Disclaimers: I own nothing or anyone associated or affiliated with TNA. I own only the original characters. This is just a fictional story that came from my imagination.
Chapter Content & Trigger Warnings: None this chapter
Chapter 28
Exhausted, Ella entered the den and sat down on the large sofa with some of the take-out pasta she'd had delivered. Recovering from a day full of singing, she forked up a bite of manicotti.
She'd had a last practice for her vocal finals earlier in the afternoon, then her audition for La Traviata was right after the rehearsal. She didn't have a lot of time to get ready for her actual finals performance, but managed to make it in time nonetheless. Her recital went perfectly, and she was sure she'd get a great grade on it.
She'd gotten Miracle home and ordered Italian takeout. She wasn't hungry right away, so she decided to wait a little while to eat. Miracle ate her personal-sized pizza quickly and then headed up to her bedroom to finish up her homework. It was nearing 7:30 by that point, and Ella knew she should make herself eat since she hadn't eaten anything since breakfast. Taking advantage of the quiet, Ella decided to listen to messages on her voice-mail while she ate.
She heard Viktor Dankevych's voice and rolled her eyes. She no longer felt badly about being rude. There was something about the man that made her skin crawl. She had learned to listen to her instincts, so she was opting to not take his calls. He was being persistent though. He'd called her almost every day since the day they had lunch together.
And that was a couple weeks ago.
She listened to his latest message, and cringed.
"Hello, Claire… I really don't understand why you've not returned my calls. I thought we were going to be friends. I wouldn't normally show up at your house uninvited, but as a friend…I'm concerned. Please call me back. Or I will definitely feel the need to stop by and visit."
Ella groaned. "That definitely sounds like a threat."
Right then, she made up her mind to get a new sim card so she could have a different phone number.
Frustrated, she picked up the TV's remote control to channel surf. Quickly flipping past the cable movie channels, she kept her eye out for a good sitcom or drama to get her mind off Viktor Dankevych.
Suddenly, Joe was on her television screen.
And all thoughts of Viktor fled.
"Joe…" she whispered.
Her eyes were glued to the television as she watched him run down the TNA ramp and to the ring. He tackled Bobby Roode, who was attacking her uncle at that point.
"Uncle Jeff," Ella cried. She knew she should change the channel, but she had missed her husband and uncle so much. She tried hard to not think of them because it hurt so much she feared the pain would kill her.
She sat transfixed, her food completely forgotten. She didn't blink until Joe and Jeff made their way backstage, and Roode sat in the ring looking dazed. Before she realized what she was doing, her cell phone was in her hand again and she was dialing her uncle's number. She covered the mouthpiece as it rang.
I just need to hear his voice, she thought sadly. I have to.
"Hello?"
Ella's eyes welled with tears again, and she reluctantly hung up the phone. Then she was dialing Joe's number. It rang a couple times, and then she heard his voice.
"Hello?"
She gasped through her tears, unable to bring herself to hang up and lose the sound of his voice.
He spoke again, sounding a little annoyed, "Hello? Who is this?"
Then she heard Jeff's voice: "Who is that? I just got a similar phone call."
Oh, no, Ella thought. She immediately hung up. She didn't think about them comparing notes. What if they figure out I'm alive? She groaned, and went to wrap her meal up as leftovers, knowing she couldn't possibly eat anything then.
"God, please don't let my stupidity cause me any grief."
She knew it was too late to worry however. She'd have to cross the bridge when she came to it.
"Mommy?"
Not wanting to risk her daughter seeing Joe on the television should he have another segment, she hastily flipped past the Spike channel and tried to discreetly wipe her tears away.
"What is it, honey," Ella asked, turning to face Miracle.
The little girl walked into the room and sat down by her mother, snuggling against her. She raised her head and looked up at Ella.
"Why are you crying," she asked, worry creasing her forehead.
"Oh, angel girl, it's nothing. Really. I'm just a little sad is all," Ella replied, hugging her daughter tightly.
"You can tell me about it," Miracle said. "You're always there for me when I need to talk."
