"I haven't been to a carnival in ages!" Alexa exclaimed as she and Mox waited inside the gates for Seth and Nikki to arrive.
Mox watched in amusement as Alexa excitedly swung his arm back and forth. He glanced at the wide variety of rides at the county fairgrounds and inwardly cringed. He had no intention of being dragged onto a ride that turned him upside down and around and around.
"We're here!"
Startled, Mox turned to see a grinning Seth and Nikki walking up to them. "Hey, right on time," he greeted. "Alexa, this is Nikki Cross and Seth Rollins. Nikki works with me and Seth is…an old friend. Nikki, Seth, this is Alexa Bliss."
Seth's grin widened at Mox's words then shook the hand Alexa was holding out. "Nice to meet you, Alexa."
"Same here," Alexa nodded. She and Nikki looked at each other for a few seconds then they hugged.
"You two know each other?" Seth curiously asked.
"Nope!" Nikki laughed. She linked her arm through Alexa's as the two women began talking over one another.
"O-kay," Seth muttered, then looked at Mox. "Is Roman coming?"
Mox hesitated. "Not his thing," he answered.
Seth's dark eyes narrowed slightly. "Is something wrong?" he quietly asked. When Mox hesitated, he added, "Roman's my friend, too, you know."
Mox nodded slightly. "Not my story to tell."
Seth stiffened then nodded in return. "Tell him I was asking about him, okay?"
"Yeah, I will." Mox turned to the women who were still talking and laughing. "Glad you guys could make it. Nikki, how's Mitch?"
"Oh, my baby's doing much better," Nikki nodded. "I should be able to take him home in a few days!"
"You have a baby?" Alexa curiously asked.
Nikki nodded as Seth explained, "Mitch is her ficus plant. He got…injured recently."
Alexa's blue eyes widened. "I'm so sorry to hear that! I'm glad he's getting better." She impulsively hugged Nikki again.
Mox refused to look at Seth, afraid he would start laughing. "Okay, ladies, let's get this show on the road. What's first?" His blue eyes widened in consternation when both women pointed at one of the rides.
"That one!" Nikki exclaimed.
Seth grinned. "Oh, yeah, that one."
'Oh fuck.' Mox silently groaned.
Several stomach churching minutes later, Mox managed to walk away from the ride that had turned him upside down and around and around. He couldn't decide which he hated more. The UpUpDownDown ride or the three people who insisted on riding it.
"That was so much fun!" Alexa happily exclaimed as she squeezed Mox's arm.
"Yeah, fun," Mox muttered.
"Let's go again!" Nikki was actually jumping up and down.
"How about we walk around and see what else is here," Mox quickly suggested. "We can always come back." He scowled, seeing Seth's smirk directed towards him.
"Funnel cakes!" Nikki pointed to a stand about twenty yards away. She grabbed Seth's hand and began pulling him after her.
"I love funnel cakes!" Alexa agreed, tugging on Mox's arm. "More gym time for the next couple of days, but it's worth it!"
As they worked their way through the carnival, Mox hoped he and Seth had brought enough money. The men tried to win prizes for their dates which Seth earned the most brownie points by winning a three-foot tall teddy bear for Nikki. Mox declared his prize for Alexa of a small monkey stuffed animal was easier to carry around the carnival and deliberately ignored Seth's smirk. Thankfully, most of their winnings turned out to be consolation prize tickets to various food stalls.
The girls sampled each food stall, managing to astound Seth with how much food they consumed. Mox, having experienced both Nikki and Alexa's ability to eat more than he and Seth combined, simply made a silent wager on which ride would bring catastrophe upon them…and lost as it appeared both women had cast-iron stomachs. He thought sure it would happen on the bumper cars….
As darkness fell upon the carnival, they found themselves on the Ferris Wheel. Somehow Nikki had maneuvered her 'bear bear' into the seat next to her allowing her to cuddle up against Seth.
Watching from the gondala behind Nikki and Seth, Mox scowled as Seth wrapped his arm around Nikki's shoulders.
"No peeking." Alexa tapped him on his arm.
Mox grunted as they rose over the top of the wheel and began their descent back to the ground. "Nikki's like a sister to me," he explained.
