"I am sorry Mr. Anoa'i. It looks like Mr. Lopez checked in about two hours ago."
"Shit. Do you have any other rooms?"
"No, I am sorry. We are completely booked. Besides the WWE show in town, there is a medical convention going on at Johns Hopkins. All the hotels are filled up."
Joe sighed, "Fine. Just check me in then."
After the desk clerk gave him his key, he slowly made his way up to the room he was going to have to share with Colby. He dreaded having to face him alone again after Colby had ripped his heart out. It was hard enough having to be in the ring with him and act like everything was okay, but he had no idea how he was going to be alone with him. Everyone had been gawking at him and avoiding him since Dixie's haranguing of him in the locker room and he hadn't had the chance to set the story straight with anyone yet. Colby had gotten out of the arena before him and taken the car, leaving him to catch a ride with the doctors.
He found the room and stood outside the door, staring at it. He didn't want to go in but he knew he didn't have much of a choice. He slid the key through the lock and opened the door. Colby was sitting in bed and jumped up when Joe stepped in. "Just what in the hell do you think you are doing?"
"Look, I don't like this any more than you do, but I am not sleeping on a park bench because of your inconsiderate ass."
"Don't make any comments about my ass again, man."
"Go to hell."
"Just stay on your bed and don't say shit to me. Don't even fucking look at me."
"Fine. I ain't got shit to say to you anyway. Asshole." That wasn't the truth; he had lots he wanted to say, but was afraid he couldn't say it without fists flying.
Joe unpacked as Colby glared at him. He pulled out some clean clothes and his toiletries. As he went to go take a shower, Colby moved in front of him. "I need to take a piss before you get in there and spend all fucking night. Don't try to catch a peek either." Colby slammed the bathroom door shut and Joe growled, leaning back against the wall.
When Colby came out, he hurried past Joe, not wanting to be close to him. Joe went into the bathroom and locked the door. He turned on the hot water to as hot as he could stand it before getting in. He needed to relax and try to sort through how he was feeling. He couldn't believe Colby had betrayed him and blatantly lied to make himself look like the victim. He didn't know how he was going to explain this to everyone, including his girlfriend. He decided it would be best to just chalk it up to the alcohol. He regretted ever touching Colby but he couldn't stop wondering why Colby enjoyed it so much if he didn't care for him. He tried to shake those thoughts, knowing nothing could ever happen.
After his long shower, he stepped out and dressed before sitting down on the bed, drying his hair with a towel. Colby was listening to music through his headphones and obviously trying to ignore him. He got up to get a beer out of the fridge and decided to be nice and offer Colby one. "Hey, you want a beer while I am in here?"
Colby shot daggers at him. "Hell no. I ain't drinking with you ever again."
He sighed, "Col, we have drunk together lots of times since then and nothing has happened."
"Yeah, but that was before I knew you were so-called 'in love' with me and fucked me on purpose."
Joe muttered, "That was a mistake too."
"What?"
He spoke louder, "I said, that was a mistake too: loving you. This shit with Dixie has really done your head in because you are acting nothing like the man I know, the man I called my best friend, my brother."
"Maybe you just don't know me."
"Hell, maybe I don't. I thought I did. I can get over you not loving me back, fuck I have lived this long knowing that you didn't, but you deliberately threw me to the wolves."
Colby was getting angrier. "Of course I don't love you. Not like that. I mean, really. And I told you, I had to tell Dixie something! Fuck. I was so fucking happy to see her and I kissed her, then she fucking asked me where Jon was. I felt my heart being ripped out all over again. She fucking loves that son-of-a-bitch and doesn't love me anymore. It was the only goddamn thing I knew to do! I couldn't let him tell her. I didn't know you had told Jon fucking every goddamn detail. And for the record, again, I didn't tell her that you raped me. Those were her words. I even said that you didn't, but that is how she saw it. Look, I don't fucking want to talk about this anymore. The woman I love has left me for good and I will never get her back. She is lying in bed with my ex-best friend probably having a good laugh at how stupid and pathetic I am, so I am sorry if I am not, as you said, acting like myself. I was fucking desperate, okay." Joe saw tears starting to come to Colby's eyes and even though he shouldn't, he felt bad for him.
"You aren't stupid and pathetic, Col. You are just hurting." Even as angry as he was, he couldn't stand to see Colby in pain. "But I hope you get that I am hurting too. My reputation is ruined because you lied to make me the bad guy. No, I shouldn't have seduced you when you were wasted, but you never, not once told me to stop. No means no, Colby and I would have if you told me to. So say what you want, I know you enjoyed it, even if you don't remember."