Ella hesitated a moment. Should I be honest with her, she wondered. It's been ten years since everything happened. Surely, Fournier would have gotten to me by now if he was going to find me at all. She felt horrible for keeping Joe a secret from Miracle. She had the right to know what a wonderful father she would have had. Instead, Ella had lied and told Miracle that her daddy had died, in hopes it would keep the girl from asking questions. But now, Ella realized that Miracle was nearly ten years old. And she needed to know the truth also for her protection. If she warned her about Fournier, it could possibly save her life in the future. She didn't want to keep Miracle in the dark the way her parents had done her.
Taking a deep breath, Ella decided to come clean.
"Okay, Miracle. I'm going to tell you the truth. But I need you to promise me something first. You can't tell anyone—not a soul. This is very serious—a matter of life and death. I don't want to frighten you, but you really do need to know the truth."
Miracle nodded. "Okay, Mom. I promise. I won't say a word to anyone."
Ella avoided her daughter's eyes as she spoke softly. "I've lied to you, Miracle. I'm so sorry, but I have. It was to protect us."
Miracle's black eyes widened in surprise. "Protect us from what, Mom? What did you lie about?"
God, help me to do this without scaring her out of her mind, she prayed. "Before you were born, there was a man—a very bad man—who wanted to hurt me."
"Why," Miracle asked.
"He was just a very sick, angry man, Miracle. He blamed my daddy for something that wasn't his fault, and he wanted to hurt me to get revenge on my dad."
"Was he going to kill you?"
Ella shook her head. "No, it was worse than that. I can't tell you all the details, lo'u alofa, you're too young to hear such horrible things. So just trust me when I say he was evil."
Miracle nodded and waited for Ella to continue.
"He killed my parents—your grandparents, and then he tried to kidnap me. I nearly died, but your daddy saved me." She looked at Miracle to make sure she understood everything. "I'm sorry—I know this is a lot to take in. I'm trying to avoid unnecessary details."
Miracle nodded. "Did…did the bad man kill Daddy?"
"No, baby. He didn't." She paused then and swallowed hard. "My uncle wanted me and your daddy to marry so I'd be better protected. See, the bad man wasn't giving up on kidnapping me."
"Did the cops get him? Who was he?"
"Not that I know of, honey. That's why I'm telling you all of this. His name was Jacques Fournier."
"Did you and Daddy love each other?"
Ella's eyes burned with threatening tears again. "Yes, baby. We loved each other very much. My uncle wanted us to marry mainly for my protection, but your daddy wanted to marry me because he loved me."
"What happened, Mommy," the little girl asked. "You told me Daddy was dead… Is that true?"
Choking back a sob and shaking her head, Ella struggled to continue. "No, Miry. It's not true."
"Where is he then," Miracle asked. Her eyes were filled with tears also.
"I'm not sure. His work causes him to travel a lot." She swallowed past the lump in her throat. "Fournier began killing people trying to get to me. And I felt I had no choice but to leave my family behind to protect them. I was afraid I would be the cause of them being murdered. The night I left was mine and your daddy's wedding night. There was an attack made on a family friend and… I just knew then I had to leave." Trying to shorten the complicated details, she moved on in the story. "And that's how I became pregnant with you. Your daddy and I didn't have very long together, but I have the very special memories of how you came into my life." She wiped some tears away and added. "I just hate that you and your daddy can't even know each other."
"But it happened so long ago, Mom," Miracle said softly. A tear dripped down her cheek. "Maybe the cops caught Four…Fournier," she stumbled over the name. "Maybe we could find daddy and be with him now."
Ella shook her head sadly. "No, baby. We can't."
"Why not?"
"Because Fournier may still be looking for me. And because your daddy thinks I'm dead—I faked my death. He doesn't even know about you. If he found out I was alive and that I kept you a secret from him, he would never forgive me."
"But, Mom-"
She was cut off by Ella's hard sob. "I'm so sorry, Miracle. I never wanted any of this to happen. You don't know how badly I wish we could be with Joe-" She gasped, not meaning to give away Joe's name.
"My daddy's name is Joe?"
Ella nodded, fighting more tears. "Yes."
"Mom, please tell me about him. I need to know."
