The Good Life

AN. Thank you to xHalosandwings, DiivaLover, MrsDibiase-10, xTwistedxImperfectionx, Cena-Wilson-Crazy, VanityMayhem, getcraazysofia, bathpinkdog, xSiimplyCrazeedx, BigRedMachineUK, xsostarstruck, Nadia26 & KyraJane for reviewing the last chapter.

Thanks very muchly! :)


Chapter Eleven – Little Miss Deceitful


"I really don't know why I agreed to this."

Though Maryse appeared nonchalant, the flicker of a smile that crossed her lips, as Mike kindly held the car door open for her, suggested she didn't particularly mind what they were doing after all. Their fingers brushed as she stepped out onto the sidewalk and she made sure to keep them to herself just a few seconds later; these unintentional moments between them were becoming more and more frequent.

Locking his car, Mike smirked at her. "So now I can't take my friend out to dinner?"

"No. You can't take your friend out to the most expensive restaurant in town and not make a big deal out of it. Guaranteed—" She produced a subtle shrug. "—I'm suited to the finer things in life, but it's still not right..."

"Really? Because after everything you've told me about Ted, I think this is the least you deserve." As they walked the distance there, he gave her a sideways glance; she looked at least comfortable to be out with him tonight, and was enough to give him peace of mind. "It's just a friendly dinner – what's wrong with spending a couple of hours away from Avidian Lane?"

"I guess you have a point. The wedding planning is stressing me out and Emily did say I needed a break – right before she skipped out of the door and rode off with Tyler in his flashy car."

"The teenage years huh? When the most dramatic thing to happen was break a nail."

"Nails that break are still important." The housewife almost gasped and began to examine hers. They were picture perfect, glossed with a frosted pink tint. "I remember when I was on the road with Ted and I broke one right before a show. I almost screamed the place down. Ted was not happy with me at all." The amused expression on her face suddenly dropped as she thought about him. "I bet he's happy now... now that he gets to be away from me for two weeks..."

"If I was in his shoes, I'd be miserable." He smirked. His attempt to cheer her up appeared to work, and he was graced with that beautiful smile of hers again. "So – since you come here a lot – do you already know what you're getting?"

"Well I usually order the same thing when I come here with Ted—this fabulous chicken dish with the most exquisite orange and lemon sauce—but maybe, just this once, I'll try something new."

He took note of her mischievous look, and hid a smirk himself, opening the door doors to 'La Rue' for her. Truthfully, both adults were looking forward to this evening; Maryse knew Ted hadn't treated her like this in quite a long time and she hoped this evening with Mike would make up for that.

He was certainly treating her with the respect she knew she deserved.

The head waiter in charge and a personal friend of hers, Derek Richards, greeted her at the entrance. Mike watched as the tall, blonde guy kissed both of the popular woman's cheeks and then stepped back, a little concerned by his presence. "Table for... two?"

"Yes please, Derek. This is my good friend, Mike—" She gestured towards him. "—He's new to the area so I thought I'd show him around and introduce him to the best restaurant this side of town."

Derek relaxed considerably after that. "Welcome to the neighbourhood, Mike. If you'll follow me this way to the booth..."

They did so quietly. Reaching a cosy booth near the back of the serene place, she thanked him, and they were left alone with menus while they took their seats opposite one another.

After a couple of minutes, The Miz glanced up at her, wondering whether she'd chosen what she wanted to order yet. He was distracted, however, by the grin on her face while her eyes scanned the wine list; she looked... happy... and that was certainly enough for him.

"I didn't know wine made you smile so much. Is there something you're not telling me – secret alcoholic maybe?"

"No, it's not that. I promise." The former Diva sobered and angled her head of platinum blonde hair in his direction. "I just... I don't remember the last time I went out for dinner. And this is really nice. So thank you, Miz—this is a wonderful way to take a break from all the wedding stuff that needs doing."

"You're welcome. Anytime, Miss. Ouellet."

Mike looked so genuine that she couldn't help but to react; taking one hand off of the menu, she placed it over his own on the table. The action was only supposed to be brief... a fleeting moment that didn't mean anything... but as she stared into his eyes, it was obvious there was so much more to it than that.

As if stung or shocked suddenly, Maryse released him from the light grasp and looked down, clearing her throat. "So, what have you decided on?"

She barely registered his casual answer. All she was really certain of was the fact her heart was beating double time, and she hadn't experienced the feeling with Ted DiBiase, her own husband, for a long time now.


Layla hadn't known she could smile in her sleep. But as she slowly rolled onto her side, finding herself encased in strong muscular arms while her eyes fluttered tiredly open, she soon realized that it was indeed possible.

