New York City Friends

Season 3, Episode 3: Love & Romance Are Not Sisters

Starring~ Michelle McCool, Ashley Massaro, Candice Michelle, and Torrie Wilson.


We all have love, for somebody or for something. But we all love, even serial killers love... they love to kill, Gothic rebellious hardcore metal teens also love... they love hating. But it is tough to really keep it alive and feel it in the veins.

It was another afternoon, Michelle was determined to have a romantic dinner with Jack. She placed the nice beige table linens on the table and she lit a few white candles around the table. Michelle carried on and set the dinning table with dinnerware; forks and knifes and all types of spoons, fancy wine glasses too.

There was only one important part missing- the food. Michelle didn't realize that until she picked up two plates, "Oh shit, no food," Michelle grunted. "I can cook, you know what I can cook," Michelle insisted to herself as she picked up the cookbook.

She poured herself a glass of wine to prepare herself, but when she moved the book closer to her she spilled some wine on the perfect non-edible table. She quickly grabbed the napkin to avoid letting the red wine damage her table linen, but it was too late.

Michelle threw the napkin back, only to have it land on the candle. "Oh crap, no, no," Michelle yelled as the napkin caught on fire. The fire was small, but it was a fire. She ran to the sink and threw it in with her bare hands, "Oooh, that burned," she cried out.

I sure couldn't feel the love in my veins, but I could feel it on the fingers of my left hand... and it hurt like a mother fucker.

"Okay, this is a sign Michelle! Don't fucking cook," she said to herself.


The next morning, Ashley's own fire of curiosity was about to burn Alberto a little.

The two had finished their therapy sessions at the same time, the morning was fresh... until Ashley started to wonder why Alberto was going to therapy. "Why are you seeing a shrink," Ashley abruptly asked.

Alberto turned to her, "Don't worry about it chica, now what do you say to some classic Nueva York beagles for breakfast" he told her, changing the subject while giving her a wink.

"Hey, I told you why I was in therapy! I think it would be fair if you told me, it can't be that bad," Ashley tried getting an explanation or story out of him. Alberto simply said no with his little finger, "No, no, no."

Ashley shook her head and laughed, she then grabbed him by the arm and pulled him into her body. "Come on, I can give you a little present if you do! My place isn't too far away from here, I live in a loft and everything feels better in a loft," Ashley teased. Giving him a wink right back. Ashley then proceeded to stick his finger into her mouth, she licked it while staring directly at him.

Alberto pulled his finger out, "No," he repeated and continued walking.


That same morning Candice got the call she didn't want to hear from the person she didn't want to hear from.

"I'm calling to let you know that Brooklyn is leaving in a few hours for that Summer boarding school thing, just thought you'd wanna know," Wade told Candice through the phone. Candice wasn't used to talking with Wade on the phone, they usually just stuck to email and text.

She stayed quite for a second, "I believe I said no and he needed two approving signatures for them to enroll him into that summer boarding school," Candice argued with him.

Wade chuckled, "Woops! My girlfriend actually took that spot and she signed right away," Wade notified Candice.

Candice was furious, she almost threw her phone across the room.

"That bitch," Candice said without holding back. Wade quickly interrupted her before she could go on a rant, "I have you on speaker Candice, she heard that," Wade warned her.

Candice sarcastically laughed, "I don't care! He's my son Wade and she had no permission to do that, I can't believe the school would allow anybody other than his parents to just sign him away" Candice ranted on about. "I'm pissed Wade," she warned her ex-husband and his new little girlfriend.

"Candice, I understand, but this is what's best for Brooklyn and I wouldn't just send him away if I hadn't done my research on that school," Wade reassured Candice. "He'll be gone for about two months, if you wanna say goodbye just give us a call."

Candice grunted, "If you wanna say goodbye just give us call," Candice mocked her ex-husband. "Candice, I'm still on the line!"

"Whatever, bye Wade," Candice carelessly replied, hanging up the phone immediately.


