That last visit at Cassie's got weird. Well, a little. Or was it okay? Dean realized that maybe, probably, it was time to draw some boundaries. There were things that are not typical for friends to do; and when it came to exes, no matter how good their current relationship was, not to mention their let's-forget-we-ever-hang-out attitude, those things became strictly inappropriate. Certain behavior would be looked at suspiciously, especially by other people. This thing that happened, or actually it was only about to happen but Dean had already agreed to it, was probably one of those things.

Cassie invited Dean to a wedding. At least it wasn't her wedding, Dean laughed on his own joke. Still, it was strange, wasn't it? It wasn't a date or anything, he had a girlfriend, Renee, he kept reminding himself. That was his biggest problem when it came to Cassie's offer. She meant well, Dean was sure of that, but he couldn't agree to come, as her plus one, without having doubts about correctness of his decision. Maybe he should get a second opinion. Or not. All those who were concerned would be against him coming to a wedding accompanying his ex-girlfriend. Even those who had no issue with Cassie, just because they had no idea he kept in touch with her and contacted her on almost daily basis, would object if they had all the information. How Dean hated these moral issues. Why couldn't he just do what he felt like doing? Why everything had to be followed by the annoying feeling of guilt?

To be honest, normally Dean would decline her offer; he wasn't that stupid or heartless as to not realize that it wasn't the best idea for him to go, in his situation, but this was a little different. There was a reason why he said yes after a long consideration. It was Josh who was getting married. Josh, Cassie's brother, the guy Dean met in the apartment when Cassie invited him over on the night when they first met. Dean and Josh weren't best friends but they got to know each other well during the time Dean was with Cassie. They even kept in touch afterwards. The fact was, Cassie wasn't the only one Dean was still seeing. There were her brothers, at least two of them, Josh and Levi. Dean was meeting Levi this very day, for that matter. Seth or Roman had no idea about this. Maybe if they knew, they would finally realize that cutting off all contact with Cassie was, well, impossible. But Dean didn't want to think about it anymore. He already spent more time thinking about all of this than he'd like.

But then again, if he did go, what he'd say to Renee? He'd have to tell her something, or not? What was the procedure? Go and never speak of it? Lie and add to the long list of lies he had told her? Tell the truth and face the ugly reality? Too many options, and none acceptable. Well, there was always an option of not going at all . . .

That afternoon he met Levi. He was in town and Dean wouldn't forgive himself if he missed the rare opportunity of meeting him. Levi travelled often too. He resided in Los Angeles but it wasn't that easy to find him there. But Dean loved hanging out with him. The two always had something to talk about, and no, it was not Levi's sister Cassie. They often discussed their work, their passions. Levi was a professional boxer so they really had a lot to talk about; they both were performers, both were fighting in fight of a crowd cheering or booing them. Both had to be in perfect condition. Their work life was taking most of their time and energy and personal life was something of a lesser importance. Moreover, in his youth Levi did wrestling for a couple of years so he had a good idea what Dean's professional life looked like. Levi knew how much hard work it required. So did boxing. And they enjoyed listening about the other kind of fighting. They even visited each other's shows when they had the opportunity. Cassie, on the other hand, never saw Dean in the ring. Of course, she watched Raw sometimes but that was mostly it. She found wrestling interesting; she respected and admired Dean for his in-ring abilities as much as his "acting", as she never held back to call it, but she liked to keep distance from actual action. It wasn't that she wouldn't enjoy it, and it certainly was not that she would worry about him getting hurt; she thought he'd be more comfortable without her there, and she was right. Now more than ever. If he imagined Cassie crossing paths with Renee, shivers would run through his body and frustration would eat him alive.

As soon as he saw Levi standing at the entrance waiting for him, Dean got rid of all those desperate thoughts. Levi waited for Dean to come closer to greet him and ask him what's going on in WWE. That was something Levi always asked first; not how he had been but what's new in the company. Of course he had most of the actual information because he tried to keep updated but he couldn't miss the opportunity when he had one to ask somebody who worked there and therefore knew much more.

"So how much time do we have until you need to go?" was his second question. Levi himself didn't have time to spare either. There was work and training and meetings and he had to consult a doctor about that injury he got few days ago.

"About one and a half, two hours."

"Como siempre," Levi mumbled, as by the way. Since his brother moved to Mexico, he often added some Spanish words to his speech. He didn't speak Spanish though; he knew just a couple of words, which he used at random times.

Although this little time they had was meant to be spent careless, thoughtless, worriless, just enjoying watching a game of basketball, Dean's mind wouldn't allow him to forget about everything that kept it busy before. He was trapped and he couldn't be free until he finds a solution.

He walked inside the arena but he was absent, he wasn't really aware of what he was doing. "Cassie invited me to Josh's wedding," Dean mentioned, as if saying it out loud could help him get away from that topic.

"I know."

Dean stopped walking. He was surprised by Levi's casual attitude and clear lack of surprise.

"You don't think it's weird?" Dean thought maybe Levi was the right person to discuss this whole subject with. Definitely not one that was judgmental or could get offended.

Levi shrugged his shoulders. It was not confused, unsure shrug; it was more like asking why it should be weird. Then he said casually, "You don't need to come if you don't want to."

"I don't know if it would be appropriate," Dean reasoned.

"I just know that it would make Josh happy."

"Why didn't he invite me then?"

"You don't know? He wanted to. Cassie told him that it would be easier if she invited you as her plus one."

"Why? I don't understand," Dean said.

Levi sighed. He wanted to see the game and not talk about his sister or his family in general. He took Dean for a friend, not his little sister's ex-boyfriend. Their current relationship didn't interest him much. "She argued that if you got your own invitation, you wouldn't bring anyone anyway."

At first Dean felt obliged to get mad at Cassie for making that decision for him but quickly he realized she was right. She had a point; the only person he could generally bring to a wedding was Renee. But bringing your girlfriend to a wedding of you ex's brother? No way.

Dean nodded to make Levi continue. "And she said she certainly wouldn't bring anyone."

"Practical as always," Dean murmured with a smile on his face.

"Look, Dean, seriously, if you don't want to go, it's okay, nobody'll get offended."

Dean knew they wouldn't. But although weddings weren't his favorite things, deep inside he wanted to go. He liked Josh, he liked his fiancée, who he didn't really know but she was smoking hot and a former model; and Dean always felt good around Cassie's family. Well, her brothers. He didn't know her parents, he never met them. Anyway, it could be fun.

"I said I'd come."

"All right." Considering the conversation to be over, not giving much damn if Dean had made up his mind for good or would change it again, Levi started walking again and this time Dean followed him.