As was the feeling of being perfectly happy. Having lost that feeling for so long now, it was nice to have it back – to have it back with the same person and realize nothing had changed (apart from a last name.)

Feeling utterly satisfied in more ways than one, the married woman leaned in and softly kissed John's bare chest. She'd missed waking up to the sight and tracing patterns across his skin while she smiled to herself and waited for him to wake up; it was one of the things – actually – that she never forgot while promising herself to a better life with William Regal.

He stirred. Barely, but there had been movement. His arms wrapped even tighter around her and she giggled softly. If he hadn't been awake five seconds ago, he certainly was now; when was the last time he'd woken up with a girl beside him, a familiar sound so beautiful in his ears? It took him a moment to register the eyes staring back at him when he finally opened his, and he almost smiled at the friendly sight while he tried to register just what was going on.

And then, all too suddenly, he worked it out and the prospect of a relaxed evening together was shot to hell.

"Oh shit." John eloquently commented and slipped out of the messy bed, looking hard for his clothes. They were scattered amongst hers all over the floor and reminding him of just how wild a time they had with each other just a few hours before...

Sitting up in concern, Layla modestly hid her skin behind the silk sheets they'd fumbled in together. "Where are you going?"

"Home." He answered shortly and pulled on his boxers, followed by his shirt.

For a moment she had no idea what to say; one minute he'd been there, cuddling up to her in bed just like old times and the next he was up, telling her he had to go. She didn't like this one little bit; it was like her happiness was being stripped away from her far too quickly. "You can't go. You can't just have sex with me and then leave!"

He turned to her with angry, deep blue eyes. Inappropriate as it was, the British woman had never felt so turned on in all of her life. "Guess what? You can't just fake a problem with your shower and then... lure me into getting back together with you." He reached for his jeans. "You're sick."

"I hardly lured you. God, what am I – the wicked witch of Avidian Lane?" Even if the odds were not in her favour the one thing Layla El Regal wouldn't do was back down. Case in point... "As I recall, you were happy enough with it as I was."

"I didn't set out to get into this with you. We were over so long ago and you're... fuck, you're married." He spoke as if it was the first time he'd realized the fact. She was quiet for a moment, but when she went to speak again, he cut her off. "This was a one-time thing, Layla, and it's not going to happen again."

"Oh really?" She raised an eyebrow and accidentally-on-purpose dropped the sheet, revealing herself to him once more. "Have you changed your mind yet?"

John Cena suddenly found it hard to swallow down the lump in his throat. But he forced himself – eventually – to return to her eyes, and upon seeing the satisfied smirk on her lips, he knew what he had to do. He knew how he felt and he knew what had just happened was wrong. "You're married. You chose this life—you didn't have to, but you did. So stick with your decisions, alright? You can't have it both ways."

He grabbed his tool box and stormed out not a moment later, and she hastily grabbed her dressing gown, preparing to go after him; there was so much more she wanted to say. This was not how she planned their reunion to be.

A thought entered her mind as she rushed after him: Why did I think everything would be okay between us now? She couldn't work it out—all she knew was that she felt happy, and yet that clearly didn't account for anything.

He was at the bottom of the stairs near the door when she finally caught up with him. "This isn't how I thought things would be, you know!" She cried out in desperation as she rushed down the stairs and towards him. "I didn't want us to be this way. But I had no choice. It was either this or... or..."

"A life with me – where you couldn't be happy without the security of money? Yeah, I get it. Really deep, Layla. Shit—" John muttered to himself, running a hand over his short brown hair. "Why did I ever fall in love with you?"

"Because we're perfect together." She grabbed his arm, but he roughly pulled it away, pushing her in the meanwhile. He was still as strong as ever in their arguments. "You know it, I know it..."

"But the whole world can't know it because you're married and I'm over you." He stated as a matter of fact. "I hope when you think about what you've done you realize what a cold-hearted bitch you are."

Her heart sunk. Standing opposite him right now, dressed in only a thin dressing gown, Layla felt small. Wronged, somehow, too. "I... I missed you."

He opened his mouth to answer her—then, a beat later, he shut it again and looked at her in disgust. Perhaps he felt this towards himself too, for being so weak with his ex-girlfriend when he definitely knew better? John slammed the door behind him after letting himself out and she was left alone in her big house, unsure how to feel.

If she had a heart, maybe she would start crying. Layla knew, however, that her true self had been buried the second she chose to live a life of stability rather than one of love.

And maybe, just maybe, there was no turning back now.


The ten minute drive home was pleasant enough.

