Chapter Thirteen

"Ugh, I'm going to hit him!" I scowled at my phone and tossed it across the counter.

Becky, who was sitting at the breakfast counter eating a piece the cake she'd brought over for us, raised her eyebrows, "I didn't take you and Randy for the abusive types, though taking into consideration your profession, I guess that makes sense."

"Do you remember when I told you about my sister and how she keeps asking everyone for money?" She nodded her head. "Well as it turns out, Randy sent her some money about a month ago, and he lied to me about it. I've specifically told him a hundred times to stop funding her but he never seems to listen."

"Well how much did he send her?"

"Three thousand apparently, around the same time my Dad sent her the same amount. God knows what she's been doing with all of that money. No doubt she's blown it all already."

"What does she spend it on?"

"I have no idea. Drinking, clothes, nothing useful I can tell you that much. I understand people want her taken care of, and of course I know that some of that money goes towards my nephews, but it's starting to get out of hand. Six thousand dollars!"

"I don't understand how she can live that way. The thought of putting myself before Shay is so ludicrous to me."

"Clearly you got that mother instinct, something that seems to be missing in Sammy. I feel like I'm constantly talking about this too. I keep telling myself I'm going to stop worrying about it, but I'm stressing over it constantly. And Randy lying about it? That makes me so angry."

"He's doing you a favor you can't admit to yourself that you want. He's looking out for you in all of this. Is she into drugs or anything like that?"

I shook my head, "No, she has some brain cells. It's just immaturity. Two kids, but not wanting to grow up."

"It'll happen."

"Sometimes people just don't."

"She's got a great support system. Might take awhile, but I'm certain she has the ability to make changes. You've just got to be vigorous. And don't punish Randy too long. He knows looking after you means looking after the people you love as well."

I sighed, "I know. But that doesn't make it any less frustrating."

A few hours later I was seated out on the patio with a cup of iced tea, reading a book when Randy joined me out there. He had to catch a cab home because I conveniently forgot to pick him up at the airport.

"You made it."

He sent me a steely gaze, "With no help from you. You don't respond to my texts, or answer when I call, and then you don't show up at the airport. I'm beginning to think you're mad at me," he said sarcastically.

"Oh, what gave it away?"

"The long drive home with a cab driver who decided to describe his sex life in excruciating detail."

I fought hard to keep my face impassive.

"I don't get why you're mad. I sent the money for your nephews."

"You lied about it! I specifically asked you if you'd heard from her and you said no."

"Because I knew you'd get mad! It wasn't hurting anyone."

"It is! Because she's going to keep thinking that it's okay to not work because there'll always be people around she can live off of!"

"Mickie, how she lives her life isn't really your business. You can't change her, or make her do what you want her to do. All you can do is support her, and help when you can, and that's what I've been doing."

"She's not even your sister!" I said loudly.

"Technically she is. Us being married and all," he sat down next to me and grabbed my hand, "I'm sorry for lying to you, but she needed help and I wasn't going to say no."

I half-laughed, half-pouted, "How can I stay mad at you for being so great to my family?"

"I don't know, you explain it to me."

"You lied to me," I muttered and rested my head against his arm, "We don't lie to each other."

"I know. I've been feeling guilty about it ever since, that's why I decided to tell you about it. Next time she asks me, if there is a next time, I promise that I'll tell you about it immediately and let you deal with it."

"Oh, there'll be a next time. We can bet on that."

For the next couple months besides waiting around for my sister to call and ask for more money, and apart from the trip Randy and I took down to Tampa to celebrate Cody's twenty-fifth birthday bash at the end of June, nothing of real excitement happened. I did start to enjoy having more time off than I did for that first month, but I still felt like something was missing. That was until TNA contacted me.

They called to ask if I'd be interested in joining their company and I'd been thrilled at the prospect of wrestling again. I'd decided to get back into the indie shows, but this, this was so much better. I flew to Florida not long after they'd called, met with the management over there and it only furthered my belief that this was the path I needed to take.

The only obstacle was discussing it with Randy.

"TNA, Mickie? Are you serious?"