"He… He's just…amazing," Ella started. She tugged Miracle back on the sofa and held her close, stroking her hair as she spoke. "He's handsome, and strong and loyal. He was willing to die for me—and I for him. We were friends ever since we were kids, but I was in love with him from the first moment I saw him."
"Did he love you too?"
"Not in the beginning," Ella actually managed a chuckle. "I bothered him a lot at first because he was ten and I was eight—no boy wanted a little girl pestering him all the time. I followed him around everywhere." Ella smiled at the memories. "I think he hated me for a while, but nonetheless we became friends a few years later."
"Why did he change his mind?"
"I wore him down, I guess," Ella smiled, thinking back on the day their friendship developed. "He injured himself in my uncle's woods, and I… Well… He always boasted about how I saved his life," she blushed at remembering his praise of her. "We went through a rough patch a couple years later. He got a girlfriend and I became jealous. It put a strain on our friendship. We didn't see each other again for about three years."
"What happened then?"
"A lot of things," Ella answered. "It was New Year's Eve…My parents and I were going to my uncle's annual holiday party. It was a beautiful party. I was glad it was formal because—being a typical girl—I loved the chance to dress up. I wore a really pretty purple dress and Joe…" her voice trailed off as she remembered how handsome he looked in his black suit.
"Mom?"
"Sorry," she whispered. "I was just remembering how handsome your father looked." She smiled, and looked down at her daughter. "You have his eyes, you know?"
"Do I," Miracle asked excitedly.
"Yes, you do," Ella chuckled. "The same shape, the same color…black as midnight. You also inherited his hair color." She got back on track with her story, and spoke again. "It was a night I'll never forget—for many reasons. Your daddy fell in love with me that night. It should have been a wonderful evening, but it ended very badly."
"Why?"
"Because that was the night my parents were killed, and I nearly died too," Ella answered. "Joe saved me, but it was almost too late for me. I was in a coma for a couple of weeks. After that, well…everything moved really fast, and the next thing I knew, Joe and I were married."
"I'm sorry you didn't get to stay with him, Mom," Miracle whispered, raising her arms to wrap around Ella's neck. "It's not fair."
"I know, baby," Ella returned the hug. "I'm sorry you didn't get to know him. So sorry," she cried softly.
Miracle reached up and wiped her tears away, "Don't worry, Mommy. You never know, maybe one day we'll get to be with Daddy."
Not wanting to dash her daughter's new found hopes, she smiled softly and nodded. "Maybe."
"Can I see him," Miracle asked. "Do you have a picture of him?"
"I don't," Ella said, "I had to leave behind any photos and things that could have linked me to my family. But…I do have this," she said, reaching up to her neck and unclasping the music note pendant Joe had given her. She then placed the necklace around Miracle's neck and re-clasped it. "Your daddy gave me this shortly before he proposed to me. I bet he'd love for you to wear it now."
"Really," Miracle exclaimed looking down at the necklace. "It's so pretty!"
"And it looks pretty on you," Ella said. "I'm glad you like it."
"I'll never take it off," Miracle said softly. "I promise."
Ella smiled and stood up, heading over to the desk. "While I don't have any pictures of Joe, I do think I can find some online."
"How?"
"Because he's a tad famous now. Are you sure you can keep quiet about this, Miry?"
The girl nodded. "I promise."
Ella quickly pulled up the internet and changed her tool settings so she was in Private Browsing, and turned on her VPN. She went to Google and did a search for "Samoa Joe". In a couple seconds, Joe filled her computer screen.
"That's Daddy," Miracle asked, looking closer. "He's a wrestler?"
"Yes, baby, that's your daddy. And yes, he's a wrestler—a very talented one."
"I do have his eyes!"
"I know. I see him in you every day," Ella smiled, reaching up and brushing Miracle's hair from her forehead. "There's something else I want you to see. Fournier. In case he was to ever show up here, I want you to know what he looks like for your safety." In the next instant, she typed in Fournier's name and pulled up his mug shot. Turning toward Miracle again, she spoke softly. "Baby, if you ever see this man… Run away, okay?"
