Chapter 9 – Figuring It All Out
Violet eyes were in his dreams all morning long. Her soft voice telling him what needed to happen. She wasn't being bossy she was being completely real with him. He knew she was right.
When he'd left the hospital the day before and got home he'd done something that he hadn't done in years. He cried; he cried like a man who was scared that he'd almost been the cause of his nephew's death. He cried at the thought of Koa never waking up, never going home again and never having another birthday. His nieces and nephews were very important to him they were part of his support system; they were part of his loving family.
The nausea from the alcohol woke him up at 9 AM. He'd been laying across the couch belching up all kinds of nasty alcohol vapors. His mouth suddenly went dry and he already knew what was coming next as he jump up and bolted for the guest bathroom. He barely lifted the toilet lid before hitting his knees and purging the remnants of the binge from the night before.
Kira's head snapped up as she wrapped the towel around her body. She could hear Roman puking and frowned. She dressed in dark skinny jeans and a red form fitting t-shirt and combed the knots from her hair. Every time he threw up she cringed more and more. She walked down and grabbed a bottle of water from the fridge and went back and pushed the bathroom door open with her foot as she leaned against the door frame. Roman was sitting on his rear with his back against the tub and his knees bent; his forearms were resting on his knees and his head was down with his hair hanging in his face.
"Wow you look…You look really bad." Kira stated as she stepped into the bathroom and over to Roman. She squatted down as she took his hand in hers; her insides fluttered slightly in her chest when she felt Roman's fingers wrap around hers. "How are you feeling big man?" She whispered softly as she handed him the bottle of water and then carefully pulled his hair out of his face with her free hand.
Roman cleared his throat. God she really smelled good. He took the bottle of water and placed it on the floor between his thighs. "Like there's a drum chorus beating a tune in my head. I'm sorry about showing up so late last night – err this morning."
Using her free hand Kira dug in her back pocket and produced two extra strength Excedrin's. "Take this and drink all that water and hopefully the drum chorus will ease up on your brain. You're more than welcome to shower here if you like; I mean I know you probably don't have any clothes with you."
Roman finally looked up at Kira. "Actually I have my gym clothes and a spare set of regular clothes in a gym bag in the Tahoe. I was going to go to the gym and my Tahoe detoured me to the bar instead. But I don't know where my keys are."
Kira laughed softly. "I hid them, so you wouldn't drive; in case you tried to leave. I'll go get the bag; hop in the shower, there's clean towels in the cabinet behind the door. I'll put your bag in the spare room. You want some coffee or umm tomato juice? I heard it's good for a hangover."
Roman chuckled as he took the pain killers and swallowed them with the water. "I think I'll stick with the water if you don't mind, but thank you." He watched as she stood up and held her other hand out as he took it and she pulled him up to his feet. She disappeared out the door as he pulled his clothes off and got in the shower.
He couldn't believe how nice she was being to him. By all rights she should be throwing a plugged in hair dryer in the shower and do away with his stupid ass. But apparently he was still misjudging her. He sighed heavily as he washed and actually conditioned his hair. Thank God the shampoo and conditioner didn't smell all girly. It was fine he had a bottle of his cologne in his bag.
Roman got out of the shower and dried off before securing the towel around his muscular waist and padded across the hall to the spare room where he found his bag sitting on the foot of the bed. He closed the door and got dressed. He was really thankful Kira had the sense to not let him drive home; he couldn't believe how stupid he had been to actually get hammered and drive to her apartment. He was lucky he hadn't gotten pulled over.
There had been a few horror stories about past WWE superstars who'd gotten DUI's; Taylor Rotunda – who wrestled under Bo Dallas in NXT which is WWE's developmental company – His brother Matt's ex-tag partner Shane Helms – Kurt Angle – Hell even Ted Dibiase Jr. It was all sheer stupidity on their part and well – clearly on his too.
Roman shook his head as he smoothed the burgundy cotton shirt over his chest that that two buttons on the collar, but he left them undone simply for the fact that his neck was just about as wide as his head and he wasn't trying to have his own apparel choke him out. He combed out his hair before pulling it back in a relaxed bun at the nape of his neck. He tied his sneakers and pulled his jeans down over top of them as he left the room.
Kira looked up from her book from her normal sitting spot in the corner of the kitchen counter as Roman walked into the room. "You want to eat yet or no?"
Roman shook his head. "No, I'm still fighting the hang over but doing it a little less now that my headache went away. Do you happen to know where my cell and wallet are?"
Kira nodded. "Coffee table." As she pointed towards the living room and her eyes sank back down to the book open in her lap.
