Author's Note: This update is dedicated to Stratusfied, who not so subtly reminded me to update this story, lol. Believe it or not, you're the reason why I updated this story like now, lol.
This is a pretty long chapter, but I figured it's been almost a month since this story has been updated so a long chapter isn't bad.
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The smell of grilled chicken and salmon filled the sprawling mansion. An appetizer of spinach salad and miniature quiches added to the mouthwatering dinner. A wide selection of soft drinks and beers were chilling in the ice chest. Trish's own "Better than Sex" chocolate cake awaited the guests after their meal.
"Trish, this all smells delicious! I had no idea that you knew how to cook!" Sharmell clamored.
"I do a little bit. But I had help, though. Dave helped me make the cake!" Trish looked over to Dave and smiled.
"I bet he did." Randy muttered as he grabbed a plate.
Trish heard Randy's comments but brushed them off. What in the hell is your problem, frat boy? "Anyways, grab a plate, everybody! Dig in!"
Over dinner, everyone engaged in various topics, ranging from what workers they hated to work with to the hottest movies out right now. The atmosphere was light around the table, with much of the attention being doted on John and Trish, the new wrestling "It" couple of the moment.
Yet, it was unbearable agony for Dave and Randy, each for their various reasons. Dave—wanting to spend quality time alone with his girlfriend but the opportunity wasn't available; Randy—knowing a secret that could ruin several relationships, including the present one he has with Jen, Trish's best friend.
Once dinner was over, dessert was served in the theater. All of the wrestlers convened over there while Dave took a personal call out on the patio.
"Do you need any help with anything, baby?" John asked Trish.
Trish looked around. "No, I think Jen and I got this one, baby. I'll see you in the theater in a little while."
"Okay, then. " He kissed Trish's cheek. "See you later, baby."
"Bye, baby." Trish said.
Jen waited for John to leave before addressing Trish. "That was an Academy Award-winning performance right there, Trisha."
"Save it, Jen. Now is neither the time nor the place."
"No, now is the time and now is the place. Are you asking to get hurt?"
Trish slammed a dish on the counter. "What do you want me to do, huh? What do you want me to do? Go in there and tell John, 'Oh by the way, I'm fucking Batista, how do you feel about that?'"
"No, Over-Actress, I'm not saying that. I'm saying that if you don't do something about your little situation, somebody is going to get hurt really badly. And guess what? It's going to be you. And I don't think I need to spell out the end result for you, do I?"
No, you don't, Trish thought, because I can figure it out on my own.
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John was on his way to the movie theater when he caught up with Randy. "Hey man, we're all about to watch the movie now."
"Yeah, I'll be in there shortly." Randy hesitated before he spoke again. Should I tell him now or later? "Yo, John…can I speak with you for a minute?" He asked.
John gave his best friend a puzzling look. "Yeah, sure, what's up, man?"
Randy walked over to a nearby corner and John followed him. "How's everything going between you and the Diva?"
"Ah, man, she's great." John said as he smiled. "I couldn't ask for a better woman."
Randy nodded. You couldn't ask for a better slut is more like it, bro. "No problems, no fights?"
"Nah, man. Everything is cool." John gave Randy a questionable look. "What's up with all the questions, man? Is there something you want to tell me?"
Yeah, your girl is a ho bag. Knowing the perfect opportunity to tell his best friend what he had seen earlier but also realizing that it would ruin his own relationship with Jen, Randy chose the best decision possible. "Nah, man. I'm just wondering."
John patted Randy's back and smiled. "Thanks, man. I appreciate it." He then walked off to join the other wrestlers in the living room.
Randy shook his head as he watched John leave. I gotta figure out a way to end that relationship….
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Trish and Jen wrapped up and put all of the food away. As Trish was clearing off the kitchen counter, she overheard Dave's familiar laughter coming from the patio. She stopped cleaning so she could join him and possibly see what the commotion was about.
Staring at his back, Trish once again realized why she was in love with Dave. He was a Greek god. He could wear anything and pull it off like it's the next big fashion craze. He spoke intelligently, refraining from slang or dumbing down a phrase so other people could understand and interpret.
He was also her lover, twisting her body in various positions whenever they made love. He was her soul, manipulating her spirit so she couldn't breathe, yet never suffocating her. He was her heart, encompassing much of the space in the tiny area that it was impossible for another being to fit in.
He was so many things to Trish, and yet, he wasn't enough. She knew going into the relationship how things were going to be. She knew that he was married. But she still didn't like it. And each time he had to call Tina, she felt guilty. That is, until they made love again, and the guilt dissipated.
How much longer is this shit going to happen?
Trish found him on his cell phone and it appeared he was having a one-way conversation. Listening in for a bit and hearing Dave's voice dramatically change, she determined he was talking to Alessia.
"You're being a good girl? Good, that's what I wanted to hear." Dave said.
A striking scent of freesia and jasmine caught his nose and he turned to see Trish standing beside him, staring up at the stars. The light autumn breeze was blowing her hair from her face and he could see her hazel eyes sparkle in the moonlight. She wasn't smiling, yet she looked stunningly beautiful. Dave felt like he could stare at Trish for hours on end and not get tired of her.
"Honey, I need to go now. Yeah, it's time for Daddy to go. I love you, too. Give Mommy a kiss for me. Okay, bye-bye." He then hung up the phone.