Miracle nodded distractedly, staring at the man's photo, taking in his features. "His eyes are scary."
"Promise me, Miracle. Promise me. No matter what—promise you will run from this man—even if he's hurting me."
"But, Mom-"
"No buts. You have to do this, Miracle. I couldn't live if something happened to you."
The little girl slumped and looked down at her hands. "Okay. I promise."
"Can you look me in the eye when you say that?"
Miracle lifted her gaze to her mother's. "I promise, Mom. I promise." She paused for a moment and asked, "Mom, can I sleep in your room tonight?"
"Sure, angel girl. Did I frighten you?"
"No, not exactly. I just…don't really want to be alone."
"Okay, baby. Why don't you go watch TV in your room till bedtime? It's only about another hour."
"Okay," Miracle said. She hugged Ella again and then headed for the stairs.
I hope I've done the right thing by telling her. I just felt like she needed to know. If something happened to her because of lack of knowledge, I'd never forgive myself.
She decided to try and clear her head a little before she got ready for bed. The recollection of seeing and hearing Joe—as well as her talk with Miracle—made her want to do something in his honor. Something which would bind the memory of him to her always.
"Maybe design a piece of jewelry. Or maybe even a tattoo…" she thought out loud.
The more she thought of it, the more she liked the ideas, so she grabbed a tablet from her desk drawer, and began sketching out some possibilities.
}i{}i{}i{}i{
Jeff glanced at Angel, AJ, Velvet, and Sabin down the hallway from him and Joe. He tried to see if any of them were looking at their cell phones strangely. He felt odd about the phone call he'd accepted moments before, and then when Joe had received the exact same call only seconds later, it had set his nerves on edge.
"Did any of you just get a phone call where the caller didn't answer," he called out.
They all shook their heads and went back to their conversation.
"That's really weird," Joe finally spoke up, and pocketed his phone.
"I know," Jeff agreed. "What are the odds we actually work together on an angle together for a change, and then we both get identical phone calls seconds apart—and right after we get backstage, at that? Not to mention from the same phone number."
Joe nodded, keeping his thoughts to himself.
He had the strangest feeling the calls had to do with Ella. But he didn't want to say anything and upset Jeff further. He thought it sounded preposterous himself. Ella had been dead for ten years. Why would they be receiving calls regarding her? And why would the caller say nothing?
What's the point of calling if they don't say a word, he wondered. Then he grew angry. What is going on? And who did this? Whoever it is, I'll kill them when I find out.
He looked over at Jeff and saw the older man's mental gears turning. He was confused too.
"What do you think's going on," Jeff asked him. "This is too weird to ignore."
Joe thought the same thing. But he didn't want Jeff going through any more than he already had. He had acted for months like he didn't care about anyone or anything, but it wasn't true. He had just wanted to be left alone to wallow in his grief.
"Probably nothing," Joe answered finally, shrugging. "Maybe there's just something going on with the signals around here. Cell phones can be weird like that, ya know."
"True," Jeff said, "But still… Why your phone and my phone—and no one else's?"
"Jeff…don't read too much into this," Joe said, shaking his head. "What do you think? Ella's ghost is trying to reach us? That's crazy enough…but add in the fact she's waited ten years to do it, and it's just nuts."
"I know," Jeff said softly. "It's just-"
"A coincidence, Jeff. It's just a coincidence. Let it go."
With that, Joe walked off and left the wrestling veteran standing by himself.
But oddly, Jeff didn't feel alone. He could have sworn he'd seen the same ray of hope he felt, forming in Joe's eyes as well.
}i{}i{}i{}i{
"Oww," Ella moaned slightly and gripped the edge of the tattoo parlor's chair she lay on. "Cal… H-how much more is l-left?"
She had slowly begun to regret the decision of getting various tattoos done along her rib cage. She had plans to get four dates tattooed with a symbol above them.
The first tattoo was a small pink outline of a heart, with the date she met Joe for the first time, beneath it. The next was a filled pink heart with the date of her and Joe's wedding. Another was a filled black heart broken down the middle with the date of her "death"—the same day as their wedding—and the day she had to leave Joe and her life had lost all meaning. And the last tattoo was of a pair of hearts—a blue one which symbolized Joe, and a pink one which symbolized Ella—intertwined, with Miracle's birth date below them.