"That's nice," Alexa nodded, her eyes twinkling in amusement. "But I'm pretty sure Nikki wouldn't like you peeking on her and her date." When Mox grunted a second time, she ducked under his arm and wrapped it around her shoulder. "Besides, your date would like a little attention."
Mox tried not to laugh but failed as they started upwards again. "Point taken." He kissed the top of Alexa's blonde head as she snuggled closer to him.
Mox found himself relaxing against Alexa, feeling at peace for the first time in weeks. As he nuzzled the top of her head, he felt the warmth of her hand on his thigh. All thoughts about anyone else disappeared, and he felt the two of them were in a bubble...completely isolated from the world around them.
As the Ferris Wheel began stopping to allow riders to get off and others get on, Mox realized they were approaching the top of the Wheel. It would be cheesy as hell but it felt right. When they stopped at the top of the Ferris Wheel, he tilted Alexa's head upwards and slowly lowered his mouth to hers.
Alexa's lips were as warm and soft as he remembered them. They slowly opened under his, and he gently touched his tongue to hers.
Neither were aware they'd reached the bottom until they heard a shrill piercing whistle. Startled, Mox looked up to see an amused teenager holding the gondala door open for them. He looked past the kid to see Nikki wildly grinning and almost jumping up and down.
As Mox helped Alexa from the gondala, he glared at Seth who put his hands up in the classic 'not me' silent defense. Seth then pointed to Nikki as the guilty whistler who was giving Alexa a 'thumbs up' as they approached.
"Okay, let's start making our way out of here before it closes down," Mox firmly stated. "Otherwise, we'll be here half the night getting out of the parking lot."
"Ice cream!" Nikki shouted, pointing at a nearby food stand. She and Alexa immediately started walking in that direction.
"And we can ride UpUpDownDown again!" Alexa called back.
As Mox and Seth joined them in line for ice cream, Mox scratched his jaw. "I don't think the bear will fit in there with the four of us. So, I'll keep watch on the bear, and you three ride." He ignored Seth's muffled laugh.
"And you can watch goo-goo, too," Alexa decided.
"Who?" Mox asked in confusion.
Alexa held up her monkey doll. "His name is goo-goo."
'Of course, it is,' Mox silently sighed.
Seth wondered if he could manage to snap a picture of Mox with 'bear bear' and 'goo-goo' without being caught.
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Mox locked the truck and took Alexa's hand to walk her to her apartment building. When she sighed, he glanced down at her.
"I had such a great time tonight," Alexa softly said. "Nikki and Seth are a lot of fun." She stopped at the front door. "Come up for coffee?" When Mox hesitated, she stood on her tiptoes and gently kissed his lips. "I don't want you to go," she whispered. "I want you to stay the night with me."
Mox lowered his forehead to hers. "It's been a long time since I've been with anyone," he admitted. "I don't know how good it'll be for you."
Alexa framed his face with her hands. "It'll be good for me because I'll be with you," she promised in a whisper. "Stay with me, Mox."
Mox took her mouth in a fierce kiss that left both of them breathing heavily. When he raised his head, he stared into her clear blue eyes. "I'll stay. And call me Jon." He lowered his head to kiss her again and thought, 'Maybe I can stay forever.'
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Alexa decided that waking up in Mox's arms was the best way she'd woken up in her entire life. She studied the relaxed face of the man sleeping next to her, committing the peaceful look on his face to memory. Then she jerked, startled by the ringing on her cell phone.
Mox grumbled under his breath as Alexa turned away to grab it from the bedside table. He opened his eyes to see Alexa suddenly sit up, automatically pulling the sheet up to cover herself.
"It's Security." Alexa gave him a puzzled look as she answered the call.
Mox sleepily ran a hand back and forth across her naked back, not paying attention to the conversation until Alexa's voice snapped.
"My mother!? What's she doing here?"
Mox's eyes flew open as he sat up, completely awake. 'Mother?'
"No, no, of course you don't know. I'm sorry…that didn't come out right." Alexa ran a hand through her blonde hair, allowing the sheet to fall away. "No, allow them to come up in ten minutes. Thank you." She disconnected the call and threw the cell phone onto bed.
"What's wrong?" Mox gently asked.
"My mother and sisters are downstairs!" Alexa growled. "Trust them to ruin what was going to be a beautiful morning."
As she got out of bed, Mox quickly reviewed what Alexa had previously mentioned about her family. "The ones who call you a pudgepot?" he growled.
