Note: I don't own the WWE and its characters. This story is for
entertainment purposes only. Thanks!
FOOD, FANS & FUN
They reached the little restaurant right as the noonday rush was just starting. Lori went to get her door and Chris grabbed her arm, "Let me." He told her trying to be a gentlemen to impress her.
"OK." Lori felt a little silly, she wasn't used to being pampered.
He came around, opened her door, and swept down into a bow.
"M'lady." He said, his blue eyes sparkling merrily.
"Stop it Chris," Lori pleaded, "You're making a scene."
Chris just smiled devilishly and held his arm out to her. She took it trying to ignore the eyes that were upon them. Then he guided her into the bar where a few female patrons had gathered, whispering together excitedly. The women looked to be in their late teens or early twenties. There was no mistake about it, they definitely recognized Lori's handsome wrestler escort.
"Oh my Gosh! It's Chris Jericho!" One blonde woman screamed suddenly.
"Oh shit." Chris muttered, "Why does this have to happen today?"
"Maybe you should get a disguise?" Lori suggested smirking.
"I'm sorry Lori," Chris addressed her. "Let me deal with them now then hopefully they'll leave us alone to eat in peace."
"OK," Lori smiled. "I'm just going to go get us a table."
"See you in a few minutes," Chris told her.
Before Lori could stop him, he'd bent down and gave her a kiss that left her speechless. Eventually, she found a table and sat down to wait.
'What have you gotten yourself into girl?' She berated herself mentally, 'Only this morning I'd made up my mind that he would be out of my life. Why can't I stop myself from wanting to be with him? I know he's just going to leave and break my heart again.'
Lori watched Chris sadly as the owner of the establishment approached her table. It was Rip Barkins and he liked to wait some of the tables personally. He was a graying man, twenty years her senior. Lori had worked for him for a little while when she'd first arrived in Union. They'd become good friends during that time. Rip kind of watched out for her, he considered her to be like a niece to him. He noted her melancholy expression as he approached her.
"Hi Lori," Rip greeted. "Can I get you drink while you're waiting your friend there?"
"Sure Rip, give me a vanilla coke." Lori told him then added. "And put some rum in it."
Rip did a double take and said, "OK.." In a very confused voice as he walked away to fill the odd request. A short while later he returned and sat the glass down in front of her.
"Can I ask what's wrong?" Rip regarded her.
"Its complicated Rip." Lori told him not wanting to talk further.
"K.well, if you change you mind and want to talk about it my door is always open." Rip told her patting her shoulder.
"Thanks Rip." Lori forced a smile.
It took Chris fifteen long minutes to ward off the female fans that had been swarming around him. During that time, Lori had downed her drink and had ordered another sans- the alcohol. The first hadn't agreed with her too well at all. Since she didn't drink regularly, it had also given her a little buzz. She didn't realize she had turned pale until Chris sat down beside her.
"Lori? Are you all right?" Chris looked at her with concern in his eyes.
"Yeah, groovy Chris," Lori smiled weakly.
"What'd you have?" Chris asked her.
"Some vanilla coke." Lori told him partially.
Chris picked up the empty glass and sniffed it, "There was more than vanilla coke in that glass girl. You shouldn't be drinking now; its not good for the baby." He scolded her and picked up the other glass, "Is this one the same?"
"No Chris, just plain vanilla coke this time." She answered giggling, "I don't feel so good."
"No kidding." Chris sighed, "Do you still feel like having some lunch?"
"I'm sorry," Lori shook her head, "Maybe I'll just settle for a bowl of soup instead."
"Well hopefully that will teach you a lesson," Chris shook his finger playfully at her.
Rip returned to the table then and they placed their order. Lori ordered a bowl of simple french onion soup with a slice of bread. Chris got a steak platter with a baked potato.
"So will you be able to stay in town long?" Lori asked him.
"Yes actually." Chris told her smiling broadly, "I've had some vacation time coming for a awhile now. I'm on vacation for three weeks. I can stay in town as long as you'll have me."
"Really?" Lori couldn't believe it. "Wouldn't you like to spend some of it at home in Florida though?"
Chris grabbed her hands and gazed deeply into her eyes, "You're not there, you're here."
"Stop it Chris," His seriousness unnerved her and Lori drew her hands away quickly. "We don't know each other well enough for remarks like that yet. Don't act like we do."