Colby stared defiantly at Joe. "You must have been drunk out of your fucking mind to think I enjoyed it."
"You came for me and screamed my name, and I didn't imagine that," Joe said with a smirk. If Colby wanted to continue to reject what happened, Joe wasn't going to make it easy on him.
Colby's face turned red. "Shut the fuck up! That is disgusting! Why did you tell me that?"
"Because you are in fucking denial, that's why."
"Oh I am in denial!? I am not the one apparently pining after my straight best friend! Why don't you at least admit the truth to me? You came on to me because you wanted to fuck me. Stop making it sound different than it is. You let me fuck you, not because you wanted us to be equals, but because you wanted me. Was that your way of getting to have me, huh?"
Now Joe was getting angry. "Fine. Maybe it was. That was something I have never let anyone do and yeah, it repulsed you, but it was special to me, even if you tried to hurt me, which you succeeded. But even that pain didn't compare to you cutting my heart out with a spoon."
"Special to you? You let me take your virginity? Oh how great! Yeah I feel a lot better now. And I broke your heart? You have got to be fucking kidding me, right? You talk about me hurting you; what about you hurting me, huh? You keep saying I enjoyed it, but I sure as hell didn't enjoy having to explain to my girlfriend why I yelped in pain when I sat down!"
"I am fucking sorry, Colby! What the fuck else do you want to hear? I am sorry, okay! I am sorry!"
"You don't get to say 'sorry' for forcing yourself on me. I don't want to hear it."
Joe took a deep breath. "Look, we both made mistakes…"
"Me? I would never have had to say shit to her if you hadn't fucked up first," Colby cut him off.
"Fine. Yeah, you're right."
"Thank you for admitting that at least. I am done with this for tonight. Just shut up and leave me alone to wallow in my misery in peace. I have had enough bullshit today to last me a goddamn lifetime. I lose the only woman I have ever really loved to one of my best friends, and find out the other is a homo who loves me and wants my ass. Fuck my fucking life."
"We may not be cool anymore, but I ain't gonna put up with you calling me names anymore, Colby. I mean that shit. I will beat the fuck out of you if you say it again."
Colby stood up, "Yeah? I ain't scared of you, Joe. Never have been. I owe you a beating anyway, so if you wanna fight, after the day I had, I am down, faggot."
Joe lunged at Colby and pinned him against the wall. It caught Colby off guard, but before he could swing, Joe shoved his hands above his head. He pressed his body flush to Colby's and placed his knee between his thighs. He stared at Joe wide-eyed, actually scared of what he would do. Joe slammed his lips against Colby's, hissing when Colby bit his lip. He pushed his knee up into Colby's groin, drawing sharp moan from the other man. He shifted to hold both of Colby's hands with his left and rammed his head into the wall. Joe grabbed his hair, pulling his head to the side. He bit down on Colby's neck hard and heard him whimper. He kissed Colby again, this time biting his lip and prying his mouth open with his tongue. Joe held him firmly against the wall, giving him no way to move or fight. Colby writhed around, trying to break Joe's hold on him. He brought his leg up, kneeing Joe right in the balls. Joe groaned in pain, his dick already hard, and pulled away from his lips. He growled against Colby's mouth, "Keep telling yourself you don't like it. But you can't hide this," he said, groping Colby's now erect manhood through his shorts. "Maybe you just like it rough. Maybe you want to be dominated. Maybe you want to be the one submitting."
"Fuck you, Joe," Colby yelled, head-butting Joe in the face. Joe stumbled back and grabbed his nose.
"Goddamnit!"
Colby grabbed him and kneed him in the stomach, making him double over. "Don't ever put your fucking hands on me again, and never, I mean never, fucking kiss me again or I will strangle you."
The next morning, Jon woke up and smiled at Dixie sleeping soundly draped across his body. He couldn't tell her how happy he was. He wasn't sure she really would ever know how much she meant to him. It went beyond just love; he felt like she saved him. When he told her she was the only person that mattered to him, he had never meant anything more. He wasn't exaggerating when he said his life was now her. The only thing he could think about was getting her back to his place in Vegas and building a life with her. He laid there holding her until she finally awoke. She looked up at him and saw his blue eyes shining back at her. She grinned and scooted up his body so she could kiss him.
"Good morning."
"Morning."
"How long have you been awake, Jon?"
"Oh, about a half an hour."
"Why didn't you wake me up?"
"I was enjoying watching you sleep. You looked comfortable and content."
