#pray for my brownies

[kil9]

trying to bake in england is a nightmare. idk what i expected from he country that doesnt know what food is but why are none of the ingredients normal ??? sorry no plain cocoa powder. u need to get it pre-sweetened or else the british will die of confusion. sorry no real butter. spreadable pre-salted "butter" mixture only. sorry no vanilla extrct. we only have pre-sweetened vanilla syrup. which we can legally market as vanilla extract for some reason ? dont even get me fucking started on ovens.

[clownboymcchucklefuck]

HOLY FUCKING SHIT

[merkerlerspeaks]

Think I had a breakthrough with something tonight. No I will not elaborate.

[phagodyke]

parkour was fun btw even if my hands are ripped to shreds now..... also one of the community leaders (who I admittedly have a baby crush on.... any pronoun dykes unite!!!!!) said he'd get me a free pair of lesbian flag laces for my trainers by the next jam <3 😭😭

[moodymakeshifter]

My dad was just yelling about the vital responsibility of mankind to comprehend its flaws and take the hard step toward correcting them, and I replied with: Nothing you just said matters at all. The dead raccoon on the side of the road— it doesn't matter for him. The woman drawing her last breath in a hospital bed surrounded by family— it doesn't matter for her. They might spare the world and its troubles one last blink of thought before they go, but that would be a waste of precious time. All that matters is that we draw breath, and we go around doing what we like, and we try our best not to negatively impact each other's experiences whenever possible. That's it. Because every creature's days are numbered. And yes, there are noble ways to live. There are ways that involve sacrifice and compassion, and they are fine, but they're not necessarily better than other ways. The only bad way to live is to squander time with regret, fear, hatred, and malevolence. Just living one day to the next and relishing company is okay. The Universe and its mysteries shouldn't be a weight pressing on you every minute. It's there. You're here. We're all together. And we CAN take it easy. We really can.

[rhosgobelbun]

steve's been knocking on doors trying to find eddie. he would be annoyed that all he's found are couples and groups in states of undress but this is some random house party, so it's what steve expects.

plus he's too relieved that he hasn't walked in on eddie being a part of any of it.

steve knows it's gross to feel this way. he trusts eddie 100%. it's not right to let past relationship problems cloud his judgement when it comes to what he has with eddie - who hasn't given him any reason to doubt.

but eddie is so new. been together for only 2 months now new.

and tommy was so old. childhood friend/fucked up situationship for 10 long years old. just ended for good a year and a half ago old.

so even though he knows, hopes, prays, that it's ridiculous to compare the two together, steve still checks the bathroom and makes sure the man on his knees in front of some blonde cheerleader isn't his boyfriend.

and then promptly ducks down to avoid a brush the blonde cheerleader throws at him.

'sorry!' steve apologizes. he hurries to slam the door closed and makes his way to the very last room at the end of the hallway.

maybe he left? eddie didn't want to serve here anyway, rich druggie clientele be damned. so even though they came together, maybe eddie had an emergency and-

steve cuts that thought off because well. he found eddie.

'baby!!' his boyfriend exclaims, alone, sitting on the floor in the middle of some random strangers room with a jar of peanut butter. he's got a spoon full of it half way up to his mouth and his eyes are red.

at least 4 brownies deep red.

the wave of relief he feels is actually pretty concerning, but steve will think about that some other time since he's too busy trying not to laugh at how ridiculous the long haird idiot looks.

'eddie, what are you doing?'

eddie looks guilty and for a split second steve thinks maybe he did walk in on eddie with someone else. (maybe he's waiting on them? maybe they already left?)

then eddie holds up the jar of peanut butter and says in the saddest voice, 'i needed it stevie, i don't remember how long it's been since i've had peanut butter. but i didn't think you'd find me! stay back! don't you come any closer!'

so this whole time while steve's been worried that eddie was off doing what tommy used to do to make him jealous, eddie just snuck off and hid away to eat peanut butter because steves' allergic.

starting to snicker, steve goes to sit across from him. 'i can be around it babe, im not gonna die.'

eddie rushes to close the jar, spoon shoved inside and all. he gives steve the stink eye. 'i know what peanut allergies can do to some people. i refuse to watch you blow up like a tomato.'

steve rolls his eyes and reaches out, acting like he's gonna touch the jar.

eddie yells. jumping to his feet, he scurries out of the closet like an over grown rat, 'steve harrington this is exactly why I was trying to eat this away from you!'

steves laughing now, giggling like a hyena. he can't believe he ever doubted this man.

later that night - after eddie has showered and brushed his teeth at least three times - when they're tucked away in eddies room under the covers, steve talks to him about his freak out. eddie apologizes for leaving him alone at a strangers party like that. he holds him close, gives steve a ton of kisses and promises to create a DND character that represents tommy.

'i'll turn him into a toad and kill him off in the most gruesome way imaginable. he'll be murdered to death, the kids will be traumatized. it'll be great. just you wait and see, my love.'

[sputnikscock420]

Trying to cook brownies on the stovetop rn pray for me

[kepamount]

you got this!! and I'm glad you managed to take a break, great job!

thank you bby!! 🥹🫶🏽

my issue is i take too many breaks 😭 i’ve now got 2500 words to write in 12 hours and i need to sleep at some point in those 12 hours as well 💀

[wlntrsldler]

keep that to yourself | luke castellan

song: keep that to yourself by tristan

synopsis: luke survives the battle of manhattan and returns to camp half blood. he sees you and apologizes for all the damage he's done.

a/n: not associated with my other exbf!luke one shot, just obsessed with writing exbf!luke rn lol. please listen to the song bc it actually broke me.

luke castellan was never mean to you. he was always the boy with the kind eyes and gentle smile. the boy who was the first camper you met at 16 when you stumbled into camp half blood, terrified and partly relieved that you'd finally found sanctuary after two years of fending for yourself.

he offered his bed to you when you walked into the hermes cabin, stating that nobody deserved to sleep on the hardwood floors in a sleeping bag on their first night at camp. it was unusual for the head counselor to give up the bed they earned for a new camper, but you didn't know that then. you didn't question why luke never offered it to any new campers who entered the cabin throughout the years.

luke castellan was never mean to you. he was always the boy who stole extra pieces of dessert at dinner because he knew you had a sweet tooth. he noticed that when it came to burning offerings, you'd always frown knowing that you'd have to save your dessert to pray to your parent, so he started stealing an extra slice of cake or a fruit platter or the corner piece of the brownies.

when he passed by your table, he'd slide the plate on your tray and offer a shy smile before walking away. the grateful look in your eye every time he did this was cemented in his brain. you looked at him with so much adoration in your eyes and luke promised himself that he would do everything in his power to keep you looking at him like that.

luke castellan was never mean to you. he was always the boy who spent too much time helping you train because once kronos started visiting his dreams, he knew he wouldn't always be there to protect you. he would stay in that secluded part of the woods with you until the sun disappeared from the sky.

he would push you to your limit and you'd give it your all until your bones ached and you collapsed in exhaustion in his arms. then, he would kiss your temple and tell you that you did so well and joke that you were going to surpass him as the best swordsman at camp soon enough. you'd end the night winding down, pointing out the constellations in the sky, until the ominous sounds of the creatures lurking would force the two of you to retire to your respective cabins. he'd bid you goodnight with a soft kiss to your lips and a promise that he'll be outside your cabin door, bright and early, ready to take on the world with you the next day.

luke castellan was never mean to you, until he was. the fireworks in the sky illuminated his face in an eerie way, fire and anger dancing in the brown of his eyes as he pointed his sword at percy. you screamed at him to stop, to drop his sword, and he scoffed at you, calling you a traitor for taking the side of a boy you'd only met a few days ago. he accused you of betraying him, of never loving him, because you turned your back on him.

his words still ring in your ears years later. and when he walked into camp half blood, terrified and partly relieved thinking that the worst was over, that kronos was gone and he managed to survive the battle of manhattan, all you could think of was how he spoke to you that night.

there was a pain in your chest when he walked in with annabeth and percy. there were new scars on his body, two new ones that joined the scar on his face that you used to kiss. he looked older, too, sunken eyes and a slight hunch to his back, but he still looked like luke. your luke.

when he saw you, there was a stutter in his step that had percy gripping his arm to keep him steady. when the younger boy realized what luke was looking at, he offered you a small, apologetic smile. you tried to return the gesture, but your lips formed a grimace. you clutched your chest, standing frozen in your spot as your eyes raked over luke's body.

