Chapter Thirty-Five: Hard to Love
"I am insensitive. I have a tendency to pay more attention to the things that I need. Sometimes I drink too much. Sometimes I test your trust. Sometimes I don't know why you stay with me." - Lee Brice
"IT'S A GIRL!"
Haley let out an excited squeal, already on Expedia to look up the next flight she could get to LA. "Oh my Gosh, Dwayne!" She was practically gushing. "Congratulations! I'm looking up the a flight to LA right now. Lucky Candice, she was in labor what? Five hours? I thought for sure she'd be at least eight, giving me more time to get out there."
"Well this little girl is just like her parents, once she set her mind on arriving, she didn't dawdle." Dwayne sounded so happy. "We named her Fayre Audra Johnson."
Haley paused, sentimental tears welling in her eyes. "You gave her my middle name?"
"Haley," Dwayne's voice sounded a little thick as well. "You're Candice's best friend, hell you're my best friend, practically my sister. We love you. And you're Fayre's Godmother. So yes, we wanted to name her after you in some way. Now get your butt out here to come see her!"
"Booking a flight now," Haley sniffled and hastily wiped tears from her eyes. "I love you, Dwayne, I'll text you my flight info. See you in a couple hours."
"Love you too, Haley Baby, I'll have a car waiting for you at the airport, just send me the info." He replied and she could hear the smile in his voice. "See you soon."
Haley hung up with him and filled out her information before booking a flight to Los Angeles. Her heart was so full it could burst. She was an honorary Aunt again, and she made a mental note to bring a present for Simone just in case she felt a little left out with the new baby excitement.
She was so touched that they'd given Fayre the same middle name as she had. Haley's middle name had come from her mother's grandmother. Dwayne and Candice had chosen Audra for its connection to Haley.
And to think two months ago she just wanted to curl in a ball of misery and sadness. Even though she had lost Dave, there were so many good things in her life. Not the least of which was the arrival of her new God daughter. Candice must be over the moon to finally be a Mom.
Haley also had such amazing friends, who had stood by her despite how miserable and lackluster she had been. Kelly hadn't left her side. Michelle was constantly checking in on her. John Cena, despite all her good natured teasing of him, had stepped up and given her a place to stay, as well as company whenever she needed it. Hunter and Steph were always going to be there, she knew that without a doubt. And Kennedy had even spent what was supposed to be her wedding day with her, watching crappy RomComs she knew he hated, just for her. John Morrison had proved to be a worthy friend as well.
And then there was Randy.
Speaking of, she pulled out her phone to shoot him a text. She definitely would not be making their gym session in the morning. She needed to hurry up and pack so she could get to the airport on time.
Candice had the baby! Won't be at gym 2moro flying out to c them! Let u kno when I'm back!
He responded back almost immediately.
Congrats Auntie! Need a ride to airport?
She grinned, wondering how they'd gone a whole year hating each other so much, when it was so easy to fall back into their old rhythm.
Yes pls! Pick me up in 10?
I'll be there.
She let out a happy little jig and then went about packing up her things. She could spend at least a day or two with Dwayne, Candice and Fayre before rejoining the tour for house shows. She have to do a little laundry at Dwayne's but that was so worth skipping the brief trip back to Florida.
She had just zipped up her suitcase when there was a knock on her door. She grabbed her jacket, pulling it on as she went to open it. "Hey!"
"Hey yourself." Randy held the door open as she went back to grab her bag. "Congratulations!"
"Thanks, it's a girl!" Haley beamed at him. "Perfectly healthy and so it Candice. She's exhausted but in great shape. I can't wait to see them."
"I can see that." He chuckled, taking her suitcase from her. "Guess it's a good thing you didn't rent your own car this morning."
"Yeah, I really just want to get on that plane and get there." Haley agreed with a little squeal. "I can't wait!"
"Well then," He chuckled at her antics. "Come on MiLady, your chariot awaits!"
"Thank you for this Randy, I really appreciate it." She told him as they started down the hall.
"No problem Hales, seeing you this excited is half the fun." He teased her, which earned him a playful shove in the arm.
"I'm hard to love, hard to love. No I don't make it easy. I couldn't do it if I stood where you stood. I'm hard to love, hard to love. But you say that you need me. I don't deserve it but I love that you love me, good." - Lee Brice
The next morning, Randy sat down to breakfast with Adam Copeland for company. The former tag team known as Rated RKO ate their meal in companionable silence at first before Adam decided to break it.
"So," He said after swallowing a mouthful of pancake. "Have you told her yet?"
Randy looked up from his scrambled eggs and frowned in confusion. "Told who what?"
"Don't play dumb." Adam pointed at him with his fork. "Have you told Haley the whole story yet? You know the medication, the therapy, the fact that you've been in love with her for three years and never stopped."
Randy snorted. "No, I haven't told her any of that."
Adam groaned. "Why the hell not, Orton? You two are closer than ever, practically back to your old selves. What's stopping you?"
"I'm not going to make excuses for what I did to her." Randy said seriously. "There is no excuse. The only thing I can do, is try to make up for it. Which I'm doing."
Adam gave him a hard stare. "Okay, then why haven't you told her you're still in love with her then? We're all waiting for you two to live happily ever after you know? Well except for Dave and Layla, but they suck and no one cares what they think."
"She's not ready to hear it." Randy shook his head. "Adam, we are finally in such a good place right now. If I rush this, and put something that overwhelming on her, she might bolt in the other direction like she did before. I'm going to do it right this time. When she's ready, I'll tell her."
"Were you not paying attention when she basically told Batista to fuck off the other night? Granted those weren't her exact words, she was classier about it." Adam pointed out. "She's finally over his big dumb ass, Man!"