"Am I not sexy," Ashley asked Alberto. "I'm 'beautiful' you say, but am I not sexy," she asked after Alberto rejected her finger-licking tease.

Alberto laughed and hugged her, "You are sexy, but I don't really care for sexy," Alberto told her. "I'm asexual and that's why I'm in therapy," he finally revealed to her.

Ashley always seemed to pick the ones that were unavailable and wrong for her, this time it was quite literal.

"I'm not judging by the way, but why are you insisting on taking me out to dates and shit," Ashley asked. Ashley also had many other questions that popped into her head, but she didn't want to overwhelm him.

"An asexual person isn't into sex, but some still enjoy romance and dating," he explained to her. "I'm just not into sexual intercourse or love and relationships."

Ashley nodded, but it was hard for her to comprehend. "Then what are you into, because you kind of really tried with me," Ashley asked.

"That's where therapy comes into the story! I thought I wasn't asexual for a while, but it turns out I just really enjoy romance... but nothing else," Alberto explained to her.

Love and romance are two very different things, Ashley was hearing it first from a self-proclaimed asexual man.

"I like going on romantic dinners and I like going on romantic walks on the beach and I like all of that dulce romantic stuff... but I don't plan on marrying or being in a relationship or even sticking with the same person for no more than a month or so, I also never have any sexual attractions," he clarified.

Ashley gave him a smile to show that she understood, but she was internally screaming.


It was a typical day for Torrie, she dressed up to go on a date. Torrie was about to go out to meet Corey, when she noticed Punk's door wide open. She hurried across the street to his place, the first thing she came across was a bottle of scotch right by the door.

"Punk, are you in here," Torrie called out as she cautiously stepped inside his place. "Oh my god," Torrie gasped the second she saw Punk facing down on his living room floor. She rushed to him and tried lifting his body up, "Punk, can you hear me," she called out, but nothing.

Torrie struggled to get a hold of him, but after much struggling she finally set him down on the couch. She searched around his messy dark apartment, "Punk, please be okay," she cried out.

For a second Torrie really thought that she had lost a friend.

Torrie could hear his heartbeat, she got up and turned on the lights. She opened up the blinds and about eight bottles of scotch lied around the floor, some half empty and others completely empty and others still full. Like rats stuck on traps, with nowhere to hide their secrecy.

Punk coughed and he slowly opened up his eyes, "Torrie, who the hell let you in," he asked while he rubbed his tired eyes. Torrie rushed to him, "The door was wide open and I was worried, Punk you were passed out on the floor," Torrie explained to him.

Punk gave her a thumbs up, "Thank you," he said. "Now go away, go to your little date with that one guy, just go," Punk refused her caring nature. Torrie froze, she couldn't believe he was actually kicking her out of his place after the scare he gave her.

"GO TORRIE," he yelled. Torrie's eyes widened like a deer in headlights, she didn't understand, "Punk, I'm trying to help you!"

"Torrie, please, go," Punk repeated and Torrie hesitated at first, but she finally left.

And it turns out, Torrie did end up losing a friend.


That afternoon, I went to pick up some Chinese food for a romantic dinner I was determined to have with my husband... without having to actually cook it.

Michelle waited in line, when she suddenly felt a hand brush on her arm. She turned, only to see Mark's smile. "Ah, I knew that hand felt familiar," she jokingly said as the two went in for a hug. "How are you," she asked.

Mark nodded and tried to come up with something to tell her. "The real question is, how have you been? With your wedding and new husband, being a wife again, how are you," he asked.

"I'm a mess, it's busy, but I'm getting a hang of it," Michelle responded. Mark chuckled, "Ahh, I remember when you would get me Chinese food... and that wasn't even my favorite type of food," he reminisced on.

She threw her head back and laughed, "No, but it is my favorite type of food! What can I say, this City has the best Chinese Food... sorry China," she responded with a laugh. "But how are you, you're the one with the child," Michelle asked.