Roman walked into the living room and pushed his wallet into his back pocket and his cell into his front pocket. He picked up his watched and secured it around his left wrist. "How is that counter comfortable on her butt and why don't you read from an overstuffed chair in the living room like a normal person?" Roman asked as he walked back into the kitchen.
Kira shrugged. "You know a lot of people ask me that and I honestly have no answer for them. I just sit where I'm comfortable and if I'm comfy I can literally read or sleep anywhere." Her heart did some mini flips when his chuckle filled the air.
Roman groaned slightly. "Remind me to never drink again; seriously." He stated as he made a face.
Kira laughed softly as she jumped down from the counter and grabbed a little bottle and took the top off before grabbing Roman's hand and shaking two pink pills into his palm. "Take them with water; it will help with the nausea." She grabbed a couple of more bottles of water and slipped them into her mini backpack purse before she slipped on her flip flops and grabbed Roman's Tahoe keys.
She couldn't help laughing as he groaned again. "See this is why I don't drink alcohol. I mean don't get me wrong I have other reasons, but I digress. Besides it's more fun watching people drink; didn't you notice me yesterday sitting around the pool party people watching. Drunk people do dumb things and if you're really sneaky you can get most of what they do on video."
Roman groaned again. "Oh God, please don't tell me you've got me on video?"
Kira laughed hard. "Not yet, but I'm sure I will eventually. You sort of caught me off guard at 2 AM. Are you ready to go?"
Roman nodded as he followed her out of the apartment. "No I seriously don't think I'll ever drink again. You've had plenty of times to video me. Hell last time I got drunk I insulted you and then crammed my tongue down your throat." He sighed heavily and shook his head at that stupid moment. "Though I will say; a girl who can take a tongue down the throat on the fly is number one in my book."
Kira stopped dead in her tracks half way to the Tahoe before she turned and looked up at Roman and two beats later the two of them were laughing like a paid or hyena's completely uncontrollably. Kira laughed harder as she watched Roman's cheeks pink up a bit.
Roman could feel his cheek heat up slightly. "I'm sorry I'm not sure where that came from." He could literally sit and listen to her laugh for the rest of his life. It was pure music to his ears.
Kira shrugged. "Well at least you're honest." And that was something.
Roman sighed heavily as Kira pulled his Tahoe to a stop in front of Matt and Mandy's home. He'd asked her to drive considering he was still battle the hangover. Thought he did have to admit he wasn't nauseas anymore and no headache. Kira was officially a miracle worker. "I don't know if this is such a good idea." Roman stated in a mumbled tone.
"Why not Roman?" Kira asked. "Family is family and they are going to love you no matter what you do. No matter how stupid you act or how big the stack of stupid shit you've done in the past. It's in the past for a reason. You did it, you're not doing it again – you've learned your lesson." Kira reached out and grabbed Roman's hand. "C'mon nothing bad is going to happen." She tried calming him.
Kira's head snapped around as she watched Matt's front door open and saw Matt walking out of the house and toward them. She smiled as Matt stopped in front of her and hugged her tightly. Matt turned his eyes to his baby brother. "Hey asshole, I came out to warn you. Dad said if we start any of our shit again he's going to invest in a ring and we're going to have to start working shit out in it."
Kira stepped back and just watched as the two brothers spoke in hushed tones. She couldn't keep the smile off her face as they actually embraced. "Awww it's so good to see you two knuckleheads be able to put your differences aside so you can have a united front for Koa."
Matt growled as did Roman as they both turned and gave Kira the stink eye. She just laughed as she rolled her eyes before she turned and walked into the house. Matt nudged his brother. "There something you want to tell me?"
Roman chuckled as he shoved his brother back. "Nothing that doesn't end with me dying of embarrassment and stupidity; which seems to be the norm with me lately any time that woman is involved." Roman's chin jutted out towards Kira's retreating form.
"Oh no baby brother you have GOT to tell me more." Matt encouraged as he squeezed his brother's shoulder. "She's supposed to be your arch nemesis. And you two show up here holding hands and laughing. I've seen the stink eye thrown between the two of you more than two sixteen year old girls fighting over one dude. There is MORE to this story and I want to know what it is; embarrassment be damned."
Roman growled. "Okay, I threw myself a pity party last night for the guilt of almost causing the demise of my nephew and got hammered and showed up at Kira's apartment at 2 AM this morning. We talked a little which I remember some of, but our small conversations we've had today I remember better. She's quite the sweetheart."
Matt nodded as he clapped his brother on the back. "That she is little brother; that she is." Matt agreed and could already see the wheels turning in Roman's head to try and get himself closer to Kira. It didn't take a genius or brain surgeon to figure out Roman liked her; more than he was willing to admit.