"I-I-I'm sorry Lori," Chris stammered and tried to explain. "I just know that when I'm with you, I feel so alive, so..oh.I don't know what it is. I can't help hoping that you feel the same."
Inside Lori knew exactly how he felt but she'd be damned if she let him know it. "I see..well.uh. Can we just take this slow, OK?" She asked him.
"Yes, of course." Chris replied eager to make her happy. "I guess I've been rushing you a bit. I don't have much experience with a real relationship. I guess I still have a lot to learn."
Lori smiled back, "Well relax Chris, this is a good start."
Their meals came and Lori felt her hunger returning with a vengence.
"Could I have a double bacon burger and a large order of coleslaw Rip?" Lori asked him as he sat down the soup.
"Feeling better?" Chris arched an eyebrow at her.
"Yeah, as a matter of fact I am." Lori laughed, "Can your wallet handle it?"
"You know the answer to that one." Chris told her. "Anything you want to order you go ahead, OK?"
"In that case, Rip bring me some breaded mushrooms with marinara sauce on the side." Lori told Rip who looked at her curiously.
After he was out of earshot, Chris couldn't help remarking, "Man, Junior's going to be a big kid."
"Stuff it Chris," Lori warned him playfully and threw her napkin at him.
"So, have you seen a doctor yet?" Chris asked her.
"No, my first appointment isn't for another week." Lori told him.
"I'll go with you."
"Look, this isn't one that you should be there for." Lori tried to explain.
"Are you saying you'll let me be there for future ones?" Chris asked hopefully.
"I guess its your right as the father." Lori sighed, "But honestly Chris, this is just going to be blood work, urinanalysis, and pelvic exam stuff; no actual looking or hearing the baby yet. Its too early for that stuff."
"Oh," Chris replied wishing she would want him to be there instead of feeling obligated to let him come. "Lori, I want to help you with this every way I can not just with the financial burdens. Anything you want, you just name it and you got it."
"Look my insurance is pretty decent. I'm only going to end up paying a $10 copay for the very first visit, after that everything is covered. So I won't need your help." Lori told him.
"OK fine I'll help by buying the supplies that your insurance doesn't pick up." Chris was feeling helpless.
"Chris I haven't even decided if I'm going to keep the baby. I don't want you to build up your hopes like this." Lori tried to argue.
"Why don't you just let me worry about that?" Chris retorted a little sharply.
"Whatever!" Lori replied angrily.
"I'm sorry Lori," Chris apologized in a softer tone. "I shouldn't have snapped at you like that."
"Can we talk about something else?" Lori asked him. "Like where'd you grow up and how big is your family?"
"Sure Lori, of course." Chris agreed. "I grew up in Winnipeg, Manitoba Canada. I don't have any siblings just two parents, both living. How about you Lori?"
"Coyote Crossing, in Devil County, up north about two hours from here." Lori answered. "I am the fifth of six kids. Two older brothers, two older sisters, and a kid brother living at home with my parents. Your license says you live in Florida."
"Yeah I moved down about a year ago." Chris explained. "It's more convienent for my schedule and less red tape with crossing the border all the time."
"Does your family still live in Canada?" Lori asked.
"Yes, does yours still live in Coyote?" Chris answered and returned. "What's it like there?"
"Oh Chris," Lori's eyes lit up when she spoke of it. "It's beautiful county. My parents run a horse ranch up there in a place where the mountains overlook the valley. The Colorado River runs through a portion of the property. The sunsets there are like nowhere else on earth. The valley is so full of wildlife, I used to go for rides up on the mountain crest and look down over it all. It was awesome Chris."
"It sounds wonderful." Chris was feeling a little homesick for his family's place in Canada. He noticed her expression had turned a little melancholy then, "You seem like you miss it, do you want to take a drive up there?" Chris hoped she would say yes.
Lori thought it over a moment then answered, "Why not? I'm off, it's a nice day to go for a drive anyway."
"Do you want to change your clothes first?" Chris looked at her attire.
"Nah, mom has some stuff of mine up there for when I visit." Lori shook her head.
"Then lets leave right from here, is that all right?" Jericho suggested waving for the check.
"Sure Chris, but uh," Lori's expression looked thoughtful and pained somehow, "I haven't told my parents about the baby. I'm not sure how I want to break this to them."