"Not too much more," the middle-aged tattoo artist said softly. "You've done great so far. Hang in there, Claire. It's only hurting more right now because this last heart is right over a rib."
Ella nodded and took in a deep breath, exhaling slowly. Her phone rang, and Cal handed it to her so she wouldn't have to move very much. She didn't bother looking at the screen because she was expecting a call from Doctor Jennings regarding her grade on her final performances.
"Hello?"
"Finally," she heard Viktor Dankevych exclaim. "Why have you not returned any of my calls?"
Oh, no, Ella inwardly groaned.
"Oh, h-hi, Viktor," she stammered. "Well…I uh…I've been so swamped with school and practices for the opera I'm in. I haven't even really checked my phone for voice mails in ages."
"Oh, I see. Well, maybe we could do lunch and catch up?"
"Well, that's really sweet of you, but—"
"Please? I've really missed seeing you. I thought we had a really great visit at Purple's, and just thought we could do it again."
Ella sighed, not knowing how to deal with his hard-headedness.
Maybe I could use lunch as an opportunity to explain to him that I suspect him of having ulterior motives. Let him know he makes me uncomfortable, but in a kind way.
"O-okay," she said. "I'm busy right now, but maybe we could meet at Purple's at about one?"
"Sounds great," Viktor said, a smile in his voice.
"Okay, see you there. Bye, Viktor."
She disconnected without listening for a goodbye from him and sighed again.
"Man troubles," Cal asked, chuckling.
"More like creepy freak troubles," Ella joked.
"He dangerous?"
"No, I don't think so. He's just…clingy. I'm going to explain to him at lunch that he just makes me a tad uncomfortable and that I think it best if we stopped meeting each other."
"Just be careful, kiddo."
"Oh, I will. Believe me. I'm naturally a very cautious person—right down to owning a gun."
"Smart girl," Cal retorted. "In this day and age, a woman living on her own or with children should have a gun."
"I agree. I have to keep it locked up of course, because I do have a little girl. Even though we've had the "guns are not toys" talk, I think it's okay—but I'd still rather be safe than sorry."
The tattoo artist nodded in agreement and then smiled. "Okay, now for some good news.
"What is it?"
"You're done."
"Yay," Ella giggled and then got up to examine her tattoos in the full-length mirror across the room. "Oh, it's just…just the way I wanted it to look! Thank you, Cal!" She leaped up and hugged the older man. "It's perfect!"
"I'm glad you like it," Cal almost blushed. "If ya need any more tats done, be sure and look me up."
"Definitely," Ella smiled as he began placing a long bandage over the little tattoos. "I promise."
Thanking him again, she paid him, and then hurried from the parlor and to her car.
}i{}i{}i{}i{
Reluctantly, Ella pulled into a parking space at the front of Purple's. Sighing, she grabbed her purse and climbed out of the vehicle. Then she headed into the restaurant in search of Viktor.
The hostess stopped her and smiled politely, "May I help you, Miss?"
"Yes, I'm supposed to meet Viktor Dankevych for lunch."
"Oh, yes, I see…Right this way."
Ella was led to the back of the restaurant and seated at a small table at which Viktor sat.
"Claire," he smiled. "So wonderful to see you. Is everything okay?"
"Yes," Ella politely returned his smile. "Just crazy busy."
"Well, I can't wait for your schedule to slow down so we can see each other some," he commented, taking a sip of water. "I really enjoyed our lunch weeks back and have wanted to do it again."
"Yes, about that, Viktor…" Ella started, but the waiter appeared to take their orders, and she was unable to get her dreaded speech out of the way.
"Just a half Greek salad for me, with no onions, and an unsweetened iced tea, please," she rattled off without thinking. Food was honestly the last thing on her mind.
Viktor gave his order as well, and then turned back to Ella when the waiter disappeared. "I'm sorry, what were you saying, Claire?"
Ella took a sip of her water to calm her nerves and gathered her courage.
