Memphis tugged at her lip as she stared at the variety of choices that Catering had to offer for a late lunch. She finally settled on a fruit salad and low calorie, sugar free flavored water. She took a seat at a corner table set up in the back and picked at the sparse meal with a plastic fork. Taking a big mouthful, she finally noticed the hulking figure that loomed above her. Memphis looked up. Sneakers, tanned legs, workout shorts, a Nike tee shirt, and a lot of tattoos.

"Hi," she said, using a napkin to wipe the corner of her mouth.

Randy Orton nodded and unscrewed the cap on his bottle of water before taking a big swig.

"What's up?"

She studied him and took a quick mental note of his newly altered physical appearance. Usually he kept his hair damn near bald and his face clean shaven. He had recently begun to let his dark tresses grow out a little and his face was now covered with a week's worth of new beard.

"Have a seat," she motioned at the empty chair across from her.

Randy pulled it up and took a seat without a second thought.

"Thanks," he muttered.

"You gonna eat?"

"Nah. I had a big breakfast and I'm gonna eat a protein bar when I get back to the locker room. Just wanted to grab some water and uh…I saw you sitting in here."

"Cool," she said casually. "What's going on?"

He shrugged.

"Nothing much. Just seeing if you were still pissed off at me."

She made a face.

"What do you mean? Why would I be mad at you?"

Randy shot her a knowing look.

"What's with the sudden case of amnesia? Remember last week in front of my room?"

Memphis cringed. Did she ever remember.

"Oh yeah. That. Whatever," she tried to casually brush it off.

Randy's blue eyes twinkled with mischief.

"So we're gonna play it like that, huh?"

"What are you talking about?"

"Don't play dumb," he smirked. "You were mad."

"I wouldn't go that far…"

"Memphis…"

"Fine," she rolled her eyes. "I was upset."

"Why?"

"Because…"

"Because what?"

"Where do I start? That poor girl was drunk off her ass and I was worried how she was going to make it home in one piece."

"She was fine. I told you I called her a cab."

"And that's good, I guess, but still."

"What?"

"I specialized in Environmental Law when I practiced but I interned with a top prosecutor in the City for a while before that. I saw a lot of cases, too many, of young girls partying too much, hooking up with random guys and bad things ended up happening to them…like rape or even worse," she visibly tensed up. "It was awful. I don't know, just seeing her did something to me. You hate to think the worse but there are a lot of creeps in this world. Someone could easily have snatched her up while she was waiting for the taxi. You never know. Unfortunately bad things like that happen all the time."

Randy tapped his thick fingers against the table.

"I guess I never thought of it like that."

"Most people don't. I know you were in…the moment, shall we say but you really need to be more considerate."

"You're right," he agreed right away.

Memphis frowned.

"I am? I mean, I know I am but you feel the same way?"

"It is what it is. Next time, I'll make sure she gets safely inside the cab."

Memphis gave an exasperated sigh.

"Randy…"

His lips broke out into a sexy grin.

"What?"

"It's really nothing to joke about."

"I know. I was just busting your balls. I mean, you do have a point. I get that and looking back, maybe it was kind of dangerous for her, inconsiderate even."

"Thank you."

He gave her a look that made the little hairs on the back of her neck prickle.

"Why do you care so much anyway?"

"Excuse me?"

"You heard me. Yeah, you may be right and I get that. I respect that. But you seemed to be awful concerned about my private life and who I'm sleeping with."

"I already told you. The Hannah thing was a close call. You shared that with me and I saw how it affected you. After all the drama and stress of that situation, I figured you would have been smarter about stuff, that's all."

"Again, you're right and that gives me something to think about in the future. I just…uh, wanted to make sure that was the only reason."

"I don't follow, Randy."

"Just making sure you weren't jealous or anything."

His voice was low and judging by the look on his face, she couldn't tell whether or not he was yanking her chain or being serious.

"Are you being for real right now?"

"Depends on your answer," he grinned before drinking more water.

Memphis let out a nervous laugh.

"Ha, ha, wise ass. Good one but to answer your ridiculous question slash accusation, I am not nor was I ever jealous. In addition to that being just plain silly, trust me, that's the last thing you have to worry about."

"Just checking," he kept teasing. "After all, you are a kept woman."

"I don't know if 'kept' is the word. I prefer happily attached."

"Whatever you say," he laughed out loud, looking down as he caught a quick glimpse of her left hand.

"What?"

"What the hell is that?"

Memphis followed his gaze, taking a look at her ring finger.

"What's it look like?"

"A really cheap, goth engagement ring."

"You just keep coming with the jokes today, huh?"

Randy wasn't finished yet.

"Phil give that to you?"

"Yes, he did," she stated proudly.

He chuckled.

"What, you two getting married or something?"

"Why? What business is it of yours?" she ate some more salad.

"Never stopped you from butting into my life."

The man had a point.

"This ring was given to me without question and without response."

Randy looked at her like she was delusional before busting into a hearty belly laugh.

"Dude…"

"Randy, stop laughing," she demanded with a pout. "What's so funny?"

"You. The whole situation. Damn, you sound just like his ass. It's like his whole crazy cult leading gimmick just came to life and you're the newest disciple under his spell."

