The One That Got Away
Chapter 12
Disclaimer: None of this really happened. This is a work of fiction. I only own London. Everyone else owns themselves.
A/N: You guys are awesome. A huge thank you to my love, alibob687...I hate waking up so early to have to work ugh lol but it's better than not having one at all, and my loyal faithful fave nattiebroskette...I always like to keep it fun ;) I hope you guys are still into this. I'm still working on it. I promise. I love you guys! XoXoXo
London was at the nightclub, having a great time. She was with Nattie, Nikki, and Brie. They all had drinks in their hands. They were laughing and genuinely enjoying themselves. It was relaxing to finally be able to hang out with the ladies and just let loose. And she saw no sign of Wade, which caused part of her to feel relieved.
"You seriously look incredible in that dress," Nikki complimented the birthday girl.
"Thanks. I got it like a month ago, but this is the first time I've won it."
"Well, you should wear it more often."
London smiled. "Thanks."
"So, have you heard from Wade since he dumped psychopath Alicia?" Brie questioned.
"Nope."
"Do you think he'll show up tonight?"
She shrugged. "I dunno. I'm not gonna lie, I keep looking around to see if he's here."
Nikki smirked. "Looking to claim him again?"
"I mean, I wouldn't exactly go that far, but I won't say that I have no interest," she admitted.
The four women laughed. Within moments, Daniel Bryan, John Cena, and TJ Wilson joined the group, making their way to their respective girlfriend/wife. Not allowing her to be the seventh wheel at her own birthday party, Randy draped a causal, friendly arm around his close friend's shoulders.
"Hey Rand," she greeted with a smile.
"Hey old lady," he teased her.
"Ugh. I am old," she groaned and took a long drink of her apple martini.
"Oh come on. You barely look a day over eighteen, you psycho," Daniel shot back with a smirk.
"Well, not to brag or anything, but I do look pretty young," she joked, batting her eyelashes.
"Look at you, Ms. Conceited," TJ teased her.
"Oh look. Your suitor has arrived," Nattie pointed out, noticing Wade walk in.
"Oh shit," London breathed, her stomach suddenly in a series of knots.
"Your suitor?" Randy questioned, raising an eyebrow.
She smiled sheepishly at her friend. "I mean, he is a pretty good-looking guy," she said.
"You're not considering getting involved with him again, are you?" John questioned.
"Listen, disapproving men, she's a grown-ass woman. She's beautiful, smart, and sweet. If she wants to get involved with a former flame, she's allowed to," Nikki defended London.
"Yeah. Yeah. Yeah," Jon replied with an eye roll.
"London, just be careful please," Randy warned her.
"I will be," she assured him, though he wasn't quite satisfied with that response.
Wade walked in the direction of the group, noticing that London was there. But he was quickly intercepted by his ex-girlfriend. London wanted to slap Alicia across her face, as she clearly didn't belong at her birthday party. "Ugh. I need another drink."
"I'll join you," Randy volunteered.
"Okay," she accepted his offer to go with her. The pair made their way over to the bar. She quickly ordered herself a Malibu and pineapple. Randy's eyes focused on his friend.
"So, what's going on with you and Wade?" Randy questioned her.
She smirked. "Nothing…"
"Oh really? You expect me to believe that bullshit?"
"I mean, when I was around for Wrestlemania weekend, we…talked."
He raised an eyebrow at her. "Oh? About what?"
"Don't worry about it."
"London," he spoke in a warning tone.
"Fine. He kissed me. And he told me that he loves me and wants to be withme," she told him.
"Are you serious? London, this was a really bad situation that doesn't need to be revisited," Randy said.
"Listen, I'm not looking to jump into a relationship with him. I want to just…I dunno…see what happens. I know what happened that first time around was bad, but…it was three years ago. And it means something to me that after all of this time, there's still something there between us."
"I understand, Lon. I really do. I just don't want you to get hurt again, you know? You're like my little sister. You're a part of my family at this point. I just want you to be okay."
London smiled at him. "I appreciate that so much, Ran. It means so much more to me than you know."
He wrapped an arm around her shoulders yet again. "I know."
The bartender gave her the drink she had ordered. "Would you be mad at me, if I started talking to him and hanging out with him again?" she questioned.
"No. I'd just be watching him like a hawk."
"Well, I wouldn't have a problem with that."
"Good because you wouldn't have a choice," he retorted and gave her an exaggerated smile.
As London sipped on her fourth drink of the night, another Malibu and pineapple, she was leaning against the bar, talking to Brie Bella.
"I dunno. I just haven't partied much," London told her.
"Daniel doesn't really like it when I get into Brie Mode, but…I still part every so often."
"Hello ladies," the familiar deep voice filled their ears, as Wade Barrett approached the pair. Brie sent a grin in the Birthday Girl's direction.
"Hey…I'm gonna go find my husband…and…make sure he's…having fun," she said, using the easiest excuse she could to give the pair some time alone. Brie quickly disappeared.
