Disclaimer: I do not own any WWE superstars

When You're Around

Chapter 46

Jess was going to kill Randy. Right before he'd left to go to Chloe's parents house, he'd told her that John was just as nervous as she was. She had savored that information and was able to calm herself down knowing that she wasn't the only one feeling this way. But as she opened the door and saw a smiling, confident John Cena standing on the other side, she instantly froze up as she noticed no way was John as nervous as her! He was cool as a cucumber. And of course he looked as handsome as ever in dark designer jeans and a sharp navy blue button down. "Hi," She said, her nerves obvious.

He surprised her by reaching forward and pulling her into a hug. "Hey you," He pulled back still smiling and looked her over. "You look amazing." She was wearing a magenta satin top tucked neatly into a high waisted black pencil skirt with black pumps.

She blushed but somehow found herself relaxing as her fears were washed away. She'd been scared things would be awkward when they were face to face as opposed how comfortable they felt when they were talking on the phone. But she actually felt more comfortable now that he was standing there smiling at her. "Thanks, you look very handsome yourself."

"Oh well thank you," He said with a mock cocky grin. "These are for you." He said presenting her with a bouquet of an array of different flowers that she hadn't even realized he had been holding.

"Oh John, they're beautiful, thank you," She said taking them from him before giving him a kiss on the cheek. After she put the flowers in a vase with water, the two walked out of the apartment. "My car's this way,"

He grabbed her hand and pulled her in the other direction. "I'm taking you out, I'll drive."

"I thought I was taking you out," She teased.

He grinned down at her. "You were but what kind of guy would I be if I let you drive me around and pay for my meal?" She laughed. "So I've decided all you have to do is pick where we eat and then the rest is my responsibility."

"Sounds good to me," She said as John held open the passenger door for her. She thanked him and slipped inside as he shut the door before going over to the drivers side.

"So where to?" John asked as he buckled up.

"We are going to the best burger joint in St. Louis." She announced and gave him directions on how to get there. They fell into an easy conversation throughout the car ride and before they knew it they had arrived. They were seated almost immediately and both ordered a soda.

"So how've you been?" John asked after they placed their orders and were left alone.

She smiled at him. "Good, only one more day of work and then I am officially on vacation."

He grinned. "I gotta say I'm pretty excited to have you on the road."

"Oh yeah?" She flirted with a raised eyebrow. "You gonna show me some wrestling moves?"

He winked. "You bet,"

She blushed. "You know, I was actually kinda nervous about our date tonight." She said honestly.

He smiled at her comfortingly. "I was too,"

"What?" She asked surprised. "But you seemed so calm when you picked me up."

"Doesn't mean I wasn't a mess on the inside. You're not nervous anymore are you?" He asked.

She shook her head. "You put a girl at ease the minute you smile at her."

He lifted a brow. "Oh really?" He smiled again and she laughed. "Well I'm glad to hear that, you put me at ease too."

"Good," They dissolved into easy conversation as they ate their dinner and after they were done, John suggested they go to a bar and a get a drink.

They walked into a nearby bar and Jess clung to John's hand as he maneuvered them through the crowded floor to the bar. As he located an empty bar stool, he gestured for her to sit. "Sorry, Randy brought me here last time I was in town, I didn't think it would be this crowded on a week night." He said as wrapped his arm around her waist and leaned in close to speak into her ear.

She shivered at his closeness. "No problem," And it was no problem if it meant she got to be this close to John the rest of the night.

"What'll it be?" The bartender asked the pair.

"Beer?" John asked Jess. She nodded and he turned to the bartender. "Two beers, whatever you got."

"You want to sit?" Jess asked, feeling bad that John was just standing there.

He smiled at her. "What kind of guys have you been out with?" He joked. "First you want to chauffeur me around for our date and now you want me to sit while you stand." He shook his head. "Man, I must be spoiling you tonight."

She grinned. "You have no idea." Truth was Josh had never really taken her on a date. Well sure at the beginning of their relationship, but after he had her, whenever they went out, she was the one that drove and paid for everything. So John really had no idea just how much he was spoiling her. Just moments after their beers were set in front of them, one of the chairs next to Jess opened up so John took a seat.

"So I don't think we've ever really discussed what you do. I think I know the basics though, you sew right?"

She laughed. "Well it's a little more than that but yeah basically. I work at a local theater company with the wardrobe department. That's a lot of the reason I hate missing work. I like to see my project completely through, there is nothing I hate more than seeing someone else finish making my costume."

"Sounds like a fun job."

She nodded. "It's great. It's definitely not what I see myself doing for the rest of my life but I like it for now."

