, dressed in only a pair of black boxer briefs that barely concealed his erection.
"Why do you always bring her up?"
"Because she's your girlfriend."
"I'm well aware of that fact."
"Are you sure? Because if you were you definitely wouldn't had suggested we get back in the bed and have sex for the rest of the day."
Randy rolled his eyes and dragged his hand over his face. "Alani-"
Alani held up her hand and shook her head, stopping him. "I'm just saying. I know my role in this little arrangement of ours but it seems like you continue to forget it. We had our fun last night. But now it's back to reality. You go your way and I'll go mine. And then on Thursday night we'll return and start the cycle all over again," Alani told him before turning on her heel and walking past Randy and out the bathroom.
"God, I need a drink," Alyssa whined as she plopped into the empty patio chair, her body slumping forward.
Naomi chuckled and rubbed her friend's back soothingly. "I take it you're exhausted Mom?"
"Exhausted is an understatement." Alyssa lifted her head and smiled graciously at Cameron as she handed her a wine cooler. She cracked it open and took a long swig, sighing satisfactorily. "I'm glad this christening is over."
"And my handsome baby cousins behaved themselves. I just can't get over how adorable they are," Alexandria gushed, thrusting her phone towards Alyssa.
A wide smile spread across Alyssa's lips as she looked at the picture of Naomi and Dean holding the twins earlier. She swiped through the pictures, her eyes lighting up once she saw a picture of her, Roman, Dean, and Alexandria with the twins, happy expressions etched onto her sons' faces. The christening was over and was a success. Both twins were able to make it through the end without getting too cranky despite being up very early in the morning to get ready. Now that the event was over, Isaiah and Ethan were sleeping in the nursery with Roman's parents watching them while the exhausted new parents sat on their patio catching up with their friends.
"I'm surprised Isaiah was able to not cry during the entire thing like he does at night," Alyssa said with a chuckle. "I'm happy to settle down now though. I feel like I've been missing out on everything while I was planning it."
"Yeah you sure did forget about us since you started playing housewife," Cameron quipped, clicking her tongue against her teeth.
"Well she is a married woman with twin sons. Of course her life is going to change." Alexandria rolled her eyes at Cameron and turned back around to face Alyssa.
Alyssa bit the inside of her lip to stop from laughing at Alexandria's newfound fiery demeanor and straightened her posture. "Well get me up to speed y'all. What's been going on?"
"Well the trip to Georgia was good. I took Dean on a special tour of my hometown and he managed to survive the visit to my parents' place although my father was a jackass. But he didn't try to poison him and to celebrate, Dean and me had a christening of our own in my old bedroom if you catch my drift." Alexandria wiggled her eyebrows.
"EW! TMI HEFFA!" Cameron exclaimed as Alyssa and Naomi burst into laughter. "I don't understand how you even have sex with him. He always looks like a wet and mangy dog."
Alexandria glanced over her shoulder towards where Dean was standing, talking with Roman, Seth, and Jimmy. She turned back around and faced her friends, smirking. "My man is fine thank you very much. And the sex is fan-fucking-tastic."
Naomi turned to face Alyssa. "I remember when your cousin was sweet and wholesome. What happened to her?"
"Dean turned her the fuck out that's what happened," Alyssa replied with a shake of her head. She took another swig of her drink. "That's what happens when you get that Grade A dick."
"Grade A+++," Alexandria corrected as she took a sip of her own glass of wine. "Can't believe it took me so long to lose my virginity. Now that I have, I can't keep my hands off of him!" Alexandria turned to face Cameron. "You should be proud. You are the one that encouraged me to let loose and stop being a prude."
"I would be proud if it was with anybody but Ambrose," Cameron said, disdain dripping from her tone. "Seriously Lex, you can do better."
Naomi and Alyssa shared a nervous glance with one another. It was no secret that Cameron and Dean didn't get along particularly well and only tolerated one another for Alexandria's sake. However, that didn't stop Cameron from getting her own jabs in about Dean when the opportunity presented itself.
"Girl, why are you so upset? I'm finally happy. I'm enjoying life. And yet you're still being a downer about everything?"
"I just don't trust him."
"Well I do." Alexandria poked a finger into her chest for emphasis. "And that's all that fuckin matters. So if you're gonna be my friend, I suggest you accept my decision and drop this constant bashing of my boyfriend. Or else you're going to join my shit list along with my father."
The two women stared at one another while Naomi and Alyssa's eyes darted between them. Not only did being with Dean turn Alexandria into a more sexually liberated woman but it gave her an air of confidence that she didn't have once before. Instead of shying away from confrontation, she stood her ground, unwilling to let anybody push her around like they her parents once did. There was no way Alexandria was going to let anybody talk badly about Dean in her presence whether they were family, friend, or foe.
Cameron held up her hands in surrender and grinned. "Ok girl. I'll quit. No need to get all tough with me. If you're happy, I'm happy."
Alexandria's shoulders relaxed and a smirk appeared on her face. "Good to know."
"So, what's going on at work?" Alyssa asked, quickly changing the subject so the mood could lighten up again.
"Nothing much. It's pretty calm but that's going to change once the Rumble happens," Naomi responded. "A few people got called up including this new backstage interviewer, Alani."
"Yeah I've seen her a few times when I watched Raw. She seems good."
"She's alright. Nothing really special about her if you ask me," Cameron commented with a dismissive wave of her hand.
Alexandria rolled her eyes once again and turned to face Cameron. "Looks like somebody drank a lot of haterade before they came over today. You don't like anybody."
