A/N: Thanks to everyone who followed/favorited since last chapter! Sooooooo late, but I'm finding it really hard to write about events that happened so long ago. Don't worry, I will not abandon this story; we are in this until the end! I meant to get a chapter out weeks ago, but my brother slipped a disk so I spent Christmas in the ER instead. So Happy New Year! Hopefully this will get me back on track for updating as well.
-UntilNeverDawns: Hello and tell me about it! This is the longest it has taken in any story I've written to get to the actual romance part.
-caleb's babe: Thanks, I love how he takes the car too, just as you said it's classic WWE.
-Guest: Here you go, it's just been a month! Glad you loved it!
As I woke up, I stretched my legs out in bed. I could feel a heavy arm on my waist and the sheets against my body. I knew I was naked and I knew who I was with. I felt Stephen stir behind me and pull me back up against his chest. He kissed my shoulder and I looked back at him. He smiled at me before leaning over and kissing me gently. I smiled into the kiss and rolled over draping one of my arms over his chest. He squeezed me briefly before letting go and stretching.
"Ah don' know about ya, but Ah'm starving." I laughed, but sat up and stretched as well.
"Eating sounds like a great plan."
Sitting at the side of the bed I tried to pull on my underwear with dignity and then appear casual as I looked for some clothes. We had apparently made it back to my room because I found my suitcase sitting on a chair by the window. I grabbed out clean clothes and tried not to make a mad dash to the bathroom. When I had shut the door I sighed and relaxed. I was pretty comfortable in my body, but prancing around naked, was not my thing. In the ring, dressing skimpy was easy because I let a little of my alter ego out, but in real life I only had me.
"Ah'm gonna get my bag, but Ah'll come back to get ya."
"That's fine." I yelled through the door at Stephen as I started getting dressed. I quickly washed my face and applied a little makeup before exiting the bathroom. I started when I looked into the room and saw Stephen sitting on the bed. He laughed and I rolled my eyes walking over to my suitcase, shoving things in.
"How did you get back?"
"Stole yer keycard. Ah knew ya weren' gonna need it." I zipped up my bag and picked it up turning back to him, shaking my head, but smiling.
"Let's go." He grabbed my bag and his before heading to the door. After a short elevator ride I followed him into the lobby, but he went straight through. "Aren't we getting breakfast?"
"Ah'm takin' ya out." I smiled and followed him into the parking lot. Stephen took us to a small dinner and we sat in a booth and ordered before he leaned forward slightly, looking at me intently.
"Ah think we need to talk." I felt my chest clench nervously, but I nodded and tried to remain calm. "Ah was a bit drunk last night and Ah think ya were too, but we're both adults. We both knew what we were gettin' into and I don' regret a thing. I don't see why anything has to change, I like ya, lass. Quite a bit." I smiled as he reached across the table taking my hand.
"I like you, too."
I don't think I have ever been this happy in a relationship. We laughed a lot and spent most of our time together. It was easy and relaxed. We tried to build a relationship that wasn't based around sex, especially with the way things started, but it was hard not to fall into bed after spending time together. The only problem I had was that there was nothing stable about it. We never spoke about what our relationship actually was and that made me nervous.
We had just gotten off the plane in Denver and were headed to the rental car. I was trying to get enough courage to ask Stephen to stay with me while we were here, but I hadn't been able to yet. He put our bags in the car before backing out and heading away from the airport. We rode quietly listening to the radio before Ste reached out and turned it down slightly.
"Where should Ah drop ya off before I head out to find a hotel?" Now or never.
"Why bother with a hotel; you can just stay with me. We always end up sharing a room anyway." I hoped that sounded more confident than I felt.
"If ya don' mind puttin' up with me, I'd love to." I laughed slightly and shoved his arm a bit.
"If I can put up with you five days a week one more night shouldn't hurt. What do you want to do for dinner?"
"Ah'm feelin' lazy, let's jus' get take out."
"Mr. Health-nut wants take out, you must be tired." Suddenly his phone started to ring and he glanced down at it.
"Who is it?" I grabbed the phone and saw Stu's name blinking across the screen. With Stephen came his two best friends Stuart Bennett and Drew Galloway. They had worked together long before WWE and got along well having come over from the general same area.
"It's Stu." Stephen groaned.
"Must be a lads night." I laughed and put the phone on speaker.
