p style="text-align: center;" data-p-id="fa1ccc235d73cddb476ccf858bf0f747"em-/embr /emKat's POV /embr /em-/em/p
p data-p-id="ceeace6c0e42bf75263ccfb37ddd9992"I sat twirling my ring around on my finger. It dazzled in the light; I was still so amazed by it. I couldn't believe Shawn had gotten it for me. I still couldn't believe Shawn had proposed to me./p
p data-p-id="89fbb2def1f950067b3408a6d6c26797""How do you feel about having kids?" I asked. My mind was wandering./p
p data-p-id="f845e8e91e5a7368fa5943a8fe792775"Shawn raised an eyebrow. "Do you have something to tell me? Because I might have to go. I'm thinking as far as possible. Australia." He was joking./p
p data-p-id="bd2f08c5605e29a3c27af183664ca38c""No. But I'm serious."/p
p data-p-id="f2f79c1f9cbe028aa07b6a495e14dc60""Well, yeah, emeventually/em. I'd love to have kids." I brightened. "Years and years from now," he answered. My heart sank again./p
p data-p-id="b25b3724f62b67389f37b8f275e8cf29""How many years?" I asked./p
p data-p-id="897a67039c532ee8ed87482809b5e77d""I was thinking after I retired. When I have kids, I want to actually be there."/p
p data-p-id="98e78f50f5792b855495ad3a2dc8f5fc"I got that. After all, I knew better than anyone how it was to grow up with a dad on the road all the time. It wasn't fun. "Oh. Okay."/p
p data-p-id="894560a28581034099a702aef1d734e0""Why are you asking me all this?"/p
p data-p-id="e093cbab5349bf1bc7ad8f6911b5777b"I shrugged. "I guess this just got me thinking." I held up my hand, showing him the ring./p
p data-p-id="57d81f7ef4753bf20f956d9c55415f6e""Ah... that, huh?"/p
p data-p-id="5ce85501ce3b12c4fdfc2a33f956e84e""Yep," I told him. I brought my hand back down and started playing with it again. It was a mindless act, but it was also calming. "How long have you had this?"/p
p data-p-id="ced78a74aa0b493db96c24c8cacc94b3""Awhile. I couldn't make myself ask until now. Paul had to basically promise to kick my ass if I didn't man up and ask." He admitted. "I was going to ask at Thanksgiving. I was going to ask your Dad for his permission, actually. I thought it would make him, y'know, like me. But you know how that went."/p
p data-p-id="006c93327928d5501dbad8e756894b34""I don't care what Dad would have thought," I replied bitterly. "I would marry you tomorrow if he said I couldn't."/p
p data-p-id="8f2a3eb2191047a6000f5b9ee51188e4"He gasped and pulled his phone from his pocket. "I have to call Vince!" he exclaimed dramatically, pretending to dial him up./p
p data-p-id="e4a36902e4a153775a661f4e948c087b"I rolled my eyes. "Stop it." But I just couldn't help but smile./p
p data-p-id="889ff2a5c503ea1892e36bfc09028669""Aw, come on, Kat. That was good."/p
p data-p-id="35398348ed85712e316179f5e1d2f2d1""I don't want to talk about my dad. Even if we are joking."/p
p data-p-id="c6db2803de892be0f416f4816b7784a4""You're going to have to see him eventually. We kinda work for him," he replied./p
p data-p-id="d974c6499defec69ac0189dd1a831d89""Until then, I prefer to think he doesn't exist," I insisted. "I would much rather talk about your family. Which I still haven't met, by the way," I teased./p
p data-p-id="2a536974b80cc458f3b8439911899449""I don't want to jinx it," he answered./p
p data-p-id="b2e570a43bec2642cd835c7a4c132129"I nearly burst out laughing. "What?"/p
p data-p-id="8e8c23804072560c8c729a14f21fc5ce""You know what happened last time I brought a girl home."/p
p data-p-id="a6030501f85fb3d2812998ccb63c00ed""Shawn, it's not a curse," I told him. "You do know that, right? It's just your family."/p
