Galina's lips were moving but he couldn't hear a word she said over his own thoughts. He knew he was stuck between a rock and a hard place. She'd been good to him, too good to him during the resurrection of their marriage and she did not deserve what he'd been doing while he was away. It was completely unfair to her. It was going to be a difficult conversation to have but it had to be done.
"The boys can't agree on who they want to be for Halloween. I told them to pick what they want but they want to match of course so I don't know what to do. I guess I could send them to school in one set and then let them trick or treat in the other," she mused as she walked back and forth through the kitchen.
He sighed. "Galina, we need to talk."
"Okay?" she pulled a chair back at the table and sat down.
"You deserve to know the truth. I can't lie to you anymore. I thought I could live with it but keeping it inside and seeing your face and pretending like everything is okay is killing me. I have something to tell you. It's going to be hard for me to say and even harder for you to hear I'm sure…" he paused for a moment to gather his thoughts.
"Do you love her?" Galina blurted before he had a chance to say anything. He appeared shocked. "Do you think I'm stupid, Joe? I've been with you for how many years? If I don't know you and your behavior by now, I don't know who does. I tried to pretend and ignore the signs but this is the same feeling I had before we separated last year but it's worse this time because at least back then we were still having sex while we came to terms with things. I knew it wasn't the pills but I just wanted to see your reaction. There's really no point in lying or trying to prolong the inevitable anymore. Just answer the question."
It was officially time for the truth to come out. "G, I've loved only you from the moment we met. We've been together for all these years and I've loved every second of it. You're the best wife I could've had. I don't understand how this happened, but I love both of you. I know it makes no sense and I didn't want it to happen, but something just grabbed me when I met Robyn. We just clicked. I feel like I'm someone else when she and I are together. Like there's me, you and the kids, and then there's this other me and her. I'm so sorry, baby. I don't know what to do."
"But there's just one of you and I don't share. I don't think any woman could share her husband and still have any self-respect unless it's one of those open relationships and I'm not going for that. So, what do you want to do?"
He was nervous, feeling as if his whole life depended on the answer. "I don't know. Look at our kids, history and life together. I can't decide."
She shook her head. "If you can't decide, that means you already have."
"I guess I have," he acknowledged with a nod.
"Yeah, your mind is clearly with her already. When you got that call from her before surgery, I think you saw your time with her flash before your eyes a. God forbid but I don't want something else to happen to her while you're here and she's there alone. It'll require more than just a hospital visit…" she said. "I made peace with us not being together the first time around and I was okay with it but then the thing happened with Jojo and if you were willing to try again, so was I."
"I tried, don't ever think I didn't but I guess it's true that when it's gone, it's gone. Trust me, if the reconciliation would've been a success I would've been happy to live out the rest of my days here with you and the kids," he replied. "Speaking of kids, what are we going to do about Jojo?"
"I'm sure she'll be upset just like the last time but eventually she'll get over it. You told her that you'd always be here but I think you'll just have to show her and she'll be convinced."
There was pain from both of them now. He was conflicted, feeling the elation of a new life with Robyn and the pain of leaving Galina, all at the same time.
"Galina, I love you, always have, always will," he said.
"I know but I feel like this is the right thing to do. Plus, my ego wouldn't have allowed me to stay with a man who loves someone else for much longer. We'll pick up the kids later and then have that talk before going further."
"I'll contact management so the PR team can be on standby…"
Where Ricochet got his stamina from, she'd never know. Groaning, Robyn stretched her arms above her head. "I have to get up and go back to my place but I don't feel like it."
"Then don't," he turned on his side to face her and softly ran his hand over the side of her face.
"I haven't packed yet. I actually wrestle in tags at live events so I have to get my gear and all of that together," she tilted her face up to his and he kissed her.
"Just get up early tomorrow and do it," he suggested. "Seriously, don't leave. I want to wake up exactly like this in the morning."
She raised a brow. "Tired, sweaty and laying on bodily fluid soaked sheets with a used condom stuck to your hip?"
"Well, not exactly like this but maybe after we shower and change the sheets later on," he laughed. She looked up to see he'd closed his eyes.
She ran a hand over his head and heard him sigh. "If you can't tell already, I'm really, really happy right now."