"It's also busy and a complete adorable bundle of lovely mess, like you," he teased, almost flirtatiously.

It's all fun and games, until you don't show up to my wedding.

Michelle stayed silent for a while, she kept her arms crossed and looked over the menu. When suddenly, "Why didn't you come to my wedding and don't use the baby as an excuse because babysitters exist, that really did hurt my feelings," she admitted.

Mark shook his head, not knowing what to tell her. "I'm sorry Michelle, I was busy and I'm pretty sure you weren't that hung up on it on your wedding day... unless you're like obsessed with me," he replied.

Michelle rolled her eyes, "Okay asshole! You know my situation with my family, my friends are practically my family and that includes you, but you were no-show... so yes, I was somewhat hung up on it," she admitted.

"I'm sorry," he tried apologizing. "You know what, were not talking! And no cutting stranger, back of the line," she told him as she turned away from him.

It looks like I lost a friend too.


Candice rushed through the airport, her Prada heels sure kept up and she was relieved when she finally saw Brooklyn. "Brooklyn, oh thank god, Brooklyn," she yelled. Brooklyn didn't turn around, "Brooklyn please," she begged, but he didn't stop.

From behind Candice came Wade, "Stop! It's only for three months, let him go," Wade advised her. Candice turned to him and she felt like slapping him, "If he likes the damn boarding school he'll be going for a full school year, I can't handle that," she explained to her ex-husband.

"You'll still get to see him over the holidays and it's not your life, he's going to leave at some point for college, this way it'll be easier when the time does come," he told her.

As Candice watched Brooklyn walk away, a part of her sunk underneath the love she has for her son and it was hard for her not to be able to have him every second of every day.

"It's easy for you to let him go because you're lost in your stupid gross relationship with your stupid new young girlfriend and it feels like heaven, so you're blind to the fact that your son is practically ready to exit your life," Candice made him aware of.

Wade sarcastically laughed as he walked away to his girlfriend, "So glad we're divorced," he said under his breath.

It can often hurt to love, but does romance ever really hurt?


After finally getting my Chinese to go, my question was answered.

"Michelle, hey, please wait! I'm sorry, the real reason I didn't go to your wedding was because my wife and I weren't on best terms and I didn't want to go alone... to a wedding," Mark explained to Michelle.

Michelle patted his shoulder, "It's fine, I made a big deal out of it because you're the closest I have to family, you and my three girls, so I was disappointed that you didn't go," Michelle told him. "But it's fine!"

Mark stopped her before she could leave, "No it's not and that's why I was hoping to talk to you about it," he said.

Michelle and him ended up walking to a nearby bench and she put the food down, "What's going on," she asked. Mark shook his head, he tried finding the words to start, but he just abruptly got to the point. "Ever since the baby arrived our relationship has gone dry and at first I was cool with it, but when I finally brought it up she got pissed and we had a fight and now it's a topic we don't bring up," Mark told her.

"So you don't bring up the word 'romance' anymore," Michelle asked. "We don't bring it up because we don't have it anymore, it's a dry relationship without the romance or fire," he admitted.

And that's when my question was answered. Romance does hurt, it hurts not to have it.

"Oh trust me, you don't want fire! I burned my hand trying to cook a romantic dinner, but it failed," Michelle told him, while she laughed. "But seriously, all that matters is that you two love each other," she reassured him.

Mark smiled and nodded, "You're right, I love my two girls too much! Thanks Michelle," he said as he got up. "Well, I actually got out of line to talk to you, but never actually got the food I came for!"

"Back of the line again," she teased him. The two hugged goodbye and began walking away in separate directions.

The truth is, Romance is an allusion that can damage the real love.


Two friends met in Central Park, to discuss the topic of the complex situations they found themselves in. "I think something is really wrong with Punk, I can't get to him, it's like his blocking me and I'm worried," Torrie told Ashley. Ashley turned to her, "Maybe he's jealous, suddenly you start seeing this guy that is very similar to Punk... and boom, he feels replaced and the jealousy comes," Ashley suggested.