"I-I don't think…we should meet up anymore."
Thank goodness, I actually managed to tell him, she silently congratulated herself. She dared to meet Viktor's eyes then, and felt horrible.
"Why is that," he asked, a little too nonchalantly.
Ella could have sworn she saw his chin tremble, but then felt silly for even thinking it.
Like he's going to cry because he can't see me anymore, she thought sarcastically.
"Well…b-because," she stammered nervously. Finally she blew out a sigh and started again. "I have strong trust issues after…after something happened in my past. And I have this nagging feeling that you aren't really looking for just friendship, Viktor." She paused, watching his reaction. When he hung his head, she realized she was right. "And that makes me feel as though you have ulterior motives in wanting to be around me."
"It's true…I just want your friendship," he insisted, avoiding her eyes. "I can assure you…I have no ill intentions toward you—nor do I have 'ulterior motives', as you put it."
"Then why do I get the feeling there's something you're not telling me?"
"Because… The truth is, you remind me…of my—"
"Okay, who had the Greek salad?"
Their waiter appeared suddenly and prevented Viktor from finishing his sentence.
"I had the salad," Ella said, moving her silverware and water glass out of the way to make room for the plate.
The waiter then sat Viktor's plate on the table and made sure they had everything they wanted, then walked away to check on his other tables.
"Who do I remind you of," Ella asked, forking up a small bite of her salad.
"My daughter."
Shocked, Ella managed to swallow the bite of food and then took a sip of her iced tea, "Excuse me?"
"I didn't tell you about her, because it's hard for me to talk about. I'm sure there are things you haven't told me either. We've not known each other long at all, so naturally, we have our secrets. Correct?"
Reluctantly, Ella nodded. "Can you tell me about her now? And why did you cover this up with the "I'm looking for a friend" story?"
"Yes, I can tell you. And the reason I lied about it, was because I thought you'd think I was crazy for my real reason of wanting to be around you. And—just as you did—I worried you may misinterpret my intentions. I thought you'd think I was just trying to seduce you, so I figured if I told you I was after friendship only, you'd be less suspicious of me."
Ella stared at him a moment, judging the sincerity on his face. He had tears in his eyes, as he reached into his pocket. He pulled out his wallet and glanced back up at her, "I know I lied, and I'm sorry for that. But you can see I'm being truthful about this." He pulled a photo from his wallet and passed it over to her. "That's Genevieve," he said, pointing out a girl in the photo.
Ella looked at the photograph and saw Genevieve standing beside Viktor in the photo, smiling up at him. She could indeed see a strong resemblance between herself and the girl. Genevieve's hair was shorter and lighter, but their faces were all but identical.
"We do look alike," she commented, handing the photo back. "What happened to her?"
"She died. She had a defective heart. She needed surgery—a heart transplant. But she died before she could even find a donor."
"I'm so sorry," Ella said softly. She could understand his mentality then. To see a person that reminded you so much of someone you'd loved and lost… She could only imagine if she saw someone who looked like Joe. She knew there would be no chance whatsoever of her falling for them, but she felt sure she'd want to be around them.
"So you can understand why I feel drawn to you," Viktor asked, placing the photo back in his wallet.
"Yes, I think I do," Ella replied. "We could be twins."
He nodded, "Yes you could. But, it's not just your physical appearance. You have the same mannerisms and habits. You even move with the same grace she had."
"Well, I'm sorry I misjudged you," Ella said. "I just—"
"No need to apologize, Claire," Viktor cut her off. "I realize how my lie could mislead you. I'm the one who's sorry."
"It's alright," Ella insisted. "I understand, really."
"I still hope we can visit each other, but I understand if you don't want to."
Ella felt terrible. It was nearing the holiday season, this man was still pretty new to Seattle, and not only was he lonely, but he also saw his late daughter in her. She'd be very cold-hearted to ignore all that.
"Of course we can visit," she said, and took another bite of salad.
"Wonderful," Viktor smiled. His spirits seemed lifted immediately. "Maybe we could have dinner at one of our houses one day this weekend?"
Taking a sip of iced tea, Ella nodded. "Sure. I could cook something at my house if you'd like."
