Epilogue: Better Than This
Randy sighed as he ran a hand through his hair. They really weren't getting anywhere with this. He had to push it along and, in order to do that, he unfortunately had to put her on the spot. "You said that you didn't want to come down here until you had answers for me. Well, you're here…give me answers. Do you want to be with me or not?"
"Can we please talk about this somewhere else? John is in the next room." Colby replied.
"Oh, so now you don't want him to know what's going on?" he snorted, standing up to throw his empty beer bottle away before grabbing another one from the fridge.
The remark was the last straw for Colby. "You know what, Randy? I've had enough of your smartass comments. I'm so sorry that I broke some unwritten rule and talked to John, but didn't talk to you. Now, either we can talk somewhere else or I can walk out that door to the nearest bus station, jump on a Greyhound and take my happy ass back home for good. It's your decision."
Randy looked at her, slightly taken aback by her words. It seemed as though the past three months had finally allowed Colby to take a little bit more control in her life. "Fine," he eventually replied and began to walk through the living room where John paid no attention to him and up the stairs toward his bedroom, Colby following behind him.
As Randy climbed the stairs, he couldn't help but really feel like a complete asshole. He knew that the whole situation was just as hard on Colby as it was on him. Yet, he chose to focus on his own feelings of jealousy and hurt instead of just trying to get to the bottom of it all.
Immediately after the duo entered Randy's room, he set his beer down on the dresser and spun around and enveloped her in a tight embrace. He could tell she was surprised by his actions as she paused for a moment before finally wrapping her arms around him.
"I'm so sorry for how I've been acting," he told her, his voice barely above a whisper. "I was so scared that I would never be able to hold you in my arms again. From the moment I saw you in the parking lot, all I've wanted to do is hold you and never let you go. I just wasn't sure if you even wanted me to."
Colby pulled away from him before looking up into his baby blues. "How many times have I told you that I have never felt safer than I do when I'm in your arms? You are the most comforting human being that I've ever been around. The past three months have been complete hell, Randy. For both of us. I know John has told you that we've been talking. I don't know how much he's told you, but just so you know, I haven't been sitting back, trying to think of ways to make you suffer more. It killed me to stay away from you but I knew I couldn't come back to you until I was absolutely sure of what I was going to tell you."
"And what are you going to tell me?" Randy questioned as he led her over to the bed to sit down.
"I'm going to tell you that every minute of every day, I was thinking about you, wishing that I was wrapped up in your arms. I missed your eyes, your voice, your touch, every tiny, miniscule thing about you. The night before I left replayed over and over in my mind every day. Every time I thought about your lips on mine and your rich, gravelly voice telling me that you are deeply and madly in love with me, I got this feeling deep within me that made me want nothing more than to see your face again, to hear your voice and to feel your chest against my face as I wrapped my arms around you. And as insane as this sounds, I didn't realize until just a few minutes ago, when I was in your arms and you were whispering in my ear, that I'm in love with you, too, Randy. I want nothing more than to be with you…as your girlfriend. That is, if you'll still have me."
Randy stared at her for a moment, dumfounded by what he had just heard. She wanted to be with him? Even after all the stupid shit he had said to her? The elation that he felt flow through his veins was so indescribable that it left him speechless. So he did the thing that he had wanted to do ever since he saw her earlier that afternoon. He gently placed both of his hands on either side of her face and pulled her toward him before crashing his lips against hers. The proverbial fireworks exploded within him as he felt her mouth move in sync with his. He lovingly laid her back on the bed as his lips continued their assault on hers. He felt her hands slide underneath his t-shirt, sending electric shocks through his abdomen. No woman had ever had that kind of effect on him and it was driving him crazy.
Randy tenderly ran his hand through her hair, before he pulled away. As much as he wanted to, he couldn't let it go any further. He had to prove to her that he wasn't like the dicks she had been with in the past. He would wait for that moment when she was ready. She slowly opened her eyes to look into his and Randy was surprised to see that her normally gray eyes were almost blue. Her swollen lips pulled into a smile.
"I take it that means you'll have me?" she questioned.
Randy smiled and placed a kiss on the tip of her nose. "Did you even have to ask?"
May 13, 2012
'Holy shit, it's hot,' Colby thought as she sat outside on an abnormally hot day in Jacksonville, Illinois. Not to mention, there was about an inch and a half between her and the people sitting on either side of her, neither of which she knew. On top of it all, her college had to go against their colors of blue and white and decide to go with black caps and gowns. It made for an absolutely miserable graduation ceremony.
