Bobby flew home the next morning as planned. He didn't see anyone on his way out of the hotel, or in the airport, which was just how he wanted it. AJ called him twice before he got on the flight and he ignored both calls. He focused instead on his family.

The day afterward AJ called three times by noon. The fourth time Bobby's phone rang, he sighed and picked up, skipping right past all formalities in his irritation. "Why are you calling me so many times?"

"Well, hi Bobby, how are you doing?" said AJ, as calm as could be. "I'm glad you finally picked up your phone. It's not like you to not return a call."

"You haven't even given me a chance to do it."

"Only called you twice yesterday. You had time. Plus, this isn't a normal situation, you know, so I'm not going to act like it is. You have a minute to talk?"

"Wouldn't answer the phone if I didn't."

"Well, you never know. You might have answered to curse me out."

"I wouldn't do that," said Bobby, a little softness creeping into his voice despite himself. He cleared his throat. "So, what do you want that you're calling me constantly for?"

"I, uh, I just want to make sure that you're not going to, uh, tell anybody what happened the other night."

"AJ, come on, you know me. You know that I'm not going to run my mouth off to anybody."

"I didn't think you were going to freak out and not return any of my calls, either, so I just need to make sure."

"I didn't freak out. I was busy. It happens."

AJ still sounded skeptical. "Hmmm, okay, if you say so. Anyway. Yeah. I'd like that to be kind of swept under the rug, I guess."

"I'm trying to forget it ever happened."

"Oh. Oh, okay."

Bobby caught the slight note of disappointment in AJ's voice and he picked right up on it. "What, do you want to send me the video on DVD or something?"

"No, no, of course not…I wouldn't want to torture you."

"Right. Right."

They were both quiet for a while. Then Bobby asked, "So, can I ask you about it?"

"Might as well."

"How the hell did it happen?"

"Well I don't really know. I don't remember a lot from that night. I know we were all celebrating and I had a drink but I'm pretty sure it was just one."

"It probably wasn't."

"You're probably right. I was so sick the next morning. Felt like a herd of elephants was stomping around in my stomach and kicking me in the head. How do y'all drink like that?"

"It takes practice," Bobby said with a smirk.

"Yeah I guess. Well, anyway, umm, I wasn't feeling so hot, and Flair had left like right after you two went out, and then Crimson and Angelina left, and James was like, you look like crap, come lie down and watch some TV. For some reason I took all my clothes off before I laid down. Or maybe I took my shirt off and James took off my pants. My memory is all fuzzy. I remember lying on the bed and James rubbing my back and stomach, and I was like, 'that feels nice' and he kept going. So I guess that's how it happened. I didn't plan on anything like that happening, that's for sure."

"What happened after I left?"

"I put my clothes back on and went to my room. Everything was all awkward, you know?"

"That's an understatement."

"Yeah," AJ sighed. "It is, in several ways. Although I was pretty sure you wouldn't say anything, because, well, it's you. You've got a combination lock for a mouth."

Bobby laughed. "Yeah, that's true. But what are the other ways?"

AJ hesitated, then spoke. "Oh, nothing, I guess, I don't know."

"Really?"

"What do you want me to say?"

"Say what's really on your mind."

"I, umm, I…I don't know what you want me to say. I mean I was embarrassed but on the other hand, it was you, I know I can trust you…and yet I felt really bad because it was you."

"Why?"

"I don't know. Stop pushing!"

"I'm sorry."

Another block of silence. Bobby racked his brain trying to think of what to say next, but the image of James' ponytail falling off AJ's thigh rose in his mind and he couldn't get it out. His hand clenched into a fist.

"I gotta go," AJ finally said. "I've got some stuff to do."

"What? Oh. Never mind. Yeah. I'll see you next weekend."

"Oh Bobby? One more question."

"Yes?"

"You ain't gonna be all weird with James, are you?"

"Of course not," said Bobby, lying through his teeth.

"Because I talked to him and he brought it up. I mean, we all know you're not like that, but this is a wild kinda situation or something."

"Or something, that's for sure."

"Promise me you're not going to be an asshole to him."

"Why the hell are you asking me that? A promise? What the hell? Why would you think I'd be an asshole to him over this?"

"Because," said AJ in a quiet voice.

"Because what, AJ? Spit it out. Do you think I'm a hater or something? I don't give a damn what people do."

"So you're saying you don't care about what I do?"

Bobby answered, choosing his words carefully, "If you want to have sex with someone else, that is none of my business."

"That isn't what I asked you."

"Fine. I promise I will not be an asshole to James. Happy?"

"I don't know. I really do have to go. It's just that…."

"What?"

"I don't know. Forget it. Forget I even brought it up."

"I have absolutely no idea what you're talking about, so okay by me."

AJ didn't say anything. Bobby imagined him biting his lip a little and unconsciously licked his own lips.

"Alright. See you next weekend," Bobby said.

"Ok. Bye." AJ hung up. Bobby put his phone into his pocket and stared out the window, going over the whole conversation in his mind. He hoped he had the right idea of what AJ was struggling to say, but he was glad he didn't push the issue and get his feelings hurt. It had already been a crazy two days and he needed some peace and quiet to try to figure out how best to handle things when he saw both of them next. He rubbed his lips absently, then wandered off into the kitchen to make himself a sandwich.