"y/n."

you closed your eyes at the sound of your name leaving his lips. it hurts to hear it. you gulped, blinking away the tears that were pooling in your eyes. when you finally found the strength to move, luke broke away from percy's grip and walked towards you, despite the warnings from the kids behind him.

there hasn't been a day since he left where luke didn't regret the way he left things with you. he wasn't himself then, but even that didn't excuse the way he treated you. he'd spent too many nights practicing what he would say to you, how he would apologize, how he would plead for your forgiveness if the gods showed him mercy and somehow blessed him with the opportunity to see you again.

now that he had the chance, he realized that it was not a blessing. this was a punishment from the gods; a punishment for his actions in the last few years, a punishment worse than death. you were looking at him like you hated him, like you wanted nothing to do with him. you looked at him like he was a stranger to you and it killed him slowly because he still felt like you were every memory, every hope, every lifeline he'll ever have.

luke knew he couldn't blame you. you had a million reasons to walk away from him right now and leave him here with his tail tucked between his legs. he ruined the one good thing in his life the night he spoke to you like that and accused you of never loving him. how did he ever think that? how did he ever doubt you when you've shown him nothing but the good in this god-forsaken life? it haunted him. it still haunts him.

"don't."

luke's lips formed a straight line. he looked down at your feet, a shudder trickling down his spine when he saw the fading doodles on your shoes that he drew with sharpie years ago.

"you don't get to talk to me," you said. "you don't get to do that, okay?"

"i just want to apologize."

"you don't get to do that," you repeated, voice wavering as you spoke. you wiped your eyes with the sleeve of your shirt, clenching your jaw, "it's not fair."

"y/n, please," he begged, "please."

"no, i've grieved losing you already," you croaked out, crossing your arms over your chest, "i've already accepted that i lost you. you don't get to come back to my life for any reason."

"baby..."

"you're so mean, luke," you cried, pushing him back. he let you shove him and hit his chest. he knew you were pulling your punches. he stood there and took it, biting his bottom lip as he watched you break down in front of him, unable to hold you in his arms. "you're so fucking mean, you know that? you were gone for years and so many people died and got hurt because of you. and you come in here and use how i feel about you to your advantage. how fucking cruel can you be?"

"i know, i know, i messed up really badly, but you gotta believe me. i didn't do it to hurt you."

you scoffed, backing away from him, "but you did."

"luke," annabeth approached the two of you, placing a hand on luke's back. "we should go, get you checked out at the infirmary."

you sniffled, wrapping your arms around yourself as you looked away to hide your tears from the pair. luke reached out to touch you, but he quickly dropped his hand when you flinched. his tongue poked the inside of his cheek as he tried to keep his emotions at bay. he wiped his eyes, giving annabeth a small nod.

he looked back at you, hoping that your eyes would meet his, but you never turned around. luke sighed sadly, following his younger sister to the infirmary. you didn't turn around to watch him leave until he turned the corner, disappearing from your view.

[saintzweig]

older next door neighbor!reader x stanford!art

– teehee :3 proofread? do you even know me (of course it's not)

– edit: i actually dont know how to feel abt this so please let me know what u think!!

art donaldson has been harboring a big fat crush on the girl next door for years now. you're two years older than him, already well into college by the time he got accepted into stanford. 4.0 GPA, a great volleyball player and you volunteer at animal shelters, his grandmother loves you– heck, every mother in town loves you. you used to come over atleast once a week, having dinner with him and his grandma. when you started tutoring to earn money, he had you over three times a week to help him even though his grades are doing fine. he reckons he can do better but really he just wants to have you to himself, the two of you locked in his room for hours. of course that changed when you left for college, choosing a university miles away and leaving him alone for the rest of his highschool years.

you come home every break which means that art does too, hoping to catch you and maybe show off a little. after all, he's a man now– he's on the stanford tennis team, he's won multiple tournaments and he's no longer the little nerd you've known since you were kids.

you come over one afternoon, bringing over some fresh brownies that you've made for art and his grandma. he opens the door shirtless, telling you he was just about to jump in the pool but really, he saw you walking over through the window and took his shirt off. he asks you if you want to maybe join, the weather's nice and all and much to his surprise, you agree, saying you have nothing going on anyways. you excuse yourself for a while, wanting to change into something more suitable and he prays it's the red bikini he's seen you wear before.

and it is. you come in and he offers you a cold beer. "beer huh? i didn't know you drink now, donaldson." you say with a slight grin, taking the bottle from him. he watches the way your hands wrapped around the bottle, images of your black manicured nails wrapped around his co–

he makes a comment about having done stuff in stanford, stopping himself from telling you that he's been drinking since he was a teenager, at the academy. with patrick. he doesn't miss the way your eyes lingered on his lips as took a swig of the beer, making him smirk subtly. he leads you to the backyard and you help yourself to a floatie while he sits on the edge of the pool. you paddle yourself softly to the water, leaning back and savoring the sunlight on your skin. he doesn't even try to hide the way he's staring at your chest, not that you can see anyways because your eyes are closed. "my grandma's having a poker game at one of her friend's so it's just us" he tells you.

you begin to ask him questions about his first year in college– how was tennis, how were the parties, any girls?

tennis was great, he says his coaches are really helping him improve and prepare to go pro. parties were crazy, it was loud and sweaty but he doesn't let himself get carried away, being an athlete and all. he's gotten on a few dates and he tells you he's been asked out alot, exaggerating a little bit to show off. you say you weren't surprised and he asks what you mean.

"i mean look at you, you're not bad looking. you're tall, blonde, athletic– girls dig that. you've gotten bigger too"

he smirks, "bigger?" and you only roll your eyes, leaning your head to look up the sky. he jumps in, walking over to you, crossing his arms over the floatie, making you shift slightly. his elbow touching your thigh. "what about you? any guys?" you hum, sipping on your beer. "there was one, but I don't know. didn't really work out" he asks why and you tell him you just don't see yourself dating someone on campus, they're all assholes who don't take anything seriously.

"have you ever dated anyone younger?" to which you raise a brow, only for him to tilt his head with a stupid grin on his face. you shake your head, "i heard younger guys can treat you very well." he says, and you knew exactly what he meant.

that's how you ended up sitting on the edge of the floatie, legs apart with art standing in between. you're leaning back on your arms while his hands are on your thighs, pulling you closer as he place kisses on your skin. your bikini is beginning to get wet, not just from the pool water. he looks up at you, water dripping down from his hair down to his face. "you don't know how long i've been waiting for this."

you almost whined at his expression, eyes wide as he looked up and lips plump, aching to taste you. you lift your hair to push back his curls and he leans into your touch, closing his eyes. "wanna show me how well you can treat me?" he thinks he just died and came back to life. in a second, your bottoms are untied and floating somewhere in the pool. fully exposed to him now, your cunt soft glistening in the sunlight. he lets out a soft cuss as he takes in the sight. "you sure about this?" you only nod, smiling down at him.

he kisses your sensitive clit, keeping his eyes on you as you throw your head back. he watches as your adams apple bob when you let out a moan. he begins to circle his tongue around your clit, sending waves of pleasure throughout your body. butterflies floating in your stomach as he made his way down, sticking his tongue inside your hole, tasting every bit of you. he moans as he feels your slick cover his tongue, "you taste so sweet, angel." you tug on his hair and he takes it as a request to go deeper and he does. he fucks you with his tongue, lifting his hand to press the rough pad of his thumb on your clit. his eyes are closed, savoring every moment. he pulls away slowly, teasing his finger into your dripping hole before slipping it in, and you tense up. immediately enclosing him with your warm gummy walls, art starts to feel pain inside his swimming trunks. he moves his hips slightly, hoping the water will create a friction to relieve the ache.

he attaches himself to your clit once more, sucking on it this time while he curls his fingers inside you at the same time. your stomach tightens as you feel your climax approaching, making you tug on his hair harder. "f–fuck, how are you so good at this" you gasp, bucking your hips. he chuckles, you feel the vibration against your core. "art– shit, i'm so close, baby" he groans at the pet name, his other hand gripping your thigh harder.

