AJ was sitting in his locker room on Saturday waiting for Ashlynn to arrive, after about a month of traveling together he had missed her. She walked through the door and dropped her duffle bag on the floor and sat down.
"Hey" AJ said.
"Hi" she replied in a monotone.
"How are you doing?" AJ asked trying to make conversation.
"I've had better days… weeks in fact"
AJ wanted to tell her that he watched Row on Monday and that he was moved by her words, but he didn't want to bring up a painful subject.
"I'm here if you want to talk" he said.
"No I'm ok" she said "I just wish I had been able to see him. It's been 2 years since I last saw him"
"I'm sure he knew you cared" AJ said. He came to sit next to her
"I know he is in a better place now but I'm selfish, I still want him to be here" she broke down.
AJ hugged her tightly and let her cry on her shoulder. She eventually fell asleep, by the looks of her she probably hadn't gotten a good night sleep all week. AJ carefully laid her down on the couch and sat next to her watching her sleep. Even he had to admit she was so beautiful when she was asleep, so looked so innocent. There was a knock on the door and AJ got up to answer it.
"How's she doing?" Jeff asked.
"She's upset right now but I think she'll be ok" AJ answered once again looking over towards Ashlynn's sleeping form.
"I talked to her brother earlier, he asked me how she was" Jeff said "I didn't know what to tell him she hasn't spoken to anyone since Monday"
Jeff cast a worried glance Ashlynn's way , he wished he knew how to help her.
"I guess that makes me special because she was talkin to me". Jeff didn't miss the small smile that spread across AJ's lips.
"Dude you so totally like her!" Jeff exclaimed.
"I do not" AJ said.
"Yeah you do" the younger Hardy brother teased his very good friend.
"For the last time I have no romantic feelings for her!" AJ yelled.
"What's with all the yelling?" Ashlynn asked as she stretched.
"Nothin to worry your pretty little head about" Jeff replied.
Ashlynn looked from Jeff to AJ hoping that their faces would hold a clue to what they were talking about. Then she looked from Jeff to AJ again nothing.
"Ok I'm officially freaked out… so I'm gonna go visit Gail Kim" she said leaving the room.
"Great now she thinks we're weird" AJ threw up his hands in frustration.
"What do you care?" Jeff asked with a knowing smile.
"Look I just got divorced there is no way I want to get romantically involved with anyone" AJ explained.
"Just cause it didn't work out with you ex-wife doesn't mean all women aren't worth it"
The Georgia native sighed and put his head in his hands hoping to stop the headache he knew was coming.
"I've known Ashlynn a long time, trust me she's a wonderful person and I ain't just sayin that" Jeff said.
"She's a nice girl but I just can't" AJ said.
"You are lying to yourself and to me" Jeff replied.
"Why am I explaining myself to you?" AJ asked.
"Just ask her out already" Jeff retorted.
"I ain't gonna ask her out because I have no romantic feelings for her so leave me be bout it" AJ protested his southern accent strongly showing.
"We'll see" Jeff said before walking out.
"So what is going on between you and AJ?" Gail asked.
"What do you mean?" Ashlynn countered.
"You like him right"
"We're just friends" Ashlynn replied.
"Are you serious! You can so tell he likes you!" Gail exclaimed
"No he doesn't" Ashlynn said sarcastically.
"Oh he so does" Gail insisted.
"Hello ladies how are we today?" Jeff (Jarrett) asked strolling leisurely into the room.
"We're good Jeff" Ashlynn answered him.
"We were just talking about AJ and how he has the hotts for my buddy here" Gail said.
"He does not" Ashlynn repeated.
"Ash I'm going to have to agree with Gail on this one the boy was moping around all week with you gone" Jeff informed her.
"That is because we are friends, not because he wants to be anything more. He just got divorced for crying out loud!"
"Gail I think we hit a nerve" Jeff said.
"I'll sow you hitting a nerve Jarrett you are forgetting who you are talking to" Ashlynn said "I am a 3rd generation princess"
"You are also forgetting who your bosses are" Jeff stated calmly.
"Jerry won't fire me because he is having too much fun trying to throw me and AJ together plus he would want to loose me to Vince McMahon" Ashlynn pointed out.
"How do you know about Jerry trying to throw you and AJ together?" Jeff asked.
"To quote my favorite movie 'just cause I talk slow don't make me stupid" Ashlynn replied.
"Huh?"
"Sweet Home Alabama" Gail said.
"Shoulda known you were talkin bout a chick flick" Jeff contorted his face in disgust.
"Well excuse us for not watching Predator or Commando" Ashlynn said.
"I'd reply to that but the show is starting and me and Gail have a promo soon and then I have to yell at Zbysko" Jeff said.
"Yeah I should be going to see what me and AJ have on the card for tonight anyways" Ashlynn said standing up.
"Girl don't do anything that I wouldn't do" Gail teased.
" There isn't anything you wouldn't do" Ashlynn replied.
AJ was on his cell phone pacing back and forth.
"Wait a minute what do you mean you get the house?" AJ asked. "but I am the one who bought the house"
"Yeah whatever" AJ said snapping his phone shut.
"Damn it" he yelled then threw his phone across the room when it hit a wall and smashed.
"Didn't your mother teach you not to throw things"
"Yeah my mama also taught me not to take things that don't belong to me either" he said heatedly.
"No offense or anything but your ex-wife sounds like a total bitch" Ashlynn commented.
"Yeah I wish I knew that when we got married" AJ replied "what am I gonna do she took my house"
"Well you can stay with me till you figure out what you are going to do" Ashlynn suggested.
"I couldn't do that" he said.
"Yes you can and you are, no more discussion about it" Ashlynn insisted.
"Thank you" AJ said.
"No problem" Ashlynn said "now don't you have to get all pissed at Samoa Joe"
AJ kissed her on the cheek and left. Ashlynn felt her heart skip a few beats when his lips touched her skin.
"I think I'm gonna call Dani" Ashlynn said giddily.
