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This chapter's quote:
"When you meet him, it's like you forget to breathe. He's the ultimate teacher. Actually, he's more like the Dean in Animal House. You're always on Double Secret Probation. But, in all seriousness, he's not just great in the ring-he's great, period. His spacing, timing, the way he carries himself. You can't emulate what he does, but you can attempt to learn from the discipline he embodies." -Brodus Clay
Chapter Four
Phone Calls
Wednesday April 10, 2013
I didn't leave until Wednesday morning. And I didn't want to leave then. Spending the day with Ashley was an experience I wouldn't soon forget. She was supposed to go to work, but I talked her into staying home. Yeah I know that was wrong. So she called and after making sure they didn't need her (I was sure they needed her but it wasn't busy at the restaurant), she stayed home and entertained me. So after eating our dinner which was outstanding by the way, we spent the evening watching movies and laughing at how stupid some of them are and discussing the more serious parts. For an evening snack after watching those two very different movies, Ashley made a pizza with goat cheese and arugula. Never heard of arugula before, but on pizza with goat cheese, it was simply fucking delicious.
We then watched The Possession and Ashley ended up snuggled against me, face buried in my side at parts. She then fell asleep in my arms. I didn't mind, not in the least. I propped my legs up on her coffee table, put my arms around her, and went to sleep myself. I woke up several hours later with a pain in my neck and a sweet softness by my side. She was slowly coming awake and I was sure she just might panic being a man's arms she barely knew. But she didn't. She looked straight at me and smiled. 'Thanks for being my pillow.' She told me before getting to her feet.
She surprised me then by telling me that she was hungry and she was going to fix dessert. Now normally I probably would have turned down the dessert, but this was Ashley's dessert and although I hadn't had any of her dessert, I did however have her ham sandwiches, steak, and goat cheese pizza so I was all for the dessert. She was in the kitchen for over twenty minutes, moving around and opening doors. I asked if she needed my help and she turned me down. She finally came back in carrying a tray that held two plates that had steam rising up and two glasses of milk. It turned out to be what she called hot apple jack. It was an apple turnover of sorts with a scoop of vanilla ice cream, hot caramel drizzled over the ice cream and then whip cream to top it off. Biting into the apple turnover was like an orgasm in my mouth. It was spiced just right with cinnamon and sugar and just a hint of nutmeg. The apples were perfectly cooked and melted in my mouth. I ate it all and was pleasantly full. Okay, I was stuffed but I would do it all over again if I could.
After we cleaned up the kitchen together and watching her yawn over a dozen times, I kissed her cheek and told her to go to bed. She nodded, kissed my cheek in return told me to go to bed , and then went to bed herself. I went to the guest bedroom and slept the best night's sleep I've had in a long time. I woke up the next morning to the smell of bacon, eggs, coffee, and something else I couldn't place. I took a quick shower(very quick) and dressed in a pair of blue jeans and olive green t-shirt. I walked barefoot into the kitchen and just watched my new friend cook us breakfast. She was wearing a pair of yoga pants with a Randy Orton t-shirt that went to her knees. I was offended by that t-shirt, but I could only smile. Her curly brown hair was lying in wet ringlets down her back. She had also just had a shower. I watched her for the longest time, she was making omelets and they smelled damn good. I was going to have to double my work out or I was going to gain some extra pounds that I didn't need nor want.
She smiled over her shoulder at me and told me to sit down. She brought me a cup of black coffee and small glass of orange juice before setting a plate in front of me that held the biggest omelet I had ever seen. It was also the best tasting omelet I had ever had. Chorizo, potato, and green chiles in an omelet with bacon cooked perfectly and fresh homemade biscuits. Definitely going to have to double my work out. After eating breakfast and packing my bag, I told her I had to go. I didn't want to go, but I didn't say that. She smiled and handed me a bag. I kissed her cheek and did something I never have before.
I got her cell phone and home number. I told her I would be calling and I would be stopping by again if she didn't mind. She smiled at me and said something that made me smile in return. 'Mind? Do I mind if my all-time favorite dead man stops by to see me? Me?' She sighed and shook her head. 'Stunned, shocked, and in awe, Mark.' She then kissed my cheek and gave me the biggest hug I've ever experienced. And she sent me off with four of those ham sandwiches of hers (that's what was in the bag). Those were gone before I got to the airport and I just ate breakfast. Definitely going to have to double maybe triple my work out.