"What's the craic fella?" I almost snorted. I could never get over that phrase.
"We're going out tonight. I need to drink a pint and watch football, or I'm liable to punch the next person who comes up expecting a nice long chat about wrestling."
"Hey! We're in Colorado, these are my people."
"Oh love, why am I not surprised you're in on this conversation." I smiled. Stu was surly and poor tempered, but I couldn't help liking him.
"It's been a long day, so it's takeout and Tv tonight, Stu."
"Make that Tv a football match and Drew and I are in." I laughed as Stephen sighed.
"A quiet night in, does not include the two of ya." He shook his head. "Ya don' even know where she lives."
"You can have sex, after we've gone and don't think I can't find out where she lives." I blushed slightly and there was a pause on the other end. "Although it would be easier on everyone if you just told me." I laughed.
"I'll text you Stu."
"There's a good sport, love." He hung up without another word and I sent him a text with my address before giving Stephen directions to a Chinese restaurant by my apartment.
After picking up food, we headed straight to the apartment and I unlocked the door pushing it open with my foot. I set the large paperbag on the coffee table and directed Ste into the bedroom to put down our bags. He walked back into the living room, stretching his arms over his head wincing slightly. He had been trying to hide it, but I think he had pulled something recently. I watched as he flopped into the chair in the corner of the room, putting up the foot rest and laying back sighing. He made the chair look small and I laughed, walking over to him.
"I bought that chair because it was oversized and you make it look down right small." He smiled up at me pulling me into his lap.
"Jus' the right size, lass." I threw an arm around his neck and leaned against his chest. "Ya didn' have to invite the lads over tonight, they can take care of themselves."
"I don't mind. I like them, besides you have been ignoring them for the most part recently."
"It's hard to take them over ya when they're missin' a few key body parts." He winked up at me and I laughed leaning down to kiss him as the doorbell rang. Stephen groaned against my lips before I stood up heading for the door. I opened the door to an annoyed Stu and smiling Drew.
"I was told there'd be food." Stu walked past me into the apartment.
"Hello, Stu." He wrapped an arm around my shoulders from behind and hugged me briefly.
"Hello, love." Drew stepped in, leaning forward and kissing my cheek in greeting.
"Hello, Eva."
"Bad day at the airport?" I tilted my head to the side.
"We were mobbed from the moment we stepped off the plane up to gettin' the car." He put a hand on my shoulder guiding me into the apartment as he shut the door. I looked into the living room and saw Stu already on the couch, feet up on the coffee table and eating out of one of the containers from the bag.
"Where did you get that fork?" I hadn't gotten any out yet.
"Bag." He pointed at the coffee table with the fork, but continued eating. I walked into the kitchen and started pulling out dishes for all of us. I saw Ste put the footrest down and move to stand.
"You just wait there, no need for you get up." He looked at me before settling back in the chair. Drew helped me carry everything before I started setting out boxes of food.
"What do you want?" I looked at Ste as I tucked some of my hair behind my ear.
"Some of everythin'," he pointed at Stu, "except whatever that is." I laughed before filling a plate and handing it to Ste with a fork.
"Well someone's playing favorites." I looked at Stu as he shoved a large piece of broccoli into his mouth.
"You looked like you had it under control." He smirked at me as he chewed.
"What do ya have to drink, lass?"
"Oh, I'm sorry Drew, what do you want?"
"Please tell me you have beer." I smirked at Stu and walked over to one of the kitchen pantries.
"Step into the booze closet." I flung open the door.
"Oh my god." Stu set down his carton and rushed over looking at all the six packs and liquor bottles. Drew followed pretty closely behind and they began purusing together.
"You want a Guinness Ste?" He nodded chewing quickly. Drew held out a bottle and I opened it before walking over to Stephen and handing it to him. I filled my own plate and sat on the couch close to Stephen while the boys argued in the kitchen. Finally Stu walked back to the living room with a six pack of Stella and settled back on the couch.
"What do you want lass?" Drew was standing in the kitchen pulling out a couple of glasses.
"Do you have a whiskey?" He held up a bottle.
"Talisker."
"Perfect, grab me a 7up from the fridge." He mixed my drink before bringing it in to me. I thanked him taking a drink before setting it on the coffee table and going back to eating. Stu opened one of the Stellas before turning to me.
"How do I make this play football?" I grabbed the remote and handed it to him for sitting back and prepared myself for a long night.