Well hello there! I'm back with yet another chapter! As always, I wanna give a shoutout to my girls JustCherry73, wwechristina and GoldenGirl1920 for your constant love, support and reviews! I love you, my ladies sooooo much!

I don't own anyone affiliated with the WWE...sadly. I only own Maddie and any other character that is not AJ, as well as the storyline.

Enjoy!


Maddie POV

AJ looks on at me in amazement and disbelief. I smile softly and bite my lip with a shrug when I've left him speechless."I'm sure you've heard it before, but you're freakin' incredible and a very rare find," he tells me and I blush at his compliment.

"I'm flattered, but no. I haven't heard either of those before. This is the first time," I replied as I skimmed the menu, quickly finding what I want to eat.

AJ shakes his head, "I believe you, but I also find it hard to believe. Every man that has ever had the privilege of being associated with you is a damn fool for not telling you otherwise. Because you are. Incredible and an extremely rare find. But yet, here you are with me. A small town southern country boy," AJ replied with a smile, his accent thick and I can't help but internally swoon because it's already become one of my favorite things about him.

"Well, I might just have a thing for a very handsome small town southern country boy," I tell AJ wearing a mischievous smile before taking a drink of my water, never taking my eyes off of him.

His stare followed my mouth and a smirk appeared on his own before he let his eyes meet mine and I can see the mirth swimming in them. "Do you now?" AJ plays along, flirting back and my smile broadens.

"Mhm, I think you might know him, too. He's got this really sexy southern accent," I tease, knowingly and AJ's eyes widen fractionally, but the look in them shift and I don't dare tread any further. I can hear a small groan slip through AJ's lips before he recomposes himself, his blue orbs zeroing in on me.

"Oh, I know him, huh?" He retorts, purposefully making his accent thicker than it already is and lust builds up in my lower tummy. A moan wants to break free, but I force it back. However, I know he can see the look in my eyes because a shit eating smirk grows on his face.

"That's not fair," I whine, breathlessly.

"I never said I play fair, darlin'," AJ counters, his eyes narrowing seductively and he just barely grazes his leg against mine, teasing me even further.

Thank god Jamie comes back because the atmosphere was becoming thick with the sexual tension that was brewing between us the second we met. As much as I'd love to get my hands on him, I have to behave myself because it's wayyy too early into whatever this is growing between us.

We finally put in our orders of me getting grilled cheese with fries and AJ getting a cheeseburger with fries. The second Jamie walks away, AJ puts his full attention back onto me. "Ya know, I believe you told me you'd explain to me that you lived here before yesterday," he said and I nod my head.

"You're right, I did," I said before beginning, "I was born and raised here, but the second I turned 18, I hightailed it out of here and moved down to Florida. There was nothing here for me and I was miserable. I didn't…couldn't spend my entire life in a small town with nothing. Florida had so much to offer. I only came back for my moms final days and helped dad with funeral arrangements and all of that, but after that, I went straight back to Florida," I explain and a look of sorrow crosses AJ's face at the news of my mother.

"Shit, Maddie. I'm so sorry about your mom," he replied, grabbing my hand that rested on the table, linking our fingers and I smile sadly at him.

"Thank you. It'll be 5 years this winter that we lost her and with dad now being sick…it's why I'm back. I know he was heartbroken when mom died; she was his soul mate and after she passed, I think he just kinda gave up and his health slowly deteriorated. Here I am," I respond with a half smile and a shrug of my shoulders.

"Well, if you ever need anything, I'm here for you. No matter what," AJ assures me and I couldn't be more grateful to him. A thought suddenly comes to my mind and a smile grows on my face and when I look up and over at AJ, he looks at me with interest and a raised eyebrow. "What's got you smilin' like that all of a sudden?" He asked me.

Shaking my head, I respond, "you're going to think I'm crazy if I tell you."

"Try me, sweetheart," he replied with a smile of his own.

"Despite my dad falling ill, I did have a rough time when I was in Florida. Not only was I constantly struggling to stay afloat, every relationship I was in went to shit. I was beginning to think I was going to live my life miserably, but then…" I say, stopping short with my words and AJ encourages me to keep going.

"Then dad got sick and I was forced to move back home. I'm not saying it was my moms fault that my dad got sick, but I think she brought me back home for a reason," I said and look directly into AJ's eyes and he looks at me with a small head tilt and a confused look in his eyes.

"What do you mean?" He asked and the smile that develops on my face grows at my realization.