"I can tell. The difference between your reactions today compared to last Friday is like night and day," he replied and she knew the reason was because she hadn't thought about Joe once. She sat up and he grabbed her hand to stop her. "I thought I convinced you to stay."
"Relax, I'm just going to the bathroom," she laughed. Once she finished, she washed her hands and rubbed raspberry-vanilla lotion into her palms...likely some of Kacy's leftovers. When she walked back out, she found Trevor staring at his phone, jaw dropped. "What?"
"Listen to this headline," he cleared his throat. "Galina Becker files for divorce from husband, WWE's Roman Reigns."
Robyn gasped, frozen in her tracks. "No? Are you serious?"
"It's on TMZ right now! Look," he held out his phone which forced her to move forward. With shaky hands, she scrolled through the article.
The wife of Joe Anoa'i, better known as Roman Reigns filed in a Florida court yesterday and we have obtained a copy of the divorce petition. The WWE Superstar and Galina were college sweethearts, marrying in 2014.
According to the document, she'll keep the house, two of their three vehicles, her jewelry collection, a lump sum of money and monthly child support. He keeps 100% of all rights and interest in his WWE contract, endorsements and investments which are all worth a ton of money if the number dropped in the finance report is correct.
As for their three children, Galina is asking the court for joint legal custody and primary physical custody due to his schedule.
WWE issued a statement when contacted: It is with great sadness that we confirm this information. The decision was reached mutually and amicably. No other parties were involved. Their priority is, as always, their children. Joe will not be commenting at this time and asks that his family be given their privacy.
"Well, I'll be damned," she was stunned, reading and rereading it numerous times just to make sure it was real. "I don't even know what to say right now."
"No other parties were involved. That sounds like PR speak for there was another woman and they're trying to get in front of the story before it comes out," Trevor concluded.
"I think they snuck that in there because they knew it's what everyone was going to assume and that was their way to combat it," she reasoned.
"There may not have been someone else but women will be lining up now to help Joe consummate his divorce," he chuckled.
Women. She had to sit down on that note. He could have his choice now when in reality, if things would've gone according to plan, it would be her. It felt like the walls were closing in and she couldn't breathe. No, not this again. She was here with a perfectly fine man already. Joe had his chance to do the right thing and he blew it. Feeling around on the nightstand next to her, she grabbed a condom.
Climbing on top of Ricochet, she took him in her hand and stroked until he was hard before snapping the latex on. "Let's focus on consummating our right now especially since I'm back on the road tomorrow."
The next evening, she noticed something different about the backstage atmosphere at Friday's Smackdown taping. Most of the women down to the ring crew and catering staff were dressed up, hair laid, makeup slayed. Did she miss the memo? Was it school picture day? What was going on? Suddenly it hit her...one of the hottest men in WWE was now single. The locker room filled with new faces, thanks to the draft was already buzzing when she entered.
"Has anyone seen him yet?" Carmella asked.
"You have Corey, what are you worried about Joe for?" Sonya snorted.
"Hey, I'm just asking," Carmella shrugged.
"Maybe he's taking some time off until things cool down. I'm sure he has to get some stuff in order," Dana said.
"It'll be a shame if all this thirst around the arena goes to waste today if he isn't even here to see it," Mandy laughed.
"After being with someone outside of the business for so long, he probably wants to keep it that way and avoid the messiness of hooking up with someone backstage so it might be going to waste anyway," Alexa replied. If that was the case Robyn wouldn't be in the situation she's in right now.
"Has he mentioned anything to you?" Bayley asked her.
"About what?"
"Problems in his marriage, any signs at all that this was coming?"
"No, but we never really discussed his personal life," she denied, trying to distance herself from him so there'd be no implication of her.
Him: Can we talk after the show? Either in my room or yours.
Rob: Remember what happened the last time we were alone in a room? If you want to talk, we can meet somewhere in the arena.
Him: How about we talk on the ride to the hotel?
Rob: That'll work.
After the show, Robyn lingered around until most of the wrestlers were gone before ducking into his rental.
"I think you're the only woman backstage not dressed like a contestant on The Bachelor," he said, shifting into reverse.
"I'm pretty sure the women who participate on that show are single and I'm not sooo...anyway, I'm here."
"No comment?"
"Congratulations on finally living your truth," she clapped sarcastically.
