The bar was busy for a Thursday night. The space was filled with drunken chatter and laughter from regulars and new faces, alike. It was one of Daveny's least favorite places to be but it helped pay the bills and it beat shaking her bare ass for a bunch of horny, drooling men. It was her night to close, which meant that after the doors locked and everyone else was kicked out, she would have to balance the register, get everything ready for the next day's bank deposit, then clean up before she could go home. One other person would be with her but unexpectedly, Jon had showed up. He did ever so often. He was an unpredictable man. He hardly planned his actions, was more of a fly by night kind of guy. When she asked him to come wait for her, he would usually complain about it, make up excuses or simply not show up after he promised. But when the mood fancied him, he would come in, usually around 11 and wait it out or rather drink it out.

An NFL football game played on one of the flat screen TVs and everything from the score to the officiating to the players themselves had been a topic of heated discussion. Jon had been throwing back the Yuenglings and had even enjoyed a shot or two. He had been boozing for years and as a result, had built up quite an impressive tolerance. His liver was probably on the verge of collapse but he didn't care about things like that. Worries of the future just put a damper on the fun of the now.

When he was drinking heavily, he often got belligerent. Drunkenness combined with his already quick and explosive temper made for a dangerous combination. Though making drinks had kept her without a second to think straight, out of the corner of her eye, Daveny had kept a careful eye on Jon. He had been arguing with some random guy about the outcome of the game and on more than one occasion over the years, she had seen what was seemingly small incidents blow up into World War III tragedies. And when it came to fighting, Jon was a "fight to the death" kind of guy. He lost control and that was always scary.

"Fuck yeah!" he raised his arms and shouted as the team he was rooting for made another touchdown.

He took a swig of beer before slamming the empty bottle down on the bar top. Some of the liquid slid down his chin from the corner of his mouth but he didn't care. He burped loudly and wiped his mouth with his sleeve.

"You okay?" Daveny asked, taking away the empty bottle and wiping away the mug rings with a dish cloth.

"Yeah, I'm good," he didn't even bother to look at her. "Hit me with another one."

Daveny rolled her eyes. Typical. And cutting him off would fuel a rage that would only lead to a tumultuous public showdown. So she got another Yuengling and slid it down the bar to him.

"Fuck those fucking motherfuckers," the guy who had been going back and forth with Jon yelled.

Jon gave him a loopy grin.

"The fuck's your problem? You act like you're surprised or something."

"Your team sucks."

Jon just laughed out loud.

"Oh my team sucks? Who is down by 14, asshole?"

"Whatever."

"Your boys. And," Jon took another big swallow. "Who is coming off of two straight wins? My boys."

"You think you're tough shit? You think you know everything? Those wins don't even matter. Those fucking teams they beat aren't even ranked. Not a playoff chance in hell."

"Yeah, cause my team kicked their ass."

"You got a lot of mouth there. Care to out some money on it?"

Jon's eyes danced.

"Depends on what you're talking."

Daveny shook her head. They weren't broke or struggling but they were far from comfortable. They had bills to pay. They had a car that was in the shop every other week. They had responsibilities. Jon's vices included more so drugs and alcohol and women. Gambling was never a huge problem but he talked a big game and when the situation called for it, had been known to place a bet here and there.

"Jon, I gotta talk to you."

"Not now," he dismissed Daveny.

"No! Now!" she said with more force.

He grumbled and walked down to an empty part of the bar even as the guy made some off color comment about his nuts being in a jar.

"The fuck you do that for?" he ran his fingers through his hair.

He was mad. But his tone and demeanor was calm, cunning even. It was sort of like he was in wrestling character, sizing up an opponent before cutting one of his infamous promos.

"You know why," she looked dead at him.

He never broke the gaze.

"Nope. I don't know. I don't know why, Daveny. That's why I asked the question."

"We have better things to spend our money on."

"Our?"

"Yes, asshole, our. And don't even give me that shit about what you're making at FCW because we live together and what we make is what takes care of us."

He nodded, eerily studying her for a moment.

"So I can't take care of you now?"

"Don't start."

"I didn't started it but I can finish it. Hell, you brought it up. In fact, you always bring it up. Never directly. Nope, you just work it into a conversation trying to start an argument. And it always comes down to the same shit."

"Really?" she folded her arms. "And what is that?"

"Money," he leaned in, over pronouncing the word. "I guess the FCW ain't good enough for you."

"I didn't say that."

"But you damned sure meant it. Why be shy now? You don't have the car you want, the house you want looking over, over the goddamned ocean," he drunkenly stumbled over his words.

"It's the bay, you idiot."

"Whatever. Why don't you go find you, find you one of them rich fucks that works with your daddy? One of them top tier clowns that can buy you all the fancy shit you want. I hear Cena is back on the market."

"Shut up, Jon. You're drunk and you're being stupid. Go sleep it off in the truck."

"Fuck you. You don't tell me what to do."

"Fuck you," she gave it right back to him.

He stumbled off and they pretty much ignored him as the other bartender continued to serve him. He was as loud and cantankerous as ever and Daveny was beyond annoyed. Times like that, she wanted to haul off and slap his face. It took all she could to ignore him but when some trashy red head wearing a sweater about three sizes too small got really close, Daveny's attention was locked full force.

