Hi guys, sorry for the slow update I tested positive for covid over the weekend which has really knocked me off my feet. As I'm sure you've already figured this story is not going to exactly follow storylines that are currently going on.

"Happy Birthday darling" Katrina smiled as I stepped foot into the kitchen, I yawned and rubbed the sleep from my eyes.

"Thank you" I smiled sitting at the breakfast bar and pouring myself an orange juice.

"Happy Birthday" John grinned, kissing the top of my head and passing me a small bag. I thanked him and peered into the bag pulling out a small present quickly unwrapping it, out of the wrapping fell a snow globe. I picked it up examining the glitter and snow falling completely mesmerised with the directions with which they fell, in the middle of the globe was a photograph. My breath caught in my throat and my eyes filled with tears as I looked at the image of me at 10 years old with my parents behind me.

"Oh my god" I gasped, covering my mouth with my hand "It's beautiful" I sobbed "Thank you" Katrina and John both came over to me and wrapped their arms around me in a comforting hug.

"They're always with you" Katrina sniffed as she rested her forehead against the side of my face. I waved my hands in front of my face to calm myself and will the tears away. "Be ready for 6 tonight Jayme because we are going for dinner tonight to celebrate your birthday" She announced going back to her coffee.

Happy Birthday!
I have a present for you
Isabelle x

Thank you,
Coffee?
Jayme x

See you in an hour
Isabelle x

I sat at the corner table of a small coffee shop with a cappuccino scrolling away on my phone going through different my social media accounts, I had started up an Instagram account just because I knew most other WWE Divas/Superstars had one I had only posted once a picture of me and Isabelle out for dinner and drinks, I wasn't comfortable with the whole social media thing and was unsure what to post. I looked at other Divas Instagram's which didn't help how I was feeling at all, they all posted incredibly beautiful photos of themselves. A notification pinged up in the corner alerting me that I had received a direct message.

Hi Jay,

I hope you don't think I'm coming across as overbearing, but I just wanted to wish you a happy birthday and let you know I look forward to seeing you next month.

Stu x

My cheeks flushed pink, and I couldn't help but smile at how sweet Stu was with his message.

Hi,

Thank you so much you've not come across as overbearing at all, I think it's sweet that you've messaged. I look forward to seeing you to when I'm back on the road.

Jay x

"Hey Jay" Isabelle smiled sitting opposite me with her caramel latte and handing me a present. I opened the bag to find two gifts, I pulled the first out and let out a loud laugh.

"Why?" I laughed wiping tears from my eyes as I pulled out a Wade Barret Calendar from the bag.

"Just thought you might need a reminder of how hot he is every time you consider turning him down on his offer of a date" She smiled raising a judgemental eyebrow at me.

"You're insane" I rolled my eyes looking back in the bag and pulling out a perfume "Thank you" I said putting everything back in the bag. I checked my phone again frowning at the fact Adam was yet to message me. We spent the next hour discussing my birthday plans and Adams actions from a couple of nights before, I reassured Isabelle that Adam was just incredibly drunk and that he didn't know what he was doing.

"So do you know who spoke to the journalist?" she asked me.

"Nope" I sighed shaking my head looking down into my now empty cup.

"Well, you've not had an affair so it's obviously someone who isn't very close" She stated. "I see Adam put a tweet out the other day saying it's bullshit" She added I nodded in agreement and picked my phone up as it pinged to get my attention.

I'm glad you think so. How do you feel about Zoos? Because I was thinking it would be something different for us to do

Stu x

That sounds great, I've not been to a zoo in years.

Jayme x

Isabelle looked at me knowingly as she saw who I was replying to, I playfully hit her hand.

"Stop it" I scolded jokingly.

"Go for it" She winked suggestively.

Would you mind if I asked for your number so we can stay in contact whilst you're not here?

Stu x

Once I had replied to giving Stu my number, I said my goodbyes to Isabelle and made my way back to the house to get ready for dinner.