"I was. You are comfy and I am very content."
"I am glad you are here, babe. For real. You have no idea how fucking glad I am."
"I am glad to be here too. In fact, I never want to be anywhere else." She sighed "Jon, I wanted to ask you something."
Jon sat up, wondering what was on her mind. "Okay, shoot."
"Um, do you…I mean would you still want me to come with you? On the road I mean."
His eyes lit up and he smiled. "Yes, of course. I would fucking love it."
"I have thought about it and I can take some accounts on and be able to work from home. I will see what I have to do to apply for my CPA in Nevada, but I can do accounting without having to be in an office. Just a thought."
"You don't have to worry about it right away, Dix. Not like I am hurting for money. I told you I would show you I can take care of you and I will."
"That is sweet of you but I don't want to feel like I am living off of you…"
"You're not. Fuck, you are so stubborn. It's just money. Doesn't mean shit. I would rather have you by my side than all the money in the world, okay?"
"Okay, baby. Whatever you say. I just want to be with you. I hate being without you."
"Whatever I say?" he said with his eyebrow raised.
She giggled, "Yeah, whatever you say. You're in charge. Just like always."
"I fucking love the sound of that, babe." He pulled her face close and kissed her softly. "So how about we go see some of the city, huh?"
Dixie called her boss and told him that she was sorry, but she was going to have to resign her position. She told him she had some family things come up and she was going to have to quit so she could move, effective immediately. He sounded upset, but told her he understood. She was relieved once the call was made and couldn't wait to move to Vegas with Jon.
They went site seeing before the show that night, then Dixie waited at the hotel until Jon was done. She didn't want to see Colby or anyone else so he agreed and left her behind. Backstage, everyone was still talking about what Dixie had said and what was going on. Jon finally got tired of the whispering and spoke up after Joe and Colby got dressed and walked out. "Look, guys, it was all a misunderstanding. Nothing like that happened. Joe didn't rape anyone, especially not Colby. He is the same man he was yesterday that would never hurt a fly; the same one everyone loves because he is a good dude, polite and kind. Now can we just shut up about it? It was just a fucking mistake. Let's all get on with our lives now please. Shit."
The other guys just looked and nodded, with 'ohs' being mumbled. No one wanted to believe that Joe would do that so they accepted Jon's explanation that it was all a big misunderstanding. Jon went to find his teammates because they needed to plan what was going to happen that night. After Jon got left in the ring and had Jake the Snake's python crawling all over him, he followed the boys to the back. Dixie watched in horror but Jon seemed to enjoy it.
He got in the shower and quietly got dressed, not having much to say to anyone. The tension was still there between all three of them. Colby was sending death glares at both of them when they weren't on camera. Jon left the arena without a word to anyone. Joe had noticed that everyone seemed back to normal and treating him like nothing happened. He wondered what was going on. He was happy so not going to complain, but had no idea why everyone had suddenly stopped gossiping about him and Colby.
Colby took the car again, telling Joe to find his own ride. Claudio overheard, "hey, big guy, you can ride with me if you want."
Joe looked over and lightly smiled. "Thanks, man." He wasn't expecting any of the other superstars to offer.
"No problem. Just let me grab my gear and I will be ready." He picked up his bag and grabbed the handle to his suitcase then followed Claudio out. They put their stuff in the trunk and got into the front seat.
Joe buckled himself in and was quiet, not really knowing what to say. Claudio knew what was bothering him so he decided to get it out of the way or it was going to be a long trip. "Joe, don't worry, okay. I know you didn't do anything to Colby. I didn't believe you did to begin with anyway. I figured Dixie had to be mistaken. Jon set everyone else straight in the locker room, well, for those who actually believed you capable of that."
Joe's head spun around and his eyes widened. "He…he did?"
"Yes. He said it was all a misunderstanding, which I figured it must be. He made sure everyone else knew that."
"Uh, wow." Joe never expected that Jon would come to his defense after everything that happened.
"You seemed surprised."
"I am. After the things I said to him and Dixie, I really am."
"What did you say to them?"
"Well, you know about Dixie leaving Colby for Jon right?"
"Yes. I think by now everyone does."
"Well, I may have been out of line with some of the things I said to her and him, when I found out and then yesterday after her outburst." Joe thought back to yesterday when Jon had defended him after Colby called him a fag, and thought about what Claudio said about Jon standing up for him again. He bowed his head and closed his eyes. "Shit. I guess he is a better friend to me than I am to him."