To take her mind off of the close quarters and the heat, Colby began to scan the audience. She spotted her family right off the bat, but her eyes still searched for two figures. She was disappointed when she saw neither. She knew the chance of them both being there was slim to none with them being on different shows now, but she couldn't help but hope that they would both be able to make it. Instead, it looked as if neither one would be there for the most important day of her life thus far. She couldn't be angry or surprised though, considering the last time she talked to them they both told her that they would have to talk to Vince and see what he could do.
She pulled her phone from the sleeve of her robe and checked for any missed calls or messages from either one of the two men. She had one text that was received about an hour earlier.
Please forgive me, C. I really tried to make it. Vince needs me in NYC in the morning to do media cuz someone cancelled. I promise I'll make it up to you-J
Colby sighed and put her phone away. She adored John and all, but sometimes, he was so stuck up Vince's ass that he could tell the world what the billionaire had had for breakfast. She stared ahead as one of the deans finally began calling names and thought back to the last conversation that she had had with the former WWE Champion.
"So, did you get my invitation?" Colby asked him as she continued to unpack boxes.
"I'm looking at it now, actually," John replied over the speaker phone.
"Well…" she prompted him to continue.
"I'm not going to make any promises, C. As of right now, I have nothing that day but we are due in New York City the next day so things may change. But I can promise you that I'll try my damnedest to be there. I know how important it is for you."
"That's all I ask, John."
He chuckled in response. "So, how's the moving coming along?"
"I have all the big stuff moved in. I just have to go through the boxes that are taking over my living room and dining room. It's going to take me at least a week to do all of that."
"I'm sure Randy will be there sometime to help you. How are you guys doing anyway? I haven't been able to catch up with you two in quite a while."
"It's been difficult lately, what with the 1000th episode of RAW coming up and everything. They've been keeping him as busy as possible, as I'm sure that you understand. And when he does have time off, I've been busy getting things ready to move and subbing and working my normal job and getting everything ready for graduation. I'm lucky I got the invitations sent out."
John couldn't help but laugh. "But you did and that's all that matters. Are you subbing a lot?"
"I try to take every sub call that I can. It pays considerably more than my job at the daycare and I'm working in the field of my degree, but at the same time, I hate walking into someone else's classroom and doing what they have planned instead of walking into my classroom and doing what I want to do with my students. It's just frustrating."
"I can understand why it would be. That would be like me walking into the ring and being expected to do Rey Mysterio's moves."
Colby giggled at that thought. "Kind of," she replied. "Except that I have been trained to teach in multiple different ways."
"Have you interviewed for any positions?"
"A couple, but apparently I haven't made enough of an impression to even warrant a call back letting me know that I didn't get the job. I'm just wondering if I'll ever get a teaching job," she said, putting the last of her books from the box on her bookshelf in the spare bedroom.
"Listen to me, C. Those people don't know what they're doing. I've seen you with kids, I've seen the work that you did during your student teaching and I know for a fact that you know what you're doing. You spoke so much teaching lingo and explained it so well that even I could understand it. You'll get a job. Don't sweat it."
"Thank you, John," Colby smiled.
"No problem. I hate to do this, but I'm going to have to let you go. I gotta be at the airport in a half hour. Hopefully, I'll see you on the thirteenth. Fingers crossed."
"Alright, I'll talk to you later. Take care."
"You too, C."
Colby smiled as she knew that John most likely tried his hardest to be able to be there for her graduation, but that his job called for him as he was the most popular Superstar at the moment and probably would be for some time to come. She just wished that she would have heard something from Randy. She had spoken to him the night before and he seemed pretty certain that he would be there, but she had heard nothing. She scanned the audience once more for his 6'4 frame but was disappointed.
She sighed as her row was called and she stood up. In just a few short moments, she would officially be a college graduate with a Bachelor of Science degree in Elementary Education. Her row moved into the aisle to the stage and the line grew shorter and shorter with each name called. Finally, she was next in line.
"Colby Renee Taylor," the dean said as she stepped forward and received her degree. She took a picture with the President of the college and glanced over at her family to see her mother talking on her cell phone.
It had to have been important for her mother to have answered it while her daughter was crossing the stage at her college graduation. She was broken from her thoughts when she was ushered along as the name of the person behind her was called. Whatever was going on and whoever her mom was talking to would have to wait till later.
"So the key is under the welcome mat?" Randy questioned as he stood at the back door of Colby's house.
"Yes, I made sure to leave it there for you," Ann replied.
"Okay, as soon as I get everything set up in here, I'll hurry up and get to the ceremony. I haven't missed her yet have I?" he asked as he retrieved the key and unlocked the door.
"They just called her name, Randy. I'm so sorry, honey."
"Shit!" he cursed to himself. "Sorry, Ann. I'll hurry up and get everything done here and then I'll be there as soon as I can."