"you like that, huh?" your voice breathless, "you like it when i call you baby?" he nods feverishly, lapping up your juices, his own hips bucking softly underwater. you wrap your legs around his back, "i'm gonna cum, artie– fuck, baby just like that. doing so good f'me" within seconds, you're shaking violently into his mouth. feeling warm fluid ooze out of you, which he immediately takes into his mouth. you struggle to hold yourself up, leaning back on your arms as you catch your breath.

if only you could see the string of white floating out of his trunks under the water.

[strawberryyyenthusiast]

This has probably been done before but frat pet Steve 🤤 (nsfw)

Steve who is completely comfortable in his sexuality and his love for sex. He’ll give the guys however many blowjobs and handies as they want, along with constant access to his ass whenever they please.

One night, Eddie gets invited to a frat party to deal and he stumbles upon Steve giving head to one guy with red hair while getting his back blown out by this huge Hispanic guy with long, black hair.

Obviously, Eddie freaks out, apologizes, and tries to walk out but face plants into the wall.

“I am so sorry, oh my god! Have fun sorry to bother you!” Eddie is holding his forehead and he feels like his whole face is on fire with embarrassment.

“It’s all good, brochacho, I just finished. You want to jump in?” The long haired guy, who Eddie later learns goes by Argyle, pulls his dick out of Steve and slaps his tip on his hole.

Eddie shakes his head in shock and wonders why the fuck he is still here, watching the most gorgeous man he has ever seen give extremely enthusiastic head.

“Suit yourself, man,” Argyle says with a smile. “You almost done, Manny? Tommy wants a go at Steve’s mouth before he leaves for the night.”

Manny nods and holds Steve’s head down and shoots down his throat. The gurgling sounds are obnoxious and Eddie is praying to whatever diety who cares to listen to him that these guys can’t see his boner.

Argyle pulls Steve off of Manny’s (very tiny) dick and grasps Steve’s hair. “What do you say?”

Steve clears his throat and rasps, “Thank you, sirs. I love serving your cocks.”

“That’s a good boy.” Manny taps Steve’s cheek with his hand and smiles.

Eddie is then left with Steve for a brief second before another group of guys come stumbling in.

Eddie leaves after that and plans to never return to this stupid house full of frat guys. He doesn’t notice Steve staring after him with stars in his eyes.

But then he gets invited to every party to sell again. Apparently, his weed was a huge hit, along with the special brownies that he made.

(What he doesn’t know is that Steve demands him to be there so he can imagine pleasuring this nerdy guy, who kind of looks like a drowned rat, while doing his duties for his fellow frat brothers).

[thewulf]

I Missed You || Jake "Hangman" Seresin

Summary: Request - Hello again! Hope you're having a wonderful week, I was hoping I could get one with Jake Seresin where the reader flirts with all the time, like all day everyday, like playfully and he always laughs it off, but the reader genuinely likes him but doesn't know how to show it ... Read Rest Here

A/N: I really like how this one turned out! Hope you all enjoy. As always thank you for the request @stuffingbuttsandshit !!

Pairing: Jake "Hangman" Seresin x Y/N

Word Count: 4.1k +

��Hey there handsome.” You slid down into the seat next to Jake trying to fake all the confidence in the world. Truthfully, he made you nervous as hell. The more you got to know him the more nervous you found yourself around him. You liked Jake Seresin. You liked Hangman. You’d known of him but finally met him a month ago when you both started training to become Captain’s. A select group of pilots had been chosen for a new accelerated program to push talent through to the top as the workforce ages out. The Navy finding a solution to the rapidly aging workforce.

He looked up from the manual he was reading over with a ghost of a smile crossing his features. The morning sun hit his face framing it so perfectly. Because of course it did. Even the damn sunlight was attracted to him. Not that you could blame it. Look at him, all perfect and shit.

“Bug.” He leaned back crossing his hands over his chest referring to you by your callsign. You’d earned it after accidentally consuming a pot brownie at a party and you wouldn’t stop talking about A Bug’s Life. You hadn’t a clue where it came from. You hadn’t even seen the damn movie in years. Leave it to the weed to earn a callsign for life. You’d grown to love it though.

“How was your weekend cutie?” Smoothly, you fluttered your eyelids rather dramatically before giving him your full-on smile. You’d fallen for the man quickly and he never even looked your way. Every time you were at the Hard Deck as a group his eyes would trail over to some surfer girl or new pilot that caught his attention for the night. More often than not you’d see him leaving with that same girl. Jake got what he wanted. You learned that quick.

It hurt. You tried to play it off like you never noticed, didn’t care. But you did. You craved for his eyes to be searching yours just like he had those other women. He wouldn’t even look at you like that though. He saw you as one of the guys no matter how hard you’d flirted with him. Nothing seemed to grab his attention. It felt like an endless game that you probably needed to drop but didn’t want to. You hardly thought you’d be able to find somebody else like him. Behind that tough exterior is a heart of gold. Somebody who will care so deeply for you. Put all your needs first. Make sure your happy. That was a rare person. Jake was a rare person. And he’d never see you. That hurt.

He smiled now. At least you could get that out of him, it was something, “My sister and nephew’s came to visit. It was nice.” He closed the manual knowing he wasn’t going to read much more with you sitting there. He’d never admit just how much he loved the attention you gave him on a daily basis. How you flirted incessantly with him. He looked forward to the new nicknames and creative ideas you’d come up with to flirt with him. It’d become a daily routine for him that he’d come to adore.

You nodded, “That sounds lovely. My brother told me to ‘fuck off’ when I told him he should come visit.” You laughed knowing he was just kidding. That was just his way of showing love to his younger sister. Brotherly love and all or something like that.

Jake smirked, “Sounds like a brother.”

“Sounds like a man.” You answered right back, quickly. He ran his eyes over your face, observing you. That’s all it took for your heart to speed on up. You just prayed that blood wasn’t rushing to your face, but you knew it was. Betraying you at your most vulnerable moment.

“You’re something else Y/N.” He shook his head turning back to the front of the room making sure Cyclone wasn’t up there yet. The hard ass was teaching your in-person lessons while Viper and Maverick took to the air.

You looked around too. Classmates were trickling in but paying the two of you no mind. It was still early. Cyclone started class right at 7:00 sharp. No excuses. If you were late you were kicked out for the day. It was noted. Always noted. Better get there early.

“I’m taking that as a good thing Jake.” You leaned over poking him in the bicep.

“Take it however you like.” Not a correction. Not a confirmation. A neutral response. He was impossible. There was no way you were ever going to break into the mind of him. You’d been thinking about it for a little bit now, but it might be time to pull away from him. Step back and give your aching little heart a break for a bit. It was impossible to keep at it only to get half smiles and nodding chuckles. You wanted more and he didn’t. That was okay. You couldn’t force it. Nothing ever worked like that.

You leaned back in your chair looking forward now. Time to pull back from him. Not all at once, no. You don’t think even you could quick Jake Seresin cold turkey. Oh, no no no. There wasn’t a way. He was too Jake. Not perfect, but perfect in his own way. A prize that was just out of reach from your grasp. A prize you had to back off from as much as it hurt.

“Alright.” You mumbled. He looked over at you quickly scouring your face for the sudden change in your mood. That was… odd for you. You were always kind. Always cheery. Always rebutting his non advances. You’d always lead the conversation and suddenly you weren’t. it was too quiet for him.

The rest of class you didn’t take your eyes off Cyclone. You’d normally poke and prod Jake for something, but you were backing off. You needed to focus anyway. At least that’s what you told yourself. You’d caught his occasional peak at you from your peripherals every now and then. He’d certainly noticed something, you thought.

Cyclone wrapped the morning session off sending you off to meet up with Mav after you changed. You shut your notebook without a word before putting it in your backpack. Not giving a damn how juvenile it made you look.

Jake peaked over once more expecting you to say something. But when you stood to leave without saying something he had to, “Everything alright?” He asked you already missing your cute little remarks.

You nodded, “Just fine. Watch your back in the skies.” You winked before turning off calling Natasha. Jake watched as you walked out without him and with Phoenix instead. He frowned watching you turn out of the classroom and out of his sigh.

You walked into the Hard Deck trying to spot the group of pilots you’d grown to love. You head Jakes big booming laugh out of the corner of the bar and made a bee line towards the group. A seat next to Frosty or a seat next to Hangman. You opted for the earlier and sat down next to the guy. Jake frowned seeing you sit down across from him instead of next to him like you’d always have. That’s why nobody took the spot next to him, that was your spot.