"All right Lori." Chris agreed wishing he could help her to face them.
FOOD, FANS & FUN
They reached the little restaurant right as the noonday rush was just starting. Lori went to get her door and Chris grabbed her arm, "Let me." He told her trying to be a gentlemen to impress her.
"OK." Lori felt a little silly, she wasn't used to being pampered.
He came around, opened her door, and swept down into a bow.
"M'lady." He said, his blue eyes sparkling merrily.
"Stop it Chris," Lori pleaded, "You're making a scene."
Chris just smiled devilishly and held his arm out to her. She took it trying to ignore the eyes that were upon them. Then he guided her into the bar where a few female patrons had gathered, whispering together excitedly. The women looked to be in their late teens or early twenties. There was no mistake about it, they definitely recognized Lori's handsome wrestler escort.
"Oh my Gosh! It's Chris Jericho!" One blonde woman screamed suddenly.
"Oh shit." Chris muttered, "Why does this have to happen today?"
"Maybe you should get a disguise?" Lori suggested smirking.
"I'm sorry Lori," Chris addressed her. "Let me deal with them now then hopefully they'll leave us alone to eat in peace."
"OK," Lori smiled. "I'm just going to go get us a table."
"See you in a few minutes," Chris told her.
Before Lori could stop him, he'd bent down and gave her a kiss that left her speechless. Eventually, she found a table and sat down to wait.
'What have you gotten yourself into girl?' She berated herself mentally, 'Only this morning I'd made up my mind that he would be out of my life. Why can't I stop myself from wanting to be with him? I know he's just going to leave and break my heart again.'
Lori watched Chris sadly as the owner of the establishment approached her table. It was Rip Barkins and he liked to wait some of the tables personally. He was a graying man, twenty years her senior. Lori had worked for him for a little while when she'd first arrived in Union. They'd become good friends during that time. Rip kind of watched out for her, he considered her to be like a niece to him. He noted her melancholy expression as he approached her.
"Hi Lori," Rip greeted. "Can I get you drink while you're waiting your friend there?"
"Sure Rip, give me a vanilla coke." Lori told him then added. "And put some rum in it."
Rip did a double take and said, "OK.." In a very confused voice as he walked away to fill the odd request. A short while later he returned and sat the glass down in front of her.
"Can I ask what's wrong?" Rip regarded her.
"Its complicated Rip." Lori told him not wanting to talk further.
"K.well, if you change you mind and want to talk about it my door is always open." Rip told her patting her shoulder.
"Thanks Rip." Lori forced a smile.
It took Chris fifteen long minutes to ward off the female fans that had been swarming around him. During that time, Lori had downed her drink and had ordered another sans- the alcohol. The first hadn't agreed with her too well at all. Since she didn't drink regularly, it had also given her a little buzz. She didn't realize she had turned pale until Chris sat down beside her.
"Lori? Are you all right?" Chris looked at her with concern in his eyes.
"Yeah, groovy Chris," Lori smiled weakly.
"What'd you have?" Chris asked her.
"Some vanilla coke." Lori told him partially.
Chris picked up the empty glass and sniffed it, "There was more than vanilla coke in that glass girl. You shouldn't be drinking now; its not good for the baby." He scolded her and picked up the other glass, "Is this one the same?"
"No Chris, just plain vanilla coke this time." She answered giggling, "I don't feel so good."
"No kidding." Chris sighed, "Do you still feel like having some lunch?"
"I'm sorry," Lori shook her head, "Maybe I'll just settle for a bowl of soup instead."
"Well hopefully that will teach you a lesson," Chris shook his finger playfully at her.
Rip returned to the table then and they placed their order. Lori ordered a bowl of simple french onion soup with a slice of bread. Chris got a steak platter with a baked potato.
"So will you be able to stay in town long?" Lori asked him.
"Yes actually." Chris told her smiling broadly, "I've had some vacation time coming for a awhile now. I'm on vacation for three weeks. I can stay in town as long as you'll have me."
"Really?" Lori couldn't believe it. "Wouldn't you like to spend some of it at home in Florida though?"
Chris grabbed her hands and gazed deeply into her eyes, "You're not there, you're here."
"Stop it Chris," His seriousness unnerved her and Lori drew her hands away quickly. "We don't know each other well enough for remarks like that yet. Don't act like we do."