"Sounds great," Viktor said. "Would you like me to bring some dessert or wine or anything?"
"You could bring a dessert if you'd like," Ella said.
"Great," Viktor smiled. "Happy to."
The two talked through the rest of their meal, making plans for what they'd eat that weekend.
}i{}i{}i{}i{
Joe groaned as he woke up, squinting against the sunlight which filtered into his hotel room. He opened his eyes finally and was greeted by a severe throbbing pain behind his eyes and a rolling wave of nausea in his stomach—the all too familiar symptoms of a hangover. As he struggled to turn onto his side, he realized he wasn't clothed. He was somewhat surprised when he saw a young blond woman asleep in bed beside him. However, he wasn't terribly shocked as he'd been resorting to sex a lot the past ten years to bury his pain and turmoil.
Fighting a surge of pain, he tried to remember the night before. He vaguely recalled being at a nightclub. Many of TNA's roster was there as well, but he didn't hang out with them. While he'd had a break-through with Jeff, he was not yet mentally in a place where he could socialize with his co-workers as he had many years prior.
Slowly, the recollection of a one-night-stand emerged, and he groaned again.
What am I doing, he thought, rubbing at his eyes. Meaningless one-night-stands aren't solving anything. It's making things worse.
His movement caused the woman beside him to stir and wake. Her eyes opened and fell on Joe instantly. Giggling, she moved closer to him, "G'morning, handsome."
Joe looked at her, shame entering his heart. He nudged her away and tried to sit up in the bed. "It's not such a good morning," he mumbled, covering his face with his hands.
"Awww, you have a headache," the woman asked with fake sympathy, reaching over and ruffling his black hair. "Want me to make it better?"
He raised his head and glared at her, distaste on his face. "I've got to get a grip," he thought out loud, rubbing his temples. "Could you just please leave," he grumbled.
"You mean you don't want to have some more fun," the woman asked suggestively, a smile spreading across her face.
Joe shook his head and then winced, "No, thanks. I think I've had all I can handle."
"Really," the blond teased, once again snuggling up to him.
Joe latched on to her hand and tossed it away from him, "Get dressed and leave!" He got up from the bed then, and headed for the bathroom, as the blond stood and began yanking on her clothing.
"You're a real creep," she yelled through the bathroom door. "I should have hit on AJ Styles instead! I bet he wouldn't have tossed me out of his bed!"
Joe threw the bathroom door open despite the throbbing in his head.
"You're right! Because he'd never have let you in it to begin with," Joe yelled back, hating to say anything positive about the man he'd hated for the past decade. "Now, GET OUT!"
Huffing with pent-up rage, the blond stalked out of the hotel room and slammed the door behind her. Joe shook his head in frustration and then grimaced in pain. His last words were ringing in his head.
No, AJ wouldn't have let her in his bed. But I did. What does that say about me? I'm…classless. I've struck a new low. Jeff was right. I'm dishonoring Ella's memory.
"No more alcohol. And no more one-night-stands," he muttered as he stepped into the shower. "The only woman I want is gone. I have to accept that sex is no substitute for love."
He closed his eyes and let the hot, steamy water soothe some of the pain that throbbed behind his eyes.
I have to get a hold of myself. I'm headed nowhere if I don't.
After his shower, he pulled on a pair of sweat pants and grabbed his cell phone out of the pocket of the jeans he'd discarded earlier. Then, lying down on the bed, Joe went online to research a connection between Ella and the mysterious phone number which had called him and Jeff. He was unable to find such a connection, but he did immediately find the phone number came from Seattle, Washington. Then he began checking to see if there was a connection between Ella and Seattle. He came up empty there as well.
Instinctively, he called the number with his hotel room's phone. After ringing several times, the voicemail picked up. An automated voice spoke, "You have reached the number… 2-0-6-7-6-2-0-5-8-6. To leave a message…"
Immediately, Joe hung up, frustrated that the message didn't reveal the person's name.
He felt ignorant for being so obsessed with the phone number, but he couldn't help feeling suspicious.
He also couldn't help recalling that Ella's body had never been found…