Nat raised an eyebrow as she saw your choice in seating. You hadn’t disclosed anything to her earlier in the day. She watched as Jake fought the grimace that so desperately wanted to show on his face. Had he done something?

“Evening, ladies and gents.” You smiled brushing out the dress you’d put on. You’d never understood how the guys could wear their uniforms out. You wanted nothing more than to change the second you were off base.

“Bug.” Frosty tipped his cap towards you, “You look nice.” Jake didn’t like the way his eyes raked up and down your frame. Not one bit did he like that. You looked far too pretty to be degraded like that.

Before you could reply to him Jake decided to speak up, “You look beautiful.” He shot Frosty a cold look, one to match his callsign.

Your eyes slowly turned to Jake, cheeks surely ablaze. That was a first. Jake had never complimented you. His eyes had always glossed over your figure. You’d seemed to just blend in with your surroundings.

“Thank you, Jake.” You smiled kindly at him.

He nodded, this time his eyes taking their time to size you up. You did look beautiful. Stunning even. He’d always known. But you were you. You were in his class. He’d have to work with you. He couldn’t think of you that way. Things never turned out good when that happened. So, he had to ignore it. Ignore whatever pull you seemed to have thrown right at him. He’d resisted as long as you paid him attention. He failed when you started to draw back though. He wanted your eyes on him again. He wanted your flirty words that so effortlessly rolled off your tongue.

He shrugged innocently, “It’s only the truth.” He took a sip of his beer shooting you a wink afterwards. You playfully rolled your eyes before elbowing Natasha in the ribs for whispering an obscene remark in your ear.

It was certainly odd behavior for him. He’d never reciprocated anything when you gave it your all not a day ago. But now that you were diversifying yourself he wasn’t having it? What kind of sick game was he playing? Real you in just close enough to bait you then switch? You couldn’t do that either. That’d crush your heart a thousand times over and you’d keep crawling back. Because who could resisted those tanned skin dimples when he smiled? Not you. Certainly not you at all.

You’d attempted to avoid his gaze most of the night only shooting him a wink and stinking your tongue out at him a few times. When you’d gotten up to grab a beer Jake wasn’t far behind you trying to play it off coolly and not looking like the puppy dog he felt like. Like you had him right on an invisible leash. You did though and only he knew that.

“Bug.” That voice brought you out of the conversation you were having with the handsome man at the bar. You felt how close he was to you, his breath right on your ear.

“Seresin.” You shifted your weight away from him, he was playing unfair now.

“How are you?” He asked stepping to the side respecting your boundaries. The last thing he wanted to do was upset you.

“I’m good.” You nodded smiling up at him. He looked, nervous? His hands were fidgeting with the other. His neck was craned looking for eyes on you.

“That’s good.” He nodded.

How odd this was, “And you?” You asked feeling like a complete stranger to him with the tension coating the air thickly.

“I’ve been better Buggie.” He answered you looking down right at you. He was the only one who could get away with calling you that. You’d shot down everyone else you even attempted to mimic Jake.

“Oh?” You asked raising the fresh beer to your lips. Jake watched as you tilted the glass back to take a sip. How the foam coated the top of your lip. How badly he wanted to brush it away once you set you glass back down. The foam vanished when you smiled. You were acutely aware of how he’d been staring right at your lips the entire time. What in the hell was going on with him? He’d never been so forward before. Not in all your attempts over the weeks. Hell, his actions made you feel like a leper not even the remotely attractive to his gaze. But this, this was something.

He nodded grabbing his glass from behind you making sure to brush his arm past yours, “Mhmm.” He was making you beg for the reasoning. Drawing the conversation out.

“Why’s that Jake?” You caved to his mental game.

“You didn’t sit by me. You always do.” He frowned letting his frustration be visible. He didn’t want to mess around now, afraid you might be slipping away from him.

“I don’t sit next to you every time. Plus, I needed to tell Frosty something.” You tried defending yourself.

He shook his head quickly, “Can’t bullshit a bullshitter Buggie. Didn’t your daddy teach you lying’s not a good thing?”

Jake fucking Seresin ladies and gentlemen. He had a masterful way of riling your right on up. Reading right between the lines you’d so intricately crafted. He broke down your façade within an instance. Reading you like a children’s book and not the high-level shields you thought you’d put up. It worked for everybody. Everybody except for him.

“Shut up Hangman.” You rolled your eyes walking back towards the table. But a gentle hand at your elbow stopped you.

“Did I do something?” He asked earnestly once you spun back around in the middle of the bar.

You shook your head playing dumb, “No?”

He sighed deciding not to press any further for the day, “If I did, you’d tell me?” He asked.

You nodded, “’Course Jakey.” You winked at him using the nickname only you could use. Jake nearly bit the head off of anybody else who tried. Jake watched as you walked back towards the group. He shook his head following behind you. Jake was down bad, and he knew it. He’d known it for a while.

The last straw for him was when you walked into the classroom the next morning and sat down next to Rooster of all fucking people. It’s not like Jake hated the man anymore but he certainly wasn’t best fucking friends with the guy either. Jake watched as the two of you conversed almost in front of him. Did you have any idea what you were doing to him at that moment? Driving him absolutely crazy when you threw your head back in laughter from something he said. Rooster, not him. He was so entranced with your conversation he hadn’t even noticed Nat sitting herself down next to him.

“You could just tell her you know.” She spoke up before the Admiral begun for the day.

He jumped at her voice. Shooting her a glare before answering her, “What are you talking about?” He decided to play dumb.

“That you like her.” Nat rolled her eyes, tired of his shit.

He sighed, “Why would I do that?”

She shrugged, “Because you do?” She said as if it were the most obviously thing in the world, “Look, she thinks you don’t like her. That’s why she stopped being so… forward. She thought she was annoying you. That’s not what she wanted to do to you. So, she stopped.” Nat said quickly and quietly out of the corner of her mouth.

He frowned almost immediately, “You’re shitting me.”

She shook her head, “Nope. But you didn’t hear it from me.” She whispered before sitting back in her seat as if no conversation had happened.

You thought he didn’t like you? How could he blame you though. He’d hardly reciprocated anything in the time he’d known you. How dumb could he be? Fuck, he really messed it up this time.

He was distracted the entire time. When Cyclone called on him and he stumbled through the answer the Admiral shook his head muttering something under his breath. You gave him a soft smile and a thumbs up in encouragement. Little did you know it was because of you he’d mucked that up so bad. He had to talk to you before they went up in the air for the day or he’d probably end up crashing.

When Cyclone wrapped it up he stood quickly, lingering by the door. He watched as you packed your bags up and waved Rooster off probably wanting to walk alone. He had other plans though.

“Y/N.” He said your name softly as you passed him, seemingly in a trance.

You looked up to him smiling softly to him, “Jake, hi.”

“Can we talk?” The look in his eyes said he was being sincere. He wasn’t bullshitting you.

You looked around not seeing anybody else in the classroom, “Sure.”

He pulled you out of the doorway before shutting the door. He turned quickly to you. He grabbed at your hands pulling you closer to him. Your heart was hammering in your chest as your wide eyes looked up at his much softer, sweeter ones, “Jake, what’re doing?” You asked almost breathless.

“I miss you.” He admitted, “It’s been a damn day and I miss you desperately Y/N.” He pulled you closer. You let him of course. This was everything you wanted and more. So much more.

“I don’t understand.” You admitted. He’d given you nothing for weeks. Where was this coming from?

“I’m a fucking idiot that’s what.” He pulled you in even closer. Your chest was flush with his. Surely he could feel your heart hammering in your chest. He looked down at you with a wicked grin as your eyes fluttered shut smelling his cologne mix with his own natural scent. Euphoria struck you in that moment, “Sweetheart.” He murmured so close to you goosebumps erupted almost immediately.

Your eyes snapped open feeling his lips brush your naked ear lobes, “Jake, you can’t…” You stopped seeing his expression cross from one of softness to something much more sinister. A darkened desire flashed through his eyes that sent a wicked shiver right down your spine.

He rolled his eyes. Mimicking you as you’d done it so many times before. Hardly feeling like you were at work anymore Jake took over your strongest desires. He was your strongest desire. Right here teasing you like you like the putty for him you were.