"Do you believe in fate and that things happen for a reason? I wouldn't normally ask something like this, especially not to someone I just met, but something inside is telling me that it's right," I reply, knowing I'm starting to not make sense anymore. Well the look on AJ's face tells me that.

"I mean…it depends on what it is that happens, but to a degree, yes I do. Why?" AJ replies.

"I think mom brought me home for a reason and had me run into you when I did. Besides my ride into town from the airport and my father, you're the first man I came across and quite literally ran into when I got here. I think she might be the reason why we met the way we did," I say and continue before AJ can say what he wanted to when he opened his mouth to speak.

"When I was being driven home, my ride was stopped at one of the lights. Actually the light right next to Susie's shop and I saw you walk in. You immediately caught my attention even though I didn't know who you were…"

AJ POV

I watch Maddie and listen to her as she explains what's on her mind and while I do somewhat believe what she's saying, I can't help but be a little skeptical of it all. Suddenly, Maddie stops mid sentence and looks at me like I just wounded her. "Nev–never mind. Forget I said anything. I gotta…I need to go. Sorry," she whispers out and bolts from the table, taking me by surprise.

"Maddie! Wait!" I yell for her, putting attention onto myself, but at the moment I could care less. I get to my feet and as I go to leave to chase after her, I realize that I still need to pay for the food we never got to eat. Shaking my head, I pull out a $20, slapping it onto the table and bolt out of the diner behind Maddie, trying to chase after her, but she's already gone.

"God damn it!" I yell out into the night, trudging back to my truck when I see in the distance, Maddie drive hastily down the road and out of town. "Way to fucking go, Jones. You probably just fucked up whatever it was you had with one of the most amazing women you've ever come across and now you'll never get to have her because you fucked up," I berate myself.

I can't let her get away though. I need to find out where she lives and apologize. I can only imagine the look on my face when she was trying to explain to me what she felt. I was listening to every word she was saying and now that she's not with me, what she said makes sense. I do believe her. Now, I just need to find her and make things right because I know I hurt her when she saw the biased look on my face.

I head home and go old school and pull out the white pages for Gainesville. While its a small town, there are still a good amount of people, but there also aren't many people with the last name of Andrews. And I don't have to look long because there is literally only one person with the last name Andrews. I put the address into the GPS on my phone and head back out, making my way to Maddie to apologize.

Within 20 minutes, I'm pulling down the small dirt road leading to the house and I see Maddie's truck in the driveway letting me know I am in fact at the right place. I breathe a sigh of relief that she's safe at home and not somewhere else. I'd never forgive myself if something happened to her because of me.

Before shutting off the engine, I look at the time and realize that it's going on 11pm. Even though I see that lights are on in the house, I pull my phone out of my pocket and text Maddie instead of knocking on the door.

AJ: Maddie baby, please talk to me. I'm outside and I want to apologize and explain myself. Please.

I keep my eyes on the house and look for any signs of Maddie. There is a light on upstairs, so I look there first and I see the curtain be pushed aside. I quickly step out of my truck and look up at her through the window. "Please. Come outside," I said and she disappears. Sighing, I bide my time and hope she does come outside.

The front door opens, letting the light from inside the house illuminate the front porch and Maddie emerges, zipping up the jacket she had put on. "AJ, what are you doing here? It's nearly midnight," she hisses out quietly, but still makes her way over to me.

"I needed to see you and explain myself," I said, timidly, not taking my eyes off of her. I quickly let my eyes roam over her form and I'm loving what I see. Especially her legs that seem to go on for miles in the sleep shorts she has on. All the way down to the Ugg boots she slipped on her feet. Her brown hair is up in a messy bun, but she's never looked more beautiful.

There is a chill in the air and I see Maddie visibly shiver, wrapping her arms around her tiny frame when a small breeze passes through. My automatic instinct is to pull her into my arms to warm her up, but I don't know how she'll feel about that at the moment. "Are you cold?" I ask softly, taking a step closer to her shaking frame and Maddie nods her head subtly.

"A little bit," she replied and without hesitation I wrap my arms around her, pulling her into me as I try to keep her warm, blocking the wind from hitting her. I feel Maddie press her body further into mine and I tighten my hold on her, resting my chin on the top of her head. "What did you wanna tell me?" Maddie asked quietly.

"First, I wanted to apologize for reacting the way I did. I know the look on my face when you were trying to explain it to me didn't help much. It wasn't deliberate; I can promise you that. But the second you ran and I saw you drive off when I came after you, I realized that everything that you said made sense and I do believe you. If something is meant to be, it will happen and I know we were meant to meet.