p data-p-id="5b3fa484456cc3ba716b0f2567a956f4""You don't know that. You don't Mama," he assured me. "Oh, boy."/p
p data-p-id="6ee3c4c1a579113f7697e1b4aec27b3c""Come on, she can't be that bad. I bet my family is worse. My mom hated your outfit but didn't even have the guts to say it," I argued./p
p data-p-id="88378257fc986eb1763209ffda347bb7""She liked my outfit. She made a 'hmm' noise!"/p
p data-p-id="dee97b80528640db6752bef887be2e84""That means she hates it. But don't worry, she hated mine too. And she hated Steph's, because I chose it. My mother and I have very different tastes."/p
p data-p-id="06c89fff06477101587b03cafb385382"He sighed. "Fine, maybe your family is worse. But mine would at least give them a run for their money. My brothers would overwhelm you. And you wouldn't even know what to do with Mama and my sister."/p
p data-p-id="cfb35ad084957663187a013c0748268a""What about your dad?"/p
p data-p-id="36aba02eeeb1ffb1f98d1ab393866d65""Maybe you'd be okay. He'd probably try to convince you to make me cut my hair." He stroked his own hair./p
p data-p-id="78516d576dfab38d72dfc0d0e85bf7f3""I like your hair," I said. I reached over to play with it. "It's probably your best feature, after your attitude, of course."/p
p data-p-id="609d2a028d742d4e64d03e842a7d5320""Ha ha. So do I. Dad's not a fan," he explained./p
p data-p-id="1cb1ed1d7284ddd21ef91a983ce11c45""So your family has flaws. I know about family issues. If I'm going to be your wife, I want to meet your family," I insisted. I was not backing down on this./p
p data-p-id="0cb09ca539992c939fbcad0646dcc366""Fine. Next time we're off, I'll bring you down. But I'm warning you now, so you can't say I didn't," he declared./p
p data-p-id="62b924a88ce344c44d63f912f2354236"The conversation changed as my train of thought switched directions. Man, was it a day for thinking, apparently./p
p data-p-id="27e50650b75a9edadc0d2a2e6da82761""Can I ask you about something else?"/p
p data-p-id="2a3d13bf42095fd576ed3ed9b07475d5""Maybe. Depends on the question. What's it about?"/p
p data-p-id="f51c2518ce54a2d311fba9079264899e""Your pills."/p
p data-p-id="2a9bd2fb3ff387cf10f07ce4e60ab5db"He stiffened. "Nope, I'm done with questions for today."/p
p data-p-id="b5740fa85fa3dc22013189eb24f76b09""Shawn, please."/p
p data-p-id="bf9241d9aef9fbd64746154ee9371126""They're painkillers, Kat," he answered. "I'm a wrestler. Sometimes I'm in pain. And despite what Kev probably told you, I don't have a problem. I can stop any time I like."/p
p data-p-id="d68f66979a3fa419f417199c54a76c24""How about now?"/p
p data-p-id="23677b48dc1eea367b38b049cd731d5c""Why are you asking me this?"/p
p data-p-id="928478f55fc88127967134e316a7f5b3""I was just thinking. If Kev hadn't told me, when were you going to tell me yourself?" I questioned./p
p data-p-id="32abd77eafcd4b96e2ea5237cef73a3b"He sighed. "I probably wouldn't have."/p
p data-p-id="15e0536337fcb0344a01882d5781e597""You would have lied to me?" I asked. I couldn't believe it. Well, maybe I could believe it, but I didn't like it. Not at all./p
p data-p-id="f3da730be540fd7442b9f60526966455""Kat, I-" He tried to make it better, but he couldn't. It was too late for that. He'd already upset me. And I had already slammed the door to the bedroom./p
p data-p-id="8a7ab20ec0ab3262ce329c7dcb399a4e"***/p
