Disclaimer: Still owning nothing over here.

Chapter 13

A.J Styles' apartment, Tampa, Florida, May 20, 2008

Karen had been sat on the couch waiting for A.J's return for the last few minutes. She still couldn't get over how in love with A.J she looked on the DVD. Now when she looked at him she didn't really feel anything for him. Sure, he was a really nice guy, good looking and he treated her like a princess. "This must be so hard for him," she whispered. The phone rang and as A.J was still in the bathroom Karen decided to answer it, "Hello?"

"Hey you, it's me," a male voice replied.

"Who is this?" Karen joked, pretending not to recognise the caller's voice.

"Like you don't know. I was actually calling to see if you needed a ride to work."

"Thanks for the offer, Jay but A.J is taking me," Karen replied.

"Okay … Cool, just thought I'd ask."

"That was very sweet of you."

"What can I say, I'm a sweet guy."

Karen laughed, "I think we'll be leaving soon. I was just watching a DVD of a trip me and A.J took to Paris."

Jay sighed loudly, "Oh yes, you did not shut up about that trip for weeks. Nothing coming back to you yet?"

"No, it's so frustrating."

"I bet A.J's having a hard time keeping his hands off you."

Karen frowned despite that fact the blond man couldn't see her, "What do you mean?"

"I think you know exactly what I mean. I know about you and A.J. Why do you think I kept banging on about A.J having an affair with a married woman?"

"Why didn't you just tell me?"

"Because I was trying to be subtle."

"You subtle? Are you kidding me?"

"You wound me, Special K. You really do."

"Wow, I haven't been called that in a while … unless you call me it all the time these days?"

"Nope, not really," the blond man replied.

"Thank god … I'm so sick of finding out most of my life has completed changed. I found out this morning that I love waffles. Can you believe that? I mean waffles."

The Canadian laughed, "A.J spent a whole bunch of money on that special waffle iron for you so yeah, I can."

Karen scratched her head, "Yeah, he mentioned that. He's such a sweet guy."

"He's adorable," Jay said sarcastically. "Anyways, back to the subject at hand, you and A.J."

"How did you find out?"

"You told me," Jay informed her.

"I did? When?" Karen couldn't believe what she was hearing.

"Eight months ago. I've known from the start." Jay replied.

"Kurt knows."

"Yeah, you told him … The day of the accident, actually."

Karen's jaw dropped, "What?"

"You told him you were leaving him and wanted a divorce."

"Does A.J know about this? I mean he hasn't said anything to me about it."

"He's not said anything to me either so I don't think so."

Karen had a sudden thought, "Jay, I have to go, I'll see you later okay? Bye." She hung up the phone and moved into the kitchen. She pressed play on the answer machine and waited for the saved message to start playing … 'Hey you. I've been thinking about you all morning. Last night was just so perfect. I have something really important to tell you so call me when you get this message. Love ya.' Things were all starting to make sense, "That must be what I was going to tell A.J. I was leaving Kurt."

A.J appeared behind her from the bathroom, "Everything okay?"

"No, not really," Karen admitted.

A.J frowned, "What's wrong?"

"That was Jay on the phone. Kurt told him I said I was leaving him on the day of the accident and I told him about us," the brunette explained. "I've just listened to the message again and it all fits. I'm still a bit confused about the night before being so perfect though."

A.J gave her a wide smile, "I'm not. That night … really was perfect."

"You're going to have to elaborate, A.J because I have no idea what it was like."

The dark haired man sighed, "Let's just say, the sex was great."

Karen placed her hands on her hips, "So great sex is all that matters?"

"No!" A.J made a face, shaking his head slightly, "That's not what I'm saying at all." He reached out and gentle caressed her bare arm sending a shiver down Karen's spine, "You and me … what we share is special. We don't just have sex … we make love. There's a big difference and I don't care if I sound like a complete woman right now but it's true. I love you more than anything else."

"More than wrestling?"

"Oh hell yeah. I would never step foot in a wrestling ring again if it meant you got your memory back."

"You really mean that don't you?"

"Yeah … I do."

Karen blinked back tears that appeared out of nowhere, "Oh A.J."

A.J stepped forward and pulled the brunette into a hug, stroking her hair gently as she sniffled into his chest, "Don't cry … okay. Everything's gonna be okay. It might take some time but we'll get through this … I promise."

A.J's kind words didn't nothing to stop Karen's tears from forming, if anything, the fact he was being so loving was making her worse, "Thanks Allen." Without thinking Karen pushed back a little from A.J's chest she looked up into his eyes before she knew what was happening she was kissing him on the lips and he was kissing her back. Her common sense kicked in seconds later and she broke the kiss, "Oh my god, A.J I'm so sorry. I don't know what came over me."

A.J placed his index finger close to her mouth, "Shh, it's okay. You don't have to explain. You just got caught up in the moment." He gave her a half smile, "It's not the first time it's happened and I'm sure it won't be the last."

"It's not?"

"No, maybe nine months ago, it was happening all the time. I'd kiss you and regret … regret isn't the right word but we knew it was wrong. Then maybe a couple of days later, you'd kiss me and …"

"Regret it?"

"Yeah, like I said before it got real hard. At one point we tried to stay away from each other completely but that was ridiculous and it only made things worse."

"Is this when I slapped you?" Karen asked.

"This was a little bit before then. We were both in denial but we went out of our way to annoy each other. This one time and to this day I don't know what you were thinking but you starting flirting with Kurt so much to make me jealous. And I tried to pretend I was cool but inside I was going fricken crazy."

Karen cast him a guilty glance unsure of what she should say to him.

"I haven't even told you the worst part yet."

The brunette cringed, "What's the worst part?"

"First I should tell you that I don't drink alcohol at all. For one I don't like the taste and secondly it makes me sick as a dog but once particular time I was so riled up from you flirting with Kurt that I started drinking … shots, beer anything I could get my hands on." A.J paused for a moment, "Pretty stupid thing to do but like I said, I was going fricken crazy. It didn't take long for me to get totally wasted and then I did something I still regret to this day."

Worry washed over Karen's pretty face, "What did you do?"

"I kissed Christy Hemme or should I say I stuck my tongue down Christy Hemme's throat … I don't know who was more jealous, you or Kurt. If looks could kill I'd be a dead man. The next day I was so sick, I just wanted to die until around four in the afternoon when you showed up at my place and we didn't argue … in fact we didn't say a word we just lay on my bed looking at each other and that was the moment I knew."

"Knew what?"

"That I'd never love anybody else the way I love you." He stroked her cheek gently, "Everything's gonna be okay … I promise."

Karen's stomach flip flopped, "I hope you're right A.J. I really do."