Disclaimer: I do not own anything related to the WWE or its superstars.
The next morning
I woke up with a dull throbbing ache in my head. I sat up and reached for the Tylenol on my nightstand. I threw the pills in my mouth and swallowed them. I laid back down. I wish I hadn't drank so much. I called down to room service to get breakfast and coffee sent up. I didn't want to move out of my bed…I didn't want to see people.
I didn't want them to ask me questions about last night. They were questions I didn't have the answer to. I knew some people would be curious about me and Zack and I knew many would want to ask about me and Dolph. With so many rumors regarding myself and both guys around, last night sure didn't help me out any. I wasn't scheduled to appear at the house show tonight, so I knew I could hermit all day and not have to emerge. I knew I was home free from Zack. He told me he was using his couple days off to go home. Dolph on the other hand, was sticking around. It was him I wanted to see and yet avoid at the same time.
I heard a knock on the door. I thought it might be room service. I peered through the peephole. It wasn't, it was Dolph. For some reason, I couldn't bring myself to open the door. He looked a little sad standing at my door. After another two rounds of knocking, he gave up and walked away. I felt horrible but I didn't know what he was going to say to me or what I would say to him for that matter.
Ten minutes later, my breakfast arrived. I slammed down my breakfast and coffee pretty quickly. Nothing cured my hangovers like eating something. I began to feel better physically but I still needed to clear my head. I decided I'd work out. I changed into a pair of yoga pants and a tank top and quickly scampered down the hallway. I decided to forgo the elevator and opted for the stairs. I went down the three flights of stairs to the gym. I turned on my ipod and got to work. I ignored all the people in the gym already. After a two hour workout, I was exhausted. I went back up the stairs and into my room to shower. I promptly got dressed and made up for the day. I plopped back down on my bed and began to watch TV.
I must have drifted off because I was startled awake by my phone vibrating. It was a text message.
"Blondie, dinner together tonight?" Shit. I couldn't avoid him forever. I sighed.
"Sure, what time?" I sent him nervously.
"How about I meet you at the restaurant in the hotel in 20?"
It seemed way to early for dinner despite my stomach's obvious opposition, as it was growling. I looked over at the clock. It was 6:04. Somehow I'd managed to sleep all afternoon.
"Sounds good see you then."
I went to the bathroom to fix my bed head and touch up my makeup. I was nervous about seeing Dolph. I threw on my zebra patterned heels and walked down to the restaurant. Dolph was already seated at a table when I arrived.
"Hey Dolph." I said nervously.
"Hey Blondie," He said smiling. "How are you feeling today?"
"Now I feel fine. This morning was a completely different story!"
"I bet, we both had our fair share of tequila last night! I tried to come by and get you to come to breakfast but you didn't answer."
"Yeah, I must have been out cold still. I was very tired…" I lied.
"Yeah, I bet. I just know how you feel so much better once you have food in you the next morning."
"You know me so well," I said with a smile.
We placed our orders and tried to talk normally. It felt forced, the cloud of last nights events hung heavy over us. I could feel it and I think he could to. It wasn't supposed to be like this. I didn't want this to ruin us. I wasn't sure if this is something that could disappear if we pretended long enough that it didn't happen. On the other hand I was afraid to find out what really happened there. If we talk about it we might find that we aren't on the same page. I wasn't sure what answer I was looking for from him, I wasn't sure what answers I had to give him were. But for now, I was going to pretend that a whole lot of tequila was solely responsible.
"So are you excited to have the night off?" he asked bringing me out of my thoughts.
"Yeah, I'm so tired. It will be nice to give my body a load off."
"You didn't decide to go home?"
"No, I just didn't want to go back. It would be nice to see my family and all, but being on the road has kind of started to feel like home. Zack went home though. He had a very early flight. He insisted he max out the time he could spend there."
"Speak of the devil, what was with you guys last night?" he said curiously.
"What do you mean?" I said coyly.
"You were getting along a little more than usual. That guy was all hands on that dance floor."
"Like you are one to talk Mr. Ziggler!" I scolded. He looked like he was about to say something but held back.
"Speaking of last night Kelsey-"
"Who had the ceasar salad?" The waitress interrupted. I exhaled the breath I hadn't realized I had been holding.
"That's mine!" She put the food down on the table and went to fetch refills for our drinks. Suddenly, I wish I'd gotten something alcoholic. We just sat there silent and eating for a few minutes.
"Like I was saying before….last night wa-" My phone began to ring. It was a strange number.
"Excuse me, I've gotta take this." I got up and walked away from the table. I answered the phone.
"Hello?"