"You didn't have to end the conversation on my account." Trish said as she remained focused on the stars.
"It was past her bedtime. She needed to go to bed. She stayed up so I could tuck her in, so to speak."
Awe… "How adorable."
"Yes, she is." Dave paused. "About what you said earlier, about the divorce…"
"Yes?"
"I'm not getting one." He said, frankly.
Trish shook her head and a smirk formed on her face. Her eyes remained on the sky, looking at the various stars. She leaned forward against the fence and rested her hand on her chin. "These stars are absolutely amazing tonight, aren't they?"
"Does it make you uncomfortable?"
"The sky? No."
"You know what I meant, Trisha."
"The divorce? Whatever." She shrugged.
"Does it make you uncomfortable to block your feelings so that another person can't get in, no matter how hard they try?"
Trish backed away from the fence slightly. "It makes me uncomfortable when I love someone and they don't love me back, David."
Here we go…."And so my refusing to get a divorce is doing just that to you? Aren't you even concerned about why I can't get a divorce?"
Trish rolled her eyes. Whatever. "You can't or you don't want to? Don't bullshit me."
Walking close to her and whispering in her ear, Dave's lips brushed against Trish's earlobe. "Then don't bullshit yourself."
"What does that mean?"
Dave stepped back and grinned at her. "You know very damn well what that means. Here you are giving me a speech about how I don't love you because I refuse to get a divorce and exactly where is John sleeping tonight?"
Trish began to stammer. "That's…that's…that's none of your business."
"Remind yourself that the next time you inquire about my marital status." Dave began to walk away.
Trish turned to his direction. "I thought you didn't want to fight, David."
Dave stopped walking and didn't face her. "You're so stuck on your own feelings and trying to protect yourself, yet you don't realize you're doing the exact same thing I'm doing. But somehow, it's better because it's just John and you're not that serious about him."
"John and I are different…"
"How so? Because you're not married? Is that it?"
Yes, it is, asshole. "Dave…"
He walked back to her and stared into her hazel orbs. "I'm going to leave Tina on my own terms, Trish. Now is not the time. I need to sort some things out, speak with my attorney and see what will happen. But if you're asking me to leave now, I can't do it. But it will happen." He assured her.
"When?"
Dave looked up at the sky and then at Trish's face. "When the time is right."
Yeah, and when in the hell is that? Trish thought.
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A month has passed since Dave and Trish last seen each other. Still promoting her album has been a task within itself. But Dave couldn't complain too much. He was busy traveling all over the country doing various signings and promotions for the WWE. While they kept in constant contact by phoning each other three times a week, it wasn't enough. And it was damn time that they saw each other to clear the air again.
"How about December?" Dave said over the phone as he looked at his planner. "I'll be in New York pretty much all of December."
"Dave, I thought we wanted to see each other before December, it's the middle of November now." Trish said as she looked her planner.
Dave briefly scanned the calendar. "Okay, I have an opening next week. Is there a way you can fly up to see me after the Smackdown! taping next week?"
Trish gleefully nodded. "I can do next week, baby."
"Good, I'll pencil that in." Dave marked "personal time" on his calendar. "Trisha, I just wanted to say that I really miss seeing you and I really love spending time with you."
"I feel the same way, David."
"And I've given this a lot of thought. I decided that I'm going to leave Tina in a couple months."
Trish had mixed emotions about Dave's news. How she wanted to hear him to say that he was finally going to leave his wife but she was unsure on exactly the reasons behind it. "Am I the reason?"
"You're one of them."
"Them? Them? What's a 'them'?" Trish inquired.
I just begged for that argument. "There are other reasons, Trisha, let's not go there."
"I'm just saying…"
"Don't. I'll call you after Smackdown! tonight, baby."
"Okay, baby. I love you."
"I love you, too." Dave then hung up his phone.
After Trish hung up her phone, she leaned back in her chair. She smiled as she finally realized that her and Dave could be together. Now all she had to do was to break up with John, someone that she was grown quite attached to.
He's going to hate me. I just know he is.
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Trish waited up all night for Dave's call. He was pretty good at calling her but sometimes he was often sidetracked by fans wanting autographs or hanging out with other wrestlers.
But he normally called within a couple hours after the Smackdown! taping. This time he didn't call.
Shrugging off that he was probably having too much fun with the boys, Trish headed off to bed. She put her phone next to her bedstand, just in case Dave called during the night. The next morning, she woke up. Realizing that she often went into a deep sleep, she checked her voice messages.
There were none.
Knowing that he was probably with Tina and Trish was very strict on not calling Dave on his alone time, she wondered what could have happened to him as she checked her schedule for the day. Her questions were answered once Jen came into her office.
"Hey, is Dave alright? I heard he got an injury of sorts." Jen inquired.
"An injury of sorts? What do you mean an injury of sorts?" Trish asked.
"I don't know…something about his lat, his back, some muscle back there." Jen shrugged.
What the..? Trish immediately went online and looked up various wrestling websites. She saw that Dave, indeed, injured his latissimus dorsi at a Smackdown! taping that week. Upon seeing the news, Trish broke into tears. She wasn't crying because she was worried about Dave but for she knew what his injury really meant.
He wasn't going to leave Tina. And it wasn't going to be anytime soon.