The brothers walked into the house and Roman stopped at the sight of Koa with his arms wrapped around Kira's waist. He watched as she turned and her violet eyes bored into his. His breath hitched in his throat slightly as he tried not to show everyone who was watching that she affected him so much.
Kira reached out and for the third time that day she took Roman's hand and pulled him to stand next to her. Her heart fluttered again as she felt his fingers respond by gripping her hand back. Kira squatted down in front of Koa when he stepped back from her. She tugged on Roman's hand and watched as he took the hint before he squatted down next to her. "Koa, I think Uncle Roman could use a hug; he had a really bad night."
"He did?" Koa question.
Kira nodded. "Of course little man. He was worried about you."
"Really?" Koa questioned again.
Roman nodded. "Absolutely buddy." He winked at the little boy who hadn't seemed to let go of Kira's free hand yet. "You're one of my favorite nephew's. Of course I was worried about you."
Koa finally let go of Kira's hand as he walked over and wrapped his arms around Roman's neck. "I'm sorry you had a bad night; I didn't mean to make you worry Uncle Roman."
Kira's heart absolutely broke at the scene in front of her as she watched Roman wrap his arms around his nephew. "It's okay bud. I know you didn't do it on purpose." Roman not realizing that all eyes were on him. "My bad night was just followed up with a good morning and it's bound to get even better now that you're home and safe."
That was all anybody in the family wanted.
It had been a couple of weeks since the pool party and things seemed to be moving right along. The only difference…Roman and Kira were actually spending time together; rather than trading insults and bumping heads constantly. She's gone back to having Wednesdays and Thursdays off again, but instead of cleaning Roman's house on those days she would go instead during nights she was off of school which was Saturdays and Sundays. So spending her days off getting to know Roman himself was fun for her.
Kira was pulled from her thoughts on Roman as she felt someone bump her hip. She would be seeing him again in a day. She looked up to see Sydney looked back at her. "Hey, did you and Phil ever tell your family about you two?"
Sydney cringed. "Not yet. Don't get me wrong I adore Phil; actually I'm sure I more than adore him. But I'm just not sure how the twins will react to me dating someone who's not only their co-worker but slightly older."
Kira scoffed. "If they want you happy; they won't care if you're dating Santa Claus."
Sydney snorted. "I'm not so sure about that! You've met Jimmy and Jey they are protective as fuck and their little sister has been bumping uglies with their co-worker."
"Well if you'd like to talk or listen to me try to convince you to tell your brothers any sooner, just let me know." Kira offered cheekily. Kira laughed as Sydney made a face and flipped her the bird before walking into the back to get change.
Kira watched as Melissa and Elsa walked up. "Why do you two look like the cats that ate the canary or canaries in this case?"
Elsa laughed. "Well apparently Dean and Seth are taking us on a double date. It was supposed to be a triple date but apparently Roman and you aren't ready to put a classification behind whatever it is you two are yet."
Kira shook her head. "We don't have a classification yet because were just friends. We aren't really anything yet. We're still getting to know each other and it's what we need for the both of us. We may never be anything but friends and I can live with that."
Melissa looked at Kira. "You're lying. You know that right?" She asked her friend. Melissa may have been the shy one of the group but she could read people like the back of her hand; especially people in denial. "You like him and you can try to deny the fact that he's grown on you or you can run with it."
"YES! This is why I love this girl so much." Elsa crowed as she threw her arm around Melissa's shoulders and smashed her lips against her cheek in a smacking kiss.
Melissa laughed as Kira shook her head. "I never said I didn't like him Melz." Kira admitted out loud. "I just said nothing may ever come between us but friendship and I can live with it."
Melissa leaned forward as she stared into her friends violet eyes before she shook her head. "Nope I don't buy that for a second. If you and Roman only stayed friend you'd be crushed, but do you know why?" She asked with a smirk on her face.
Kira chuckled as she rolled her eyes. "Oh enlighten me Miss Cleo."
"Because a few months back you heard that man having sex with someone else and it bothered you. I remember you telling me. You said you couldn't put your finger on it but the thought of him having sex with someone really ate at your insides. It doesn't matter how much you two argued or bumped heads or traded insults. Somewhere in the middle of all that bullshit you started liking him. I'm not sure how deep your feelings go because even you don't know, but they are there just the same; whether you like it or not." Melissa informed Kira seriously.
"Why the hell would I ever go to a psychic when I have you Melza?" Kira chortled. She might have joked but she knew she was right…and now she just had to figure it all out.
