Thirteen
The sound of the door opening made him put down the phone. Maybe he'd visit Corey instead.
Roman had a smile on his face. "I'm back."
"Where were you?" Dean asked.
"I went to look at more rental spaces. I've narrowed it down to two. One is close to your school and the other is close to Luigi's. Pretty neat, huh?"
"Seth's back." He was unable to keep the sneer out of his voice.
"Yeah. He had a bad case of food poisoning. I'm glad he's okay now." Roman looked at him, puzzled. "Is everything okay? Did he exchange words with you again?"
"Nope. We stayed out of one another's way."
"Alright."
"I'm meeting a friend after work. You head on home first."
Roman looked at bit taken aback. Maybe he was surprised that Dean had a friend. "Oh. Ummm I can pick you up after your meeting."
"S okay," Dean declined. "I'll just take a taxi home."
"Are you sure?"
"Positive."
"Well, I'm planning to take you out now. I've been meaning to get you a cellphone."
A wide smile spread on Dean's face. "Okay." This was good. It meant that he could call Corey to "catch up".
His conscience was telling him not to. Roman had firm faith in him. Associating with Corey would only make his boyfriend disappointed in him.
You don't want to let Roman down, he reminded himself.
Thirty minutes later, he found himself at an Apple store. "Knock yourself out," Roman told him. "Which version do you want?"
"I'm not sure," Dean admitted. "Ummm pick for me?"
"iPhone 6S?"
"Good enough for me."
Roman informed the salesman and even got him a blue iPod Nano and a silver MacBook for school.
After signing up with AT&T, they went home to put Dean's purchases aside.
But not before Roman brought him to Ben's Creamery for ice cream.
Dean was an articulate guy.
He really was.
But with Roman, words just seemed to be lost on him. His boyfriend was so hot, he even made putting on his socks look sexy.
"I'm off for my run, baby boy," Roman informed him. "Have a great time with your friend and don't forget your phone. I've already keyed in my number into your contacts."
"Thank you, babe," Dean replied. "I have no idea what I've done to deserve you."
Roman kissed him. "None of that kind of talk. I love you."
"I love you too."
With Roman gone, he grabbed his phone and The Book Thief off the coffee table and left the house. He returned back to the Cafe At The Corner to drink hot vanilla and just read, soaking in the calming ambience.
With his hot drink, he sat down at a table at the corner.
"...I can't believe you chickened out, bro. Everyone knows that mansion isn't haunted. It just looks like it."
"No way, bro. I'm not taking a risk like that. What kind of name is Wyatt Mansion?"
"Uhhh… the name of the family who used to own it?"
Dean glanced and found two men talking at the table opposite him. Wyatt Mansion… it'd help with Roman's goal.
He wondered how he'd get his boyfriend to come along with him though.
"Hi."
Dean looked up. A scrawny blond wearing a black t-shirt with denim jeans was standing in front of him. "Hi."
"The cafe's full house and I was wondering if I could share a table with you?"
The auburn haired man shrugged. "Sure. Why not?"
The man sat down with his mug. "Thanks." He extended his hand. "I'm James Ellsworth."
"Dean Ambrose."
"Nice to meet you. Thank you again. I came here to read. They make nice cupcakes and muffins."
"Yeah they do. I'm all for their cookie dough glazed doughnut."
"I'll have to try that. You should try their S'more Muffins."
"Yeah? Maybe I should get some for Roman."
"Roman?"
"My boyfriend."
"You don't mean Roman Reigns… the Roman Reigns? Undefeated World Heavyweight champion?"
Hearing those words made Dean a fanboy inside. "Yeah. That Roman."
"Wow. That's cool. I heard he's a real nice guy."
"Nice? Dude's practically a saint." Again, he wondered what did he do to deserve Roman; why did Roman even love him?
James sipped his drink. "You work around here?"
"I work at the gym. I'm Roman's personal assistant."
"Oh. That's-"
Dean frowned when he saw Seth walk in. Of all the cafes in Carlisle, why did he have to come here?
The two toned haired man smirked when their eyes met. "On a date?" he taunted as he approached Dean. "And my, what a downgrade. You replaced Roman with a walking, anorexic manatee."
"Talk that way about my friend again, Rollins and I'll rearrange your face."
Seth ignored him and went to place his order at the counter.
Dean sat down and mumbled an apology to James. "I'm really sorry you were caught in the middle of that."
