I stared at Sheamus. His proposal had caught me off guard. I didn't know what to say to him. I had never been asked out on a date before. I couldn't honestly call what I had with Randy a date, could I?

I said yes and many people may have felt that was a poor decision considering that I had awoke in Randy's bed, but I was curious. I had always wondered what it would be like to go on a real date and that night after the show had come to an end, I went back to my hotel room and I found myself staring at the clothes in my closet. I was actually nervous and my feelings for Sheamus were completely numb. I didn't know him, nor did I find him particularly attractive. I had no feelings at all except that he was part of my job.

I had this fantasy of what a date would be like. I dressed in a slim red dress that came to my mid thigh. It dipped in the back , the fabric drapping loose for accent and Sheamus arrived wearing his jeans and a hat that I believed he had stolen from somebody's grandfather. I felt overdressed and more disappointed that I ever imagined because for one I was overdressed and for another I had blindly expected him to have a single red rose in his hand just like my fantasy man.

"Wow. I'm seriously thinking about changing the plan." He smiled and stood to the side to let me exit. I couldn't read his smile because although it seemed genuine it also seemed like he was covering up a hint of something else.

He was quiet as he drove us to a destination only he knew about, but he did offer me his arm after the valet took his keys and handed him a ticket. He had taken me to a fancy Italian place with red carpet leading all the way to the entrance. Inside a live band played soft music and the lightening was a dimmed, romantic setting.

The host approached us and Sheamus gave him enough information to get us led to our seats. The host led us through a closed door from the lobby immediately and proceeded to lead us through the large room and to another set of closed doors.

That's where Sheamus stopped.

"This is where I leave ya, sweetheart." My mouth dropped open. He gave me a menacing grin and then kissed my hand. "I hope you won't hold it against me. I'm only helping out a friend, but after seeing ya at ya door, I almost thought about ditching."

Then he took off back the way we came leaving me to stare after him. Had I just been ditched?

"Right this way, Maam." The host opened the door and urged me inside and I stopped staring after Sheamus with my mouth wide. What the hell, right? I could afford my own meal and the food smelled too wonderful to leave the building without trying it.

The room was completely empty. The lights were completely turned off. A lit fireplace illumintated the room with the help of set of long candles on a table near a waterfall center piece.

"A waiter will be with you momentarily." And I was left alone, or so I thought.

"Abbi," I twirled around. Randy stepped into the light dressed in a full three pieced suit and in his hand was that damned red rose.

"You had Sheamus ask me out?" I dropped my purse on the table angrily and placed my hand on my hip. "that was sneaky. Real low even for you, Randy."

"then you really don't know me that well at all." He smirked, then wiped it off and turned serious. He placed the rose on the table and reached inside his jacket and pulled something form the inside pocket. He handed me a slip of paper.

"What's this?"

"this is my receipt … for rehab."

"It sounds like some fancy resort. You expect me to believe you're really going for help and not going off on a vacation."

"You can look it up, Abbi, I don't care. It's legit." He came closer. "I haven't done a line since you left, but I know I won't be able to resist it alone." He motioned for me to sit in one of the chair and he took the one beside me instead of the one across from me.

"I'm happy that you're getting help Randy." I told him and I relaxed and browsed the menu on the table. I didn't know whether or not I could believe he was truly serious, but he needed the help and it would be great if he got it before he completely destroyed his career.

"You never gave me a chance to explain."

"I don't want to hear excuses, Randy."

"So, you think that any reason I could give you about using would be an excuse."

"yes."

"It's not that easy, Abbi. You have never been addicted to anything. It's not fair for you to judge me based on my demons."

"I don't. I just can't be around you because they control you."

"You're scared of me?"

"I'm scared of what you might do while you're under the influence."

"Oh, no. sweetheart. You have to know I would never hurt you. I know that some people may become violent on this stuff, but nothing could ever make me lay a hand on you. Abbi, I have feelings for you that I never wanted to have for anyone ever again, but I can't stop my heart from feeling them."

"What are you talking about?"

A plate of what appetizers, according to the waiter was set in the middle of the table with a sterling silver dome covering it, but he didn't remove it. Instead he left the room.

"I'm talking about how you crawled inside of my soul. I'm talking about how you stole my heart even though I held it down with all my strength." He lifted the lid of the dish, but instead of food, there was a ring with a large square cut diamond in the middle with a band encrusted with smaller versions of its center piece. "I'm talking about the fact that I fell in love with you and when you left, I missed you so much it hurt. I couldn't take it and I thought I could forget about you by getting high and all I managed to do was destroy myself."

I stared at the ring, but I didn't reach for it.

"what are you going to do Randy, use every time something goes wrong? I'm not always going to be with you. Our careers gauruntee that we could be on different ends of the country at times. Are you going to get high every time?"

"No." he insisted. "I was stupid. I know that. I wasn't that bad into it. I really don't think I'm that addicted to it."

"Keep telling yourself that."

I had to get out of there. I left the restaurant and I hailed a cab. He was the classic example of an addict and I couldn't handle it. I was scared to try.