"I-I-I'm sorry Lori," Chris stammered and tried to explain. "I just know that when I'm with you, I feel so alive, so..oh.I don't know what it is. I can't help hoping that you feel the same."
Inside Lori knew exactly how he felt but she'd be damned if she let him know it. "I see..well.uh. Can we just take this slow, OK?" She asked him.
"Yes, of course." Chris replied eager to make her happy. "I guess I've been rushing you a bit. I don't have much experience with a real relationship. I guess I still have a lot to learn."
Lori smiled back, "Well relax Chris, this is a good start."
Their meals came and Lori felt her hunger returning with a vengence.
"Could I have a double bacon burger and a large order of coleslaw Rip?" Lori asked him as he sat down the soup.
"Feeling better?" Chris arched an eyebrow at her.
"Yeah, as a matter of fact I am." Lori laughed, "Can your wallet handle it?"
"You know the answer to that one." Chris told her. "Anything you want to order you go ahead, OK?"
"In that case, Rip bring me some breaded mushrooms with marinara sauce on the side." Lori told Rip who looked at her curiously.
After he was out of earshot, Chris couldn't help remarking, "Man, Junior's going to be a big kid."
"Stuff it Chris," Lori warned him playfully and threw her napkin at him.
"So, have you seen a doctor yet?" Chris asked her.
"No, my first appointment isn't for another week." Lori told him.
"I'll go with you."
"Look, this isn't one that you should be there for." Lori tried to explain.
"Are you saying you'll let me be there for future ones?" Chris asked hopefully.
"I guess its your right as the father." Lori sighed, "But honestly Chris, this is just going to be blood work, urinanalysis, and pelvic exam stuff; no actual looking or hearing the baby yet. Its too early for that stuff."
"Oh," Chris replied wishing she would want him to be there instead of feeling obligated to let him come. "Lori, I want to help you with this every way I can not just with the financial burdens. Anything you want, you just name it and you got it."
"Look my insurance is pretty decent. I'm only going to end up paying a $10 copay for the very first visit, after that everything is covered. So I won't need your help." Lori told him.
"OK fine I'll help by buying the supplies that your insurance doesn't pick up." Chris was feeling helpless.
"Chris I haven't even decided if I'm going to keep the baby. I don't want you to build up your hopes like this." Lori tried to argue.
"Why don't you just let me worry about that?" Chris retorted a little sharply.
"Whatever!" Lori replied angrily.
"I'm sorry Lori," Chris apologized in a softer tone. "I shouldn't have snapped at you like that."
"Can we talk about something else?" Lori asked him. "Like where'd you grow up and how big is your family?"
"Sure Lori, of course." Chris agreed. "I grew up in Winnipeg, Manitoba Canada. I don't have any siblings just two parents, both living. How about you Lori?"
"Coyote Crossing, in Devil County, up north about two hours from here." Lori answered. "I am the fifth of six kids. Two older brothers, two older sisters, and a kid brother living at home with my parents. Your license says you live in Florida."
"Yeah I moved down about a year ago." Chris explained. "It's more convienent for my schedule and less red tape with crossing the border all the time."
"Does your family still live in Canada?" Lori asked.
"Yes, does yours still live in Coyote?" Chris answered and returned. "What's it like there?"
"Oh Chris," Lori's eyes lit up when she spoke of it. "It's beautiful county. My parents run a horse ranch up there in a place where the mountains overlook the valley. The Colorado River runs through a portion of the property. The sunsets there are like nowhere else on earth. The valley is so full of wildlife, I used to go for rides up on the mountain crest and look down over it all. It was awesome Chris."
"It sounds wonderful." Chris was feeling a little homesick for his family's place in Canada. He noticed her expression had turned a little melancholy then, "You seem like you miss it, do you want to take a drive up there?" Chris hoped she would say yes.
Lori thought it over a moment then answered, "Why not? I'm off, it's a nice day to go for a drive anyway."
"Do you want to change your clothes first?" Chris looked at her attire.
"Nah, mom has some stuff of mine up there for when I visit." Lori shook her head.
"Then lets leave right from here, is that all right?" Jericho suggested waving for the check.
"Sure Chris, but uh," Lori's expression looked thoughtful and pained somehow, "I haven't told my parents about the baby. I'm not sure how I want to break this to them."
"All right Lori." Chris agreed wishing he could help her to face them.