Mel whipped the Hummer into a tight spot and dialed Rhi's cell phone only to get no answer. "Of course. Why would you actually answer your cell phone?" She walked into the front off the building and immediately found the information desk.

"I need you to page Rhino for me." She smiled politely as the woman gave her an odd look.

"Rhino?"

Mel let out a sigh. "I'm sorry. Can you please page Terry Gerin?"

Mel looked around the airport for any sign of him while the woman behind the counter paged him to come to the information counter. She waited impatiently for what seemed like an eternity until she saw him walking towards her. She couldn't hide the smile on her face. "Rhi! Why did you leave?"

"I thought it was best. You made it clear that you didn't want to move forward and I can't go back. So there was really no choice but for me to leave."

She pulled him to the side and lowered her voice. "Rhi, you took me by surprise and I can't lie it feels good being with you. But right now, with what we have ahead of us, I just don't think the timing is right."

"So there is a chance that you will give in and give us a shot?" He placed his hands on her waist pulling her close to him so that they were nose to nose.

"You know this is crazy right? And what happens if things don't work out? We'll lose our friendship."

"Yeah it's crazy and that's why it's going to work. And things will work. But what happens if things work out and we keep our friendship and gain even more? Ever think of it like that?"

Mel laughed and wrapped her arms around his neck. He kissed her with an intensity that left her breathless.

"I guess you have some good points. But I'm not agreeing to anything yet Rhi. First I want to get this Kurt shit out of the way and behind us."

"So you still want to go to TNA?"

Mel rolled her eyes. "Yes I do. That's never changed. I can handle it so stop worrying."

"It's officially my job to worry."

"Not officially."

"But you are strongly considering it, right?"

She wrapped an arm around his waist and leaned into him. "Yes, I'm very strongly considering it."

"So in the mean time can we still do stuff like we did last night?"

She playfully punched him in the side. "Rhino!"

"What? I was talking about going to dinner and dancing. Get your mind out of the gutter." He planted a kiss on top of her head as they walked out the door.

--

Three hours later they were back in Orlando. The trip took longer this time because Mel had to go back to her condo and pack. Rhi carried her luggage into the guest bedroom and set it on the bed and he fell on the bed with it. "You still don't travel light do you?"

"You said I needed to be prepared."

"I meant mentally." He pulled her down on top of him and pushed her hair back, his hand lingering on her cheek. "This is how it should have been back then."

"Let's not go there." She kissed his cheek before getting up and starting the process of unpacking.

"If you feel up to it, I was thinking of having Joe over so you can meet him after all he's going to work with you in the ring."

She hung up some clothes in the closet and turned to find him standing over her holding her sexy little black dress. "Yeah, it's fine with me. But I'm not exactly suffering from ring rust. I confess, I've been working with crew at a little wrestling school in Miami."

"Is that so? You're full of surprises aren't you?"

"Maybe. But that's for me to know and you to find out." She ducked under his arm and opened another suitcase.

"Ok pick one, barbeque or pizza?"

"Barbeque."

He walked out the door leaving her to her unpacking. "I'm going to fire up the grill." He called out as she sat down on the bed to reflect on how much had changed in one day.

--

Mel stood at the kitchen sink watching Rhi as he placed steaks on the grill. It was all she could do not to walk out there and devour him. She had all but given up on being happy but Rhi honestly made her happy. Looking at him now her heart was in her throat. But she couldn't start a relationship with him until Kurt was behind them both.

The doorbell rang and interrupted her thoughts. Since Rhi couldn't hear it she walked over and opened the door. "You must be Melony."

She smiled brightly. "And you, no doubt, are Joe!"

"That's me." He squeezed her in a huge hug, literally lifting her from the floor. "I've heard so much about you and even managed to catch some of your matches."

"I'm flattered Joe. Really I am."

He smiled revealing his dimples and she could easily see why this man was one of Rhi's closest friends. "Can I get you something to drink?"

"A beer would be great."

"So who else is coming to this shindig? Rhi's been pretty secretive."

Joe opened his beer and took a few sips before sitting down on a bar stool. "I'm not really sure. I hate to say this but I'm a pretty in your face type of guy and there are a lot of us who aren't happy with Kurt and his status. And before you go there, no, it won't do any good to complain. TNA banked a lot on Kurt and they aren't political like WWE is. They leave it to us to solve our own problems."

"That could either be really good or really bad." Mel grabbed a beer for her and Rhi before heading outside with Joe.