Jon went back to the hotel to pick up Dixie and their stuff before traveling on to Philadelphia. She asked him about the snake thing and he just laughed, saying the segment with Roddy Piper and Jake the Snake had been highlights of his career. Jon changed his flight and booked her a seat next to him out of town the next night after the taping. They wanted to get to Davenport before Colby and start packing her things. Jon offered to pay for a moving company to move her stuff and her car so they didn't spend all that time driving it there themselves.
As she did the night before, she stayed at the hotel while Jon was at the arena. Jon was in the trainers' area taping his wrist when Joe finally mustered up the nerve to go talk to him. "Hey, Jon."
"Uh, hey."
"Can we talk for a minute?"
"Yeah, I guess. What's up?"
"Look man, I am sorry for acting like an ass to you and Dixie. Claudio told me that you were sticking up for me to the boys and I do appreciate it." Jon stared at him in shock that he was thanking him. "… And about what you said to Colby when he called me a…a…"
"Yeah."
"…Yeah, um, thanks for that too. I am sorry I got in the middle of everything with Dixie. She was right, I asked you to protect my secret but I was so wrapped up in Colby and how I thought you did him wrong that I guess I forgot you are my best friend too and I should have kept your secret as well. Apparently you are better friend to me than I deserve at the moment. I just, I loved him and was blinded by that."
Jon's face softened, "I forgive you, bro. I am not about Dixie, but I will talk to her. I said shit I shouldn't have too but I didn't tell Dixie you were in love with Colby to hurt you, man. I told her so she would understand that you didn't attack him. That is the same reason I told her about…well everything else. Colby twisted all that shit around."
"I know. I didn't think he could do something like that. I told him he wasn't acting anything like himself. All this shit is out of character for him, or he has just been hiding the real him from us all this time."
"I don't fucking know. Love will make you do shit you never did before; as I can attest to, but Colby has fucking lost it. For what it is worth man, I don't think he is as opposed to you as you think. These guys that act all homophobic are usually the mother fuckers that are the most curious."
"I get that as well. I didn't before, but I do after last night. Anyway, man, I just wanted to clear the air. You're still my best friend, and I am yours if you still want me to be."
"Of course I do. You are my brother from another mother. We will figure all of this shit out, man. We are still boys and I still have your back."
"I got yours too, bro. Tell Dixie I am sorry also. I shouldn't have said what I did, and I never should have tried to make her stay with Colby. You were right and you obviously make her happier than he does. I was way out of line but I won't be again."
"I will tell her. I am sure she will forgive you too. May take some time, but I think she will. She always liked you before. Joe, listen man, I am sorry that you got hurt in all this bullshit too. Believe me; I fucking know how heartbreak feels. You didn't do anything to deserve the way he fucking treated you. Like I said, I have been wasted, drunk off my fucking ass and never let another dude fuck me. He wasn't all that against the fucking idea apparently."
"Thanks, Jon." He reached out and pulled Jon into a hug. Jon was stunned for a moment but hugged him back. He could tell Joe really needed his friend right then. "I missed you, bro. Before all this shit, I missed your friendship. I fucking chose Colby over you and tried to keep the woman you love away and here you are the one standing up for me." Jon heard his voice cracking and knew he was crying. Joe was always the kind-hearted and protective one, hence why Jon called him Papa Bear, and his heart was actually breaking for Joe at hearing the pain in his voice. He held on to Jon tightly with tears running down his cheeks onto Jon's shirt, only breaking apart when he heard Colby's voice calling for them.
"Guys, they said we are on. We have go get in pos…what the hell is going on here?" Colby said, pointing between them. Joe had turned away and was drying his eyes.
"Doesn't fucking concern you, asshole."
"Oh, so Joe couldn't get me so he has moved on to you now has he? You better be careful or you are gonna end up waking up with come in your ass too."
Jon stepped forward towards Colby, to Joe's surprise, and he put his hand on Jon's chest. "Don't do it, man."
"Who are you protecting, Joe? Me or your new loverboy?" Colby asked with a smirk.
"Go to hell, Col" Jon growled.
"I will see you two mother fuckers there."
"Okay, both of y'all shut up. Let's just get through this and not kill each other tonight."
Colby walked off and Joe grabbed Jon's shoulder. "Thanks, but you don't have to protect me from him."
"Fucking asshole. He is going to learn to keep his fucking mouth shut one way or another, man." Joe just nodded and followed Jon out.
Following the taping, Jon left and went back to the hotel to get his girlfriend. She had everything packed and was waiting for him. They drove to the airport and hopped on their flight to Chicago. On the plane ride, Jon told Dixie everything that had happened and what all Joe had told him. He also told her that Joe wanted to apologize.
