Chapter Two – Enough With the Pity Party
Randy and Charlie talked until the bar closed and he felt the need to follow her home to ensure her safety. Charlie laughed and told him she lived above the bar. He was shocked to say the least. He found out she was the owner and had inherited it from her father's passing. None of her four brothers wanted it but nobody wanted to sell it so she agreed to keep it open. She'd grown up in this neighborhood and had lived all her life upstairs. When her parents passed she renovated it to its original state and loved it. She wanted to invite him up to see it, but hoped she'd get the chance another time. She'd already been way too brazen for her own good and behaved completely out of character.
Randy thanked her for helping him and asked if he could see her again. She tried to contain her school girl excitement. She felt like the quiet girl who went unnoticed and suddenly was asked out by the captain of the football team. She was always in the bar and gave him her phone number. He took her cell and programmed his number in and even set his own speed dial number. They stood at the door and looked at eachother. A calm washed over him and he felt all would be right in the world once again. He hugged her and kissed her temple bidding her a good night.
Randy returned to Charlie's bar every day for the next week. He even found himself calling her each morning and visiting her when nobody was there. When Raw and Smackdown were on he sat in her office. They talked a lot and got to know eachother. He took her to lunch and or dinner when he could get her to leave. He told her about Sam and how he knew it was a huge mistake. He told her what it was really like behind the scenes, how he was really treated by everyone. Most of the people who understood him were on the other brand. Dave Batista understood where he was coming from because he'd seen it. A lot of the guys thought his job had been handed to him because he was an Orton, little did they know it was the exact opposite. He trained harder, put in more hours to hone his skills, and still people wondered if he had the natural talent.
He shared how his parents were treating him right now. All at once it felt like his grandfather passed, he's separating from the world's shortest marriage and his parents looked at him with those disappointed eyes. Could anyone blame him for smoking a joint? Was it really that bad? Charlie laughed as he rambled on and on over lunch. He brought sandwiches for them from the deli down the street and he hadn't even asked. She liked that about him, it showed he was thoughtful and he thought of someone other than himself.
"What's so funny?" He asked passing her his pickle. All girls like deli pickles so he naturally gave his to her.
"You are." She took a bite of the pickle and looked at him. He had a huge bite of roast beef in his cheek and he looked back at her. Again she chuckled. "When's the party over?"
What the fuck is she talking about? "What party?" He asked as he tried to chew at the same time. Talking with food in your mouth was something Charlie hated. It was disgusting, but it wasn't even remotely bothering her.
"The pity party you're having for yourself." She took another bite of her pickle as he thought about what she said. "I completely understand why you're upset and I don't think you're wrong. However, we need to stop focusing on the bad shit and try to focus on getting back the Randy that's inside. We've all lost someone close to us and it sucks ass real bad, we've all had coworkers who try to bring us down, but what sets us apart is how we handle that. You need to rise above. Go to your classes, really listen and learn. There will be people in there who are really in bad shape and some who you'll wonder why they're even attending. But take this time to figure you out."
"It's in Atlanta." He didn't mean it as hey guess what it's in Atlanta. He meant it as that's four weeks I won't see you. In this past week he had really grown attached to her. He had only spoken to John Cena from WWE and told John all about her. John was amazed to say the least. He never spoke of Sam the way he spoke of the girl who owned a bar. He hadn't even told his parents, he didn't want to hear anything from them because they'd bring up his failed marriage.
"Atlanta's great!" Charlie hoped she sounded believable but inside she was crushed. Four weeks without him, he'd probably find someone else. There's a cheery thought. He'd find someone in his anger management class. Not a good thing. He'd go out one night and meet another girl just like he met her.
"Will you wait for me?" He asked sounding hopeful. It was a little advanced for having only known her for a week, but they'd spent most of that time together. That one week broken down into normal dating rules would have been at least a month's worth.
"I'm always here, you know that." She replied trying to sound casual.
"Not what I meant." He looked at his drink as if it were interesting.
"I know. I'd wait longer for you, but I'm not the one with people banging down my door and throwing panties at me." She smirked at him.
"I'm sorry. It's a lot to ask. Can we still talk?" He looked up into her eyes. When she smiled the hints of blue sparkled through and lit her face.
"I would love to talk to you. I've gotten kinda used to it." She reached across the table and took his hands in hers. Their eyes held for awhile before either said or did anything. Randy debated on what to do. He really wanted to kiss her. So he did. Still holding her hands he leaned forward across the small table and kissed her. When Charlie saw what he was about to do she leaned forward and met him half way. Their lips seemed to fit perfectly together and it felt wonderful finally touching and enjoying. He took his time and tried to respect her, but he wanted to throw her on the table. He kept the kiss soft and slow and tried to read into the kiss. Randy focused on her movements and he knew when he could deepen it. He let her hands go and moved his to her face. Charlie placed her hands delicately on his arms and moaned into his mouth when she felt the expanse of his biceps.