"I think what threw me off was you saying it was your mom who put me in your path, but once I thought about it, my own parents came to mind. I lost them 20 years ago to a drunk driver, so I've kinda been on my own ever since. Well, except for Miss Susie," I said with a smile, "she's pretty much been there for me since losing them. And you remember when I told you earlier how I had been cheated on?" I asked Maddie quietly and I feel her nod her head.

"I do. If I ever meet the bitch, I won't hesitate to beat her ass for what she did to you," Maddie said quietly and my body shakes from my laughter, but her comment also has my heartbeat quickening at hearing her coming to my defense so easily. I tighten my hold on her, but I stay quiet. "I know I've only known you for a couple of days, but I know you didn't deserve that. No one does. What I know about you, I can tell you're a good man, AJ," Maddie told me and pulls away some to look up into my eyes. "You hardly know me and you've already put me before yourself. Like tonight; you came after me, you sought me out just to apologize for something you shouldn't even be apologizing for. You wouldn't let me pay for a new freaking tire, but instead, you wanted to take me out. I don't even know how that makes sense…" Maddie states and I grin down at her.

"It doesn't, but I did it because I like you, Maddie. A lot. And it's why I sought you out tonight to apologize because I didn't want you to think that I thought you were crazy for thinking what you did. Because I don't and you're not. I also didn't want to end tonight on a bad note," I said, tucking a strand of Maddie's loose hair behind her ear before I stroke the apple of her cheek with a soft smile.

She looks up into my eyes with admiration before flicking her own down to my lips and then back up to my eyes once more. My smile broadens and I slowly lean down some as I feel Maddie step up onto her toes and her eyes slowly shut, grabbing the front of my shirt to keep me close. In my head I'm thinking that this can't be actually happening. Not this quick. Not this soon. And just as our lips graze one another's, the front door opens and Maddie and I pull away from each other, looking over to where her father stands in the doorway.

"What is going on out here? Who is that?" Her father questions and when his eyes land on me, they harden instantly once he realizes who it is. "You! You stay away from my daughter, Jones! Do you hear me! My little girl doesn't need to be associated with you; I refuse to let her bring herself down to your level!" He yells and my own eyes harden some at his accusations towards me. His grudge against me for things I've done in the past still high up in the air, even though I've proven myself to be a better man since then.

"Daddy! Stop! Don't speak to him that way! Why are you acting like this?" Maddie cries out and turns around in my hold, but I allow my hands to drop to my sides, not wanting to anger her father anymore than he already is.

"Because he's no good, Maddie. You need to stay away from him," he addresses his daughter, but then let's his eyes stray back onto me, "you need to leave. Now. And don't let me catch you with my daughter ever again," he grounds out.

"Dad! What are you talking about?! He's done nothing wrong! I'm not going to stay away from him!" Maddie exclaims and my heart breaks some with her comment, because she obviously doesn't know my past, whereas her father does. Even though it's in the past and I don't hold myself that way anymore. I haven't for years and I don't plan on going back to that lifestyle. Especially now that I have Maddie in my life.

"Maddie, sweetheart. It's alright…I'll go…" I begin to say and Maddie shakes her head, cutting me off.

"No AJ. You don't have to leave because my father said you have to," she argues, looking up at me and I see the desperation in her eyes for me to stay. It hurts me to deny her and walk away and while it's not what I want, I'm going to because I'm going to respect her father's wishes and leave.

"Yes I do, Maddie. He's already upset enough as it is, I don't want to make it worse. I'll see you tomorrow, alright?" I say quietly so only she can hear me and Maddie begins to shake her head quickly, grabbing onto my arm, keeping me in place.

"AJ, please," she whispers out, her voice becoming husky.

"Madison Andrews, get inside…now!" Her father demands. Maddie looks back up at me with sad eyes and a tear falls down her cheek and I return her look, heartbroken, reaching up to wipe away the rogue tear.

"I'm sorry, baby, but I gotta go. I'll text you my address, alright? If you want, you can come to me after he goes to sleep. I'll wait up for you, okay?" I say, trying to convincing her that way and Maddie finally gives in, nodding her head subtly. "That's my girl. I'll see you in a little bit, beautiful," I whisper and despite her father's protests, I lean down and press a kiss to Maddie's cheek, get into my truck and leave Maddie in my wake. I watch her through the rear view mirror until she is no longer in sight.