"It's alright."
"No, it's not. You didn't deserve that. Listen. I'd like to hang out with you."
"Really?"
"Absolutely. I could use a friend amidst all this mess."
"That's great! Sure. How about tomorrow? We can have lunch at Jack in the Box at noon."
"Okay. Sounds like a good plan."
Roman had just come out from the bathroom after a warm shower when he received a WhatsApp message with a picture of Dean and a blond guy from Seth.
Your boyfriend has a date tomorrow noon with a new guy.
Roman frowned. What was Seth trying to imply?
He's just a friend, Roman replied back.
What's his name?
The Samoan man didn't have a clue. Dean never gave him a name.
"You're home," his boyfriend said, finally home, tossing his leather jacket on the bed.
"Yeah. I had a good time perspiring."
Dean grinned cheekily. "You mean perspiring in bed with me isn't good enough?"
Roman smirked. "I needed the challenge. That's why I went for a run."
"Oh. So it's a challenge you want?"
"Yeah."
He laughed when Dean jumped on him, causing both to fall on the bed. His boyfriend gave him a quick peck before rolling off him. "What are you doing?" he asked when he saw Dean go to the bathroom counter.
"I'm going to shave," Dean replied simply.
"No!"
The auburn haired man stared at him. "Ummm… why the strong protest?"
"I love your beard."
"I only kept it because I was in prison. Now that I'm out, I'd like to shave." He relented, putting down the Philips electric shaver when Roman pouted at him. "Fine. I won't. But you owe me a big time."
"When I'm done with you tonight, I'll be repaying you tenfold over."
"But I want to make love."
"That can be done too."
They settled down in bed beneath the comforter. Roman touched Dean's cheek; he loved this man through and through. "Dean?"
"Yeah?"
"How did you wind up joining a gang?"
"Well, I was feeling lonely, to be honest. And I thought that being in a gang would help me out with that and my financial aid. It did for a while."
"Did you beat people up?"
"Well, it's a gang, Roman. Yes, I did beat people up. We've fought with rival gangs. It's all part and parcel, I guess."
Roman felt an unexplained sense of worry then. "I want you to know that you can come to me for anything. I'll be there for you. I promise."
"I know, babe."
"I mean it. Anything. I don't want you going down that path again. You have a bright future ahead of you, Dean. Don't let others try to divert you from it."
Dean spent the first half of his day catching up on filing on Saturday morning.
Roman had kept an efficient filing system that the auburn haired man no problems maintaining. He chided himself for forgetting that he had a lunch appointment with James. He'd have to tell Roman or else he'd be thinking that the auburn haired man was cheating on him.
And Dean did not want to cause him distress.
"So, where shall we go for lunch?" Dean heard Seth asking the Samoan man as he stepped out of the office. Roman and Seth were by the water fountain; his boyfriend was signing something on a clipboard.
"I'm not sure," Roman said. "I'd have to ask-"
Seth smiled wryly."He's right here. Isn't that right, Ambrose? What's the matter? Cat got your tongue?"
"Seth!" Roman admonished.
"He's keeping his date from you-"
"It's not a date, Lady Gaga," Dean cut him off. "Settle down." He turned to Roman. "Sorry, babe. It slipped my mind. I'm meeting a friend for lunch later."
Roman nodded. "It's fine. Seth told me."
"What?!"
Seth shrugged. "I was being a good friend and looking out for him. You know in case you cheated on him."
Will the insults ever stop? The bad boy in him was slowly resurfacing. "Seth, I want you to stand in front of me and I want Roman to hear the bullshit words coming out of your mouth. I'm gonna listen to every word of it. And then I'm gonna beat the hell outta you."
"Dean, no!" Roman pulled him to his corner. "Seth, go to the weights section."
To Dean's surprise, not a word of protest left the two tone haired man's lips. Alone in the office, door shut, he asked the question that was plaguing him. "What's his problem with me?" the blue eyed man demanded. "Everyone can see how hard I'm trying. Except him."
"Seth has a hard time trusting-" Roman started.
"I can see that but why?"
"His brother died in the hands of an ex prisoner."
Dean was perplexed. "What?"