He was pacing the floor in front of the fireplace in the living room of our house. He'd only been home a few hours before I'd bombarded him with the news.

I was seated on our sofa, twisting my hands together in nervous anticipation. I nodded my head, "They've called and you know I took that trip out there last week."

"You told me it was a vacation, which I'm not impressed about by the way, now that I think of it."

"It was a vacation… I just conveniently forgot to mention that I had a meeting too. Randy it's a good opportunity for me."

"But you left them before, why would you go back?"

I looked at him as if he should know this, "Because I want to wrestle, Randy. And I left them before because I got the offer from the WWE that I'd been waiting for, and because the money from TNA was shit. But I don't have to worry about money anymore, not with what you've made me save up over the years and with you making the money you do. Financially we're great. This is purely because I just want to wrestle."

"You said you wanted to do indie shows."

"And I did, until I found out TNA was interested. Randy, you don't understand, their women's division… it's phenomenal. They appreciate women who can wrestle over there. They give them the time of day, and I think I could do something great."

"But Mickie…" he stopped pacing and stared at me with a look of uncertainty, "Mickie you'd have to be in Florida most of the time."

"But that's what's great about this, Randy. If they travelled the way the WWE does, it'd be a nightmare for us. This way I can split time between Orlando and here." I surveyed his face for a few more moments, knowing how big of a decision this was for the both of us, not just me. "Randy we need to let this go and move on. We can't keep sitting around wishing that things were different, that's not the kind of people we are. We need to accept that this is our life now. And… I need this. I'm not done with being in that ring. I still feel like I have so much to offer."

He came around the coffee table to sit next to me, a sympathetic look on his face, "I know you do," he sighed, "Of course you should take the job. You should be out there living your dream. You've made so many sacrifices for me, Mickie, of course I want you to do this for you."

"You're seriously doing this? I've spent the last month thinking this was a joke."

"Of course I'm doing this, Phil. I've already made my decision."

"But… TNA? Come on Mickie."

I cradled the phone between my ear and shoulder so I could be free to keep folding clothes to place in my many suitcases, "As always, I don't need your disdain right now Punk… or ever, for that matter."

"Fine, but it kind of seems like you're taking a step back here, doesn't it?"

"What choice do I have?"

"Yes, because lack of choices seems like the best reason to make a decision," he said sarcastically.

"You know what I mean. And I'm not taking a step back. I can't wait to get back in that division Phil. You've seen what those ladies can do. And they're willing to go where the WWE hasn't gone in years, and I'm going to get to be a part of that. Maybe they don't get treated the best either, but they sure as hell get more opportunities inside of that ring. I feel good about this, like this is the path I'm meant to take, so a little support would be nice."

"Hey, I'm mister supportive over here, you know me, I always have to make some sort of negative remark, it's like my default setting."

I laughed, "I'm glad you can admit that after all these years. I gotta go, you're distracting me and I have a ton of packing left to do."

"Give 'em hell James, like only you know how."

I shoved the door of the hotel room open, and sighed. It had taken me three trips to get all of my luggage to my floor and now here I was standing in what was going to be my makeshift home for who knew how long.

"Here we go," I said to the empty room.

It was a mostly silent ordeal as I set about hanging clothes up in the closet until I got a text.

Hey, I assume you've touched down by now. Some of us are getting together for a bite. Come and join us, get to know everyone.

I smiled, and abandoning my task of getting settled in, I dressed in a soft pink peplum top, jeans and heels, and then clambered into my rental – already yearning for my Range Rover which Randy was having sent down to me as soon as possible – and arrived at the meeting place Lisa had told me about in good time.

I couldn't contain the grin on my face as I caught sight of her, and she couldn't either. She jumped to her feet and pulled me into her arms, "Mickie! God, it's been so long, hasn't it?! You look amazing!"

"Well when you're fired and find yourself with a ton of free time, you tend to work yourself half to death for no other reason than because you have nothing better to do. And after that overweight storyline, well…"

She shook her head, "I couldn't believe they'd even go there. That was despicable, you've always looked great."

"It was teaching an important lesson about bullying, I really didn't mind."