Alexa looked over her shoulder as she pulled on a pair of jeans and reached for a blouse. "Yep. I can't imagine what they're doing here."
Mox swung his legs off the bed. "I'll be dressed and outta here in two minutes," he promised.
"Don't leave on their account," Alexa snapped. When Mox glanced over his shoulder, she continued, "Jon, I'm not ashamed of being with you, and I'm not ashamed of you. And, quite frankly, my personal life is none of their business."
Mox started to point this this was her family, then remembered he wasn't in any position to give advice on how to deal with family. He shrugged and reached for his clothes. "I'll make coffee."
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Considering how quicky they'd dressed and cleaned up, Mox thought they looked suitably presentable. He gave Alexa a quick kiss and muttered "calm down" when the doorbell rang.
Alexa took a deep breath and opened the door. "Mother."
"Was there a reason you kept us waiting downstairs?" A tall thin middle-aged woman brushed past Alexa, followed by four younger women. As Alexa closed the door, all five women looked around the apartment with various expressions of contempt.
"Really, Alexa, is this how…who is that?"
Alexa sighed. "Mother, this is Jon Moxley. Jon, this is my mother Madeline Bliss. And my sisters. Sophia Carson, Chloe Morgan, Vanessa Kent, and Jacqueline Parke."
"Ladies." Mox courteously nodded his head, then held up his coffee cup. "Would you like some coffee?"
"This is a private discussion," Madeline coldly. "Please leave."
"You'll leave before he does," Alexa calmly interrupted. "As you were so fond of telling me during my childhood, this is my place and my rules."
Mox hid a grin as he sipped his coffee. The five women were all tall, thin, and impeccably dressed. To him, they resembled a line of skinny birds perched on a telephone wire.
"Alexa Danielle! I believe I raised you better than to talk like that to me!" Madeline angrily spoke.
"Why are you here?" Alexa repeated.
Madeline again glanced at Mox who calmly returned her stare. Then she opened her purse and withdrew a thick envelope. She thrust it at Alexa who slowly accepted it. "Sign those papers, and we'll leave."
"Mother, I'm an attorney. First piece of advice to a client is never sign anything without reading it." Alexa tossed the envelope onto the dining room table. "I'll read it later."
"Alexa, we need you to sign it now so we can get it approved by the Court," Sophia condescendingly said. "As an 'attorney', I'm sure you can understand that."
Alexa shrugged. "It took all five of you to come from Ohio to get me to sign something I haven't read and reviewed?" She shook her head. "Sorry, not happening." She motioned towards the door. "Now, if you'll excuse us, I'm sure you need to start back to Ohio and, well, we hadn't woken up when Security called."
Mox managed not to choke on his coffee. The shocked expression on the faces of the five women were priceless. For a few seconds, he wished he had a camera.
"Alexa! You…you…" Madeline actually put her hand over her heart.
"Had a wonderful night last night, thank you for asking," Alexa calmly replied. "And we'd like to have an equally wonderful morning."
"Alexa! Stop making a mockery of this!" Chloe demanded. "That paperwork needs to be signed for the trust fund. It's more important than your…" She waved a hand towards Mox in disgust.
Mox noticed the furious look Madeline gave her daughter.
"What trust fund?" Alexa asked in confusion.
Madeline irritably sighed. "Your grandfather's grandfather created a trust fund. The details aren't important. What is important is that you'll receive control of your share now that you've turned thirty. When you sign those papers, you'll get a payment each quarter. But since you're obviously unable to handle money…" She gave the apartment another derisive glare. "…I'll handle the actual money and decide on investments."
"It's for the best," Vanessa solemnly added. "It's obvious you have no idea about money. You should be making decent money now, yet you live in a place like this." She suddenly pointed to the dining room table. "And what is that?"
Everyone turned to look where she was pointing.
Mox's blue eyes saw Alexa's 'goo-goo' perched on the table against the fancy salt and pepper shakers. He vaguely remembered Alexa putting the stuffed animal on the table hours ago as they made their way to her bedroom.
"That's 'goo-goo'," Alexa calmly replied.
"Don't you have any pride?" Vanessa demanded. "That ugly thing…"
Mox had to agree that 'goo-goo' was the ugliest thing he'd seen since leaving prison. But he'd spent ten dollars winning it for Alexa and wasn't about to let any stick-figure caricature of a woman trash talk the ugly stuffed animal. But Alexa beat him to it.