I sat at my dressing table curling the ends of my long brown hair as my phone buzzed, I looked down in hopes that it was Adam, but it was Stu sending me a message, so I had his number. I placed the curling wand down and started on my make up. I used a sponge to pad foundation on my face and set it with powder, then I placed blush and highlighter on my cheeks before finishing with eyeshadow and eyeliner, I settled on a royal blue jumpsuit and small black heels to match. Slowly I descended the stairs to find Katrina and John both waiting for me by the front door.

"You look beautiful" John beamed opening the door.

We entered the restaurant; a steakhouse and Katrina spoke to the host quietly before we made our way to the table and ordered a round of drinks. The three of us sat making idle chit chat as we browsed the menu's and drank our drinks.

"Are we ready to order?" I asked, Katrina looked up from the menu and looked around the room.

"Not yet" She smiled, I cocked my head in confusion as I too looked around the room trying to figure out what she was looking for. I shrugged my shoulders and set the menu down having settled on Sirloin steak. I watched for a moment as John mulled over the menu choices peering over at me out of the corner of his eye every few moments as time ticked by, I became more and more suspicious of what was going on, I continued to scan the room looking for whatever they may be waiting for but I couldn't see anything. As I picked up my wine glass and began to scan the room again, I felt a presence behind me making me turn around, I looked up Adam was stood behind me. He was wearing a tight-fitting shit, the sleeves rolled up his forearms, the top button undone and matched with a pair of black trousers and shoes. My breath caught in my throat, I'd never seen Adam dressed like this, he was usually in tracksuit bottoms, work out gear or jeans but this I liked, the tight-fitting shirt clung to his muscular form, so every movement was visible. His hair was pulled back into a neat bun, something I had seen from him a million times but this time it seemed different, smarter.

"I thought you'd forgotten" I beamed as I stood up and flung myself at him.

"Not a chance" He whispered resting a hand on the small of my back and burying his head into my neck for just a moment. We took a seat and turned to my aunt and uncle who were both sat with smiles on their faces. "Thank you both for inviting me" He smiled.

"You're always welcome with us" My aunt beamed at him.

"You've done a lot for our Jayme you're a part of the family now" John nodded, despite his nice words I could still sense hostility from him, his eyes were fixated upon Adam, almost in a threat as if to say one wrong move and he would tear Adam limb from limb.

"This is for you" he said handing me a gift wrapped in purple birthday paper. I ripped the paper off to reveal a pandora box upon opening it and removing the tissue paper I found a silver bracelet with a tree charm already positioned on it. "We met out in the woods walking the dogs and we've spent a lot of our time out there since so I thought it would be a nice reminder of that" He blushed.

"Oh, Adam how thoughtful" Katrina gushed grabbing his hand across the table.

"Thank you" I smiled leaning over and kissing his cheek "It's perfect" I said picking the bracelet out of the box and fastening it around my wrist. We ordered our food, and all began chatting between us, my phone pinged with a text message.

Hi, hope you're enjoying your day
Stu x

"Isabelle?" Adam said looking over my shoulder.

"No" I shook my head tapping out a quick reply.

Hi,
I am it's been lovely
Jayme x

"Oh…" I heard him mutter over my shoulder as he see who it was, I was texting.

"We'll talk later" I assured him giving his knee a quick squeeze.

"Thank you for paying Adam you really didn't have to do that" John said as we all exited the restaurant.

"It's fine I'm more than happy to do it" He reassured "I hope you both don't mind but may I take Jayme for a while, I'll bring her home" He asked, Katrina beamed as if he had just about asked for my hand in marriage, John on the other hand looked sceptical.

"Of course, you can" Katrina smiled as her and John left and began making their way back to the house.

"Come on" he said grabbing my hand and walking us down the street.

"Where are we going?" I asked confused as we turned down a side street.

"You'll see" He stated turning us in to a warehouse type space and letting go of my hand as he unlocked the door and guided me in.

"What the hell is this?" I asked looking around the room as the lights came on, almost completely blinding me, in the middle of the room was a wrestling ring. "Adam?" I asked as he closed the door and went to sit on the side of the ring.