"Happy birthday," he spoke, finally speaking to London, after nearly an hour of trying to get away from Alicia.
"Thanks."
"You look beautiful," he complimented her.
"You look pretty handsome yourself," she reciprocated. "You know the color of your shirt almost matches my dress," she observed.
"What do you know? Would you look at that?" he breathed.
"I wasn't sure if you were gonna come out here tonight," London told him.
Wade gave her a look. "You honestly thought that I wouldn't show up at your birthday party?" he questioned.
London shrugged. "I dunno. We barely know each other anymore," she pointed out.
"That's not entirely true," he refuted. "We still know each other very well."
"Oh yeah? You think so?"
He nodded. There was a tense silence between the pair for a couple of moments, before Wade finally spoke. "I've missed being able to see your face all of the time," he said, taking a step closer towards her.
London's eyes continued to look up at him. "That's not completely one-sided," she admitted. The pair could feel the tension that continued to build between them. He smiled at her. "I like that you're here, Wade."
"I wouldn't want to be anywhere else," he assured her.
"What a surprise. You two managed to find each other," Alicia's voice spoke, as she approached the two.
"Alicia, why the hell are you here?" London questioned her.
"Because it's a free country," she shot back. "It's just such a strange coincidence that you two are here."
"Alicia, you really need to go away," Wade told her.
"Why? So, you can try to screw this whore?"
"If you don't leave London alone, I will have you removed from this place," Wade warned her.
"Because I'm right," Alicia snapped.
"No because you're rude, disrespectful, and above all, unwelcome. I'm talking to London. The only reason that anyone is even here tonight is to celebrate the fact that it's her birthday. You look like a crazy person," he told her. "I'm not even kidding right now. I will have you removed and make sure that you are beyond embarrassed."
Alicia looked about ready to blow a gasket. "You're really going to talk to me like this?"
"Either you leave us alone, or I can promise you that this will be the most embarrassing situation of your entire life." Weighing her options for a couple of moments, Alicia remained silent. "Don't make this more difficult than it needs to be."
"You're gonna regret this," Alicia warned, before storming off.
"How the hell did you deal with dating her?" London questioned.
"Honestly? Right now, I can't seem to figure it out."
She let out a laugh. "Well, thanks for handling that."
Wade smiled. "I'm just happy to be here with you."
"Well, that's sweet of you. Laying it on thick tonight, huh?" she half-joked.
"Just trying to show you how glad I truly am to see you." He paused. "I guess you can tell that I'm no longer dating Alicia."
"I heard the rumor, but I can see it's true."
"Yes, it is."
"Why'd you do that?"
"Because it isn't right to be with someone when you're in love with someone else."
London gave him a look. "Wade, you shouldn't make the decision not to be with someone if the person you say you're in love with is me."
"Oh? And why not?" he questioned her.
"Well, because I can't give you what you want."
"How do you know what I want?"
"Because you made it clear the night you came to my hotel room," she pointed out.
"That's true," Wade agreed. "But we both know that what we have will never go away. So, it can't hurt to try again."
"Seriously? It hurt a lot the last time we tried. And I don't want to go through that ever again."
Wade pushed her hair over her shoulder. "I'd never be so stupid to ever risk losing you again."
She raised her eyebrows at him. "I'm not as confident in you."
"That's fine. I'm only thirty-three. I have plenty of time to prove it to you," he replied with a casual shrug.
London smirked. "Persistent, huh?"
"You have no idea. Listen, if my feelings didn't fade at all, after three years of absolutely no contact with you, they'll never fade. So, face it, love. You're stuck with me," he told her with a smile.
"We'll see about that."
"Always have to be difficult," he breathed.
"I doubt you'd want me as badly, if I didn't make your life so much more difficult."
"That's probably true." He paused. "Can I get you another drink?"
"Sure," she replied.
"Malibu and pineapple?" he asked, verifying her choice of drink.
"Yup." He leaned his torso against the bar and ordered the drink from the bartender, as well as another beer for himself. London leaned her back against the bar, finishing the rest of her current drink. She felt less nervous about being near him the more that they spoke…and the more that she drank. London caught a glimpse of Alicia glaring at her. She gave her a small smile. It wasn't that she wanted to rub her face in the fact that Wade chose London…but she did it because Alicia had been such a bitch to her.
Moments later, Wade turned to her and handed the fresh drink to London. She put her empty glass down on the bar and took it from him. The two clinked their glasses together. Wade faced her, leaning his side against the bar.
"You clean up really well," she commented.
"Thank you. That dress is making it really difficult for me to think right now."
"That's because you have a one-track mind," she replied.
"Oh, I have plenty of tracks."
"I bet."
"Your bodyguards are eyeing me," he told her.
"Good. You need to be watched. You can't be trusted."
Wade gave her a look. "Oh really?"
"We're just using history to judge," she retorted with a grin.