We all flew to Houston for the Hall of Fame and Wrestlemania. Jeremy was waiting in the airport, having just arrived shortly before we did. We rushed towards each other, nearly colliding over a row of chairs. As soon as Jeremy let me go, I was tackled from behind by someone else. I didn't have to look behind me to know who it was.
"Hi, Elizabeth." I greeted my cousin.
"Sandy! This is so exciting! Ah, I'm beside myself right now. Aunt Kristina and Uncle Punk going into the Hall of Fame! And me as the diva's champion. You'll be here before too much longer, I just know it. Gosh, aren't you as excited as me?" Elizabeth spoke in a rush.
"Yeah, it's pretty exciting."
"Oh my gosh, you've got to look at the dress I'm wearing. It's sick. We've got to find a place to do our hair! Gah, I'm so excited!" she continued.
Jeremy and I exchanged looks, letting my cousin rattle on. Elizabeth was the oldest out of Mom's brother's children. That's pretty much where our similarities end. Mom tried to talk her up to me once, sighting our love for wrestling and long brown hair, as if that was common ground. I rolled my eyes at the thought. Elizabeth never came across like she actually loved wrestling as much as she claimed to. In my opinion, it was something that garnered her attention. Still, she was good in the ring. There were several currently in the company that I thought was better, but would never admit that to her.
Jeremy and I continued to let Elizabeth ramble excitedly through the airport. We met up with my other cousins, Peyton, Sidney, and Caleb, as well as Uncle Wayne and Aunt Leah.
"Hey girl." Uncle Wayne greeted, giving me a hug.
"Where's your folks?" Aunt Leah asked.
"They took an earlier flight. Where's Grandpa?" I asked.
"He's over there with Rachel and PJ." Uncle Wayne pointed.
I never got to see my Uncle Wayne, the only real uncle I have. I had heard only one mention of Dad's brother in my entire life. Dad disowned him, refusing to let any of us have anything to do with Mike.
Come to think of it, I haven't seen my fraternal grandparents in years either. Dad didn't really have much to do with his biological family.
"I'm so jealous of your big family." Jeremy whispered.
"They are pretty fantastic." I grinned.
The entire family met up in the lobby of the hotel we were staying at. Jeremy marveled as he watched the Brooks and Gause clans intermingle with each other for the first time in a while.
I wasn't surprised when Aunt Tamma didn't come to the lobby. She's not much for large crowds. Uncle Colt, however, was cutting up with Uncle Wayne and having a great time. As much as I love my family, they can be a bit too much at times. I found a spot in the back of the room, not hiding from anyone but not going out of my way to talk to people either.
"Come with me, I have a surprise for you." Jeremy whispered in my ear.
"Now?" I asked, looking around.
"It's cool, your parents know. Everyone else is too busy to notice you're gone. Come on." Jeremy said, grabbing my hand and led me off the couch.
There was a cab waiting for us as we left the hotel. I looked at him curiously, but he winked, opening the car door for me.
"Where are we going?" I asked.
"If I told you, it wouldn't be a surprise." He told me.
The cab pulled up to a large white building. The sign out front read "Houston Ice Palace."
"Are you kidding?" I asked, excitedly.
"I've got the whole place rented for the next hour." Jeremy told me, grabbing my hand.
"How did you find a place like this in Houston?" I asked.
"I have my ways."
I was so excited that I could barely lace up my ice skates.
"Here." Jeremy said, handing me a green sweater.
"You've thought of everything, didn't you?" I asked, pulling the sweater on over my tank top.
"I do try." He said, winking.
I hit the ice and started around the rink, letting my long brown hair flow behind me as I got into my groove. I had always loved ice skating. There was just something freeing about being out on the ice that I loved. I turned around, skating backwards as I looked to see where Jeremy was.
"Show off." He teased.
"No, this is showing off." I said, kicking off hard with my right leg.
I gathered up a lot of speed and balanced my weight on my right leg, my left leg stretched out behind me, I rounded the curve, still skating on one leg. I brought my left leg back down, kicking off hard again. I pivoted with my right skate, launching myself in the air, spinning around twice before landing perfectly on the ice. I skated back to where he was, coming to a perfect stop in front of him.
"I stand corrected. Is there anything you can't do?" He asked.
"I wanted to be a figure skater when I was younger. I used to take lessons." I told him. "That was before wrestling took over my life. Do you remember when I tried out for the high school hockey team?"
"No, I remember. Why do you think I brought you here?"
I watched him as his legs were wobbly, almost falling over.
"Here." I began skating backwards, taking his hand.
"What are you doing?" He asked, looking at me uncertainly.
"Teaching you how to dance on ice." I informed him.
I held him up straighter, pulling him along with my rhythm. Jeremy was still shaky for a little bit but eventually started to follow my rhythm. We started slowly, letting him get used to the feel of the ice and the balance of the skates. We skated together until a manager came onto the ice, letting us know that our hour was done.
"Time to get back." Jeremy said, sighing heavily.
When we got back to the hotel, my family was still gathered in the lobby. Jeremy was partially right. The only ones that knew from my family that we were gone were my parents. However, as soon as we stepped back into the hotel lobby, Sammy made a beeline for me.
"Hey, can we talk?" He asked. Sammy cut his eyes towards Jeremy before looking back at me. "Alone?"
"Yeah." I agreed. Jeremy looked like he was going to protest, but I placed a tender hand on his chest. "It's okay. I'll just be a few minutes."
Sammy and I walked silently out of the lobby and into a small office center. I sat on the desk, looking over at Sammy expectantly.
"Jeremy Cena." Sammy began, disdain filling his blue eyes.
"We're not together, Sam. I can date who I want." I pointed out.
"I know. I don't have the right to say anything, being the one who called us off."
I had never seen Sammy look so tormented. He paced in the tiny office, running his fingers through his dirty blonde hair. He looked like he hadn't shaved or slept in a few days.
"Are you okay?" I asked.
"Would I be an ass if I asked you if you were with him to piss me off?"
"Yes, you would be an ass. And no, that's not why I'm seeing Jeremy."
He let out a small sigh, pulling a coin out of his pocket and rolling it around with his fingers like he tended to do when he was nervous or upset.
"Are you happy?" He asked.
"I am." I simply said.
"You deserve every happiness, Sandy. I just wanted to be that guy."
"You were." I softly said. "And then you went to Germany and banged that barmaid."
"Hey, we had an understanding." Sammy defensively said.
"I don't fault you. We hadn't seen each other in two months at this point. But that was the tipping point in your mind, wasn't it?"
"Yeah...yeah..." Sammy's voice trailed off.
"Hey." I called over to him, reaching my hand out. Sammy stopped pacing, taking a hold of it so I could pull him to me.
I still felt that same tug that I always felt with him. How easy would it be to pull him closer, wrap my legs around his waist, and lose myself. But I could never be that girl. I could never purposely hurt Jeremy or cheat on someone.
"This isn't the right time for us, Sam. I don't know where things are going to go with Jeremy, but I do want to find that out. And as my friend." I stressed the last word. "I expect you to be supportive of me."
"You're right." He gave me a soft smile. "As your friend, I want you to be happy. And as your friend, if he hurts you, I'm sending my sister to kick his ass because if I do, I would kill him."
I couldn't help but laugh. I pulled him in, giving him a quick hug. "Thanks, Sammy."
"For you, Sandy, anything."