Mike and Maryse had been out for at least two hours, and the latter had gotten over the hand-holding incident fairly quickly, shrugging it off in the next few minutes or so when they became involved in a funny conversation about their college years. She'd learnt a lot about the guy driving her home right now – so much so, in fact, that she was far more content with him now than she had been at the start of the evening.

Was she still dwelling on being intimate with him this evening? Yes, of course. It was still heavy in her mind but she'd wisely shoved it to the back in order to think rationally. And this was working out just fine for her right now.

Her train of thoughts taking over once again, the French-Canadian beauty barely noticed Mike turn down the radio—the sound of some band called Downstait being drowned out—and call out to her. "I hope tonight was good for you. I had a great time."

"It was perfect. Thank you." A smile played on her glossed lips as she focused her gaze away from the blurred images out of the window and onto his face. "I'll admit I had reservations about tonight – as you know – but I'm glad I went through with it. It was just... so much fun."

"Yeah? I'm glad. We'll do it again at some point."

"Sure. And in the meanwhile, we can camp out in your kitchen on poker night while Alex and Eve battle it out as if it's a matter of life or death."

He chuckled, briefly thinking about the two. "Mhm. Alex is excited about their date – a little too excited, I think. I caught him in the mirror before work this morning talking to himself... I think he was trying chat-up lines on himself so he can use them on her."

"Tell him not to bother. She hates them."

"Noted." He nodded.

There was a short silence between them as Mike concentrated on turning off to the left. All too suddenly they were back in Avidian Lane, their houses drawing closer, and Maryse felt oddly disappointed; she'd been away from her stressful life earlier on and now she was being shoved right back into it. With The Miz, she felt... safe... and not in the least bit stressed.

Pulling up at her house just moments later, he turned off the engine and pressed his hands down on the steering wheel, unsure what else to do. "So... I'll see you at the poker game?"

"... Or maybe—" She started to suggest quietly. "—we could meet up before that. To talk more about Ted. Obviously."

"If that's what you want then sure."

"Okay. I'll ring you in the next couple of days." She gripped her purse tighter, feeling somewhat awkward. She couldn't figure out why in the moment. "Thank you for tonight. It was fun."

"I agree."

Maryse leaned over and pecked him on the cheek—and like the intimate moment before, it was only supposed to a quick gesture that meant nothing. But she chose to linger cheek-to-cheek for longer than necessary and it was suddenly all too clear what was going on between them.

She knew she'd grown closer to him in the past few days. He was there for her in a way Ted wasn't. He understood her in a way that Ted clearly didn't. He was, to put it simply, just there. And she'd realized this at the worst time possible.

Pulling away slowly, the former Diva stared into his eyes. He seemed to be on the exact same wavelength as her. And then they were both leaning... leaning... and about to savour their inevitable first kiss together...

What am I doing?

This thought was what saved Maryse from cheating on her husband. She jerked her head back, shocked at her behaviour, and barely said a mumbled goodbye before she was rushing—in the most ladylike fashion—up her porch steps, letting herself in and shutting the door behind her...

Oh my God. Was I about to kiss him? A look of confusion swept over her facial features and she stayed stuck in place for a short while, unable to comprehend what had been going on with her recently. And Ted... oh, how could I do that to him?

He wasn't all she had to worry about.

Emily's footsteps pounded down the stairs and in an instant, the fifteen year-old girl was standing in front of her, arms folded stubbornly over her chest. She didn't look at all pleased. "What were you thinking?"

She began to panic inwardly. Straightening up, she asked, "What, sweetheart?"

"Don't play dumb! I know what you did." The teenager glared at her. "Why would you make me hang out with Logan after school again when you know I don't like him? Urgh, you never let me hang out with Tyler and he's my actual boyfriend! What is wrong with you?"

That was a good question, but one she didn't have to answer as she brushed past her fussy daughter and headed into the kitchen. All she wanted now was a hot drink, a warm bath and her bed... and preferably to forget all about her almost-kiss with Mike "The Miz" Mizanin. What had gotten into her?

"Mom? Are you even listening to me?"

Considering it too harsh to give Emily 'the Maryse hand', she shook her head instead. "Go back to your room, Emily. We'll talk some more in the morning if that's what you really want. And don't roll your eyes!" She added when the youngster finally turned on her heel and stomped away at her loudest. "You know I don't like it when you do that!"

"Whatever!"

She was left alone with her thoughts soon enough. Putting down her purse, she caught sight of her wedding ring, and started twisting it around her finger in deep thought. Something definitely had to change—whether it was to do with her husband or the newest guy on the street.


So there's the next chapter. Please review :)

Coming up: Alex Riley hopes to impress Eve on their first date. Will he fail or prevail?