Torrie shook her head, "No, I don't think so! We're friends and that's been established, I think it's deeper and I need to know what it is," Torrie said.

Romance doesn't bring friends together- Torrie loved the cheesy over the top kind of romance, while Ashley loved the artistic type of romance you don't even realize is considered romance. But love always brings friends together, it's a topic we all connect to.

"Maybe he's on his man period... it's possible, anything is possible! For example, I met a guy who is a little hoe for romance... and nothing else," Ashley explained to Torrie. "It's nice when he compliments me and I love the restaurants he takes me to... but him telling me that we aren't going anywhere outside of the romance bubble just ruins it all, it's like I already know the ending to the book," Ashley conveyed her fears.

Torrie turned to her and stared at her, she tilted her head and gave a faint smile. "I know you think I'm probably going to tell you that you should believe something could happen... but a 'no' came straight from his mouth, don't waste your time, believe me sweetie," Torrie advised her advised friend.

Ashley got distracted by a couple that was sitting on the bench, both reading the same book while holding hands. No talking or kissing, just sitting in a silence that seemed to be so full of something... love.

Torrie waved her hand in front of Ashley, "Hello," she said. Ashley snapped out of it and nodded, "You're right, I can't let another guy screw me over and I can't just stand there watching him do it," Ashley finally answered her own question.

"Wait, if Punk never wanted a relationship or any of that love crap... then why'd you waste your time with him and why do you continue to try with him," Ashley curiously asked.

Torrie turned to her, "Because I love him and because I care about him. He's a great friend, a loyal amazing friend," Torrie explained to Ashley. Ashley understood, "So he's like a dog, 'a man's best loyal friend'," Ashley teased as they continued walking.

It turns out the daydreamer preferred real love over movie-like romance too.


Candice sat by the entrance of the JFK airport in Queens, with her head leaned against the wall as she stared out through the window in front of her. "Well, I lost my son," Candice cried out to herself with her shaking hands in between her thighs.

Cody slowly approached Candice, "Hey, I'm sorry," he whispered to her. "It's only for three months, you'll see him again," Cody promised her. Candice turned to him and she squinted her eyes as if she were looking for what the man was trying to tell her, from a young actor/dancer to a mother.

"You don't understand Cody! Three months is fine, but I know he'll then leave for an entire school year and then again and again, he'll then leave to college and that's the end for me... I'll be some old lonely woman," Candice explained to him.

"You won't be alone, I'll be there," he told her. Candice shook her head, "I don't think so. You were an amazing transition from my miserable marriage to my equally miserable single life, and I appreciate you being there during that time, but I need a new transition and I don't see you being a part of it honey... I'm sorry," Candice told him, getting up to dismiss herself.

Candice wasn't a fan of romance, she left it all on the table and walked away.

"You were an interesting woman Candice, see you around," he said one last time as he watched her walk away from him and what they had. And Candice never looked back.


"I'm home," Michelle exclaimed as she walked in. The living room was quite, with some random TV show playing in the background, and a lovely man lying on the couch asleep. Michelle smiled the second she saw him.

He was a cute sleeper.

Michelle put the Chinese food on the kitchen table. She hurried to their room and got a blanket to put over Jack. She picked up her Chicken Lo-Mein and started eating in the living room, a few feet directly away from Jack's sleeping body.

She ate her Lo-Mein while staring at his face, "Love," she whispered to herself as she continued eating.

The night was not romantic by any means, some might say it was a little creepy... but it definitely was a night of love. I came to the conclusion that 'Love' and 'Romance' are not sisters, if anything they're merely second cousins to each other.


Special Guest Stars~ Alberto Del Rio, Wade Barrett, CM Punk, Mark Calaway, Brooklyn Barrett, Cody Rhodes, and Jack Swagger.

Published On April 7, 2016.