He was a good looking guy in a sexy and rough, rugged kind of way. He oozed danger. You knew he was trouble and women did love a bad boy. They threw themselves at him constantly. Daveny knew he had cheated in the past but they had agreed begrudgingly to leave that in the past though her trust for him was not nearly as strong as her love for him. If women wanted to look, fine. But blatantly flirting and touching and shoving their tits in his face was a definite no go.

"So you're a wrestler?" she purred.

"I'm a wrestler," Jon took another drink.

"Like Hulk Hogan?"

He chuckled.

"Something like that…only way better and way more bad ass."

"Mmmm, sexy."

"Sexy, huh? I think you're pretty sexy. What's your name, sweetheart?"

"Michelle," she grinned, brushing up against him.

"Well, it's nice to meet you, Michelle. Um, you better be careful…you know, you're starting to get awful personal down there."

She laughed, tossing her head back.

"I see something I like so I decided to feel it."

"You like it, baby?"

"Oh yeah. It felt…nice."

He laughed and gulped more alcohol.

"Trust me…it gets nicer. And bigger."

Daveny had heard enough. She threw the rag down and stormed over to where they were.

"What the fuck is this fucking shit?" she demanded.

"Who are you?" Michelle looked annoyed. "Don't you work here?"

"Don't worry where I work. I asked you a question."

Michelle put her hands on her hips.

"You want to step off there, honey? Seriously, do you mind?"

"Well, honey, this is my boyfriend so actually I do mind. Very much so."

Michelle looked back and forth between the two before laughing.

"Really? Your boyfriend, huh? Well, he sure wasn't acting like it."

"Yeah? Well, the beer goggles make him crave skank," she said as she grabbed Jon's hand. "Come on."

He shrugged but Michelle stepped between them. Daveny was furious. She gave the woman a push. Michelle pushed back a little harder. In a matter of seconds, a full on brawl had broken out that ended with Michelle screaming and lying on the floor bloodied and bruised while an incensed and cursing Daveny was on top punching her. Jon was too drunk and too tickled for that matter to stop them but the manager and a few male patrons broke them up, pulling Daveny off.

"What the hell is your problem?" the manager raged.

"That stupid bitch got in my face first and she had her hands all over Jon…"

"I don't care."

"But she…"

"Daveny, did you hear me? I do not care. You can't put your hands on a customer like that! Are you crazy?"

"Whatever, she got what she deserved."

"Yeah? And so will you. You're fired."

"What?"

"You heard me."

"Why? You, you can't fire me!"

"You're lucky if no one presses charges. Now get your stuff and get out of my bar! Get off this property!"

In a huff, Daveny stalked off and grabbed her purse and jacket as Jon stumbled behind after his tab was hurriedly closed. Daveny walked into the cool Tampa night air and as the reality of the situation set in, tears spilled down her face.

"The fuck are you crying for?" he drawled.

Daveny shot him a death stare.

"Really?"

He staggered towards her but she pushed him hard.

"Crazy ass…"

"Nice going! Shit, you just got me fired!"

"You got you fired. Shit for once I'm in a bar and brawl or whatever breaks out and it ain't me."

"Shut up!"

"What are you mad for? Look, it might not be that good WWE money but we ain't gonna be homeless. Relax and chill the fuck out. You hate this place anyway."

It sucked losing her job and she would more than likely be able to find another one. But that was beside the point.

"Leave me alone."

"Daveny…"

"You just don't get it, do you?"

"You and your PMSing moaning and complaining. I swear you broads are all alike."

"How could you do that to me?" she whispered.

"What'd I do?"

"You disrespected me and you humiliated me and you flirted with that stupid whore and you let her touch you. You just stood there, enjoying it even. How do you think that makes me feel? I mean, why? I, I love you so much and I do everything for you and it's like it is never enough. You know?" she cried. "No matter what. And it makes me feel like shit, like I'm not good enough, like…"

"Like how you make me feel when you're always riding my case about money or whatever else you're nagging about?"

"Oh, so I'm a nag now? This is my fault? I drive you to cheat?"

"Look, I love you. You know that. But I'm not your little bitch. You're not gonna tell me what to do or boss me around or try to make me look stupid in front of people. I do what the hell I want. That Michelle chick? That was just for fun."

"Fun?"

"Yeah, I was just trying to piss you off. I wasn't gonna fuck her or anything."

"Well, that's good to know. I mean, thanks for the heads up because you sure have fucked a lot of bar sluts before her," Daveny mumbled sarcastically. "You are unbelievable."

"Come here," he walked over to her.

This is the part where he would apologize and try to wear her down. But he had really hurt her. And now things were a mess.

"Stop it!"

"Babe…"

"Don't touch me," she swatted him a way.

He walked a few steps towards her and his eyes got big and his face turned green in the moonlight. He fell back a little and puked his guts out right there in front of her. Daveny closed her eyes, tears still falling. She had a choice. She could leave at any time and most women in her position would have split years before. In that moment standing in the parking lot, she was overcome with such emotion that she felt like she might burst. There was something about him. Something that made her love him. Something that made her forgive him. Something that made her stay. This was it. Jon was the man she loved and though she could do without the drinking, the drama, his catting around, and vomit splattering on her shoes, he was the one person she wanted to be with forever. But the queasiness in her own belly let her know that they might not have forever. And if that was the case, it could very well be her fault, not Jon's. The thought made her want to just die. Because in that moment, in that life, nothing or no one else existed. She did not want to be with anyone else. There was a whole other world out there but Jon was her reality.