"Seth's family used to own a guitar store called Rock N Rollins. Anyways, they were huge on making a difference in the community. So his brother decided to participate in the outreach program the prison had approached their store for. They hired an ex convict who had done his time in jail for assault and battery. I mean, it was all okay at first but then one day Seth's brother and the guy had an argument. Things escalated when the guy took a guitar and slammed it hard over his brother's head. He lost consciousness and never woke up."
Dean kept quiet for a bit. Most of his anger had dissipated. "Roman, as much I am trying to empathise with him, I want you to know that I won't hurt you."
"I know that. Seth doesn't, though. Give him some time. He's actually a nice guy. I guess the pain is still there." Roman kissed him. "Have a great time with your friend."
"Where will you be having lunch?"
"Guess I'll grab a sandwich or something." His boyfriend's eyes fell on the clock. "Do you want a lift?"
"No, it's fine. I'm meeting him close by." His mind began to replay how he met James before it became distracted by something far more important. "Hey, Roman? I was wondering if you'd let me plan our next date."
Roman pulled his hair into a man bun; Dean liked that look on him. "Sure. What are we doing?"
"It's a surprise."
Jack in the Box served a huge selection of burgers and sandwiches. Customers can even create their own.
Dean loved their Grilled Cheese Sandwich with Raspberry Preserves. So obviously it was his first choice. He threw in chicken tender strips, s'mores sundae and an iced chocolate drink.
James was in awe of Dean's meal as they started to dig in. "Wow. You really love sweets."
"Yeah. S how I got over my alcohol cravings."
"Neat. My brother used to be an alcoholic too." James bit into his Slow Cooker BBQ Chicken Sandwich. "He's been sober for three years."
"Five years for me," Dean said. "So, James, what do you do for a living?"
"I'm an accountant."
"So you actually like numbers?"
James laughed. "No, I actually love numbers. Something about calculations that just excites me."
"I love words. It's the reason why I'm planning to major in English & American Literature."
"That's cool. I can see this friendship working out. We'll be a great balance." James broke a piece of his apple pie with a plastic fork. "I hope you'll enjoy college. It's admirable that you're choosing to go back."
"If Roman hadn't brought up the idea and pushed for it, I wouldn't have."
I'm ridin' in your car
You turn on the radio
You're pullin' me close
I just say no
I say I don't like it
But you know I'm a liar
'Cause when we kiss, oh
Fire
Dean's jaw dropped. What the… no way was this happening. He looked around, half expecting his boyfriend to be around the corner.
Late at night
You're takin' me home
You say you want to stay
I say I want to be alone
I say I don't love you
But you know I'm a liar
'Cause when we kiss, ooh
Fire
The corners of Dean's lips lifted, thinking of all those times Roman had said he wanted to be alone.
You had a hold on me right from the start
A grip so tight I couldn't tear it apart
My nerves all jumpin', actin' like a fool
Well, your kisses they burn, but my heart stays cool
"What are you smiling about?" James asked.
"Huh?" Dean responded. "Private joke. Sorry."
"You have it bad for him," James chuckled.
"You have no idea."
Dean liked James. He was earnest and polite with no airs. It was a huge contrast to the kind of people he used to hang around with.
After their meal, they exchanged numbers, promising to meet up soon. Just as Dean was about to cross the road, he took a step back when he sensed someone's eyes on him.
"You hanging out with nerds now, Dean?" Corey asked.
Dean rolled his eyes. "Stalking me, Corey?"
"You didn't call me."
"I have no reason to."
"Of course you have. We go way back. We were in love."
The nerve of this guy. "No, Corey. I was in love. You weren't. You refused to acknowledge who I was to people. I was just your side guy. Look, I have to go."
Staying there any longer would make things worse. Dangerous thoughts were creeping into his head.
He was halfway crossing the road when Corey shouted out, "If you need any help, Dean… we're here. The guys and I are always here. Any problem you need help with whatsoever."
Were they though? When he was serving time, no one showed up to visit him. Dean had to pass his time by reading. One of the guards had a wife who worked in the library. She used to check out books for Dean to read weekly.
Roman was not there when he returned. He found himself missing his Samoan hunk.
"Hey, Rhyno," he asked the personal trainer who had just bid a good day to some members. "Has Roman returned from his lunch yet?"
"Oh. He's at his other office."
"Other office?"
"Come on. I'll show you."
The brunette led him past the treadmill machines and stair master to a room Dean hadn't noticed before at the far end.
