CHAPTER 48:

After another half hour of driving, the group had finally reached their destination as AJ pulled up to a casino. "Oh shut up!" shouted Naomi in surprised. "That's right" said AJ as she unbuckled her seatbelt. "Let's go have some Vegas-styled fun".

The group exited the car and made their way inside. "Uh babe?" asked Roman. "Yes Leati?" said AJ as she put on her shades. "Aren't we going to get recognized?" asked Roman. "Nope" said AJ. "I managed to book us the VIP section weeks ago". "You really are the best" said Roman. "Yeah I know" said AJ with a smile.

"Hey are you two losers coming in or what?" asked Jimmy. "Yes ma'am" teased Roman. "You're such a jerk" teased AJ. "I know" said Roman. "But I'm the best jerk alive". With that the two headed inside after Naomi and Jimmy.

Meanwhile, John and Nikki had returned back from their day of relaxation. "I can't believe I hopped on a jet, exercised and went shopping all within 6hrs" said Nikki as she removed her shoes. "Well believe it" said John as he locked the door behind them. "I'm getting some rest" said Nikki. "I'm meeting with my 100th Make-A-Wish guest at 9am". "Not to mention we gotta film the 'Smack down'" said John.

Nikki sighed as she walked towards the kitchen. "Do they have any ice water?" she asked. "I'm hella thirsty". "They should" said John. Nikki opened the fridge to pour herself a glass of water. "Do you mind that I go out to Cesaro's room?" asked John as he entered the kitchen.

"Ok why?" asked Nikki as she closed the refrigerator door. "I realize something the other night" said John. "I realized that I haven't been spending as much time with the boys as I should be". "Well John can you really blame yourself?" said Nikki. "You're a very busy man". "I still need to have time to spend with some of the guys" said John.

Nikki froze. "Seriously?" she sighed as she walked past John. "Nicole, what is it now?" he asked. "So what just all of sudden you're gonna go hang out with the guys?" said Nikki. "Just the ones who have a match tomorrow" said John. "Cesaro, Jack Swagger, Big Show, Miz, the Usos, Randy, Kane, the Shield…" Nikki's heart began to pound at the thought of Seth.

"Um…yeah right" she said. "Well um good luck". "No I can see that there's going to be a problem" said John. "No John, you're absolutely right" said Nikki. "You need to be able to have your guy time just like I have my girl time. It's totally understandable". John walked over to kiss Nikki on the forehead.

"And that is why I love you" he said. "I'll be back after midnight, so say about 1?" "You're gonna be gone for 5hrs?" asked Nikki. "What about dinner?" "We had that salad in the limo, don't you remember?" said John.

"John that isn't real dinner" said Nikki. "Look I'll just order out". "You? Ordering out?" asked John. "You haven't had fast food in 3 years". "Well you gotta start again somewhere" said Nikki. "Especially if your secret fiancé isn't going have dinner with you". John sighed as he walked over to Nikki.

"You know that I love you right?" he asked. "Yeah of course" said Nikki. "Then just try to realize something for me" said John. "What?" asked Nikki. "That I am just having a guy's night out just like you have tons of your girl's nights out" said John. He kissed Nikki. "I love you Nicole" he said. "I'll be back. There's no need to worry". Nikki nodded as John left their hotel room. She walked back over into the kitchen to open the refrigerator again to pull out another wine bottle.

As she carefully studied it, she began to have a flashback to mid-July 2012, to where she and John began dating.

"Are you sure that you don't miss her?" asked Nikki. "No" said John as he sat on a ledge overlooking a mountainous valley. "I do not". "I see" said Nikki as she moved her legs. "I like the view" said John. "Me too" said Nikki. "It's very beautiful". "Just like you" said John. With that Nikki turned around to face John. "You really mean that?" she said. "Yeah of course I do" said John as he began to kiss her.