p data-p-id="62facf818153279bc8d261d14f46e014"I was giving Shawn the cold shoulder. I had not said a single word to him since the day before. I knew I was being a bit ridiculous, but I couldn't believe he just would have lied to me. It was the principle of it./p
p data-p-id="ff6a7c2160638b56dfd77b2ef3b84295"Paul was in on it, of course. He thought it was hilarious. The part about Shawn moping around, that is./p
p data-p-id="bf7010d37cf77e688937b52986cd8a2e"Which he was. He was following me around, pouting, repeatedly trying to get me to talk to him./p
p data-p-id="079530f1c0cfd0af6139643a77f4261e"Finally I guess he had enough. We were just about to leave the arena and head back to the hotel. "Kat, please. I can't keep doing this," he begged./p
p data-p-id="5daee556d0309149cc5b527cf57337b0""Paul, do you hear something?" I asked./p
p data-p-id="6894e8cdcc39e4cc041121e9bd5bbef1"Shawn grabbed my shoulders and forced me to face him. "Katherine. Look at me."/p
p data-p-id="cf9f9b799b713017dc703f95681a86e6"Paul got out of there real quick. As much as he found Shawn's dramatics funny, he didn't want to get in the middle of us fighting. He told us he'd find his own ride and was soon out of sight./p
p data-p-id="33f13772ee5cc1ac27ceb3167d544855""Kat, I'm sorry. I really am. You know me. I don't open up to people. I was just trying to be honest," Shawn explained./p
p data-p-id="98a5e6d52e92621cecb76f81839fedf9"I pushed on his chest. "You're going to have to open up to me. We're going to be married, and I can't marry you if we can't talk to each other."/p
p data-p-id="af6624e9d378291bd4f29f56bea4389e""So it's about me proposing?" he asked./p
p data-p-id="857105220c5157b08a8139eb0248ce20""Yes! And no. I don't know. I just keep thinking about if we do get married. And what's going to happen. You never talk to me," I explained. My heart was pulled 50 different directions. I was just so worked up about the whole marriage thing./p
p data-p-id="0d055b6957f715848e0187ff68d05280""I do talk to you. I talk to you all day, every day. Except for today, because you've been purposely ignoring me," he argued./p
p data-p-id="4c42002c7fa4857d861ff83510fd734d""Not about the important things."/p
p data-p-id="171fc7111bcd85d8725416fc63a3632f"Shawn sighed. "Then from now on, we'll talk. We'll talk about the important things if that's what you want. But I can't handle not talking to you. It drove me crazy."/p
p data-p-id="104b7718a915df5e2702fbcf6e88e0a1"He grabbed my hands. "And can you emplease/em stop worrying about us getting married? It doesn't have to be any time soon. To be honest, I don't want it to be soon. Whenever you're ready, we will get married. And we will be emfine/em. Everything will be okay."/p
p data-p-id="da900612da5b57ee3f6215a8b4e2db88""Promise?" I whispered./p
p data-p-id="7fb86687d194a382c6841dff06da5666""I promise. I love you, Kat."/p
p data-p-id="bde41465d3f5f658f8a11a637bf459a3"I smiled. "I love you too."/p
p data-p-id="c92eaf3605f755c46f92eb36c256093b""So you're going to talk to me?" he asked excitedly./p
p data-p-id="dc6bf610e868ac85ae871a7a5e654073"I pretended to think about it. "Hmm... perhaps. It really is a lot of fun to watch you whine about it, though."/p
p data-p-id="60eae3a73a32fd834956a4572b96a46d""I swear to God, I will drive away with your car and leave your ass here," he told me./p
p data-p-id="37c9710541733283aed23449a7e86e7c"I laughed and just shook my head as I pulled him to the car. I felt a lot better with all of that settled. I could just lay back and fall asleep to the lull of the car./p