"And Morrison?" Randy supplied with a grunt. "Where's he in all this?"
"Who cares?!" Adam flung his hands up. "She picked you as her partner, not him. She could have very easily picked him and no one would have been surprised. They expected her to pick him. Guess what, she picked you."
"I'm her best chance at beating Dave with Dwayne and Hunter on injured leave." Randy argued. "Plus like she said it's full circle."
"Bullshit. There's no reason for it to come full circle. She could have picked Morrison. Hell, she could be dating him. But she picked you. I know you're not used to that with the whole Dave thing." Adam sighed, pointing out that in the past Haley had always picked Dave over Randy. "But Man, she picked you this time. That means something."
"Probably not what you think it does. I've screwed up, so many times with her. I've been insensitive, selfish, sadistic and downright cruel. I can't be that guy, the one who forces his feelings on her and expects her to drop everything and be with him. I love her, Adam." Randy said seriously. "I love her more than I've ever loved anyone in my life. That means I have to do what's best for her, not for me."
"I still think you're underthinking this." Adam knew Orton well enough to know he wasn't going to be budged today. "She picked you, Orton. She finally, picked you."
"I have a short fuse. I am a wrecking ball, crashing into your heart like I do. You're like a Sunday morning, full of grace and full of Jesus, I wish that I could be more like you." - Lee Brice
"She's so beautiful." Haley smiled down at the sleeping newborn nestled in her arms. "I mean how could she not be considering her parents, but still, so beautiful."
Candice beamed with pride, laying back against the pillows of the hospital bed. "I feel so complete now."
Haley lifted her gaze from her goddaughter and looked at her best friend. "Complete?"
"I loved my life before Fayre. The wrestling, the traveling, the photoshoots, the fans even the mean ones. I loved shopping sprees with you girls, and candle lit dinners with Dwayne. I loved performing in front of sold out crowds and trying to improve each and every match." Candice explained. "I was content with my life, Hales, but Fayre, she completes it. I always wanted to be a mother, I just didn't realize it would feel like a purpose. She's the focus of my whole world now, I've never loved anything so much."
Haley smiled at Candice cuddling Fayre a little closer. "Then I'm really happy for you, Candi. I think you're going to be an incredible Mom, mostly because I know you and you don't do anything halfway. Plus, we already know Dwayne is a great Dad, look at Simone. This little Princess is going to know nothing but love."
"Have you ever thought about having kids?" Candice asked tentatively.
Haley was quiet for a moment, then she nodded. "Yes." She admitted. "Not for awhile yet. I'm young and have a lot of things left in WWE I still want to do. But, Dave and I talked about it and then again in more detail when you announced you were pregnant. We wanted kids."
A longing for that ill fated dream tugged at her heart before Haley forced another smile. "We discussed two, hoping for a boy and a girl, but I guess that's something I'll have to table again until I have someone to have kids with."
"Morrison seems pretty smitten." Candice pointed out with an exaggerated wink.
Haley sighed and then let a chuckle escape. "He's interested, no question. And I almost agreed to go out with him, I'm just not ready to go there with him. Paul was simple, no strings attached, despite the interest. John isn't looking to be a rebound and I'm not ready for something serious, not yet anyway. I want to focus on winning my title back and-"
"Repairing your relationship with Randy." Candice said knowingly.
A light flush filled Haley's cheeks. "Not the way you're thinking."
"Why not?" Candice asked with a shrug. "Haley, the two of you have been dancing around each other for years already. And I've never seen feelings run stronger between two people, whether you love each other or flip the switch and hate each other. And let's face it, the two of you have never been able to stay away from each other for long."
"Candice-"
"Hear me out," Candice held up a hand to ward off Haley's protests. "You're my best friend Haley, I know you. From the day you met there's always been a special connection between you and Randy. And I know you loved Dave, I never doubted that, not for a second. But I know you loved Randy too. When everyone and their Mother warned you he was bad news and to stay away from him, you saw the good in him. You're the one who inspired him to actually be a good man."
"That doesn't erase what happened-"
"And it shouldn't." Candice agreed. "Randy handled his feelings for you the wrong way. He self destructed over rejection and let himself go someplace completely dark and unrecognizable through his broken heart. It doesn't excuse what he did. But if we look at some of the good things he's done, it tips the scales into better balance. Haley, he's trying so hard to be the Man he always should have been, to be the Man you need him to be. I think you owe it to yourself, not him, yourself to find out why."
"I don't want to screw this up."
"You won't." Candice assured her. "Haley, Randy is going to love you no matter what. He's proven that much, even through his hateful phase. He never let any other woman drive him to madness before. I think you need to talk to him. To find out why this connection exists between you. Is it really something you should forget about, ignore while you search for another man, when quite possibly the one you really need is standing at your side right now."
"I don't know if I can ever let myself trust him enough to go there, Candi."
"You'll never know if you don't at least talk to him about it. You've let him apologize. You've even forgiven him. But you two need to talk about why it happened and what changed. Because something set him straight and cleared his head so that he can be who you need right now." Candice told her. "Haley, I want you to be happy. I want you to feel what I feel right now when I look at that precious baby you're holding."
"I want that too." Haley said softly.
"Then talk to Randy. You don't have to make a decision right away, but talk to him, Haley. You owe it to yourself and even a little bit to him, to have that discussion." Candice replied gently. "I think you might just get the clarity you've been looking for."
"Okay." Haley nodded. "I'll talk to him. But after," She said firmly. "I get my title back and send Dave out of my life for good."
"That's my girl!"