Thanks for the reviews, favorites, and alerts. As always I own nothing but those mentioned in previous chapter. ENJOY! It's in Rachel's POV btw.
In all my years of traveling with my father I never got used to being in different states and towns every other day. At eighteen I was trying to decide what was good for me, to continue to travel with my father or go away to college? So far I had picked the travel part.
I was swimming when I caught my first up and personal glance at the new United States champion, Zack Ryder. My eyes traveled over his body, and appreciated the site of his shirtless abs. I gasp and dove under the water as he turned his head and looked straight at me.
I came back up for air to find Ryder sitting by the pool with his feet in the water. I tried not to let the blush come to my cheeks as I pulled myself up to sit beside him. Grabbing my towel from the chair behind me, I tried my best to cover the rest of my body that the little bikini didn't.
"You're Cena's kid aren't you?" Ryder asked
I nodded, not trusting myself to actually speak. He smiled and said "You do talk don't you? Word around the locker room is that you have a pretty voice."
"I don't know about that," I said as I looked down into the pool.
"It's true you know, about your voice." Ryder whispered as he scooted closer to me.
I nodded "Thanks for telling me, I'll be sure to put that in my diary later when I go back to my hotel room and fantasize about my knight and shinning armor coming to rescue me from my tower."
I thought it would make him mad, but instead he tipped his head back and let loose the most beautiful sound I had ever heard my eighteen years. I found myself laughing along with him.
He cleared his throat and looked right into my eyes "I'd like to get to know more about you sometime."
"When?" I whispered
He shrugged his shoulders "I don't know, whenever you want. We should probably start with introductions."
My hand shot out toward him "I'm Rachel Jessica Cena, I'm eighteen and just graduated high school."
His hand wrapped gently around mine "Zack Ryder, I'm twenty six and I'm the new United States Champion."
I shook his hand as I got to my feet. "I'll see you around Zack, I still need to pack." Then I let go of his hand and headed for the elevator.
The bus was already packed by the time I got on. My eyes scanned the crowd and found dad sitting with Kelly and Randy sitting with Ted. I looked toward the back and found Zack sitting next to the only empty seat. Quickly making my way toward him, I jumped over his legs and plopped down in the seat next to the window.
"Well hello again," he smirked
I gave him a small smile as my phone went off. I pulled it from my back pocket and opened it to find a text message from Cody Rhodes. I had to stop myself from groaning in frustration. The moment I turned eighteen I went on a date or two with Cody, after a few weeks I called it off because he started being possessive and controlling; he didn't exactly get the whole leave me alone thing.
Cody: Hey baby, why don't you come over and sit by me.
Me: Rhodes if you do not stop bothering me I'm telling my father
Cody: Running to daddy are we, are you going to run to uncle Ran-Ran next?
A growl escaped my lips as I looked across the aisle to where Cody was sitting across from The Miz and Del Rio. Cody patted the seat beside him then looked at Ryder. I knew the things Cody could do, he could seriously hurt someone if he wanted. I threw an apologetic smile toward Ryder and moved to sit next to Cody.
His hand moved to rest on my knee as he leaned to whisper in my ear "Was that so hard?" his grip tightened "Stay away from Ryder, tonight you're staying in my room so I can keep an eye on you."
"I will be sleeping in my own room thank you Rhodes." I hadn't realized how loud my voice had been until everything went quiet and everyone turned to look at me. Cody quickly removed his hand and shrugged his shoulders toward my father who was looking at us curiously.
"Eventually you will be mine." Cody whispered in my ear.
I threw a fake smile at him "Only when hell freezes over baby." Then I moved back over to sit next to Ryder before Cody decided to hit me right there in public.
"What was that about?" Ryder asked as I sat back down next to him.
"He's been trying to get into my pants ever since I became legal." I answered simply as I laid my head on his shoulder. "Do you mind? I'm a bit tired."
"Not at all," he said pretending to stretch before wrapping an arm around my shoulders.
I giggled and rolled my eyes "You don't have to do the fake stretch thing Zacky," I closed my eyes and tried not to acknowledge how right the little scene felt to me.
I could hear and feel him laugh softly at that. "I'll make sure to remember that next time."
"Or you could pretend you didn't hear me. I'm not saying you have to stop with it, I find it rather cute actually." I admitted as I pulled my jacket closer to my body.
Ryder must have noticed because a moment later his jacket was being draped over me. He ran a hand over my shoulder and said "Can't have you getting a cold now can we, then how we go on our date?"
"When we get to the next town, we should have our date there." I said
"Any reason in particular?" Ryder asked
I pretended to have something in my finger nail before answering "It's in Tampa and that's where my father's house is. I was thinking I could cook a home made meal because restaurant food is getting really old."
"I know what you mean, but its our date. I don't want you to have to cook everything." Ryder said as I looked up at the frown appearing on his face.
"Don't frown Zacky, you'll get lines." I whispered running a finger over his jaw "You could always help me; we could have a picnic in the living room; since it will be way to cold to go outside."
His finger brushed against my cheek and my breath caught in my throat. "I'd like that, now get some sleep so you can show me all around Tampa when we get there."
"Yes sir," I whispered as a yawn slipped past my lips "What ever you say," I added as I drifted off.
SO what does everyone think? I love writing about Ryder and adding a lover into the mix is even better! Please review, like, and alert! And I hope you have a wonderful day/night/afternoon/evening/ whatever time of day it is that you are reading this.