"Well I did," she said and then her face brightened, "Come and say hi to everyone." She led me over to a massive booth occupied by a bunch of people, all of which I recognized of course, but there were a few I hadn't gotten around to meeting personally. "Okay so you know Christy, Brooke, Angelina, Katarina and Jeff."

I smiled. While I hadn't been very close with Christy, Brooke or Angelina, our paths had crossed back in the WWE and it was comforting seeing familiar faces. They all responded in kind, welcoming me to TNA. I had, however, been close with Katie, and I gave her a big squeeze. If anyone at this table understood me, it was her. I didn't find out until a few hours after Vince gave me the news, but she'd also been released the same day I had.

"Look at us, both kicked to the curb by the WWE, and both about to make our debuts in TNA."

I grinned up at her, "Let's show them what they're missing."

"Deal."

My attention was pulled away by Jeff. He was someone I'd gotten to know very well over the years, and he pushed his way out of the booth so he could give me a big bear hug.

"It's been awhile, hey?"

I nodded my head, "Sure has! Jeez, how are you doing?"

"I've been good, healed up great, enjoying my time here in TNA. How's that husband of yours? Keeping out of trouble, I hope."

"He's about as good at staying out of trouble as you are," I teased.

He laughed, "Sometimes we just can't help it."

"Yeah well, it's not always fun to be the woman married to that guy."

Another laugh escaped his lips, "But that's why you women love us so much, we keep you on your toes."

I rolled my eyes playfully, "I heard you're about to have a baby any day now."

He grinned down at me, "Yeah a daughter, I'm excited."

"That's amazing! Congrats to both of you. How's your brother?"

He shrugged his shoulders, "Who knows with Matt these days?"

I turned back to the table with a smile as Lisa continued the introductions, "And while you might recognize the rest, I don't think you've met them. This is A.J., Ashley, Jamie and Nick."

I greeted them all warmly, but Nick was the only one to climb out of the booth to shake my hand. And then he pulled up a chair at the table for me before taking his seat. We ordered food and drinks, and I had to say it was a great first night. It definitely got me excited to start my new journey here and everyone seemed great. I got the feeling I was going to fit in just perfectly, and it definitely helped that everyone made me feel like I was already part of the gang. I'd expected a little coldness – who knew what they thought about my time in the WWE? – but that didn't seem to be an issue, not that I was the only one who'd been part of and burned by the biggest wrestling company in the world.

"So Mickie, I take it you're super excited to get back in the ring, but I can't imagine this setup is easy for you and your husband," Ashley commented.

"Not so much. But Randy and I are used to living separate lives. That's how it is in the WWE, they try to be accommodating with couples, but they can't please everyone, you know? We often worked different tours, signings, events, media hype, those sorts of things. It's hard, and you don't get used to it, but it just becomes another part of the routine of that lifestyle."

"So are you excited to stay in one place?"

"Honestly, yes and no. Travelling is great, it's exhausting, but it's exciting and refreshing. But it's… exhausting," I laughed, "And you never really get adequate time off to recover, so yes I'm looking forward to being able to continue sleeping in my own bed every night… that is of course when I find a place."

A few hours later, I found I'd had a little too much to drink and wasn't too impressed with myself. Either I should have limited myself to one drink, or I should have caught a cab to the restaurant, because now I was going to have to deal with the task of retrieving my car in the morning. But I wasn't the only one who was a little worse for wear. By the end of the night I was arguing with Lisa about how I was going to get home. She was driving the other knockouts, as they all seemed to live sort of in the same area, or at least in areas on the way to her own house. A.J. had left after he'd finished dinner to get home to his family, which just left me. Nick had offered to drive me home. Of course I'd declined, insisting I'd just get a cab, but Lisa told me to stop being ridiculous since my hotel was on his way anyway.

"I really wouldn't have minded getting a cab," I told him while we were already in the car and pulling away from the tavern.

"Just consider this a welcome to TNA favor."

"So you don't feel a little weird about this at all? I mean I could be a serial killer."

He chuckled, "I think that's very unlikely, but if that turns out to be the case, I'm pretty confident I could handle you."

"Oh I love it when a man underestimates me. It makes it that much sweeter when I prove him wrong."

