A couple of days later, there was a non-televised WWE event. Erin wasn't in attendance, and neither was Zelina, who had been sent home for a couple of weeks to rest an ankle that she had rolled in a match. That left both Jay and Raquel needing someone to talk to, so they had met up out in the arena for a catch-up.
"How's Z doing?" Jay asked as they sat down in seats a few rows back from the ring. It would be hours yet before fans were admitted to the arena, so wrestlers were free to come and go as they pleased.
"She's fine," Raquel reassured him. "Think she's glad of the break from all the travel to be honest. It sucks that she's not around though. I didn't text you about what happened yesterday morning, did I?"
"No," Jay said, giving her a quizzical look. He didn't know where this was going.
"I had just woken up. Z was up before me, like she always is. She walked into the bedroom and I could tell she had been crying."
"Oh no."
"Right? I thought someone had died or something. So I asked her what was wrong and she came over to the bed to show me something on her phone. Here, I'll show you what it was."
Raquel took out her phone and took a minute to find what she wanted. Then she gave the phone to him. On the screen was an article with the headline 'Raquel Gonzalez has the potential be the biggest star in wrestling, not just women's wrestling.'
"I agree," Jay said with a smile. "It's touching it moved Z so much, but yeah, I totally agree. You're so unique, and you're amazing in the ring. There's no woman like you in this business, and if everything goes just right, why shouldn't you be the biggest name? Well, the second biggest anyway. You'll never be better than me of course."
Raquel laughed, appreciating his humour. "Bitch, I'm past you already."
"You wish," Jay fired back, enjoying the banter. "But seriously, you're killing it. You don't need my advice, but if there is anything I can do, ask."
"Thanks, I will," she said sincerely. "So, did you go to that viewing with Erin?"
"I did. You should have seen the place, Raquel," he said, shaking is head in disbelief even though he had seen it with his own eyes. He proceeded to tell her all about his trip to New York, the stay in the hotel suite, Erin's sports car, the house and the dinner they had eaten that night.
"When she dropped me off at the airport, I didn't want to leave," he said, bringing the tale to a close.
"Did you tell her that?" Raquel asked. To Jay's surprise, she didn't seem all that happy with what he had told her.
"No," he admitted.
Raquel closed her eyes for a moment in annoyance. "I'm going to have to slap you upside the head."
"Why?"
"Because you're going to end up losing Erin, the way you're going."
Jay looked at her in bewilderment. "Huh?"
Raquel changed tactic a little bit, speaking more gently. "Look, I know you're not good at expressing yourself. I get that, and I'm sure she does too. But you're going to have to start to tell her how you feel about her, and about the things you do together. On top of that you need to start making more effort."
Feeling attacked, Jay fired back at her. "How am I not making effort?"
"How are you making effort? She paid for a hotel suite, took you for a ride in a nice car, asked you to view her new house with her, bought you dinner, then took you to the airport. What have you done for her that's close to any of that? I'm saying this because I'm your friend and it needs to be said, not just to take a shot at you. That's shouldn't need explaining."
Now that she put it like that, he could see what she meant. That only made it more frustrating. So much so that he got up. "I don't know how to come up with stuff like that, Raquel! It just doesn't happen in my brain. I wish it fucking did, okay?"
"Phone," she demanded, holding out her hand.
"What?"
"Phone," she insisted.
Jay reluctantly took his phone out and gave it to her.
She tapped the screen, then handed it back. "Phone unlocked, I guess I should have said."
He unlocked it then handed it back. "What are you doing anyway?"
Tapping away on the phone's screen, Raquel ignored him. When she was done, she gave him the phone back. On the screen was his text conversation with Erin, now with a new message that Raquel had just sent for him.
'I'd like it if you could come stay at my place one night next week, if our schedules work. We can go out for dinner to a nice place I know. xx'
"Shit," Jay breathed. "You invited her to my apartment? What's she going to think of it after the place we viewed the other day? It's worlds apart."
Raquel put a hand over her own face in frustration. "I'm sure it's not a crack den, so she won't care, for fuck's sake! She will like being invited to where you live! She will have a nice time!"