"Stop it. Come on…"

"Wait. When he gave you the ring was he sitting down all cross legged doing his best Manson impression?"

"You're making fun of me."

"You got me on that one," he continued to laugh. "I didn't know you were crazy."

"What's so crazy about being in love?" she asked softly.

Randy met her stare.

"Yeah right."

"You didn't answer my question."

"Get out of here, Memphis. You are not in love with Phil Brooks."

"Yes, I am."

"No, you're not."

"I am and I don't get why that is so hard for you to believe."

"It's very hard to believe. The guy is a loser."

"You don't know him. And you don't know our relationship. Despite what you think, we have a beautiful relationship. He is a kind man, very intelligent and funny and hard working. He has a lot of great qualities that I admire. And he takes care of me."

"I think that is exactly it."

"I beg your pardon."

"He takes care of you. You had it rough when you first came to the WWE. Most of that was my fault. He was your only friend and maybe you're drawn to that, it's comforting and familiar. Or maybe…just maybe you think you owe him something."

"Don't try to psychologize me, Orton," she smirked.

"Oh, we're back on a last name basis again?"

"Yeah if you're gonna revert back to being a total douche bag again."

"I just call it like I see it," he shrugged. "If we're gonna be friends we should at least be able to be honest with each other…right?"

"Honesty, I can respect. But you're being patronizing and rude. That's not cool."

He put his hands up.

"Sorry if I offended you."

Memphis wasn't done.

"And I do love him. He makes me very happy. Regardless of what brought us together, it is a very serious relationship. He gave me this ring because he loves me. I wear it because I love him. Marriage might not be in our near future but he did ask me to move to Chicago to live with him."

Randy felt his chest tighten unexpectedly. He loved giving Memphis shit about Phil and their relationship but seeing the ring and hearing that Phil wanted them to move in together put a whole new spin on things.

"What did you say?"

"I said yes."

"Do you mean it?"

Memphis rolled her eyes again.

"Of course I mean it, silly. You don't agree to something that serious, that important unless it is something you really want."

"And you want it?"

"Yes, I do. 100, no 1000 times yes."

Randy swallowed hard.

"I guess congrats are in order."

"Would be nice if you actually meant that."

He ignored her.

"So when is the big move?"

Memphis loudly cleared her throat.

"Um, I don't know."

"You don't know?" he raised an eyebrow.

"We talked about it," she began to ramble. "We're just both really busy. And I've got a bunch of loose ends to tie up in Long Island before I move away. Punk is still doing some remodeling. Timing kind of sucks right now but we're uh…we're working it out. We'll get it together. Soon, hopefully. I mean, it will be soon."

"I see."

"What was that for?"

"What was what for?"

"That shit eating smirk on your face."

"What can I say? I'm Randy Orton. That's what I do, I smirk."

"I'm not joking around, Randy."

He shifted in his seat.

"Look, I don't want to fight with you. Obviously we feel different about the situation. I'm not inside your head, I'm just a friend, just a guy looking from the outside in. You tell me you want to move halfway across the country to be with this guy, you swear up and down that you're in love with him but the whole time as you're trying to convince me, it sounds like you're really trying to convince yourself."

His words were simple and matter of fact. He wasn't teasing or being mean. He was simply speaking his mind.

"That's not true," she replied quietly.

"If it's not, then why are you stalling on the move?"

Memphis opened her mouth but she did not have an immediate answer. Randy's gaze was intense and she was relieved when John "Morrison" Henngian showed up.

"What's up, guys?" he nodded with a friendly smile.

"Hey," Memphis and Randy both managed to mumble.

"Memphis, have you seen Melina?"

"Um, no, not lately. Sorry."

"That's cool. I just finished up some Parkour training. I'll catch up with her later. She's probably out shopping with Nattie and Barbara."

"Yeah…"

"Anyway, I'm gonna hit the showers. I'll see you around."

"Okay. Bye, John."

John turned to Randy and grinned.

"What's all this, man? You ripping off my style or what?" he rubbed his own facial hair.

Randy turned right to Memphis and looked her dead in the eye.

"You know how it is. Chicks dig beards…or so I've heard."

Memphis caught a chill as she instantly remembered their conversation that day in the empty arena when she had jokingly mentioned that the facial hair on Phil was what had attracted her.

"You know what, John? On second thought, I'm gonna come with you. I need to talk to Melina too."

"Okay," he said.

She gathered her trash and put her chair back.

"I'll see you around, Randy."

"First names again?"

"And it'll stay that way if you stop being a dick."

She raised one eyebrow before turning around and leaving with John. Randy leaned back in the seat. He was shocked and a little miffed that Memphis and Phil had gotten so serious but his playful banter with her had been quite amusing. He had called her on her shit, on her doubts and fears and it had clearly gotten under her skin. Phil Brooks was a weirdo. A douchebag. A self righteous tool. A freak. And he didn't deserve a girl like Memphis Kramer. From day one Randy had been intrigued by her, obsessed almost, whether it came from a good or bad place. Now he had gotten to know her and they had established a rapport. He liked what he saw, what he heard. In fact, he liked everything about her.