Now I was in my hotel room on this lazy Wednesday evening, wishing I was back in St. Louis. That was a new one for me. I normally was glad to see the last of a woman, but Ashley wasn't any other woman. I was keeping her. I found that I could relax easy in her presence and I didn't have to worry about what I said or what I did. She was a breath of fresh air. My radio appearance went well, but after taking a shower and getting settled in this uncomfortable hotel bed, and grabbing my cell phone, I was ready to call Ashley.
"Hello?"
"Hey baby girl, how was your day?" I had continued to call her baby girl after my first slip up, seeing as how she didn't seem to mind and she needed her own special nick name.
"Hey Mark! My day was great, but busy. How are you? Did you enjoy your sandwiches?" She sounded happy.
"I'm good. I finished my sandwiches before I made it to the airport." I admitted.
"Wow. You really like those, huh?"
I moaned at just the thought of those ham sandwiches. "They're delicious."
She giggled. "Thanks. How did your radio appearance go?"
I gasped in disbelief. "You didn't listen?" I teased her.
She laughed. "I was working so I wasn't able to. And it's definitely best to have no outside interference in the kitchen during lunch hour."
"Busy, huh?"
She blew out a breath. "Antonio was back today and when he's gone for a few days and comes back, it's like he forgets how to run the kitchen."
"He does that a lot?" I questioned.
She gave a small snort and I found myself smiling at the sound. "He does it all the time. He believes that he should get a vacation at least once a week."
"A week?" I couldn't believe that.
She giggled and my grin got bigger. She was just full of life and absolutely adorable. "Yep." She even popped the 'p'.
"How come they haven't fired him?"
"He's family."
"Who's family?"
"The owner's family. Like third cousin twice removed or something like that."
I laughed. "Those third cousins are pain in the ass, huh?"
"Yes definitely. Today he was throwing a fit because he didn't want to use my sauce for the wellington, he wanted to use the original sauce."
"What did the customer want?"
"My customers wanted my sauce."
"Your customers, huh?"
"Yep." Popped the 'p' again.
"Then Tony should have gotten over his little hissy fit and done it the customer's way." I replied.
Ashley suddenly burst out laughing and I hadn't a clue what I said to make her laugh so hard, but I was enjoying it. I could tell she was trying to catch her breath and she wasn't having much success. Then she started coughing and I started to worry she was going to choke.
"Ash, calm down. You're going to make yourself sick."
"Worth it." She hissed through more laughter and I smiled once again.
"Well share whatever has you in such giggle fits."
It took her a good five more minutes before she finally got her laughter under control. "You wanna know why I was laughing so hard?"
"Yes I do, so spill."
She giggled. "You called Antonio Tony."
"And?" I didn't get it.
Another giggle. "Antonio hates being called Tony and if you call him Tony, he flips out and threatens bodily harm on that person."
"Go on."
"I just got this image in my head of you calling him Tony to his face and Antonio peeing his pants."
I chuckled. "You think he would pee his pants?"
She was still laughing. "Oh yes he would. Antonio prides himself on being a bully. He's about six foot, but he has no muscle mass, a very tiny head, and giant ears. He was bullied himself most of his childhood so he bullies others now. He's about ten times worse than that when it comes to his name. He's completely Italian through and through so he's proud of his name. He does not like to be degraded."
"And calling him Tony is degrading?"
"To his Italian heritage it is."
"And me calling him Tony is funny because…" I asked because I still wasn't quite sure.
"Because it will take everything in him to back down because he knows he can't win against you. But he won't want to back down and he'll probably end up peeing his pants."
"The next time I'm in St. Louis, I'll stop by the restaurant."
She giggled again. "That would be awesome. When is the next time you'll be in St. Louis?"
I sighed. "Not for another few months, Darlin'."
This time she sighed. "Too bad. I would love to see you again."
I heard her gasp of …surprise, shock? I wasn't sure why, but I was sure she gasped. "What's wrong?"
"I'm sorry."
What? "For what?"
