A/N: A special thanks goes to Flamezgyrl for becoming a follower. Another special thanks goes to Elite27 for the wonderful review. I appreciate you all sticking with me during my lengthy wait times for an update. I'm hoping my chaotic life will slow down some, so I'll be able to update more often. Onto number thirteen, let me know what you think.

Chapter 13:

From The Heart

Lance

I urged her to follow me back to my private locker-room. It didn't take long for word to get out that there had been a backstage altercation between Cody and I because Karina was coming around the corner. She obviously came from Kenny's locker-room. Her arms immediately crossed over her chest and stood in the middle of the hallway preventing us from getting passed.

"What the hell happened?" She asked, raising an eyebrow in my direction, not so much in Priya's.

"Cody has a temper." I responded, point blank without going into detail about the incident.

"Could you be any more vague?"

"Probably."

"Don't argue, please. I've had enough yelling for one day." Priya interrupted, moving to stand in between us.

Karina placed a hand on Priya's shoulder. Tears immediately fell from her eyes as the teal haired woman held onto her. I almost felt out of place watching; but I didn't want to just leave without apologizing first. "I'm sorry, Priya." I said, leaning against the cold concrete wall.

"What are you sorry for? You didn't do anything wrong." She sobbed, moving away from Karina's embrace.

"I antiganized him. I overheard a conversation between Tony and him. Cody wants you removed from the storyline with me when you are cleared to return. I wanted him to admit that it wasn't a business decision that it was a personal one."

"It is a personal one. When he called me into his office earlier, he admitted that he still loves me. I honestly don't think he wants to see me with anyone else."

Once again, anger bubbled to the surface. I was having less and less respect for him as a person the more a I learned. Kenny came around the corner from the opposite direction. "Couldn't just let things go, huh?" He snapped, approaching me.

"Kenny." Karina warned.

"What? Cody is pissed off, now we all have to hear the bullshit that will inevitably follow."

Priya shifted a little and turned to look at Kenny. She curled her bottom lip under her top one. "I'm sorry, this is all my fault. I never should have signed here. Everything I do is only going to piss him off. I'm never going to be able to move on. He can see everything I do at work."

"So you want to quit?" He asked, taking a step back.

"Let's all just take a moment. This situation is more delicate than I realized. Kenny can you and the others please try and convince Cody that he can't just have both women. He is married to Brandi and he can no longer control anything Priya does."

"We've been trying. He damn guy so freakin stubborn."

Priya

I honestly didn't want to hear anymore. Taking several steps back, I felt Lance behind me. Reaching back, I took his hand into mine. His other hand came to rest on my hip. "I need to talk with Lance, so I'm going to go. I'm not going to make any rash decisions tonight. I think I'm just overwhelmed right now."

"I understand. I'm here for you, remember we are family now." Karina said, smiling at me.

"Wait! What?" Kenny questioned.

"I'll explain later."

She pulled him with her down the hall, leaving Lance and I alone. He opened the door to his locker-room and I stepped inside. Moving across the room, I sat down in a metal folding chair. "You really aren't going to quit are you?" Lance asked softly.

His eyes were expressful and he left himself out in the open, vulnerable even. Folding me hands across my lap, I look up at him directly. My heart began to race and my mouth started to clam up, twisting my tongue away from words. "I don't know. It's a thought. I don't know what to do about Cody. He's never going to let me live my life as I want to, that is painfully obvious now that he has admitted that he still loves me."

"Do you still love him?"

"I suppose that is the question isn't it?"

Looking at Lance in that moment, I knew deep down my feelings for Cody were gone. Replaced by brand new feelings for the man standing in front of me, though I wasn't ready to admit those; but I could tell him that I didn't have any feelings for Cody left. "No, I've put him in the past where he belongs."

"Good to know." He stated, closing the distance between us.

I wiped away the dry tears that had been caked on my cheeks before smiling at him. He knelt down in front of me, placing a hand on mine that had been resting on my lap. Once again, my heart started to race. "I don't want to see you quit, because of him. I've seen you first hand, you love being out there. You love to perform for the fans, despite this pandemic."

"Unfortunately, he is never going to leave me be. I don't want to put anyone through that chaos just being around me."

"I don't care what he thinks. He can do his worst and I'll still be right here."

My eyes burned with tears. My heart pounded and everything inside me screamed. Without really thinking, I quickly closed the minimal distance and pressed my lips onto his. My body was coming alive as I felt him respond to my kiss. He pulled me to stand up, so he could hold me even closer.

Every single movement of his lips against mine was intoxicating and I was losing myself in the sensations. The door opened and we instantly separated to see Jake standing there. "Don't you know how to knock?" Lance grumbled.

"Didn't think I needed to for my own locker-room." Jake countered.

I was heated; but thankful for the interruption so I could regroup my thoughts. A smile curved my lips as I made eye contact with the hall of famer. Lance took my hand and kissed it tenderly, before stepping away from me. "I'll text you when I get back to Karina's place." I said, starting to walk towards the door.

"Thank you."

Stepping out of the room, I could finally breathe; however peaceful breath was short lived, because Brandi stormed in my direction.