"Actually, Randy, take your time. I'm sure her walking into her house and seeing you will be the perfect graduation present."
"Are you sure she won't be mad?"
"Listen to me, honey, I don't remember a time when she's ever been truly mad at you."
"If you say so. Thank you so much, Ann."
"Not a problem, Randy. We'll take Colby out to dinner and then drop her off at the house. I'll talk to you later."
"Okay," he said and hung up his phone. The day was not going quite the way that he had originally planned. He had planned to come to her house, set up everything he needed to with enough time to race to the college's campus and see his girlfriend walk across the stage. Instead, the woman at the animal shelter had fucked all of that over by taking her sweet ass time getting him what he needed.
There was no way he could've done any of it afterward either. He knew Colby would be searching the crowd for him and there was no way she'd let him step away once they were together considering they hadn't seen each other for more than a day since the Royal Rumble in January.
He sighed and slung his bag over his shoulder before picking up the crate and entering the house that his girlfriend was renting. He had only been in it once before and that was to help her move the furniture in. He walked into the kitchen and noticed the Italian/wine themed pictures that hung on the red walls. It didn't surprise him in the slightest, knowing Colby's love for Italian food and her newfound fascination with wine. He set the crate down, opening the door and letting the little fur ball inside out to run around. He wandered into the dining room that was simply, yet elegantly decorated with a small, black rectangular table in the center of the floor that complimented the red accent wall that extended from the kitchen. Randy continued on to the living room which was obviously where Colby spent most of her time as the walls were adorned with pictures of her, her friends, her family and of course of him and her. Her laptop sat on one of the glass tables by the sofa and the coordinating glass coffee table was covered with notebooks and magazines. Underneath the coffee table was a large zebra print rug.
Randy chuckled to himself as he thought of her obsession with animal print. It thoroughly surprised him that there wasn't more of it scattered throughout the house. He was brought from his reverie by a high pitched whining sound at his feet. He bent down to scratch the tiny dog behind the ears. "We got some work to do, bud."
Colby sighed as she climbed out of the back seat of her parents' SUV. It had been a rather disappointing day, despite it being her graduation day. She hadn't heard a single word from Randy, even after she had texted him and when questioned about the phone call while Colby's name was being called, her mom blew it off as nothing. She pulled her keys out of her purse and walked to the driver's side window. "Thank you for taking me out to dinner."
"No problem, sweetie. It was the least we could do to show you how proud we are of you," her dad told her. "Have a good night and we will see you later."
"Okay, dad," she said and waited for her parents to pull away before walking to her front door and letting herself in. She shut the door behind her, turned around and was immediately paralyzed. Her living room had been flooded with white balloons. She set her purse and her graduation attire down on the sofa and began to make her way through the sea of balloons in front of her. She found her way to the dining room table where there sat two glasses of wine in the middle with a note propped up against them.
My dearest Colby,
There are so many things that I want to say to you, but somehow no words seem adequate enough to write. The last few months have been nothing short of insane and it pains me each day that I have to spend away from you. But what gets me through each and every day on the road is knowing that once I'm done being everyone else's WWE Superstar, I get to go back to my hotel room and pick up my phone and be YOUR boyfriend. Your voice carries me through each day. Your laughter makes even my darkest days full of light. And your love keeps my heart beating for you and only you.
I can't tell you enough how much you have changed my life. You are my happiness, my safe place. I don't have to put on a show for you. You are the only person in my entire life that I can be 100% me around. With you, I don't have to be the cold and callous viper that everyone else wants and expects me to be. I can just be…Randy. And for that, I thank God every day that He led me to you. I have been thinking about the day we met a lot lately and even though at the time, I was dreading driving in that blizzard, I realize now that if I hadn't been completely insane and attempted that drive, then I would still be as unhappy and as uncaring as I had been for years.
Now, I look forward to the next day to see what new and exciting experiences I can have with you. And I sincerely apologize that I was unable to share the experience of your graduation ceremony with you. But, that doesn't mean that I am any less proud of you. You are the strongest, most intelligent and determined young woman that I have ever met and I am extremely proud and grateful to be able to call you my girlfriend. You're one in a million, sweetheart, and I can't believe how lucky I am to call you mine.
Congratulations, baby.
Love,
Randy
The tears began pouring from Colby's eyes as she set the note back down on the table and turned around. His enticing scent had reached her senses before she heard his footsteps behind her. He took another step toward her and placed his hands on either side of her face, wiping her tears away with the pads of his thumbs.
"You know I hate to see you cry," he whispered before bringing his lips to hers for a soft kiss. "Now, if you promise to stop crying, I would love to enjoy a glass of wine with you and give you your graduation present."
"I can't just put a bow on you and call you my graduation present?" she asked, running her hands along his arms that were still around her.
