Chapter 7
Alyssa perked again when she heard the last name, guessing this was the other doofus she wasn't allowed to talk too, and studied him curiously, making sure to look at her coloring when he glanced at her. Steve nodded, offering a charming smile down at her. "Thought I'd introduce, see if ya got anythin' fresh fer me…" He shrugged his shoulder, his eyes moving onto Alyssa. "Cute kid ya got."
"Thanks." She softly replied, sliding her hand out of his own, and sat down at her desk as she cleared her throat. "Her name is Alyssa." She stated, causing her daughter to look up, and gave her a silent look that said don't worry about it. She then turned her attention back to Steve and got his script, looking it over, and stapled it before handing it to him. "There you go. I hope it's to your satisfactory, Mr. Austin." Nicoya was glad her professional instincts were kicking in.
Steve didn't move from his spot, just started flicking through the script, as was his habits. He tended to get involved in the creative process, not about to leave everything up to the writers. He'd seen some careers go down the toilet when wrestlers didn't step up and say something was shitty. Just left it alone. They were in the 'where are they now' file. Finally, he nodded, looking at her again, and said, "Very nice, Ms. Harris."
"Glad you approve." She replied softly and leaned back against her chair just as Alyssa came over, rubbing her stomach, and that caused Nicoya to sigh heavily. "Alright sweetheart, go pack up your things and we'll get going back to the hotel and then I'll order you something." She informed her daughter, knowing she was finished with the scripts for the night, and stifled a yawn.
Steve glanced down at Alyssa, winking at her when he caught her staring at him. "Hey kiddo, what's yer name?" He asked gently.
"Um…" Alyssa looked up at her mother questioningly.
"Oh, don't worry, I'm a stranger I guess." He laughed, stepping back and raising his hands. "Nice meetin' you lovely ladies." He chuckled and walked out, script in hand.
"Okay, he didn't seem that bad, Mom…" Alyssa observed once the man was out of earshot and eyesight.
"No, he didn't." She replied solemnly, sighing heavily, and closed her eyes as she put her head in her hands. "Just…don't tell him my name or anything about momma okay, Aly? I don't want him to know." She looked back at her daughter, who had her head tilted in confusion, and sighed resignedly. "Come on, let's get going back to the hotel for some food." She then stood up, unplugged her laptop, and packed it away.
Alyssa quickly had her things ready to go and waited patiently, walking with her mother, holding her hand. "Why are you so scared of people knowing you?" She asked finally, having been puzzling over this for most of the night now.
"It's…complicated, Alyssa." Nicoya quietly answered, not wanting to get into her past, and sighed heavily. She knew her daughter was getting curious, but she refused to talk about it. What was she supposed to say? Alyssa, John is your daddy and he's not responsible enough to take care of you or even want you? And what about her brother? She hadn't seen him since she was ten and here she was at the age of thirty! That was two decades so it was no wonder why Steve didn't recognize her. He'd probably forgotten all about her when their parents divorced when she was fifteen.
Alyssa started to say something, but halted when she seen Mark stepping out of his dressing room, freshly showered and dressed, his bang slung over his shoulder. "Hey Undie!" She greeted happily.
"Hey angel." He greeted back, shaking his head and slowly crouched down to catch her when she flew over to him. "Mind not callin' me that?"
"I'll think about it." She giggled. "Whatcha doing?"
"Headin' off to find somethin' to eat." He answered simply.
"So are we!" She informed with a grin, her blue eyes sparkling back at him.
Nicoya smiled back at them, not believing how cute Mark looked with her little girl, and mentally shook herself. "We're actually heading back to the hotel and getting some room service." She stated quietly, knowing Mark was probably wondering about her actions earlier on in the cafeteria. She couldn't' help it though. When she seen Steve, she panicked and fled, like she always did.
Alyssa wrinkled her nose. "Mom, take it from me, room service is beginning to royally suck. Can't we go somewhere and eat? You know…with a table instead of our beds?"
Mark snorted, raking a hand through his damp hair, standing up with Alyssa on his hip. "Yer mom looks tired, angel. Maybe you should take her home and put her to bed."
Alyssa suddenly looked at her mother with concern on her face and replied, "Yeah, she does look really white."
"Why don't you two go along without me?" Nicoya suggested, raking a hand through her hair, knowing she looked beat after dealing with several problems that night. "Seriously, I trust you'll take care of my daughter, Mark. If you want to take her out somewhere for a quick bite to eat." She smiled when Alyssa started jumping up and down on his hip, laughing softly, and shook her head as she pulled out some money and handed it to Mark for her daughter. "Just don't keep her out too late."