He slid his tongue slowly into her mouth and moaned himself when he felt the chill of her tongue. She had been chewing on the ice in her cup and it made her mouth shockingly cold. Randy found it thrilling and let his tongue try and warm up hers. She knew her mouth would be cold and shivered when the warmth of his enveloped her. Without breaking the kiss or his hands on her face, he slid her chair over with his foot and pulled her close. He wanted to feel her against him, needed to feel her against him. He let go of her face and lifted her into his lap.
Charlie straddled him and she could feel more of him than she expected. And she liked it. She liked knowing the effect she had on him when he was sober. Not that he'd ever been drunk around her but knowing there was absolutely no alcohol boosted her low self esteem. Her arms went around his waist and his over her shoulders. He played with her hair and her neck as he appreciated her mouth on his. Charlie took this opportunity to get an up close and personal feel of his body. His back and arms felt like no other and his torso was rock hard. He had very nice hands and she loved the way they played with her hair.
Randy tugged her hair and pulled her head back. He tasted her neck and feasted on all the nooks and crannies he could find. He let his hands fall to her back and they rested on her slender hips. He wanted to make love to her before he left, take something with him, but didn't dare try. It was what drew him to her. She wasn't throwing her panties at him. She wasn't shoving her house key in his pocket. She showed him respect and he was damn sure going to return it.
"When do you leave?" Charlie broke the silence.
"Sunday night." He whispered. They had two days and two nights before he left. She nodded as she processed the timeline. As much as she wanted too, she wouldn't cave to her desires. Charlie wasn't that kind of girl; never had been and never will be. That's what kept her out of relationships. She may not have a lot of self esteem but she did have oodles of self respect. She would make him wait and if he chose too, she would make it worth it.
They heard the back door open and Charlie looked at Randy's watch. It was an hour until she opened the bar and her customers always showed up early because the food was good and the atmosphere was better. Smackdown was tonight and she knew Randy wasn't about to watch it. "Are you staying?"
"Can I?" He didn't want to be far from her but he would if she asked.
"You're always welcome, but it's Friday and you know what that means." She stroked his face and he nodded. "Want to hang out upstairs?" It was the first time she'd invited someone up and was a little nervous. She didn't want to lead him on, but didn't want to banish him to her office.
"That would be nice, thank you." She led him down a hallway and through a door that changed the environment completely. Suddenly he was transported from a manly bar to a bright and airy home. She had decorated it so anyone felt immediately at home. Charlie wanted her guests to feel welcome, well, when she had them. She showed him around and where everything was. She gave him her keys and told him if he left even for the shortest period of time to lock the doors. She said she'd be back in awhile and started to walk back down the steps. He reached for her hand and she turned to look at him. Randy needed to look into her eyes one last time.
"Thank you." He said softly.
"It's okay." She replied and turned to leave but he kept hold of her hand. When she turned back to him his expression had changed.
"Thank you for everything you've done for me. It's meant the world to me." He pulled her slowly to him and kissed her tenderly. He had noticed what she was wearing and lately she was wearing different clothes. Charlie caught his expressions the past few times and knew he didn't like her dressing 'down'. It may have been a week but he felt strongly about protecting her, especially from drunk men. She told him nobody had ever messed with her but he pointed out there was always a first time.
Tonight she wore a black tank top with 'bad kitty' across the chest and loose fit jeans. It still showed her taught tummy and cleavage but her ass was covered more and that was his first concern. He'd progress to the rest in time.
Charlie gave him one last smile and bounced down the steps. It would be another two hours before she got back up to see Randy but she wore a silly smile the whole time. It was strange seeing Smackdown without him but it wouldn't be long. Her regular customers knew Randy had been here a lot but they all respected their privacy and didn't bring up his absence on the show. When she went back upstairs to check on him she found him in her bed. He was laying on top of the covers with his arms behind his head and his ankles crossed. His shirt was absent and the button on his jeans was undone.
Charlie stood in the doorway and watched him smiling. She leaned against the doorframe and put one hand on her hip. "Hiya."
"Hiya back." He could look at her all day. She was breathtaking. "How much time do we have?"
"Just a few." She crossed the room and crawled up to him from the foot of the bed. It was the sexiest thing he'd ever seen. She cuddled next to him and rested her head on his chest. He smelled so good and she closed her eyes letting her fantasies engulf her. Her fingertips danced featherlike across his warm skin.
Randy played with her hair and concentrated on the basketball game on tv. If he let himself think of her his erection would poke her in the eye. He had four weeks without her and then it was on. He would wine and dine her to no end. This was where he wanted to be. Charlie looked up at him and thought the same things.
Their eyes held for what felt like an eternity. They did that a lot, staring into eachother's eyes, searching for confirmation of their feelings. She sat half way up on her right hip and rested her weight on her right arm. Her left hand still on his glorious body, she curved to face him and her hair cascaded down her back. Randy fought like hell against his growing bulge but he was losing. Losing fast. His instincts took over and his hands reached for her. "Charlotte…"