Chapter 4

For the next two weeks, Colby and I talked every day. Either by phone or text message. Sometimes both. It was great talking with him. We talked about everything: work, family, friends, and our other activities outside of work.

Colby talked a lot about his trainees at Black and Brave. I enjoyed every moment of it. He was very passionate about it. And it was great to hear him so happy with it. I knew it was really all he had of wrestling right now. Personally that was. I knew he would get back in the ring soon. He was doing everything he had to do for the rehabilitation of that knee.

However, it came to Royal Rumble weekend. On Friday, January 22 there was a work meeting. This meeting talked about the official road to WrestleMania after Royal Rumble that Sunday. Everyone was given out the schedule for the next two months. I was super excited. I could finally plan out my trip to Davenport.

"I have to call Colby now," I whispered to Ashley and Becky.

"Ooh!" They teased.

I smiled at them. I had my cell phone in hand. I went to find a quiet spot of the arena and give him a call.

"Hey gorgeous," Colby answered.

"Hey," I replied with a smile.

"What's up?"

"We just had the work meeting for the road to WrestleMania! We can finally figure out for me to come to Davenport!"

"Fantastic! What are you thinking? Because I can pretty much make plans or change plans whenever you wanted to come," Colby said.

"I'm thinking February 10. Raw will be in Seattle, Washington and then the taping of SmackDown will be in Portland, Oregon," I said.

"Sounds great!"

"I'm going to see if I can maybe get the 12th, 13th, and 14th. That way I can just head to Cali for Raw on the 15th. I don't know what I'm going to say to really get it off."

"What reason to give?"

"Yes."

"To come to Black and Brave to help Colby and his friends/co-trainers teach the trainees of the current class. Plus, bring the spirits up of the former WWE World Heavyweight Champion."

"I don't know if that one would work. But maybe the training one."

"Maybe I should call them and be like 'I want Mercedes to come with my trainees because I want the perspective of one of the best of the women's division in the WWE.'"

"But you don't train on the weekends, do you?"

"No. But I might be able to tell them I also want just to chill with you. Something to help me mentally with being out of action, you know?"

"You do whatever you want. But will people be suspicious of anything between us. Wouldn't this be a random thing."

"Fair point. Fair point. Um…I'm just…going to…I'm going to call and say what I planned on saying. Then we can ask them if they can keep it a private matter. No one's business."

"All right," I said. "I'm down with whatever."

"Whatever gets you to me!" Colby exclaimed.

"Yes, whatever gets me to you!" I replied.

Colby chuckled.

"Okay, I am going to come up with a game plan and just approach Paul and Stephanie."

"Shoot me a text after you talk to them."

"I will. Talk to you soon."

"Sounds good. Bye."

"Bye," I said.

I headed to the women's locker room after that. I wanted to talk to Becky and Charlotte and hear their opinion. Both were in the women's locker room when I got there. I ushered them both into a corner.

"You two know I really want to go out there!" I commented. "We're just trying to figure this out without the whole world knowing, you know?"

"Is it just us who know you two are talking?" Ashley asked.

"Of the women here, yes. Pam knows. Colby has mentioned it only to Kevin. But that's it other than his family and his friends back home."

"Just say you and Colby have been talking on and off for the last few weeks," Becky said. "Colby asked you to come out and be a guest trainer for a few days. Then on Saturday and Sunday, you two wanted to hang out, because you know it will be good for Colby mentally."

I grinned. "Perfect, Becks! Perfect!"

"I know I am!"

I laughed with her and Ashley.

"But I am still wondering how to do it without people speculating anything between us."

"Tell everyone it's no big deal with you going there and then hanging out. You just thought Colby would enjoy spending time with someone from work that he doesn't really hang out with outside of work. You can just tell people who are going to hang out with a friend. Technically you are, but only the bosses will know where you're really going," Ashley said.

"You two are awesome," I said. I group hugged them. "I'm going to text Colby and then I am going to go to Stephanie and Paul!"

Ashley and Becky smiled.

I sent Colby a quick text telling him I had talked to Ashley and Becky. I said Becky had pretty much summarized what the both of us wanting to say. Plus, Ashley saying to everyone I am going to hang out with a friend with the weekend off, but only them and the bosses knowing where I was really going to be. He wished me luck.

I tracked both Paul and Stephanie.

"Paul and Stephanie," I said, walking toward them.

"Hey Mercedes," Stephanie said.

"Hi," I replied. "I would like to talk to both of you if I could."

"Sure."

"Yeah, what's up?" Paul said.

"Well, I have been talking to Colby the last few weeks since he came to Des Moines for Up, Up, Down, Down's Madden Challenge. But as we were talking he came up with the idea for me to perhaps make an appearance at Black and Brave as a guest trainer," I began.

"That sounds like a cool idea."

"It does," Stephanie said.

"I plan on going out to Iowa in February," I continued. "I am going Wednesday the 10th. And being there the 11th and 12th. But I was hoping I could actually have Friday the 12th, Saturday the 13th, and Sunday the 14th off. I was hoping for it off because I wanted to hang out in Iowa a bit longer with Colby. I think it would be good for him mentally if he got to spend some time with someone from work. Plus, he said he would appreciate it."

Stephanie and Paul looked at each other.

"I like the idea," Stephanie said.

"I do too," Paul replied. "I know with my injuries I always loved it when people came out to see me."

"Yes."

"Can you make it back for Raw?" Paul asked, looking at me.

"Of course," I smiled. "I planned on that. I just wanted the weekend."

"Why the hell not then?" Paul said, looking at Stephanie.

"No reason," Stephanie said. "If she can be there for Raw. Then why the hell not indeed."

I grinned.

"Go head, Mercedes," Paul said. "Go kick those trainees' asses and have some fun with Colby."

"Great. Thank you so much," I said.

"Tell him we said hi when you talk to him," Stephanie winked.

"I will," I said. I kept looking at her. She just smiled at me. "Thank you again."

"No problem, Mercedes," Paul said.

I smiled and turned away. As I walked away I wondered if Stephanie knew there might be more between me and Colby. It had only been a few weeks of texting and talking on the phone. But wasn't that how some long distance relationships worked. But I wouldn't concern us being in a relationship. Just flirting.

I brushed that off, though.

"That was easier than I thought," I laughed as I told Colby. He chuckled.

"I'm glad to hear that," Colby said.

"Stephanie did look at me like she would know something. Something that was more to me going out to hang out with you."

Colby chuckled. "Well, we'll figure that one out once you get out here."

I grinned. "Okay, I gotta go. I'll talk to you later."

"Bye then."

"Bye," I replied. I then ended the call on my phone.