Mark arched an eyebrow down at the money and stepped back without touching it. "Keep it, she's doin' me a favor by keepin' me company." He said, looking down at the little girl. "Ready to go eat somewhere with a table?"
Alyssa giggled, taking his hand. "Yes! See you later, Mom!" She waved before walking down the hallway with Mark, instantly chatting, her mouth going a mile a minute.
Nicoya shook her head, laughing softly, and shoved the money back in her pocket. She then picked up her black bag and headed out of the arena, knowing Alyssa was in good hands with Mark. For some ungodly reason, she trusted the man with her daughter's life and wondered if it had something to do with the elevator ride. She also knew he wasn't one of those molester types as she closed the back doors behind her. She stopped when she seen John and Torrie sucking face in the parking lot and felt instantly sick as he grabbed the Diva's ass. She immediately walked away from the scene and toward her car, trying to keep the tears in her eyes, and unlocked her rental on the key ring before putting her bag in the backseat.
John watched Torrie walk away, tilting his head to the side to watch her ass sway as she headed back inside the arena. He didn't bother asking her what for. He didn't really care too much. He knew she'd be at his hotel room within an hour. He started to unlock his own rental, but halted, spotting Nicoya and arched an eyebrow, heading over to her. "Can we talk?" He asked, shoving his hands in the front pockets of his baggy jean shorts.
"Get away from me, John." She ordered in a low, deadly voice, refusing to say a word to this man, especially after what she said. She knew John and Torrie were fuck buddies, it was no secret, but that still didn't make the pain in her heart any less intense. "Go find your little whore and be happy and leave me the fuck alone." She took a few deep breaths and blinked back the tears in her eyes as she closed her door after picking up the papers that fell out of her laptop bag.
John blocked her when she went to move past him. "Nicoya, we work together," He began gently. "You're going to have to face me sooner or later and this shit between us isn't going to make it easy. Can't we…bury the hatchet? And not in my head either."
"I'm not being your friend or your enemy. We are co-workers. Nothing more, nothing less. You come to me for your script and that's it. No more of this Coya bullshit because I don't want you calling me that. You lost that right, Cena. You can call me Ms. Harris like the rest of them and leave me and my daughter alone." She stated, laying out the terms on the table to him, crossing her arms in front of her chest, and refused to look at him as her eyes were glued to the keys that were in her hand.
"Your daughter…you see…that's what has me really confused right now. You said you conceived her with some fling one of our off times…" John trailed off thoughtfully. "Who's the guy, Nicoya? Does she even know him or are you still being a super bitch who hates most men?"
"I told you. I had a fling of my own back in the day when we first broke up and I got pregnant with her. That's why I took that year off from the road to have her. She's none of your concern, John. She's MY daughter and I love her with all my heart and I will do what I have to do to protect her from scumbags like you. Now get out of my way and don't ever ask me about my daughter again." She ordered, her midnight blue eyes spitting fire back at him, and didn't show one ounce of remorse from what she just said. Even if he was Alyssa's father, he had no rights to her, especially after all the times he'd broken Nicoya's heart. Maybe she was a super bitch, but she honestly didn't care what people thought of her. Especially this lowlife, cheating prick standing before her.
"You're hiding something." John said flatly. "I'll leave you alone, but one day Nicoya, that super bitch attitude of yours…" He shrugged, trailing off again. "Enjoy your night." He puckered his lips, whistling again as he headed to his own car, grinning when Torrie came walking back out. "Hey baby!"
Tears instantly slid down her cheeks as Nicoya quickly got in her car and peeled out of the parking lot, spinning gravel right at John and Torrie, and took off. She gripped the steering wheel tightly, not able to stop her tears from falling, and wished she would've never laid eyes on John Cena. He was a lowlife prick and she hated him for breaking her heart. She knew he was having his suspicions, but there was no way she was ever going to reveal to him that Alyssa was his. She'd rather die a thousand deaths in the sun than allow it to happen. She sniffled a little and turned the radio on, hearing Martina McBride's 'Anyway', and started crying harder as she drove back to the hotel. Hoping John left her and, more importantly, her daughter alone.
~!~
"You can eat a lot." Alyssa commented, sipping her chocolate milk.
"So can you." M ark chuckled, eyeing her empty plate. She'd ordered the same dinner he had, minus the drink. He was a water kind of guy while she professed to despise it.
"Mom should of came with us. This chicken is really good." Alyssa said, licking her lips, though she couldn't eat another bite.
Mark glanced in his rearview mirror at the sleeping Alyssa, having sent his motorcycle on with the road crew and taking the car he'd reserved instead. He shook his head, smiling slightly and turned down the radio. The girl could eat, at least it was a healthy dinner though, minus the dessert. He pulled into the parking lot of the hotel and got out, carefully pulling her into his arms. Suddenly wondering which room she was in, Mark sighed, knowing he'd wind up at the front desk's office prying information out of the clerk for Nicoya's hotel room number.
