Chapter 2
Stacy turned around in the arena hallway, a wide grin spread across her face as she realized who was calling her name. She ran over to him, tossing her arms around him in a hug.
"Hey, Chris!" she said cheerily.
Over the years, Chris Irvine had become one of her best friends. They had very similar outlooks on life… and the man could make her laugh till her sides hurt.
"Come join me in the catering room," Chris replied, wrapping an arm around her waist. "Food is beckoning me."
"I can always go for food," Stacy replied, laughing as she heartily patted her stomach.
Chris always made fun of her eating habits. He often wondered how she stayed so thin, when the woman consumed more food in a day then he did in three. He winked at her, and then moved his hand from around her waist.
He linked his arm with hers, and they strolled into the catering room. Not a moment later, a voice boomed at them from across the room.
"Yo, Jerky! Get your ass over here!"
Both Chris and Stacy turned to see Dave Batista waving them over to the otherwise empty table, where he sat with Stephanie McMahon. Chris pointed out the table, placing a hand on the small of Stacy's back as he led her over to them.
The pair took a seat opposite of Dave and Stephanie, Chris and Stacy's respective best friends. They exchanged hellos, and then Chris stood again.
"What do you want?" he asked Stacy, pointing at the table of food located across the room.
Stacy eyed the selection, licking her lips as she sent Chris a look of disbelief.
"Oh, right," he said with a knowing smile. "Everything."
Stacy nodded, a satisfied smirk twisting the corners of her lips. She waved Chris off, and then returned her gaze to Dave and Stephanie.
"So, what's eatin' ya, Keibs?" Dave didn't hesitate to ask.
She sent him a confused look.
"What?" she questioned, folding her hands and placing them on the table.
"When Steph asked you about comin' out with us last night, you said were weren't feeling too hot," he explained, which Stephanie confirmed with a nod.
"Oh, that?" Stacy asked with a slightly nervous smile. "I was just tired. I had a really long day, and I didn't think getting drunk at a bar would be the best idea."
Though she had been speaking to Dave, Stacy's wary eyes stared directly at Stephanie. Four years had passed, and Stephanie was clueless. She told her stories of Shane's wife, Marissa, and how her and Shane made the most adorable couple and had the perfect marriage. Little did she know, Shane was having an affair with, of all people, her own best friend.
Lying wasn't so easy anymore. For a while it had become second nature to the blonde woman. Pretending she was sleeping or at an appearance when she was actually out with Shane was a piece of cake. But guilt was slowly starting to consume her, and it made the lying almost unbearable.
Not to mention paranoid. She had changed Shane's name in her cell phone, but even that didn't calm her fears. She doubted anyone believed she was on the phone with Torrie that much.
"Well, don't make a habit of it," Stephanie warned her, pointing a finger her way, drawing Stacy from her thoughts. "Chris is extremely annoying when you're not around to distract him."
"Just goes to show that you are no fun, Princess," Chris said in distaste as he returned to the table, a plate in each hand. Stephanie blushed just slightly. "You and your fuckin' boyfriend are the worst company in the world."
Dave pretended to scowl, but his efforts were diminished with laughter. Am amused grin was plastered on his face as Chris placed a packed plate in front of Stacy, then sat down with his own.
"Someone's very jealous," he replied with a grin, tossing his arm around Stephanie's shoulder.
He frowned a moment later when a crouton, picked from Stephanie's salad, pelted him on the nose.
"What were you saying about me bein' jealous?" Chris asked, grin now spread across his own face.
Stacy eyed her plate hungrily, and it was a matter of seconds before she dug into her food. The four ate in silence, until Stacy's cell phone interrupted. She pulled it from the waist of her jeans and eyed the screen: Torrie cell. She bit her lip and glanced at the other three, who were watching her expectantly. Suddenly, her appetite was sucked from her. She tentatively rose from the table, pushing her plate towards Chris.
"Hang on to that for me. I gotta go take this call," she instructed, waving a quick goodbye.
"You're gonna leave us with this shithead again? – Hey, watch it!" she heard Dave tell as he was hit with another piece of food.
Stacy shook her head in amusement, hoping that her exit would not be the cause of a food fight. The smile faded when she rounded a corner, glancing around to make sure it was clear before answering her call.
"Hey, Shane," she said quietly, settling back against the wall.
"Hi cutie," he relied, causing her to smile. "You left early this mornin', baby."
Stacy sighed, closing her eyes, "I know, Shane. I had a meeting with your dad around eight."
Great, now she was lying to him, too. The cycle seemed to be never ending. She had no meeting with Vince, but she knew Shane would never ask his father if she had been with him. She just had to get out of that hotel and try and get her mind off of things.
"That's too bad," he murmured. "Guess you'll have to come early tonight, make up for lost time."
The smile found its way to her lips again. The man was insatiable, which was just fine with her. Not many men could match her stamina.
"I'm sure I can arrange that," she promised in an alluring tone.
"You have a very seductive voice, baby," he told her. "Had me from day one. Remember the first time we hung out, just the two of us?"
There was a pause on both ends of the line, and Stacy nodded fondly. She remembered that night like it was yesterday. That night had been the start of it all.
"You have the most beautiful eyes – anyone ever tell you that?" Shane said to her as Stacy laughed at his previous comment.
She stopped laughing, but the grin still stretched across her face. They were back in the hotel after having some drinks together at a local bar. Shane insisted on walking Stacy to her room, even though he was staying five floors beneath her. The leggy blonde was touched by his charm and kindness. He certainly made her transition to the WWF much easier.
"You know, I really don't get that much. I guess most people are wrapped up in the legs," she told him.
Shane smiled at her as he hooked his arm through hers. He knew she meant for her comment to be innocent, but he couldn't look at it that way. Whether she intended it or not, he happily picked up the innuendo.
He gazed down at her trademark legs, giving her an appreciative nod. He knew he should have refrained from staring her down, but at the moment he couldn't help it. She was too beautiful.
"That voice, too," he commented with a wink. "Everything about you is pretty damn beautiful, Miss Keibler."
Stacy chewed on her lip thoughtfully as they reached her room, trying to think of something to say to him in response.
"Thanks for everything," she settled on after a long pause. "I had a really good time tonight."
Shane watched as she leaned towards him, her lips pursed together. He knew she was going to kiss his cheek, but he couldn't fight the urge to kiss her back. It was wrong and he was fully aware of it. But for some reason, he just didn't care.
Just as her lips grazed his cheek, he turned his head and pressed his lips on hers. One little kiss wouldn't change anything, right?