"Beauty is in the eye of the beholder and so is ugliness." Alexa gave her sister a pointed look. Then she pointed to the door. "Please leave now. I'll be in touch."
"That's unacceptable! Alexa, you will sign those papers now!" Madeline demanded. "Honestly, I had no idea you've become so…" She fluttered her hands in Alexa's direction. "Look at you. You've gotten as big as a horse. Eating like a pig, no doubt. And associating with…"
"Enough!" Mox roared. While he didn't like the fact that Alexa flinched at the sound of his raised voice, he was pleased that the other five women did. He put his coffee cup on the table next to the envelope and walked to Alexa's side. "Listen very carefully to me," he began, putting a hard edge into his voice. "Say what you want about me. Frankly, your opinions are worth less than the dirt under my boots. But nobody insults Alexa in my presence."
"How…how dare you!" Jacqueline stuttered.
"Try me," Mox coldly glared at her. "Now, Alexa told you all to leave. You will leave. Now."
Madeline glared at him then looked at Alexa. "Our attorney will be in touch on Monday. You will have signed those papers."
Alexa silently walked to the door and opened it. "Good-bye," she quietly spoke.
"You heard me, Alexa," Madeline hissed as she walked past her daughter. "Sign them immediately."
Alexa closed the door behind them and locked it. She leaned against the door for a few moments then pulled her cell phone from her pocket. "Eddie?" she quietly spoke. "The people who were here are leaving. You have their names? All of them? Good. Put them on the no-admittance list. Thank you."
Mox hesitated, unsure of what to do. "Uh…sorry for stepping in like that. I didn't mean…" He grunted when Alexa slammed into him, wrapping her arms around his waist. He gently hugged her. "C'mon, leave all that until tomorrow."
Alexa shook her head and stepped back. "I need to at least look at it."
"Okay." Mox picked up his coffee cup and walked back into the kitchen for a refill. He'd poured half a cup when he heard Alexa start to cry. Turning around, he walked back to the dining room table and saw Alexa throw the papers to the floor.
"C'mon…c'm'ere." Gently Mox led her to the couch and sat down. To his surprise, she curled up on his lap and continued to cry. Unsure of what to do, he settled for gently hugging her and rubbing her back.
"I think…think they…kept money from me," Alexa took a deep breath. "If I read it correctly, there was money for my college tuition. Mother said there was no money for college…for any of us…but I bet my sisters' tuition was paid for! I worked part-time jobs all through college to help pay for tuition…went in debt by taking out loans…went hungry a lot of times…so fucking hungry…"
Mox's eyes hardened, glad Alexa hadn't opened the envelope while the other women had been in the apartment. Best they were away from him and his impulse to make them hurt. He really didn't want to go back to prison.
"She always hated me!" Alexa mumbled. "And I don't know why! I tried to be what she wanted! I tried to be a good girl! It's not my fault I'm a short pudgepot!"
"Heyheyhey…knock that off." Mox gently shook her. "Look at me. C'mon…look at me." When Alexa finally raised tear-filled eyes to him, he smiled. "Fuck them, sweetheart. They don't deserve you. You're smart. Smart enough to get me outta prison and into owning my own business, remember? And you're a tough cookie. Tough enough to ride that crazy UpUpDownDown thing and then eat a funnel cake." When Alexa snorted, he continued, "And tough enough to throw them out on their bony asses."
Alexa sniffed a few times. "Nobody's ever stuck up for me with them," she whispered.
"I'll do that any time," Mox whispered back as he pulled her closer to him.
"This isn't how I wanted to spend the morning," Alexa muttered after a few seconds of silence.
"Feeling betrayed is a hard thing to get over," Mox quietly spoke as he rubbed Alexa's back. "Gonna take some time to do that. But for now, we'll sit here for as long as we need to sit here."
After a few more seconds of silence, Alexa gently kissed his neck. "Thank you, Jon," she whispered.
Mox felt heat running through his body as he sat quietly on Alexa's couch, giving whatever silent comfort to Alexa that he could. Looking out the window, Mox realized two things. First, he was in love with the woman in his arms. Second, he would have to make sure she only called him 'Jon' when being intimate…especially when she breathed his name against his skin.