"I'm not exactly living it yet because the truth is, I'm supposed to be with you right now."
"You had your chance to be with me and what did you do? You went back after I warned you that it wouldn't work out and guess what? I was right."
"Let's not focus on who was right and who was wrong. The question is, what do we do now?"
"The answer is, you go on with your life and I'll go on with mine. Did you really think I'd come back and we'd pick up where we left off just like that?" she asked and he didn't respond. "You did! Joe, things between Ricky and I are great. I am not leaving a healthy relationship to get my heart broken again."
"I understand why you feel that way and I don't blame you for a second because I'm the one who did that to you but things are different now. It's not just words and empty promises. We took action and filed so that alone should tell you that it's real this time."
"Filed, not final. Who's to say you two won't change your mind again between now and then. Next thing you know I'll get comfortable again only to read the headline, 'WWE's Roman Reigns Withdraws Divorce - Reunited with Wife.' My exact words to you during that first conversation we had after our break up was this: Make sure the divorce papers are signed and finalized before you move on and break the next girl's heart," she quoted. "Sorry, I'm not going to be that girl but I know plenty who would love the opportunity."
"Don't be like this, Rob," he pleaded.
"Be like what? Over it?" she asked.
"Please, keep in mind that we did this for you."
"No, you did it for yourselves! Do not put that guilt trip on my conscience to make me feel like this was my fault, therefore making it seem like I'm obligated to take you back when in reality, your divorce was set in motion before you even met me and would've happened regardless."
He pulled into the hotel parking lot and found a spot on the back row. When he shifted into park, neither of them moved to get out. Suddenly, he turned to her. "Oh yeah, how was your appointment yesterday?"
She sat up, her brows knitting. "Wait, how did you know about that?"
"I was given all of your paperwork when I took you home from the hospital that day and saw the dates of your follow up," he reminded her.
"Oh wow," she blinked with surprise. "That was a while ago. I can't believe you remembered."
"Of course I did. Are you surprised to know that I still care? I never stopped and probably never will. Even if you don't take me back, I'll still want to know if you're okay," he proclaimed.
"Everything has healed up properly and I'm good," she smiled slightly. "I'm supposed to be mad at you right now."
"You wouldn't have been able to stay mad at me for long anyway because you know despite this messed up situation I created, my feelings for you are genuine and I never meant to hurt you the way I did by going back," he said and his eyes never left hers until she turned away to look out of the window. Even then, she could still feel them on her. "Robyn?"
The way he said her name as if caressing her from inside out sent chills down her spine. She continued to look away, not even giving him the satisfaction of knowing the hold he still had on her. Why did she continue to put herself in these situations with him knowing that he was too powerful to resist. Taking a deep breath, she tried to gain control over the emotions he was wreaking havoc on. "Why won't you leave me alone, Joe?"
"Turn around and I'll tell you," he said and when she did, he was leaned over the armrest, closing in so that their lips met. She froze but made no effort to pull away. They stayed like that for awhile as he did all the work until her eyes closed and she reluctantly responded, moving her lips with his. He unclicked her seatbelt that was restricting her movement which allowed him to now pull her closer. She felt his hand move down her waist and then to hee hip until it finally disappeared inside the front of her jeans. Without thinking, she tilted her pelvis forward, eagerly offering herself to him. Squealing, she bit his bottom lip when his large hand cupped her entire mound, rubbing until the middle finger slid deep inside.
Robyn's hips rocked back and forth slowly as his finger dove in and out. Letting her head fall to the crook of his neck she inhaled the familiar scent. The sound of his free hand unzipping his jeans filled the car. She knew this was going too far. Why couldn't he have stayed away? She was coping without him, trying to get over it. Roman pulled away, going back to his side to recline the driver's seat.
"Climb over here," he commanded in that deep, velvet voice of his. "We can do this without the guilt overtaking us afterwards like the last time."
"No, that's where you're wrong," she shook her head. "We can do this without the guilt overtaking you. You've officially ruined your own relationship. I can't sit here and allow you to ruin mine."
"You're just going to leave me like this?!" he asked.
"You have two hands, take care of it yourself…"
Chuckling in disbelief, he shook his head. He reached over to lift her chin and force her gaze to make contact with his. "I love you."
"I-I-I...have to go," she stammered, reaching for the door handle behind her.