"And as for a nice place I know for dinner, I don't know one. I don't go out for dinner when I'm home."
"So make the effort to find somewhere. Go online. Do some research. This is a relationship, Jay. It's not going to come easy."
"I've never been in one before," he admitted in a sombre tone, sitting back down next to his friend. "I've done plenty of casual sex. Even had relationships that were all about sex. But this with Erin? Or what you have with Z? I've no experience with that kind of thing."
"Then I'd better help you make sure you don't fuck it up, hadn't I?"
"I feel like this might be a time where I'd hug you?" Jay said hesitantly.
A smile appeared on her face as she recognised the progress he had just made, and that her help had just brought them closer together.
"I feel like it might," she said, and they embraced.
"Thank you," he said quietly. "I owe you."
"You owe me nothing. But I do expect you to organise a double date some day."
Jay winced like he had been punched in the stomach. "Oh, Christ."
They both laughed.
When Jay and Raquel eventually returned backstage and went their separate ways, he felt happy and motivated. He was going to do his best to make sure Erin had a good time when she came to his place, assuming she did. She hadn't replied to the text yet, after more than half an hour. He hoped that was only because she was busy at work.
While he was in a good mood and determined to get things done, with Raquel's admonishment about making effort ringing in his ears, he decided there was something else he could get done, and set off for Hank's office.
Since the infamous and awkward 'Are you fucking my daughter?' conversation, Hank hadn't said a single word to Jay, and Jay hadn't been given the chance to say one to Hank. All creative instruction had come to him via road agents, and Hank had flat out ignored him every time they had been in the production area behind the curtain together. Jay had just decided it was time for that to change, not least because he actually liked and looked up to Hank, and didn't want to be at odds with him. The boss was in attendance for this non-televised show, which was quite rare.
Things seemed to be continuing in Jay's favour, he thought, when he met Hank walking in the opposite direction along the hallway, albeit with a couple of other wrestlers in tow. Jay figured at least he wouldn't have to wait in line.
"Hank, can I speak with you quickly?" he ventured when the group got near to him.
"Not now," Hank said dismissively. He was about to go right past, but Jay stepped in his way.
"Yes, now. Please. It's important."
"You got one minute," Hank said, glaring at him.
They were near a junction in the hallways, so they stepped into a quieter one for a bit of privacy.
"Hank, we've not talked since that day in your office. I don't want us to be at odds. We've always gotten along well, I think, and we both want Erin to be happy. Can we shake hands, and, you know..." Jay offered his hand, but Hank didn't shake it.
"We've not talked because I have nothing to say to you," Hank said, as coldly as his raspy voice would allow. "I'm mad as hell about you getting with Erin, taking advantage of me putting you with her for the storyline. I'd still beat your ass for it, if I could. But I can't, because I know full well that would cost me my relationship with my daughter. So while it's true that I can't stop you dating her, and I don't want to ruin your career because you make me a lot of money, I am not going to shake your hand, and I'm going to see and speak to you as little as possible. And if you hurt her, all bets will be off. Was any of that unclear?"
"No," Jay said with resignation. As he remembered it, Hank hadn't been as angry as that the first time. Stewing on the problem, as he saw it, seemed to have pissed him off even more.
"Good. Now get out of my face, and never stop me when I'm walking again."
"That went well," Jay sarcastically said to himself as Hank stormed off. Then his phone made its message tone. The incoming text was from Erin.
Erin Voight: Aw, what a sweet invitation. I'd love to come stay at your place. Next Friday night looks like it should work. Looking forward to it already. xxx
Fuck Hank, Jay decided. The old man could be salty all he wanted. He sent a reply text to Erin consisting of three emojis – a smiley face, a thumbs up and a purple heart.
The visit was set. Now he had to plan it out and get his apartment ready.
A/N: What did you make of Raquel's pep talk/lecture?
Jay didn't get anywhere with Hank, but he did with Erin. She's coming to stay at his place. How do you think the visit will go?