Nicoya arrived back at the hotel and instantly ran herself a hot bubble bath, needing to have herself a good cry since Alyssa wasn't there. She had her legs drawn up to her chest, her arms wrapped around them, and her face was buried in her knees as the bubbles surrounded her. Why did it still hurt her after eight months, knowing him and Torrie were fucking? She sighed heavily and finally pulled herself from the tub an hour later, wrapping a red robe around her body after drying off, and sighed heavily when a knock sounded at her door. She sniffled a little and walked over, opening it, and smiled when she seen Mark holding her sleeping daughter.
"Come in." She whispered, turning around, and raked a hand through her wet hair, trying to stop the tears from falling.
Mark frowned at her tears, but didn't say a word, just turning so he could carry Alyssa in without bumping her head against the door frame. He carried her to the other bedroom where Nicoya pointed and laid her down on the bed, pulling off her sneakers before covering her with the blanket. Smiling slightly before standing up, Mark walked out into the other room. "She ate a healthy dinner, all of it." He said softly, letting her know he didn't load Alyssa up on junk. "You alright, Nico?"
"Thanks Mark." She softly whispered, staring out the window, her arms wrapped around herself, and sniffled a little, not answering his question. She honestly didn't trust her voice to speak at the moment as she sighed heavily, wiping her tears away. "She's really taken with you." She commented softly, her voice just barely audible, and tightened the robe around her a little more.
Mark nodded, raking a hand through his hair, not sure if she was alright or not. Though he got the distinct impression she wasn't. "She's a real sweet kid. A little on the hyper side, but most kids are." He replied softly. "Looks like she wore herself down though, she was out the minute I put her in the car."
"Good, she needs her rest." She replied in the same tone of voice, sighing raggedly, and turned around, walking past him over to the door, peeking in at her daughter and smiled. Alyssa was the most important thing to her and she would do everything in her power to make sure nobody hurt her. "My little angel." She murmured with a smile, walking into the room, and picked up her shoes, placing them in her bag before walking back out, closing the door, leaving it cracked incase Alyssa needed her.
Mark cleared his throat, not knowing what to say and offered a hesitant smile, feeling like this woman was a bit skittish. "Well…if there's nothin' I can do fer ya, I'll leave you to get yer rest." He said finally. "Thanks again for lettin' Alyssa join me for dinner. Maybe next time you'll come with us."
"Maybe." She whispered softly, walking over to the bed, and sat down on it, raking her hands through her hair, sighing heavily. She already knew she wasn't getting any sleep that night, but she was going to try. "Good night, Mark." She softly said, staring straight ahead at the wall, her hands clasped tightly together with her elbows resting on her thighs.
Mark frowned, wondering why the Hell Nicoya wasn't looking at him. That slightly annoyed him. He arched an eyebrow, wondering for the umpteenth time since arriving if she was alright. "You okay Nico? You look like somethin' upset ya. Look, if me takin' Alyssa out bothered ya, I promise it won't happen again."
"No Mark, it's not that. I just…I had a run in tonight with two people that I have…pasts with. You taking Alyssa out is fine with me." She explained, wrapping her arms around herself, and closed her eyes, trying to make the tears stay in her eyes. It was impossible, especially after the run in's she had that night with John. Steve hadn't been too bad, but John really got under her skin. Like he always did.
Mark's green eyes widened when he seen a few tears slipping down her cheeks and pulled a bandana out of his pocket, walking over to stand in front of her, holding it out. "If anyone is botherin' ya, or givin' ya a hard time, let me know and I'll…take care of it."
Nicoya nodded back at him, taking his offered bandana, and wiped her tears away as she sighed heavily. "Thanks Mark, but this is my problem and I'll deal with it in my own way. You're a sweet man, but I'll be fine." She assured him, sniffling a little, and sighed heavily when a few more tears slipped down her cheeks. It didn't help that she couldn't get the image of John making out with Torrie in the parking lot from earlier.
Mark awkwardly stuffed the rag away, nodding and backed towards the door, reaching behind him for the knob. "If yer sure…" He sounded doubtful. "I guess I'll catch ya later, give the munchkin a good mornin' from me since I doubt I'll see her tomorrow."
"I will, good night, Mark." She softly responded and as soon as the door closed, Nicoya instantly collapsed on the bed, curling up in a tight ball, and proceeded to cry herself to sleep. Her heart was shattering all over again and she knew there was no fixing it, especially with John around now since the brands were merged together again.