"For just assuming that you would, I guess want to see me. I mean if you do that's great but I don't expect you to come see me every time you come to St. Louis. Although I would…"
She continued to ramble on and I controlled the urge to laugh. She was absolutely adorable. Of course I wanted to come see her as soon as I got to St. Louis. She was too much to pass up.
"Ashley?"
She stopped rambling. "Yes."
"I definitely want to come see you when I get to St. Louis."
"Good. I definitely want to see you too."
"That's damn good news, baby girl."
Friday April 12, 2013
"Mark! I'm so glad you called!"
I laughed as I settled myself against another uncomfortable as hell hotel bed. "Why is that?" I teased.
"Um… because I missed you Silly."
"I just talk to you last night."
She huffed. "I know, but you weren't on Smackdown tonight and I was seriously hoping you would be."
"Hoping to catch a peek at my sexy ass?" I teased her with a grin. I was far from it, but teasing her was a given and definitely fun.
She giggled. "Oh you know it, Honey."
I couldn't help but laugh. She never let me trip her up. "Well, I wasn't on Smackdown for a reason."
"Can you tell me?" She asked cautiously.
"I can tell you that I was in negotiations." I was completely nonchalant about it.
She squealed. "Negotiations! Hopefully with WWE discussing a new story line maybe." She was hinting.
I chuckled. "I can't tell a lie so I'm not going to say anything at all." I replied with simple ease.
She went to squealing louder and I was almost she was dancing around the room. "Mark, that's awesome! It's been about three years since you've wrestled on a non pay per view show. Wait –you are going to wrestle, right?"
"Yes I do believe so."
"Oooo! I can't wait!"
"How was your day, Baby Girl?" I asked, still laughing.
"Antonio went on vacation so all was good around Harley's." Harley's Pub and Grill was where she worked so I had come to learn.
"Tony goes on vacation quite a bit. Harley really needs to fire him, cousin or not."
"Harley needs to do a lot of things, but he won't. He hates that restaurant."
"Then why own it?"
"Family business, Mark."
"What a crazy ass family." I commented.
Ashley laughed and then made an mmmm sound.
"What are you doing?" I was curious.
"Eating."
I groaned; almost in pain. "What are you eating?" I was afraid to know. I was afraid not to know. I needed to know.
"It's orecchiette with ricotta and chard pan sauce."
"It's what?" I hadn't a clue what she just said.
"Orecchiette is a type of pasta. Chard is a type of a lettuce. With a little virgin olive oil, butter, crushed red pepper, ricotta salata, asiago, milk, salt, and pepper, it makes a great pasta dish."
"Well I'm officially inviting myself to dinner as soon as I can make it to St. Louis." Which was going to be sooner than I had originally thought. I wasn't really sure about the orecchiette or whatever she called it, but if she made it I was willing to try it.
She laughed. "You don't need to invite yourself because you will always be welcomed to dinner. Along with Randy Orton and John Cena."
I wanted to pout, but I held it in check. "Why Orton and Cena?" I questioned, but there was no pouting.
She laughed. "Because if it wasn't for them I would have never gotten the tickets and never have gotten hit in the head and never met you."
I frowned at that. I had actually completely forgotten about that and I didn't like that I had forgotten. "Did you go to the police? What did they say?" I completely changed the subject. Some things were more important.
"Mr. McMahon met me there yesterday and I reported the incident and gave them a doctor's note that stated that I had a concussion but due to a very nice and very sweet man that my concussion was all better. The police said they would look into it."
"And what do you think?"
"I think the Shield needs a butt kicking and you are just the one to do it." She replied back. I knew she didn't want to talk about what had happened Monday night and for now I wouldn't push it.
"You do, huh?"
"Yes I do and someone told me that you, Kane, and Daniel Bryan would be facing the Shield in London on April twenty-second."
I laughed. "You would be correct."
"The brothers of destruction back together again with goat boy in attendance." She used a fake announcer's voice.
I laughed. "Don't let Bryan hear you say that."
She laughed. "I won't. Promise."
"Do you not like Bryan?" I asked, completely curious.
"I do like Daniel Bryan and I like Team Hell No as well. But Daniel seriously needs a shave."