"So you're saying you are, in fact, going to kill me, just to prove a point?"

"Yes… no!" I insisted, "Honestly I have no idea what I'm trying to say at the moment. It's been a long time since I've had tequila. I really hate whoever came up with the idea."

"That would be you," he said, amusement in his tone.

"Of course… well I'm going to hate myself in the morning."

"So why Orlando? Most of us chose to settle in Tampa."

"Disneyworld is in my backyard, duh!" I laughed, "No, it just seemed like the best choice, less of a commute since I'm going to be travelling back and forth between here and St. Louis as it is." The words had just left my mouth when my cell phone rang from inside my clutch. I fished it out and smiled when I saw the name, "Randy…" I breathed and then accepted the call, "Hey, I was wondering when you were going to call."

"Are you… drunk?" I could tell by the tone of his voice he was caught somewhere between amused and confused.

"Maybe just slightly… you know what tequila does to me. Lisa invited me out to meet my new co-workers, and well… it's rude to decline when someone offers you tequila." I heard Nick chuckle quietly.

"Yeah, I'm sure they had to twist your arm," Randy said, the humor still in his tone, "I can't remember the last time you were drunk."

"That's not exactly a bad thing," I pouted.

"So are you all settled in?"

"As settled in as I can be in a hotel room."

"We'll find something you love, I promise."

"I know," I muttered, "Sorry for being so picky."

He laughed, "Mickie, if you weren't being picky, I'd think something was wrong. Look they're calling for us to board, I just wanted to check in and make sure you were doing okay. I'll text you when I land and then call you in the morning. God, I miss you already. I know we've been apart a lot lately, but just knowing you aren't going to be there when I get home is disheartening. And we thought working separate tours and shows over the years was hard."

"I know, I feel the same. But like I said, we're going to make this work. If anyone can, it's us. And Randy… I miss you too. I love you, okay?"

"I love you too, now get some sleep. I get the feeling you're going to hate yourself in the morning."

I couldn't help but laugh, "You know me so well."

I ended the call a few seconds later and immediately felt a little embarrassed. For a few minutes I'd forgotten I wasn't alone.

"Sorry," I muttered.

Nick waved me off, "Don't worry about it. Your husband?"

"No, that was lover number two," I teased.

"I have been told I'm an expert at stating the obvious. So you're married to the famous Randy Orton?"

"So you've heard of him?"

"Oh, I've heard of the guy."

I narrowed my eyes in confusion, "I can't tell whether that's a negative or positive connotation."

"Let's just say we work for completely different companies, but stories tend to circulate in our world."

"I bet you most of them aren't true," he turned to look at me and I laughed, "Actually I bet you they are true. Randy's an… interesting guy, what can I say?"

He only responded with a smile, and I realized we were pulling into the parking lot of the hotel.

"This is where you're living?"

"Just temporarily until I find an apartment I like. We've been looking for about a month now, and I think he's getting annoyed with how fussy I'm being."

"This sucks, I mean I know with the WWE you're used to living on the road but still… it can't be fun. I have a spare bedroom you could use. You know, until you find something."

I laughed, "I appreciate that, but no thank you. I mean you seem nice enough but I barely know you, and I don't think my husband would like that very much."

"He'd like the idea of you living here more?"

"Than me living with a strange man? Yes, absolutely. Plus, you could be a serial killer," he laughed at that, "Thank you again for the ride, I really appreciate it."

"I'm just doing the great city of Orlando a service, keeping you off the road while under the influence of tequila."

"That's doing the world a service," I laughed.

He stared at me, humor shining in his eyes, "Somehow I don't doubt that. Goodnight Mickie James."

"Orton… its Mickie Orton."

"Mickie James rolls off the tongue better, I'll stick with that."

I couldn't help but smile as I closed the door behind me and headed into the lobby. He watched to make sure I got inside alright before pulling away, and I couldn't deny how great he seemed. My first night officially on the TNA roster, and I'd already made some friends. I just had this instinctive feeling that things were only going to get better from here on out.

Things are getting interesting. Just finished this one too :) Hope you enjoy it!