"That would be fine with me, but I don't think your present would agree with that."
"My present has an opinion?"
"Why don't you go see for yourself?" Randy asked, nodding his head toward her bedroom door.
Colby stared at him suspiciously before slowly making her way to her bedroom door. She softly pushed it open and gasped when she saw a small puppy sitting on her bed wagging his tail. He had to have been some sort of beagle mix. She walked over to the bed and stuck her hand out, which the puppy instantly began licking. A smile immediately crossed her face as rubbed the back of the canine's head. That's when she noticed the small silver name tag hanging from the dog's collar. Frisco. She turned her head to Randy who was casually leaning against the doorframe watching the interaction.
"Do you like him?" he asked, not moving from his spot.
"I love him," she replied. "But not as much as I love you," she said, getting up from her spot on the bed to walk over and give him a lengthy kiss. "And now I would love to share a glass of wine with you."
Randy sighed in contentment as he laid on Colby's bed with his arm wrapped around her small frame and her head on his chest. Frisco had jumped up on the foot of the bed and curled up into a ball. Randy smiled to himself as his girlfriend snuggled closer to him in her sleep. He couldn't believe how much his life had changed within the past three and half years. He had gone from the man who had nothing to the man who had everything.
He was at a good spot in his career, he had an awesome best friend whom he no longer took for granted and, above all, he had an amazing, smart, caring woman whom he loved with all of his being and who loved him back just as much. Three and a half years ago, he wouldn't have believed that any of it was possible. At least not for him. He couldn't imagine it getting any better.
Colby absentmindedly moved her left hand up his chest and her ring finger caught his eye.
Well…maybe it could get better than this.
Okay, so this is it. The end of One in a Million. I hope that it lived up to all of your expectations. It took me quite a while and several sheets of paper to finally figure out how I wanted to end this. As of right now, I don't have a sequel planned, but that's not saying that it won't happen. As you can see I have left this open just in case I do decide to continue on with Randy and Colby. I have to honestly say that they have been my favorite couple to write thus far. Next, I hope to wrap up some of the stories that have been in the works for quite some time.
For now, I think I'm going to surpass the "longest author's note ever" that I claimed to have written a few chapters ago with my thank you to the following people:
Giftiebee, Vera Roberts, Jhenn Orton, aggy's girl, Enigmatic Lotus Leaf, PunkFan1992, Ctinaisfashion, Caged Sparkle Black, makeitreal12, tabAFER, sweet lady 1977, baybie, RKOLovex, gooseles, Xandman216, Recco101, CapriceCC, blehhh, butterflydance21, Fozzy-Floozy, Princess-Of-Extreme, KillerstyleBlvd, jada951, babyxbxgurl, Michelle, fallen1987, pinkshadow89, StarzGirl09, Chenai, rkofan14, JessieStarr, dashingxrko, IvPayne, kimgray, MiPiSexy, Agnesita1385, , cassymae, Cena Mirage, purplefeather21, punkydiva17, Leslove4me, Sandra Moor7474, Ashley, Kenny-Bell, littleone999, MrsMorbid, ThatOneRedfield, Secret Thought, MM, wrestlenascargirl, Rated-R-For-Randomness, Blazing Glory, Amy229, Kanaydian Dragon, heart2handgun, alethea293, WordsLikeStardust, VolcomStoneBabe, Wwe Revealed, VASHORTYGIRL, Blackhat, Omega Reid, foreverfan15, ChIllInOuTgIrL5643, xKimberly12x, mcena99, fairytink101, PyRoAj, mandiicena-brooks54, Rhodes Princess, suspect tomatoes, Hawkeye'sBowGirl, Kristy721, dashingbailey, beautifultragedyxxx, hotpocketbandit, WordLifeCeNa, Rawr-Chan, Jodie54, Christina89, Evangeline Destiny, thatkatie, Pinayprincesa, , Tiffyxox, 22cuppy22, Bingobaby, Stephanie, wwechick24, hsv18896, Kinley Orton, Happygolucky103, xxxRKOEnigmaxxx, wwelover1995, Mrs-Dibiase-10, JohnsAnge122, mybrowneyedgirl, AprilNaKole11, PiscesBaby, Guest, Logan's Cougar, dashinginconverse, xErikax, Sam Uley's babygirl, hardycenagrl, smash07, wibragirl, Genny, cenachick1981, Dragona Shadows, Shamaness1171, Keeper of Oz, Bautista's Lil Bit, kodaful1, ParkAvenue, Aria and oz-angel1.
Thank you all for your continued support throughout the four years that it took to complete this story. Thank you to all those who read, reviewed, alerted and favorite this story. You all are wonderful!
Love,
Gabby