"I'm just saying. She's just there. There's really no charisma about her. She'll probably fall flat on her face before it's all said and done. Not only that but she walks around like she's all that when she's not. She's too damn full of herself."
"If that ain't the pot calling the kettle black," Alexandria muttered quietly making Cameron flip her the bird.
"I've spoken to her a few times and she didn't come off that way. She's probably just shy because she doesn't know anybody so that's why she keeps to herself," Naomi said with a shrug.
"Well I'll get a chance to form my own opinion of her when I return. Guess who'll be returning to work at the Rumble bitches!" Alyssa threw her hands in the hair excitedly and wiggled in her chair.
"That's wonderful! Because those other makeup artists and hairstylists don't know what the hell they are doing!" Naomi exclaimed, clapping her hands happily.
"Heffa when the hell were you gonna tell us?"
"I just hammered out the details with Stephanie today and had to square everything away with Patty so she can watch the boys while I'm gone. Everything had to fall in place first before I told y'all."
"Told them what?" Roman asked as he approached the table, the other men following him. He leaned over and placed a kiss on Alyssa's temple and traced her neck with his fingertips.
Alyssa turned to face him, grinning. "When I was returning to work. I'll be at Royal Rumble."
"Oh. So you made the decision without talking to me about it first?"
"No, remember I told you how Stephanie called me but I had to figure out who was going to watch the boys. Your mom agreed to watch them and I was gonna tell you after the chaos died down from today."
"So now my mother has agreed to watch the twins for 3 days a week while you return to work?" Roman crossed his arms and raised a brow.
"Oh shit," Dean mumbled lowly as he took a seat next to his girlfriend, feeling the atmosphere shift. He winced when Alexandria slapped him in the chest.
Alyssa stood to her feet and turned to face Roman, her stance mirroring his while she tried to remain calm. She could tell by the tone of Roman's voice and the look in his eyes, he wasn't too keen on the idea. "Yes. We talked about this Ro. And Patricia said she has no issue with it because she wants to spend more time with the boys."
"I just thought you would stay home and take care of Zay and Ethan while I was on the road. You're my wife now so you don't have to worry working anymore gorgeous."
Alyssa chuckled wryly. "And what exactly do you suppose I do while I stay home Roman?"
"Plan our wedding."
"Wedding?" Alyssa's voice slightly elevated. "Why would I plan a wedding when we're already married?" She gestured to the ring on her finger.
"Alyssa you know that my family is looking forward to us having a traditional Samoan wedding. Now that the boys are about to turn one I just thought-"
"You just thought that I would stay home like Suzie Fuckin Homemaker and plan an unnecessary ass wedding instead of working? I like my job Roman. I'm looking forward to getting back to work. What's so damn wrong with that?"
"This isn't going to end well," Naomi commented as she tried to grab for Alyssa's hand to pull the other woman away to cool down. However, the makeup artist quickly snatched her hand away.
"Unnecessary? You think something that's important to my fuckin heritage is unnecessary Alyssa? Hell if it wasn't for you we wouldn't be going through this shit right now!"
"If it wasn't for me?! Well excuse me if I wanted to marry the man I love as soon as possible and not wait! You weren't too concerned about your heritage then so why is it such a damn issue now? Unless you just trying to keep me locked away at home while you do God knows what while you're on the fuckin road!"
Unable to listen to the argument any longer, Alexandria quickly stood to her feet and got between Alyssa and Roman, pushing her cousin away from the seething Samoan. "You two need to relax before you wake up the entire damn block!" she scolded, directing stern glances in their direction. "I'm sure there's a compromise you two can figure out."
"Alex is right. Both of you need to take a moment and talk about this later after calming down. You two clearly are upset and don't mean shit that you're saying to one another right now," Jimmy said.
"Oh I mean every got damn word I'm saying right now," Alyssa replied, tossing her hair over her shoulder. Her shoulders squared as she glared at Roman, the grin she had on her face a few minutes ago completely vanished. Here she was excited to get back to work and Roman wanted to keep her chained at home like he still lived in the stone age.
"Alyssa, you need to stop being so fuckin selfish and think about the twins."
"Everything I fucking do is for my sons! Don't you ever accuse me of not thinking of them Roman because that is complete bullshit!" Alyssa bellowed. "I don't give a damn what you think I should do because guess what you're not the fuckin boss of me! I'm going back to work and there isn't a damn thing you can do to stop me!"
Not waiting to hear his response, Alyssa whirled around and stormed into the house, roughly slamming the deck door behind her.
A scowl crept onto their face as they scrolled through the Instagram feed, studying the various pictures. The person scoffed as a picture of two men and two women popped up on their screen, four smiling faces staring back at them and further fanning the flames and anger that boiled inside of them.
From the man with the long raven mane to the gentleman with the unkempt auburn hair to the women that hung off their arms, none of them deserved to be as happy as they appeared. They deserved to feel pain, to see what it felt like to have everything snatched away from them in the blink of an eye.
When it was all said and done, all four of them would see how it felt to be left with absolutely nothing.
A/N: So the chapter started off fluffy enough with Dalex but then I had to hit y'all with the drama. We finally know more about Alani/Randy's situationship, Alex isn't having none of Cameron's shit, Rolyssa looks like they're having their issues, and then that last scene *Ted Dibiase laugh* I told you all we would be taking a wild ride with this story and we haven't even scratched the surface yet. So buckle up! R&R :-)