"Fuck him."
"Dix…"
"No. Look, he is your boy and I get that, but I am not ready to forgive him just because he said 'sorry'. Calling me a whore while he is lusting away after Colby, screwing him and then screwing us over. No."
"Babe, I am not saying everything is all good between us like forgive and forget already, but he is still my friend and we all fucked up. I want you to find it in your heart to forgive him. You can't help who you love, and you of all fucking people should understand that. You love Joe, you always have. You know he is a good man. We have all done shit recently that we aren't proud of. And we all have experienced Colby's dark side. Joe is hurt too and he is sincere about you forgiving him."
Dixie sighed, "You are right. Just, give me a little time to cool off, okay?"
"Of course, babe."
She leaned over and laid her head on his shoulder. "I know you are happy to have your friend back. I know you are close."
"Yeah. He really has become like the brother I never had. Hell, so was Colby. I know I shouldn't have fallen in love with you, Dix, but I couldn't help myself. You make me feel shit I have never felt before. I do want to ask you something though, and I hope it don't piss you off."
"Um, okay. Go ahead."
"Why me?"
"What? What do you mean?"
"Why did you pick me? I mean, you came on to me, seemingly out of the blue. I just wondered what you saw in me that you wanted that you didn't see in someone else. I never thought I would be your type."
"My type?"
"Yeah. Before I really got to know you and your past, I knew you were an accountant and figured you would like guys that were not, well, like me."
"You mean preppy?"
"Yeah, I guess I do."
"No, never have liked that type. I didn't even like Colby at first because I thought he was a goody-two-shoes. He seemed kinda boring, until I got to know him. But with you, Jon, I don't know. I could see you were a bad boy from the get-go of course, but I knew there was more to you. Then I got to spend more time with you when you were partnered with Colby. I got to see another side of you, a side most people don't. You weren't trying to get in my pants, so you were real with me instead of trying to be charming and slick. I got to see your sweet and caring side, your funny and goofy side, and your laid back and easy going side. I have always thought you were gorgeous though, from the first time I saw you. You were laughing and smiling, and it was so warm and genuine."
She gazed up at him and continued. "Remember when I passed out on the floor after getting over the flu? I didn't realize I was so dehydrated, but anyway, when I came to, you were sitting beside me saying my name and holding my hand. For a minute, I remember wondering if I had died and went to heaven because you were so beautiful, just like an angel staring down at me. Then I realized where I was and heard people yelling for Colby. After that was the first time I really started thinking about you. I did start to wonder what it would be like to be with you. I was already getting bored with Colby and I knew you would be exciting. Even months after we starting having sex, when I was struggling with leaving Colby for you, I told myself that I couldn't see life with you ever being boring. But anyway, that night, part of it was the alcohol lowering my inhibitions, but I wanted you before then. You were so shocked and I was thinking about how gorgeous you were, but in the streetlight, you were so fucking sexy. I didn't give a shit anymore. I wanted to feel you. And you didn't disappoint. I know we swore it would never happen again, but I was pretty sure I was hooked and wasn't going to be able to keep that promise. I felt so guilty but I still wanted you so much."
She sighed, "I shouldn't have put you in that position and I know you tried to resist; to do the honorable thing and walk away for your friend. I didn't want to let you walk away from me. I wanted you. I felt more alive right then than I had in years. So why you? Maybe somewhere deep down, I knew then that you were a better fit for me than Colby. Maybe my soul had found its mate and was pulling me to you. Maybe my heart was begging me to listen and stop fighting. Maybe it was just my body craving your touch."
Jon was actually shocked at her response. She had called him her angel before, but he didn't know how literally she meant it. He never picked up on the fact that she was attracted to him, perhaps not letting himself see it because Colby was his friend. He felt like all the air had been sucked out of him after her confession."Fuck, Dixie."
"I'm sorry, baby. I…"
"No, don't apologize. I just never fucking expected you to say that. No one has ever seen me like that, and definitely not mistook me for an angel. I love you. Damn, I love you so fucking much. I don't know how to feel when you say things like that to me. It makes my heart feel like you are squeezing it. Like if you squeeze it too hard the butterflies are going to fly out."
Dixie laughed, "Oh my God, now that is a visual. I love you too, Jon. I am very blessed to have found the man who is truly meant for me." He smiled warmly at her, his blue eyes twinkling as he leaned over to kiss her. He knew there was nothing else he would need or want more than what he had already found.