"Hi, I'm trying to reach Kelsey Ryder, is she there?" A woman said calmly.
"uh yep, this is Kelsey."
"This is Rebecca Miller from the Long Island Medical center. I'm calling because a patient in our emergency room has you down as an emergency contact."
"Who?" I said as my heart was beating a million times a minute.
"We have your husband, Zack Ryder here." I immediately got knots in my stomach. I felt like I was going to throw up.
"You have Zack!" tears were falling from my eyes.
"Yes."
"How bad is it?" I got out between sobs.
"He is currently being examined, but he was unconscious when he was admitted."
"What happened?"
"Car accident. Another car crashed into him."
"Okay, I'm on my way. I'm currently in North Carolina, but I'm coming." I hung up the phone and rushed back to the table to grab my purse.
"I-I have to go." I told Dolph firmly. He saw my tear streaked face.
"You were crying. What happened Kelsey?" He said seriously. I took a deep breath.
"I got a call from a hospital in Long Island. Zack is in the ER unconscious…I'm his emergency contact. I have to go see him. I need to pack and get a flight out there."
"Oh my god." He stood up from the table. "You know what, I'll come with you." I shook my head.
"No Dolph. You have to work the house show tomorrow. Besides, this is something I should probably do alone. Zack needs me…and hates you. Sorry about dinner."
"It's okay, I completely understand. Well I hope he's alright…" He gave me a big hug. I kissed his cheek before storming upstairs to my room. Within 25 minutes, I was in a cab to the airport.
My cab pulled up at the hospital. I quickly threw some money at the cab driver and snatched my luggage. I practically ran to the nurses station in the ER.
"Hi, I'm looking for Zack Ryder!" I said hurried to the nurse.
"Okay, what relation are you to him?" she asked politely.
"I'm his wife Kelsey Ryder. Is he okay?" My heart was beating incredibly fast. She was typing into a computer.
"The doctor is really who you should talk to about that. All I can tell you is that he is in room 213."
She pointed me in the correct direction down a corridor. I rushed off to find his room. I found it rather quickly. I stood outside the door for a minute. I took a few deep breaths. Finally, I stepped inside. I saw Zack laying in the bed, motionless with the exception of his chest rising and falling. He had several Iv's coming from his hands and his head was bandaged up. His lip was swollen. I set my things down and sat down at the chair by his bed. I held his hand and just looked at him. It was hard to see him like this.
Just then, a doctor entered.
"Are you Zack's wife?"
"Yeah, is he going to be okay?" I asked earnestly.
"We expect him to make a full recovery. He sustained relatively mild injuries although he hasn't regained consciousness since arriving here. He has bruised ribs, a concussion, and a small bleed in one of his kidneys. The ribs and concussion should be fine. The bleed will only be a problem if it doesn't stop on his own. They often do, but if not, we may need to operate."
"But he hasn't woken up? When is he going to wake up?" I said a little frightened.
"He could wake up at any minute. I really wouldn't worry about it Mrs. Ryder. He has been through a trauma, give him some time." I nodded and shook his hand.
"Thanks Doctor." He nodded and left the room.
I sat back down in the chair. For the most part, I was relieved. He was expected to be okay but on the other hand, he still hadn't woken up. I held his hand again. I felt my eyes well up with tears.
"You have to be okay Zack. You need to wake up," I whispered to him. I just sat holding his hand for awhile. My phone began to vibrate. I answered without looking at the number.
"Hello?"
"Hey Kelsey," the voice was a dead give away to the caller. It was Zack's Dad.
"Hi."
"We just got a call from the hospital. Are you with Zack?"
"Yeah, I'm with Zack. I just spoke to his doctors. Where are you guys?"
"We are vacationing in Hawaii. We are terrified. How is he? Should we hurry back?"
"They expect him to make a full recovery. You guys should just stay and enjoy your vacation. I can just text you updates. You guys deserve your vacation." I heard him breathe a sigh of relief.
"Are you sure? We could be on the first flight out."
"No, stay in Hawaii. I have it all handled here, don't you worry."
"Okay. He is so lucky to have you back in his life Kelsey. He's been so happy since you joined the WWE."
"Uh…yeah. We have been having a lot of fun together. It really has been nice."
"I'm glad to hear it. Well, I will let you get back to Zack. Talk to you later Kelsey."
"Bye!" I hung up.
I was a little confused. Last time I talked to them, they were mad at me for not going after Zack when he left. Now they act as if the last four years never happened. But none of that mattered right now. All that mattered was Zack being okay.
Thanks to everybody who has been reading! I really appreciate it :] Review if you feel like letting me know what you think!