p data-p-id="0020227112007c467cb4d78716b9732c"I didn't even see the crash coming./p
p data-p-id="ceeace6c0e42bf75263ccfb37ddd9992"I sat twirling my ring around on my finger. It dazzled in the light; I was still so amazed by it. I couldn't believe Shawn had gotten it for me. I still couldn't believe Shawn had proposed to me./p
p data-p-id="89fbb2def1f950067b3408a6d6c26797""How do you feel about having kids?" I asked. My mind was wandering./p
p data-p-id="f845e8e91e5a7368fa5943a8fe792775"Shawn raised an eyebrow. "Do you have something to tell me? Because I might have to go. I'm thinking as far as possible. Australia." He was joking./p
p data-p-id="bd2f08c5605e29a3c27af183664ca38c""No. But I'm serious."/p
p data-p-id="f2f79c1f9cbe028aa07b6a495e14dc60""Well, yeah, emeventually/em. I'd love to have kids." I brightened. "Years and years from now," he answered. My heart sank again./p
p data-p-id="b25b3724f62b67389f37b8f275e8cf29""How many years?" I asked./p
p data-p-id="897a67039c532ee8ed87482809b5e77d""I was thinking after I retired. When I have kids, I want to actually be there."/p
p data-p-id="98e78f50f5792b855495ad3a2dc8f5fc"I got that. After all, I knew better than anyone how it was to grow up with a dad on the road all the time. It wasn't fun. "Oh. Okay."/p
p data-p-id="894560a28581034099a702aef1d734e0""Why are you asking me all this?"/p
p data-p-id="e093cbab5349bf1bc7ad8f6911b5777b"I shrugged. "I guess this just got me thinking." I held up my hand, showing him the ring./p
p data-p-id="57d81f7ef4753bf20f956d9c55415f6e""Ah... that, huh?"/p
p data-p-id="5ce85501ce3b12c4fdfc2a33f956e84e""Yep," I told him. I brought my hand back down and started playing with it again. It was a mindless act, but it was also calming. "How long have you had this?"/p
p data-p-id="ced78a74aa0b493db96c24c8cacc94b3""Awhile. I couldn't make myself ask until now. Paul had to basically promise to kick my ass if I didn't man up and ask." He admitted. "I was going to ask at Thanksgiving. I was going to ask your Dad for his permission, actually. I thought it would make him, y'know, like me. But you know how that went."/p
p data-p-id="006c93327928d5501dbad8e756894b34""I don't care what Dad would have thought," I replied bitterly. "I would marry you tomorrow if he said I couldn't."/p
p data-p-id="8f2a3eb2191047a6000f5b9ee51188e4"He gasped and pulled his phone from his pocket. "I have to call Vince!" he exclaimed dramatically, pretending to dial him up./p
p data-p-id="e4a36902e4a153775a661f4e948c087b"I rolled my eyes. "Stop it." But I just couldn't help but smile./p
p data-p-id="889ff2a5c503ea1892e36bfc09028669""Aw, come on, Kat. That was good."/p
p data-p-id="35398348ed85712e316179f5e1d2f2d1""I don't want to talk about my dad. Even if we are joking."/p
p data-p-id="c6db2803de892be0f416f4816b7784a4""You're going to have to see him eventually. We kinda work for him," he replied./p
p data-p-id="d974c6499defec69ac0189dd1a831d89""Until then, I prefer to think he doesn't exist," I insisted. "I would much rather talk about your family. Which I still haven't met, by the way," I teased./p
p data-p-id="2a536974b80cc458f3b8439911899449""I don't want to jinx it," he answered./p
p data-p-id="b2e570a43bec2642cd835c7a4c132129"I nearly burst out laughing. "What?"/p
p data-p-id="8e8c23804072560c8c729a14f21fc5ce""You know what happened last time I brought a girl home."/p
p data-p-id="a6030501f85fb3d2812998ccb63c00ed""Shawn, it's not a curse," I told him. "You do know that, right? It's just your family."/p