I laughed harder. "I would definitely agree with ya there."
"The Shield is full of crap, Mark. I seriously hope you kick their butts. All that stuff they said was a bunch of lies. They claimed they don't back down or run from a fight, but that's exactly what they do the very moment the numbers are even, they tuck their tail between their legs and run."
"You got their number, Baby girl."
"Damn straight."
Monday April 15, 2013
"Hello?"
She sounded sleepy; like I had just woke her up. "Did I wake you, Baby girl?" I teased her.
She giggled. "Hi Mark. Where are you?" Her voice was soft, sweet.
"I'm in South Carolina. Where are you?"
"In bed."
That made me smile. The thought of her in bed was a very nice thought indeed. But as I shook my head clear of that thought I knew I shouldn't be thinking it. She was a friend, a very damn good friend.
"Can I join you?" I replied with a teasing husky tone.
She giggled. "That depends."
This should be good. "On what, Ashley?"
"On rather or not you're here. Are you here?"
"In St. Louis or at your apartment?" I asked.
She giggled. "What's the difference? If you're at my apartment than you're in St. Louis and if you're in St. Louis than you can be at my apartment pretty quickly. So what's really the difference?"
"That's very true, but unfortunately I'm in South Carolina."
"I know, you just told me, Silly."
I chuckled. "But if I was there?" I asked.
"Then you could bring me cup of hot chocolate and hand me the remote so I wouldn't have to get out of bed."
I frowned. Something wasn't right. "Ashley, are you okay?"
She sniffed. "I'm fine. I promise. I'm just super tired and really cold."
"You running a fever?"
"No, I'm not sick. I'm just tired and very cold."
"You sure?"
"I am. Can you tell me something?"
I hoped she wasn't lying about the fever. She just had a damn concussion, she didn't need to get sick on top of that. "You know I'll tell you anything I can."
"What's up with Punk?"
I sighed. "That's a loaded question, Darlin'. That man is up to a lot of things. Why do you ask?"
"He seemed really weird tonight. I don't really like Punk, but tonight he seemed almost... likeable."
I chuckled. "He lost to me at Wrestlemania. He's depressed and sad and now he knows he isn't the best in the world."
"Yeah that may be true. When are you going to be back on WWE?" She sounded sad.
"Not until Monday, Darlin'."
"I'll definitely record it."
I chuckled. "I had no doubt. How's work?"
"We're introducing a new dessert tomorrow and I'm excited while Antonio is dreading it."
"Tony sounds like he needs his ass beat. Does he give you a lot of problems?"
"Nothing I can't handle, Mark."
I wasn't so sure about that one. I was beginning to wonder if it was him that night on Raw. Could he be the type of person to get so jealous that he would try and kill her? I needed to meet this Tony guy to make sure he wasn't that type. Ashley was definitely one of a kind and some dumb ass that was jealous of her was not about to take her life.
"Mark, you're quiet."
"Sorry Darlin' I was just thinking."
"You know you don't need to call me every night, right?"
That got my attention. "You don't like that I call?"
She snorted. "Shocked, stunned, and in awe, Mark. I love that you call, but I just don't want you to think that I – I only want to make sure – I don't want you to stop calling, I just want to make sure that you want to call and not that you feel obligated to call."
It was my turn to snort. "I don't feel obligated to call you, Baby girl. I call you because I want to. I don't do it for you, I do it for me."
"Really?" She didn't believe me.
Laughter filled my chest and I smiled. "Yes really. I enjoy talking with you and I'm hoping this weekend when I come visit, you let me come visit."
"Let you? Visit? Have you lost your mind? I would love for you to come visit and you can stay in my guest room."
"Are you sure you don't mind?" I asked.
"I'm definitely sure, Mark. So you're coming to St. Louis this weekend?"
"I am."
"For Raw or Smackdown?"
I cleared my throat. "For neither actually. I just thought I would come visit you."
That statement meant silence. For about ten seconds. Then I heard the sound of retching. Ashley was sick.
Author's Note: Friday night Smackdown was flipping awesome! I knew without a doubt that Taker would win and I knew that as soon as he did, The Shield would be asses and do exactly what they did. So from all of us, Mark.. Kick Their ASSES!