He leaned down to your other ear doing the same. Brushing his lips so dangerously close you could feel him. Jake enjoyed the goosebumps that rippled up from his breath. A physical reaction proving his own thoughts true, “I can, and I will. If you let me.” The vibration from his low drawl sent ripples throughout every part of your body. You shook it off thinking for a second.

He took a chance and brushed a strand of hair behind your ear making sure to drag his fingertips across your neck. Grinning when he felt you shiver at his touch. He knew he’d melt the same way at your own touch, “Sweetheart.” He whispered again before pulling back knowing your brain was likely short circuiting. He had the advantage of knowing your feelings. Although he was making it rather obvious that he reciprocated them.

“Jake, what are you doing?” You asked again. You just couldn’t seem to believe that this was actually happening.

He chuckled letting his arms snake around your waist to pull you impossibly close now. He was so much taller than you. Your head level with the top of his chest. But you molded in so well. It felt so good. So true to what you needed.

“I told you. I was dumb. I like you darlin’. More than a friend does. Way more than a friend should.” He was looking right down at your lips as you were looking up at his.

“You like me?”

“Mhmm.” He hummed not tearing his eyes away, “And I think you like me too. Isn’t that right sweetheart?” He was coaxing it out of you now.

He grinned when he saw your pale cheeks coat with a beautiful cherry pink. A blush he’d never grow tired of seeing. In fact, he made it his mission to see it every day. For some reason, he didn’t think it’d be too hard. He’d find something new to compliment you on every day for the rest of his life. He just knew it. It wouldn’t be hard with you. He was going to start making plans with you. He was sure of this one.

“Jake?” You asked feeling the nerves bubble throughout your body. The look he was giving you was one of pure adoration. One that you burned into your memory. A look you’d never seen from such a beautiful man, or any man before. One that told you that you were loved, no matter what. Through thick and certainly through thin.

He used his pointer finger to pull your chin up towards him, “Yes, darlin’?” He asked with a goofy grin sporting his gorgeous face.

“Can you kiss me?” With little confidence you had left you asked him a question you’d wanted since the second you met him. Immediately you trusted the man. You were so drawn to him. It only took you pulling away for a brief moment for him to realize the same. It was different with you.

He nodded with a feverish grin, “Thought you’d never ask beautiful.” Gently, he pushed you up against the wall before pressing his hips into yours. Jake pinned your hands above your head onto the wall as he took a snapshot of your needy face. Doe eyes begged him to kiss your puffy lips full of desire.

A whine burst from your lips as Jake studied you. You couldn’t take it anymore. You really just wanted the man to kiss you. At that, kiss you he did.

With a swift motion he dropped his hands from your wrists and placed them behind your head. He leaned down pressing his lips to yours. Your knees began to buckle as the kiss turned more desperate, quickly.

You pressed forward lacing your hands throughout his golden locks. He let out a guttural groan before snaking an arm around your waist steadying you. He pressed in further brushing his tongue against your lips. Without hesitation you let him in. Let him explore like you’d so desperately wanted him too before. You bucked your hips against his earning another small groan from the man who knew he was in deep, deep trouble with you. A wild card you were.

He pulled away with displeasure knowing it couldn’t go any further at that, “Sweetheart, we are at work.” His grin only widened when he saw your disheveled state. His hands making a mess of your once perfect bun that you’d have to redo in the locker room. A rosy blush coating your face only making you more stunning. Your blown out pupils telling him the whole story, “I don’t take the Lord’s name in vain, but God Damn are you a vision darlin’. Absolutely fucking stunning.” His eyes now surveyed your entire body.

You shook your head, “Can we pick this up later? My place 6 o’clock?” You asked with so much desperation in your voice it should’ve been embarrassing. But you didn’t care. You wanted him to know. You craved him.

He nodded slowly brushing your hair back down so you wouldn’t look too suspicious walking to the locker room, “Absolutely pretty girl. I miss you already.” Another blush rose to your cheeks as the pad of his thumb brushed across your now swollen lips. He smirked at what he’d done. Hopefully nobody’d be none the wiser. But Jake had a sneaking suspicion Nat would notice. She was probably wondering where the two of you were now.

“As much as I want to continue, we should get going before Mav has our asses.” He grabbed your hand pulling you from the wall he’d pushed you against moments ago.

You nodded quickly, “Yeah, yeah.” Dazed and confused you walked into the locker room with Jake hot on your heels. Nat stood there with her arms across her chest looking at you with a curious grin.

“Don’t say a word.” You mumbled opening your locker and pulling out your flight suit with a swift pull.

She laughed, “Didn’t say a thing Bug. But you’re going to have to tell me later.”

You nodded with a stupid smile that wouldn’t go away, “I’ll tell you everything tomorrow. Promise.”

She gaped at you, “You better.”

You promised once more before walking out of the locker room with her. When you walked out you found Jake’s eyes on your figure quickly. That same loving look he’d shown you before in the classroom adorning his face made you nearly weak at the knees.

You heard Nat chuckle beside you only earning a swift elbow in the ribs from you and soft, “Shut up.” Before you turned back to Jake flashing him your brightest smile.

Permanent Taglist (Message me or comment below if you want to be added!): @loving-and-dreaming @kmc1989 @memeorydotcom @matisse556 @buckylov3r @taygrls @ah-blossom

[livzblogg]

howdy, neighbor

Rhett Abbott x reader

Smut under the cut! Mdni. Everyone feel free to send requests!

@atuman thanks for sending in this request!

sub!Rhett x dom!Reader

You sighed as you unpacked the last box in your brand-new room. Moving from Texas to Wabang, Wyoming was a big change after living in Texas. "Y/N! Get down here!" your mother yells from the kitchen.

"Go take these brownies to our new neighbors and introduce yourself. You need to make new friends around here. Maybe they will have a kid your age or something." your mother mutters as she shoves the brownies into your hands.

You sigh as you grab the brownies and make your way to your neighbor's house. It was quite a long walk, but anything is better than listening to your parents argue about where to put the new couch or the dining table.

You find yourself lost in thought during your walk as you arrive at the Abbott's ranch. You notice there is only one truck in the driveway, and you silently pray that nobody will answer the door so you can save yourself the embarrassment of explaining why your mother sent you over here.

You walk onto the porch and lightly knock on the door. You wait a few minutes, with no response so you begin to make your way back down the porch to walk home. Just as you step off of the porch, a man who seems to be around your age peaks his head out of the door.

He looks at you for a moment before muttering "Can I help you?". You take a moment to admire how handsome he is. He has gorgeous blue eyes and is trying his best to hold back a border collie from jumping on you.

"Oh! Uh, hi. I'm Y/N Y/L/N. Your new neighbor. My mama asked me to bring you guys these brownies as a gift." you pause for a moment before asking "Are you the only one who lives here?". He chucked before shaking his head and saying "Nah, this is my mom and dad's house. I live here with my brother Perry and my niece Amy". You immediately notice his sexy southern accent. Thicker than any accent you ever heard in Texas.

You nod and smile as you hand him the brownies. Before you can say anything, he says "Do you wanna come in for a beer? I got the house to myself and it's awfully lonely. Nellie here really wants to meet you, too" he says with a smile as he looks down at the gorgeous dog behind him.

You happily accept his offer. As the night progresses and you both progressively get more tipsy, you begin to talk about deeper subjects. "The whole town things I'm a man whore because I'm a bull rider. It's kind of funny, honestly. I wonder what they'd think if they knew I've only ever been with one girl" he snorts as he takes another sip of his beer.

You stall for a moment before asking "Only one girl your entire life? Are you guys still together?". He sighs before saying "Nah, we broke up 4 years ago. She moved to Colorado". You look at him in disbelief "You haven't had sex in years?". He looks at you and chuckles before smirking and saying "Unfortunately not. Just haven't found a girl I was really interested in since my last relationship... until now."

You smile back at him and lock eyes for a moment. Maybe it was the alcohol, or maybe it was the fact that he was practically undressing you with his eyes, but you swiftly stand up and move to straddle his hips, immediately kissing him. He immediately kisses back, and adds his tongue into the kiss.

"4 years is far too long, don't you think? Must've been so hard for you to go that long without sex. You want me to help you out with that, baby?" you whisper in his ear in between your attack of kisses on his neck.

He groans at the feeling of you sucking a mark into his skin and nods with excitement. You stand up and tell him to direct you to his room. He grabs your hand and drags you up the stairs as you take a moment to collect your thoughts. You find yourself very surprised at how naturally submissive he is, but who can blame him after years of not being with a woman.