p data-p-id="5b3fa484456cc3ba716b0f2567a956f4""You don't know that. You don't Mama," he assured me. "Oh, boy."/p
p data-p-id="6ee3c4c1a579113f7697e1b4aec27b3c""Come on, she can't be that bad. I bet my family is worse. My mom hated your outfit but didn't even have the guts to say it," I argued./p
p data-p-id="88378257fc986eb1763209ffda347bb7""She liked my outfit. She made a 'hmm' noise!"/p
p data-p-id="dee97b80528640db6752bef887be2e84""That means she hates it. But don't worry, she hated mine too. And she hated Steph's, because I chose it. My mother and I have very different tastes."/p
p data-p-id="06c89fff06477101587b03cafb385382"He sighed. "Fine, maybe your family is worse. But mine would at least give them a run for their money. My brothers would overwhelm you. And you wouldn't even know what to do with Mama and my sister."/p
p data-p-id="cfb35ad084957663187a013c0748268a""What about your dad?"/p
p data-p-id="36aba02eeeb1ffb1f98d1ab393866d65""Maybe you'd be okay. He'd probably try to convince you to make me cut my hair." He stroked his own hair./p
p data-p-id="78516d576dfab38d72dfc0d0e85bf7f3""I like your hair," I said. I reached over to play with it. "It's probably your best feature, after your attitude, of course."/p
p data-p-id="609d2a028d742d4e64d03e842a7d5320""Ha ha. So do I. Dad's not a fan," he explained./p
p data-p-id="1cb1ed1d7284ddd21ef91a983ce11c45""So your family has flaws. I know about family issues. If I'm going to be your wife, I want to meet your family," I insisted. I was not backing down on this./p
p data-p-id="0cb09ca539992c939fbcad0646dcc366""Fine. Next time we're off, I'll bring you down. But I'm warning you now, so you can't say I didn't," he declared./p
p data-p-id="62b924a88ce344c44d63f912f2354236"The conversation changed as my train of thought switched directions. Man, was it a day for thinking, apparently./p
p data-p-id="27e50650b75a9edadc0d2a2e6da82761""Can I ask you about something else?"/p
p data-p-id="2a3d13bf42095fd576ed3ed9b07475d5""Maybe. Depends on the question. What's it about?"/p
p data-p-id="f51c2518ce54a2d311fba9079264899e""Your pills."/p
p data-p-id="2a9bd2fb3ff387cf10f07ce4e60ab5db"He stiffened. "Nope, I'm done with questions for today."/p
p data-p-id="b5740fa85fa3dc22013189eb24f76b09""Shawn, please."/p
p data-p-id="bf9241d9aef9fbd64746154ee9371126""They're painkillers, Kat," he answered. "I'm a wrestler. Sometimes I'm in pain. And despite what Kev probably told you, I don't have a problem. I can stop any time I like."/p
p data-p-id="d68f66979a3fa419f417199c54a76c24""How about now?"/p
p data-p-id="23677b48dc1eea367b38b049cd731d5c""Why are you asking me this?"/p
p data-p-id="928478f55fc88127967134e316a7f5b3""I was just thinking. If Kev hadn't told me, when were you going to tell me yourself?" I questioned./p
p data-p-id="32abd77eafcd4b96e2ea5237cef73a3b"He sighed. "I probably wouldn't have."/p
p data-p-id="15e0536337fcb0344a01882d5781e597""You would have lied to me?" I asked. I couldn't believe it. Well, maybe I could believe it, but I didn't like it. Not at all./p
p data-p-id="f3da730be540fd7442b9f60526966455""Kat, I-" He tried to make it better, but he couldn't. It was too late for that. He'd already upset me. And I had already slammed the door to the bedroom./p
p data-p-id="8a7ab20ec0ab3262ce329c7dcb399a4e"***/p
p data-p-id="62facf818153279bc8d261d14f46e014"I was giving Shawn the cold shoulder. I had not said a single word to him since the day before. I knew I was being a bit ridiculous, but I couldn't believe he just would have lied to me. It was the principle of it./p