"What do you want to do?" He asked curiously.

She let out a sigh. "The million dollar question. You would think I would know by now considering I'm almost thirty but I don't really know. I have my degree in marketing so maybe something with that. But I do love baking, I wouldn't mind opening my own bakery."

He smiled. "Well, if it's not broke don't fix it right? Keep doing the theater thing until you're unhappy and then go where your heart takes you."

"Aw, aren't you all in touch with your feminine side," She teased as she poked his abs. Mistake. Sure she'd seen those abs on TV but to actually touch them was another thing entirely. It took all the strength she had not to throw her arms around him and beg him to take her home right now.

He laughed. "I just think your better off doing something your passionate about instead of just doing something to get you by."

She nodded. "Kinda like you and wrestling?"

"Exactly. So when am I gonna taste some of your baked goods?" He asked with a grin.

She grinned back. "Well, I'm sure I could whip something together tonight." She flirted.

He raised a playful brow as he leaned in closer to her. "Is that your subtle way of inviting me back to your place tonight?"

She shrugged. "Could be," She said as she too leaned closer. Just as their lips were about to touch, she heard an angry voice call her name. She whipped her head to the side and her eyes widened as she saw a very drunk Josh standing a few feet away. "Josh, what are you doing here?"

"Josh?" John asked in a tight voice trying to hold back the anger he felt for this man.

"What the fuck are you doing with my girlfriend?" Josh asked angrily to John.

"I'm not your girlfriend." Jess said.

Josh glared at her. "Shut up, no one was talking to you."

John instantly stood up and moved to stand in front of his date. "Whoa buddy, you don't need to talk to her like that."

Josh looked John over before looking back at Jess. "So you've been cheating on me huh? All that bullshit about me cheating on you and you've been fucking this guy the whole time?"

She wrinkled her forehead in confusion. "What are you talking about? I never cheated on you. Even if I wanted to how could I? The only time I would ever have time to sleep with someone else is after work and you lived with me!"

"Oh cut the crap Jess. So this is why you wouldn't give me another chance, you were seeing him?" He questioned as he glared at John.

She let out a groan of frustration and ran a hand over her forehead as she felt a headache coming. "Josh, this is ridiculous. You know that's not true. I didn't even meet John until after we broke up.

"Well you certainly move on fast then don't you?" He spat at her hatefully. "God, you really are a slut."

That was John's cue. "Alright big guy, why don't you get lost before you do something stupid." He said, gently giving him a push backwards.

"Get your fucking hands off of me!" Josh said as he knocked John's hands away. He looked the larger man over and scowled. "I've seen you on TV. You think you're so tough." John was trying very hard to keep his temper under control. The last thing he wanted to do was lose it in front of Jess. "You like her huh?" He asked gesturing drunkenly at Jess. "Well I wouldn't waste my time if I were you, she'd nothing but a slut."

And that was about all John could take. He reared his fist back before hurling into Josh's stomach making the small man curl over in pain. John grabbed a bill out of his wallet and threw it on the bar before grabbing Jess's hand and pulling her out of the bar. "God, how did you date that asshole?" He asked once they were outside.

"Momentary lapse in judgment." She answered.

They got back to Jessica's apartment and he walked her to her door. After she'd unlocked her door and opened it, standing in the door jamb, John standing in the hall, he ran an angry hand through his hair. "Jess, God, I'm sorry I lost like that back there but damn he was saying all that shit about you and I just couldn't take it."

She instantly pushed herself on her tiptoes and pushed her lips against his. John was definitely surprised at first but responded almost immediately as he savored the feel and taste of their first kiss. She pulled away a second later and smiled at him. "No need to apologize, it was actually kind of sexy."

He raised a surprised brow as a grin worked its way on his face. "Really?"

"Oh yeah. I've never had a guy defend me like it, definitely hot."

He stepped closer to her, wrapping his arms around her tightly. "Well, would it make me sound sexier if I told you I've been waiting to beat the shit out of that guy since I heard he cheated on you."

She smiled. "Oh, definitely sexier."

"And I'm actually kind of glad we ran into the guy so I could snap some reality into him." He continued.

"Mmmm, stop." she said with a laugh as she pressed her lips to his once again. "Come stay with me." She suggested forwardly.

He looked at her surprised. "You sure?"

She grinned. "Well, I did promise to bake you something." She said though they both knew baked goods were the furthest from what they were going to do tonight.

He grinned back. "Well, I don't want you to break a promise on my account." He said before following her inside, swinging the door closed behind him.

A/N: Amazing reviews last chapter, thank you! Don't worry, I am not by any means leaving Adam and Rachel out, just wait for the next chapter :)