Once you arrive in his room, you immediately push him onto the bed and begin kissing down his body. You rip his shirt off and admire his muscular chest and faint abs. You begin to unbutton his jeans and pull them down. Once his jeans are on the floor, you begin to press messy kisses over his boxer-clad cock. He moans at the sensation and bucks his hips up in an unsuccessful attempt to gain more friction.

You push his hips down and give him a dirty look and he whines out an apology. Once you are done teasing him, you hook your fingers under the band of his boxers and begin to pull them down slowly. You press tiny kisses to his cock and he lets out breathy moans and lets his head fall back in pleasure.

You take his cock into your mouth and begin slowly sucking him. His moans and whines make your slick begin to drip out of you. He is such a good and submissive boy. You can't wait to ruin him. After a few minutes of sucking, you pull off of his cock and rip your clothes off.

He admires your body intently, with his mouth slightly open in adoration and lust. You lean down to kiss him and he roughly kisses you back. You stroke his cock as you kiss and slowly line up his cock with your dripping pussy. He moans at the feeling of his throbbing head meeting your core.

"Such a good boy for me, yeah? You want me to fuck you, baby?" you whisper in his ear. He responds "Yes! Please, please, please!". You smile at this response and slowly sink down onto his cock. He throws his head back and lets out a loud moan as he envelops your warmth.

You look down at him take his cowboy hat off of his head and place it onto yours before you begin riding him. He moans even louder as he watches you bounce on his cock while wearing his stetson. "You're such a pretty boy for me, baby. Isn't that right? You're gonna be ruined for any other girl. Only ever gonna be able to think of my wet pussy, yeah? Only able to think of me and how good I made you feel" you say to him.

He whimpers and nods his head before he says "Ba- babe I'm not gonna be able to last long, it's too good". You sigh before looking at him and saying "You wouldn't dare come before me, would you? I thought you were a good boy". His eyes shoot open and he says "No, ma'am. I wouldn't come before you. I'm your good boy, I promise".

His hand flies to your clit and rubs in tight circles before bringing you over the edge. Feeling you come around his cock has his own orgasm setting off as he fills you up with his warm cum. You smile down at him in this vulnerable state. This little cowboy is going to be your fun little toy from now on. Maybe Wabang isn't so bad after all.

[biblio-smia]

read part one here

it's hard to wipe your hands with the tray of brownies in your hands, one that you're beginning to regret bringing. the courage in you has died in the short walk over, leaving your hands clammy and your heart to thump quickly.

it's too late to back out once the door opens to peter's aunt, your figure through the semi-opaque door beginning to become suspicious. your nerves have grown tenfold in the few seconds it has taken to reveal the older woman, fragments of a formal introduction attempting to make it out.

"oh, i know who you are, honey." peter's aunt saves you sweetly, waving you off.

"i just... wanted to come and offer my condolences." it's hard for you to look her in the eye as you bring forward your baked goods.

"oh, thank you very much." there's a deep sweetness in her voice, an acknowledgement of the words you couldn't bring yourself to say. there's a knowing kind of look in her eye as her lips part to add something else; but the wind carries what would've been her words as the two of you turn towards a new sound from inside the house - one calling your name questioningly.

"peter? were you planning on going out?" there's suspicion in her voice, leaving you with the feeling that the word again was missing from the end of her question.

peter's still, as if he's been caught. his eyes move between may and you, his gaze making you aware of how out of place you are.

"no. no- i just..." peter trails off, the hood on his head making him look even further away. the worry in his aunt's voice strikes you as more than reasonable.

aunt may's own eyes travel, not missing the way you and peter looked at each other. fleeting, nervous glances suggest to her that she was not the one you had come to comfort.

"why don't you come in?" may turns back to you, taking the tray of brownies in your hands from you and leading you with a gentle hand on the back of your shoulder.

"oh- are you sure? i didn't mean to interrupt..."

"oh, not at all. come in, come in."

you're inside before you can resist, your feet crossing a boundary you could no longer back out from. your eyes meet peter's before the two of you look away.

you had wanted to see him, desperately, ever since you heard what had happened. now that you were here, though, you felt as if you were keeping him - perhaps, by the look of the light bruising on peter's face, from something he shouldn't be doing.

"here," aunt may smiles, placing the tray she had accepted from you in peter's hands. "why don't you take your guest up to your room?"

peter feels himself blush, suddenly feeling like a child again with his aunt may trying to set him up with friends. he knew she had good intentions, wanting peter to have people his own age to hang around with, especially after he had lost his parents. most of those friends never really stuck, though.

now, peter had gone through another loss and you were here, standing at the bottom of the staircase. all he could do was pray you'd stick.

"yeah, sure," peter nods, voice quiet. of course it cracks. you really do have a gift of catching him at his worst.

peter leads you up the stairs and to the right, right into his room. it's an organized sort of messy, papers and books stacked up in different places, posters and pictures filling almost every inch of the walls. his bed sits too tidily, standing out against the cluttered corners - it looks almost unused.

peter places the tray you'd brought on an unoccupied surface, tapping his fingers against the aluminum. he turns at your silence, your attention captivated by something on his desk.

your hands hold a framed photo of peter with his aunt and uncle. you're not sure what age he's at, but it's young. older than when you met him, but young.

"sorry," you say quietly as peter gently takes the photo from your hands. there's too much sorrow in his eyes as he gives it a look, more than you've ever seen a person hold.

"'s fine." peter places the photo back on the center of his desk, forcing his eyes to leave it and focus on anything else.

"about your uncle."

peter crosses over to his bed, taking a seat and a big breath of composure before attempting to speak again. "it's fine."

you join him, taking a careful seat next to him. you didn't think so, but was there really a polite way of saying that?

dark circles hand solemnly under peter's eyes, making his skin look dull. his pale skin is a perfect canvas for the colorful spot on his face, even harsher now in the direct light.

"how are you?" you ask softly.

peter doesn't answer. there's no way to explain, not as your hands pull down his hood and your fingers take peter's chin oh-so-gently, turning his face to examine him better.

every accidental brushing of that bruise is worth the care you take with it now.

"you should ice that."

"yeah, probably." peter's words are soft, his head more focused on the grip he has on his bedsheets.

"your aunt's gonna kill you."

this pulls a laugh out of peter, low and small. "oh, yeah."

you know peter's not one to fight. usually, he's the one getting beat up. but grief can pull people towards uncharacteristic things - which will pull to try and find out all of what peter has been up to.

"you haven't been sleeping." it's less of a question and more of an observation. your hands have dropped from peter's face to your lap and you wait patiently for confirmation.

"i've, uh... been trying to figure some things out."

"like the man who murdered your uncle."

peter is silent. maybe he's not as mysterious as he thought. perhaps there's not much to be explained to you.

peter's speechlessness makes you nervous, the feeling that you've crossed into somewhere you shouldn't be pulling apologies out of your mouth and peter into your arms.

you can't think of much else to sooth him other than rubbing small circles on his back, just like it used to sooth you years ago.

peter's perplexed by this sudden proximity, how far he's jumped in such a short amount of time. there's a new kind of honesty now, no need for lies that you'd manage to see through. he feels the weight of your perceptive gaze, catching on to things no one else has noticed. peter's not sure he hates the attention.

peter's out of your arms but he's close, a mutual pull forcing both of you to barely maintain a distance.

in fact, you think you lean in. you think peter does too.

steps from outside peter's door creates a space of at least two feet between the two of you, a knock making you cough out your surprise and regain your composure.

peter's aunt walks in with two cups, one carefully tucked in the nook of her arm.

"i brought you two... oh, i'm sorry. i didn't mean to interrupt."

the implication that there was something to interrupt warms your face, words to clear up any sort of misunderstanding failing to form in time - peter's aunt is gone before either of you can say anything.

peter's ears are red, color trailing down to adorn his cheeks. something tells you he's quite easy to fluster.

his hand is warm as you take it and squeeze, gently. "i should go," you say quietly.

peter responds with a soft sound of resistance that deepens the color on his face. he's even closer now, your hand oh so gently grasping his face, your thumb grazing over the skin near the corner of his parted lips.

"peter?"

"yeah?"

your forehead has found a spot against his, shallow breaths from peter tickling your nose.

they're slow, the seconds right before your lips meet peter's. your mind is hazy, barely able to retain how gentle peter is, how careful. it's all soft with peter - from the way he touches you to the way his eyes flutter open.