p data-p-id="ff6a7c2160638b56dfd77b2ef3b84295"Paul was in on it, of course. He thought it was hilarious. The part about Shawn moping around, that is./p
p data-p-id="bf7010d37cf77e688937b52986cd8a2e"Which he was. He was following me around, pouting, repeatedly trying to get me to talk to him./p
p data-p-id="079530f1c0cfd0af6139643a77f4261e"Finally I guess he had enough. We were just about to leave the arena and head back to the hotel. "Kat, please. I can't keep doing this," he begged./p
p data-p-id="5daee556d0309149cc5b527cf57337b0""Paul, do you hear something?" I asked./p
p data-p-id="6894e8cdcc39e4cc041121e9bd5bbef1"Shawn grabbed my shoulders and forced me to face him. "Katherine. Look at me."/p
p data-p-id="cf9f9b799b713017dc703f95681a86e6"Paul got out of there real quick. As much as he found Shawn's dramatics funny, he didn't want to get in the middle of us fighting. He told us he'd find his own ride and was soon out of sight./p
p data-p-id="33f13772ee5cc1ac27ceb3167d544855""Kat, I'm sorry. I really am. You know me. I don't open up to people. I was just trying to be honest," Shawn explained./p
p data-p-id="98a5e6d52e92621cecb76f81839fedf9"I pushed on his chest. "You're going to have to open up to me. We're going to be married, and I can't marry you if we can't talk to each other."/p
p data-p-id="af6624e9d378291bd4f29f56bea4389e""So it's about me proposing?" he asked./p
p data-p-id="857105220c5157b08a8139eb0248ce20""Yes! And no. I don't know. I just keep thinking about if we do get married. And what's going to happen. You never talk to me," I explained. My heart was pulled 50 different directions. I was just so worked up about the whole marriage thing./p
p data-p-id="0d055b6957f715848e0187ff68d05280""I do talk to you. I talk to you all day, every day. Except for today, because you've been purposely ignoring me," he argued./p
p data-p-id="4c42002c7fa4857d861ff83510fd734d""Not about the important things."/p
p data-p-id="171fc7111bcd85d8725416fc63a3632f"Shawn sighed. "Then from now on, we'll talk. We'll talk about the important things if that's what you want. But I can't handle not talking to you. It drove me crazy."/p
p data-p-id="104b7718a915df5e2702fbcf6e88e0a1"He grabbed my hands. "And can you emplease/em stop worrying about us getting married? It doesn't have to be any time soon. To be honest, I don't want it to be soon. Whenever you're ready, we will get married. And we will be emfine/em. Everything will be okay."/p
p data-p-id="da900612da5b57ee3f6215a8b4e2db88""Promise?" I whispered./p
p data-p-id="7fb86687d194a382c6841dff06da5666""I promise. I love you, Kat."/p
p data-p-id="bde41465d3f5f658f8a11a637bf459a3"I smiled. "I love you too."/p
p data-p-id="c92eaf3605f755c46f92eb36c256093b""So you're going to talk to me?" he asked excitedly./p
p data-p-id="dc6bf610e868ac85ae871a7a5e654073"I pretended to think about it. "Hmm... perhaps. It really is a lot of fun to watch you whine about it, though."/p
p data-p-id="60eae3a73a32fd834956a4572b96a46d""I swear to God, I will drive away with your car and leave your ass here," he told me./p
p data-p-id="37c9710541733283aed23449a7e86e7c"I laughed and just shook my head as I pulled him to the car. I felt a lot better with all of that settled. I could just lay back and fall asleep to the lull of the car./p
p data-p-id="0020227112007c467cb4d78716b9732c"I didn't even see the crash coming./p