"The WWE organised this for me so I could continue to train in private what with the media starting to speculate and hear rumours of my return next week besides that I'll need somewhere to train in private anyway once I am back wrestling fulltime.

"This is amazing" I laughed looking around the room noticing there were various machines to work out on dotted around.

"I want you to know that this space is as much for you as it is me" He said jumping off the side of the ring and walking over to me, placing his hands on my shoulder "Things are about to really kick off for you and you're going to want somewhere private to come and train or just think about things, so this is yours to" He explained.

"You're honestly so sweet" I told him reaching up and wrapping my arms around his neck for a tight hug.

"I've got one more present for you" He admitted pulling away and grabbing a small box from his back pocket.

"Adam, you already got me the bracelet you didn't have to get me anything else" I told him.

"It's only small" he said handing me the tiny box, I opened it and quickly wrapped an arm around him pulling him in to a hug.

"It's beautiful" I beamed picking up the small silver ring with the letter 'A' shaped into it out of the box and slipping it on to my thumb.

"I just want you to have something that reminds you you've always got me no matter what happens" He said pulling me back in to a hug "We're in this together" He told me "You look beautiful by the way" he added.

"Thank you" I smiled.

"Now are you going to tell me what's going on between you and Stu?" He asked nudging my arm playfully, I blushed and brushed hair from my face.

"Nothing we've just messaged a little today" I shrugged "Is there something wrong?" I asked him as I sat myself on the edge of the ring.

"No" He shook his head "Like I said the other night you should go out with him" he told me taking a seat next to me and kissing the top of my head.

"I thought you didn't like him" I pointed out, confused by his sudden change in attitude towards Stu, he'd always been so hostile towards him.

"Yeah, I can't lie I'm not his biggest fan, but I have no right to tell you what to do or who to date, no matter how close we are I don't have the right to do that" He explained "I trust you and your decisions, but I will be here to hold you if things go wrong" he told me putting an arm around my shoulders.

"I'm lucky to have you" I responded resting my head on his shoulder.

"Why don't you fly out with me to WWE for my return? you'll be there for new year which is always a lot of fun with everyone"

"Ok" I agreed.

Quietly I opened the front door and crept in, me and Adam had spent a couple of hours at the warehouse talking about what the new year was going to hold for us both. I silently walked up the stairs careful not to make any noise to wake up Katrina and John, I had completely lost track of time as Adam and I sat on the side of the ring talking and laughing about his WWE career, I had never asked many questions about it, and I hadn't known just how loved he was by the fans. I hung on to every word he said completely enthralled with the stories I was hearing and the things he had done in his life. I jumped as my phone pinged notifying me of a text message, I grabbed it quickly out of my bag and turned it to silent hoping neither my aunt or uncle had heard been woken up by it.

Have you seen this?
Stu x

Below the message was a link to an Instagram post from a local journalist. My stomach dropped as I took in the image; they had posted of me and Adam from just a few hours before hand in hand walking down the street.

"Shit" I muttered to myself throwing my phone onto the bed, myself shortly after. Why couldn't people just leave us alone?

We were just taking a walk
Jayme x

You don't need to explain yourself to me.
I know how these people can be.
Stu x

Thanks for letting me know
Jayme x

I sat continuing to stare at the phone screen completely dumbfounded at how this photograph was taken without either of us knowing. Silently I crawled into bed and tried to get some sleep, my phone vibrating on the bedside table quickly pulled me out of any sleep I was drifting into.

"Hello?" I said groggily.

"Jay, have you seen it?" Adam responded, a tone of annoyance clear in his voice.

"The picture?" I said "Yeah Stu sent it to me" I informed him.

"I'm sorry they're doing this Jay" He sighed "I'm going to fix this I promise" He assured me.

"Look Adam don't worry about it people will get bored of it soon enough" I told him and most of me believed it but I knew deep down from an outsiders point of view our friendship probably didn't look completely platonic, something had changed the day we kissed and we both knew it, we just weren't willing to discuss it.