"don't make your aunt worry about you," you mumble, just loud enough for peter to hear, thumb narrowly missing the injury peter sports.

peter's smile only widens, accompanied now by a small laugh. "i don't think there's been a day in the last ten years she hasn't worried about me."

you roll your eyes, though it seems your concerns about leaving so hastily have disappeared now. "don't make me worry about you."

this seems to have no affect on peter's grin. he's lost some of his nerves now, arms wrapping around you loosely to keep you close. "wouldn't dream of it."

peter laughs as you make an escape, helping you off of his bed and back onto your feet. you're dangerously close to another kiss, your focused hooked solely on peter and his helpful hands still in yours.

it takes every ounce of will to let go and force your feet in the other direction. you're only thinking of the next time you'll see peter as you call out a goodbye, interrupted only by something pulling you back into peter's arms.

surprise morphs into confusion as you examine the white line connecting you and peter, the same one that's seemingly pulled you about seven feet.

you're looking at peter for an answer, eyebrows furrowed as you search his face for one. there's nothing but a nervous smile for you, so your eyes drop back to the line for clues.

though, it's not a line.

oh. oh, god.

masterlist

buy me a ko-fi!

[rentehya]

I GOT THE JOB I WANTED I START IN TWO WEEKS ALL IS WELL IN THE WORLD.

oh my GOD i want this job so bad i will scream and cry and sob if this interview doesn't go well

[acute-crashout-jeyuso]

Between the Ropes.. a Jey Uso x Rhea Ripley Fanfic.

Chapter 23: Words...

October 5th, 2024. 1:31 PM.

Jey kissed Rhea softly before heading off to catering, where she had requested brownies. He couldn’t help but smile as he walked away, feeling the warmth of their connection. Their relationship had been through hell, and now, despite the noise around them, they were pushing through. As he made his way through the backstage corridors, Jey bumped into Bayley, someone he hadn’t had much interaction with before.

Jey offered a friendly smile and a casual wave, but Bayley’s response was anything but cordial. Her expression twisted into a look of disgust, and as she passed by, she muttered, “Cheater,” just loud enough for him to hear.

Jey froze for a second, biting his tongue. He’d been hearing it more and more lately, and it still stung every time. The backlash was still very real and he prayed silently it would go away quicker than later.

He shook it off, reminding himself why they were doing this. It was for love, for something real. Still, it hurt. Jey continued walking, forcing himself not to look back.

When he reached catering, the familiar smell of freshly baked goods filled the air, temporarily soothing his frustration. He grabbed a couple of brownies, the ones Rhea specifically asked for, then threw in a few extra snacks just in case.

As he stuffed them into a paper bag, Jey took a deep breath. He wasn't just dealing with public judgment—he was navigating it while trying to move on with his life. For the kids, for Rhea, and for himself.

Walking back, he couldn’t shake Bayley’s words entirely, but he knew that he had to keep pushing forward. Rhea was waiting for him, and for once in a long time, that was all that mattered.

Jey continued on his way back from catering when he spotted Cody Runnels, better known in WWE as the "American Nightmare" Cody Rhodes. Unlike many others, Cody had been one of the few who remained friends with Jey, sticking by his side even after all the drama surrounding his relationship with Rhea and the divorces.

“Hey, Uce!” Cody called out with his usual upbeat energy as they crossed paths. Jey smiled, grateful for the friendly face, and they gave each other a quick hug.

“Cody, what's up, man? How you feelin' about tonight?” Jey asked, shifting the bag of brownies and snacks in his hands.

“Man, I'm hyped,” Cody grinned. “Going up against your brother and your cousin Jacob? This is a big one. I've been preparing like crazy. You know how it is, gotta stay sharp against the Bloodline.”

Jey chuckled. “Yeah, my family don’t play. You’ll be in for a fight, no doubt.”

Cody raised an eyebrow, curious. “Speaking of family… what are you doing here? I didn’t see you on the card for Bad Blood. Thought you’d be back home or something.”

Jey hesitated for a moment, wondering how much to say. Cody wasn’t the judgmental type, but Jey had gotten used to being careful about what he shared, especially after everything became public. But Cody had stuck by him, even after the TMZ headlines and all the backstage whispers.

“Honestly?” Jey started, then shrugged, deciding it was better to be straight with him. “I’m here for moral support—for Rhea.”

Cody gave him a knowing nod, a slight smile creeping onto his face. “Ah, I see. That makes sense. She's got a big match tonight, huh? Liv Morgan, right?”

“Yeah, title match.” Jey smiled softly, thinking about how focused Rhea had been. “She’s ready, but you know how it is. Being here means a lot to her.”

“I respect that, man,” Cody said, clapping Jey on the back. “Rhea’s lucky to have you in her corner. It’s tough to juggle everything, but I see you're doing what you gotta do. Not everyone would understand, but I get it.”

“Thanks, Uce,” Jey replied, feeling a wave of relief. Cody's words hit home more than he realized. “I appreciate that.”

Cody tilted his head with a grin. “No problem. Next time? Bring some of those brownies to catering for me, man.”

Jey laughed, feeling a bit lighter. “You got it, Cody Hakeem Rhodes.”

With that, they said their goodbyes, and Jey continued on his way back to find Rhea. Running into Cody had lifted his spirits, reminding him that not everyone was judging him for the path he’d taken. He knew the journey wasn’t easy, but moments like these made him feel like he could handle it all. Rhea was waiting for him, and that’s where his focus had to stay.

As Jey approached Rhea’s locker room, he saw that the door was wide open. Anxiously, Jey stood at the doorway, his heart skipping a beat as he took in the scene before him. His cousin Savelina, known to the world as Nia Jax, sat with a knowing look on her face. His younger brother Joseph, aka Solo Sikoa, looked a bit more stoic, arms crossed as usual.

Jacob Fatu leaned back in his chair, while Joe-better known as Roman Reigns-was as unreadable as ever. They had been talking, and from the looks of it, it wasn't just small talk.

As Jey stepped further into the room, his heartbeat quickened. He hadn’t expected to find his family here, especially not in such an intimate setting with Rhea. His mind raced, wondering how much they knew and what they had been discussing. The air felt thick with anticipation, and Jey braced himself for what could only be a tough conversation.

Nia was the first to break the silence. She crossed her arms, a smirk playing on her lips. "So, Jey… you failed to mention you proposed to Rhea," she said, raising an eyebrow.

Jey’s stomach dropped. His eyes flicked over to Rhea, who was sitting calmly but with a slight edge of defensiveness. He took a deep breath, biting his cheek to keep from snapping back. He didn’t want to turn this into a confrontation, but he could feel the judgment looming.

"We were gonna keep it a secret for a while," Jey admitted, his voice steady but cautious. He knew how his family could be, and he wasn’t sure how this news would sit with them. Especially not after everything that had already happened.

Nia let out a light chuckle. "Secret, huh? You know I’ve got an eye for these things. I knew what Rhea’s old wedding ring looked like, so when I saw something new, I put two and two together." Her tone wasn’t harsh, but it wasn’t exactly approving either.

Jey felt a pang of frustration. He wasn’t ready for this, for whatever this was about to turn into. "Look," he started, feeling the tension rise in his chest, "if you’re here to talk shit or judge us, then you can just leave. I’ve already heard enough from everyone else."

Before Jey could continue, Joe — Roman — raised a hand, signaling for him to stop. His voice, deep and authoritative, cut through the tension. "Hold up, Jey. That’s not why we’re here."

Jey paused, his eyes narrowing slightly as he looked at his cousin. Roman’s expression was calm but firm, like a man who had already thought through what he was about to say. Jey respected Roman, but there was still a part of him that was always on edge around him, especially given the power Roman held in the family dynamic.

"We’re not here to talk shit," Roman continued, his voice measured. "We’re here because we needed to understand. Things have been chaotic, and there’s been a lot of noise… but you’re still our family."

Jey’s eyes softened slightly, though he remained cautious. "Yeah? Then why does it feel like every time I turn around, I’m being judged?"

Roman leaned back in his chair, exhaling deeply. "Because, Uce, you made a choice. With choices come consequences. But that doesn’t mean we’re here to tear you down."

Solo, who had been sitting quietly the whole time, finally spoke up. "It’s been a lot, man. For all of us. But we’re not here to hate on you or Rhea. We just… we needed to know what’s next. Where do we go from here?"