Rhyno slowly opened the door, only to reveal a perspiring Roman in a black tank top pounding away aggressively on a black punching bag with music blasting in the background in an industrial like room with long stained windows and steel pipes in view.
Mine, Dean thought, admiring the sight in front of him.
This is ten percent luck
Twenty percent skill
Fifteen percent concentrated power of will
Five percent pleasure
Fifty percent pain
And a hundred percent reason to remember the name
"He does this when he's stressed," Rhyno revealed.
"What's he stressed about?" the blue eyed man asked, his eyes focused on his boyfriend who was giving a high kick with his right leg to the lower half of the bag.
"No idea." The personal trainer patted his back. "Good luck."
Who the hell is he anyway, he never really talks much
Never concerned with status but still leavin' them star struck
Humbled through opportunities given despite the fact
Roman drove his right knee up five times before repeating with his left one.
Dean walked closer.
The music stopped about the same time as the workout. "Babe?" he called out as his boyfriend reached for a steel bar in between two pillars and started doing pull ups.
"How was your lunch?" Roman asked.
"It was okay. He's a good guy. Why are you working out so… intensely?"
The raven haired man continued pulling himself up, not answering.
Something was up.
"Is it because of me?"
Roman stopped working out and wiped his face with an Under Armour towel. "No, baby boy. It's not."
"Then what's up?"
"I bumped into my old manager, Paul Heyman. He was keen on me putting on my gloves again. Wants me to fight a guy who's got personal issues with me, Brock Lesnar."
Dean didn't know why but he wasn't happy with this news. Going back to boxing meant that they would hardly see each other.
"But I turned him down," Roman continued. "I just want an easy life. That's all."
"...and that life's with me, right?"
His boyfriend kissed him tenderly. "Right."
"I'll leave you to your workout."
"But my next workout involves you."
Dean laughed quietly as Roman took off his tank top and track pants before helping him remove his clothes.
After making love and showering together, Dean asked Roman to leave the room first so that there wouldn't be incessant chatter. His boyfriend then informed him that he'd be back in five minutes; he wanted to buy something to snack on.
When it was Dean's turn, it was just his luck that Seth was by the treadmill machines, helping members out.
"Well," he heard Seth said to the member when he walked past him. "Have a good one." He bumped into Dean. "Not you, Ambrose. I hope you don't have a good one."
"Rollins, your life changes when I am your enemy," Dean warned him coldly. "Don't push me."
"I'll keep pushing you, Ambrose until you quit. Until we rid this place of a trash like you."
"You're gonna have to do a lot more to get rid of me, Rollins. You think your words work on me? You think you can get inside my head? My mind is a very dangerous place to be. I've done a lot of bad things to people and I don't feel bad because of it. When I'm done with you, I won't feel bad because of it either."
The two men stared at each other, sizing one another up.
Dean stalked off back to the office.
Roman was staring at the floor, his mind seemingly miles away. "Roman? Back so soon?"
His boyfriend looked at him. "I saw Seth and you-"
"Keep your friend on a leash and away from me," Dean snapped at the mention of his name. "One more word from him, Roman and he's getting it from me."
"I'll have a word with him. But be the better person, Dean. Just-"
"I don't need to be a better person. That's a lost cause anyway."
Roman sighed and stood up to leave the office, closing the door shut behind him.
Dean punched the table in frustration. He loved Roman with all his heart but his boyfriend's passive approach to Seth was slowly starting to bug him.
Seth's done more for him than you ever did, a voice in his head sneered at him. He may be an asshole to you but he cares for Roman.
So what did that mean for Seth and him? Fighting it out for Roman's heart and loyalty ? Would Dean even win?
His boyfriend returned back, a saddened expression on his face. "I gave Seth some paid time off."
"Roman, I-"
"I'm going out for a drive. I'll be back in two hours."
Dean bit his lip as he watched his boyfriend grab his car keys. He didn't like it but he understood.
Roman was caught between a rock and a hard place.
"Before you go," Dean said. "I'm bringing you out for a picnic tomorrow."
"Sure."
That was it? "I hope you'll like it. I'll prepare the food and everything." And it'll help you strike one more goal off your list.
"If it's from you, I know I'll love it."
And just like that, they were alright again.
A/N This chapter was hard to write as I was feeling out of it between the gassing and medication. I hope you can forgive me. Thank you nonetheless for your comments, favorites and follows. I appreciate it.