I'm already in the room being used for the screening when he walks in, drying his hair after his shower. "Sorry I'm late guys" he says, flopping into a seat. "I, uh, just got no real desire to see this, ya know?" Everyone around him nods. I excuse myself from Guy and the cameramen and slowly walk over to the empty seat next to him. I watch as he sits, staring at my name tag on it. Lora Good. "Mind if I sit?" I ask quietly. He looks up, his eyes rimmed with red. Either my husband has been crying lately, or finding the solution to all our problems in the bottom of a bottle of Jack. He jumps up quickly, nearly knocking me over. "Please" he whispers. I walk past him and sit down, watching as he fights with his inner demons before sitting next to me. I feel someone rubbing my back and turn around quickly, smiling when Galina and Leighla give me the thumbs up. I turn back around to face the screen, trying not to flinch as his hand brushes my thigh. Guy is talking, giving an introduction to the DVD, but I can't make out what he's saying. Jon is lightly brushing his thumb against my leg, and it feels so good.
The DVD starts off good. I laugh when the others laugh, Jon is such a goof! I start getting tense right around the pool party. I know what's coming, and I'm right. Right after the Raw when I signed the contract, he changes. Scruffy, slurring in the interviews, slouching around the apartment in just his boxers. He's not my Jon. He's a man who looks as if his whole world has crashed down around him. I glance at him, he's still facing the screen but with his head down. I mumble an apology, push past him and run out of the room.
I don't even get four steps away from the room when the door is opened again. He grabs me and pulls me against him, holding me tightly. "Lora?" he whispers, making me look up at him. I shake my head, the tears making it impossible to see him properly. "I can't, Jon" I whisper. "You have to let me go." "No" he growls. "But I'm bad for you!" I almost yell, managing to calm it down slightly. "I saw the difference in you on that film. If I can see it, everyone can! I did that to you! You're not the same Jon anymore!" He shakes his head, letting me go slightly. "You're right" he says. "But you're oh so wrong too doll. Yes, you did that to me. That man on that film, and this man stood in front of you, we're both the same man. The same, broken, shell of a man. And yes, it's because of you. But Lora, don't you see? It's because you left me. Because you weren't there. Because I need you Lora, more than I've ever needed anyone before in my life! And that scares me. It frightens the fuck outta me if I'm honest. Until then, until that very second on that tape, when we both know you'd left me by that point and that's why I was in that state, I didn't realise how bad I was. Joe and Colby, they both told me I needed to sort myself out and I didn't listen to them." I glance up at him and he groans, wiping my tears away. "I just want my wife back" he whispers. "Please Lor?" I nod, slowly. "I'm yours Jon" I whisper. "And only yours. But, fuck, I have to get back to Florida." "I'm coming too" he says quickly, glancing back at the room. "I'm not losing you again to NXT Lor. Not happening." We both look at the door as Hunter walks out.
"Lora" he says hugging me. "How do you feel?" "Like shit" I admit. He smiles, opening his jacket up and handing me an envelope. "Read it" he says. "It's the programme for NXT for next weeks batch of tapings. Good luck." I nod, putting it in my bag. "Uh Hunter" Jon says, nervously running his hands through his hair. "Any chance I can..." "Go" Hunter says, smiling. "Work this out. She needs you, you need her. We need the both of you. See you next week Lora. Jon." With that, he turns his back on us and heads back into the room.
Screams hit our ears as soon as we open the door to the parking lot. "Go back to NXT!" one fan yells. "Dean belongs with Renee!" He smiles. "But Jon belongs with Lora, his wife" he says as we get in the cab. I smile. "He better" I warn. He nods. "Only you, Lor" he says, crossing his heart.
"Bed, Mrs Good" he says, scooping me up as soon as we get into my apartment in Florida. I squeal, laughing as he dumps me on the bed. "I love you" he whispers, flopping next to me. "I love you too Jon" I say. "Don't make me regret it." He shakes his head. "Perfect husband material right here" he says pointing at himself. "Yeah" I groan. "Unfortunately, you are. Now, let's sleep." "Sleep?" he yells. "Sleep is for losers, Mrs Good. And us Goods, we are most certainly not losers."