Jey glanced at Rhea, who gave him a small, reassuring nod. She had been through so much with him already, and her presence in this moment felt like a lifeline. He appreciated the fact that, for once, she wasn’t the one under fire. But that didn’t make this conversation any easier.

"We’re moving forward," Jey said, his voice stronger now. "Together. Rhea and me. Yeah, I proposed. But I didn’t think it was something the whole world needed to know right away."

Nia sighed, her expression softening just a little. "We’re not against you, Jey. Or Rhea. It’s just… it’s hard to wrap our heads around everything that’s happened. One day, you’re married to Takecia, and the next, you’re with Rhea. It’s a lot."

Jey nodded, understanding where she was coming from, even if it still stung. "I get it. Believe me, I do. But life’s messy. Things changed. I love Rhea. That’s not something I’m gonna apologize for."

Roman stood up, walking over to Jey. The room was silent for a moment, the tension slowly dissipating as Roman looked his cousin in the eye. "We don’t need an apology, Jey. What we need is to know you’ve got your head on straight. That you’re not about to fall apart under the pressure."

Jey swallowed hard, his emotions swirling inside him. He had been through so much—public scrutiny, family drama, heartbreak. But in this moment, as he stood face to face with Roman, he knew one thing for sure: he wasn’t going to let anyone tear down what he and Rhea had built.

"My head’s on straight," Jey said, his voice resolute. "And I’m not falling apart. Not anymore."

Roman nodded, seemingly satisfied with Jey’s response. He placed a hand on Jey’s shoulder, a gesture of solidarity. "Good. Then we move forward. As a family."

Jey looked around the room, feeling the weight of the moment. This wasn’t just about him and Rhea anymore. It was about his family, his blood, and their ability to accept the path he had chosen.

"Thanks," Jey muttered, his throat tight with emotion. He wasn’t used to this kind of support, not after everything that had gone down, but it meant more to him than he could say.

Rhea stood up and moved to stand beside Jey, her hand slipping into his. She had been silent through most of the conversation, but her presence was powerful. She looked up at him, her eyes full of understanding.

"Looks like you’ve got a whole new chapter to write, huh?" Nia said with a soft smile.

Jey glanced at Rhea, then back at his family. "Yeah," he said quietly. "I guess we do."

—

After Jey’s family had finally left, the locker room settled into a calm silence. Rhea, unfazed by the earlier tension, was doing some light stretches, loosening her muscles for the match ahead. Jey was sprawled out on the bench, watching a movie on his phone, occasionally glancing up at her. It was a peaceful moment, one they both desperately needed after the whirlwind of drama that had been swirling around them lately.

Jey looked up again, admiring her for a second, before something caught his eye. His heart skipped a beat when he saw a small patch of red on the lower part of her abdomen.

“Babe, your stomach…” Jey said quickly, sitting up and reaching for a nearby towel. He was on his feet in seconds, concern flooding his voice.

Rhea glanced down, noticing the blood. “Shit,” she muttered, still stretching slightly. “Guess those stitches weren’t as fully dissolved as I thought.”

Jey knelt beside her, gently dabbing the towel against the small wound. His touch was careful, even though he was clearly a bit shaken. “Looks like one of them didn’t,” he replied, inspecting her stomach more closely. “It’s not too bad, though.”

He stood up and went over to the locker, where someone from backstage had stashed some medical supplies just in case. As he retrieved the wound sealant and a fresh bandage, Rhea smirked, watching him move with so much care.

“Always so careful with me,” she commented, her voice soft. There was a hint of admiration in her tone.

Jey gave her a small smile, his focus remaining on her as he knelt back down to tend to her wound. He applied the sealant gently, his hands moving with the precision of someone who had done this more than once, and replaced the bandage over the cut.

“I gotta be careful, baby,” he said, eyes focused on his work. “You mean too much to me.”

Rhea chuckled, leaning back slightly, her fingers brushing through his hair. “Who would’ve thought you’d make a damn good nurse?”

Jey laughed softly, finishing up the bandage. “I’d make a good anything for you, girl.”

—

It was September 2nd, 2024, and Jey and Rhea had managed to carve out a moment of solitude amidst the chaos. They’d snuck away from everyone, retreating to the quiet sanctuary of Jey’s hotel room. The two were cuddled up, scrolling through the movie options, looking for something that could distract them for a while. The room was dimly lit, the soft glow from the TV casting shadows across the room.

"How about Harlem Nights?" Jey asked, pausing on the title.

Rhea, resting against his chest, glanced up. "Never seen it."

Jey blinked, then shot her a playful look of disbelief. "What? You’ve never seen Harlem Nights? Oh, nah, Mami, we gotta fix that right now," he said, dramatically throwing his arm over his forehead like he was in physical pain. "It’s one of my favorites. Eddie Murphy, Richard Pryor—it's a classic! Old school hustlers running a nightclub. It's hilarious and slick. You’re gonna love it."

Rhea couldn’t help but laugh at his over-the-top reaction, the sound of her laughter lightening the mood even more. "Alright, alright," she relented, "you sold me on it. Let’s watch it."

Grinning, Jey hit play and settled back down next to her, wrapping his arm around her shoulders as the opening credits began to roll. She leaned into him, their bodies fitting together naturally as they got comfortable under the blanket.

Just as the movie began, Jey’s phone buzzed on the nightstand. He sighed softly and leaned over to check it. It was a message from Takecia, something about Jeyce’s dental bill—$300 for his checkup and lab work. He read it quickly and, without hesitation, sent the money to her account. He labeled it 'Dentist + Groceries', not wanting to dwell on it, then tossed his phone back down.

"Who was that?" Rhea asked, her voice soft as she looked up at him.

"Just a reminder to pay my bill," Jey replied smoothly, his tone casual, not wanting to let anything distract from their time together. He pulled her in closer, brushing it off like it was nothing.

Rhea smiled, content with his answer, and they both turned their attention back to the movie. The lively, comedic energy of Harlem Nights filled the room, but as the scenes played out, Rhea found her mind wandering. She glanced up at Jey from time to time, the way he was so at ease, the way he fit into her life in a way she hadn’t expected. Suddenly, it hit her—this terrifying realization that she might actually be falling in love with him.

The thought scared her more than she wanted to admit. After everything they had gone through—the complications, the secrets, the baggage of their past relationships—it seemed like loving him was dangerous. But as she looked at him, she couldn’t help it. It was happening.

As if sensing her gaze, Jey looked down at her, their eyes meeting in the dim light of the room. They didn’t need to say anything. Their smiles said it all.

Before they knew it, their lips met in a kiss—slow at first, like they were testing the waters, then deepening, becoming something more intense, more passionate. The world seemed to slip away as they got lost in each other, the movie playing on forgotten in the background. Their kisses grew more urgent, hands roaming, their breath mingling as the temperature in the room rose.

It wasn’t until Rhea finally pulled back, gasping for air, that they realized how long they had been making out. Both of them were breathing heavily, their foreheads resting against each other as they tried to catch their breath.

"Well," Jey said, his voice still rough from the intensity of the moment, "that escalated quickly."

Rhea laughed softly, her cheeks flushed as she pushed a strand of hair out of her face. "Yeah, just a little. I feel like a teenager again..” She giggled.

“My teenage love affair…” Jey said as he pushed a strand of hair back from her face.

They shared a smile, still lost in the afterglow of the kiss, their connection deepening in a way that words couldn’t quite capture. Neither of them spoke after that, but they didn’t need to. The unspoken feelings hung in the air between them, undeniable and real. In that quiet, intimate space, they both knew that everything between them had just shifted.

—

October 5th, 2024 4:53 P.M.

Jey leaned over and kissed Rhea as they relaxed in the locker room, the atmosphere between them easy and light. As they lounged together, the door opened and Damian strolled in, looking relaxed but curious. “What’s up, lovebirds?” he teased, throwing his bag down and making his way over to them.

Jey glanced at Rhea with a smirk, and then turned to Damian, asking, “So, has she told you yet?”

Damian raised an eyebrow, clearly confused. “Told me what?”

Rhea, with a mischievous smile, held up her hand, her engagement ring catching the light. “This,” she said, her voice full of warmth as she displayed the ring.

Damian’s eyes widened, and a huge grin spread across his face. “No way!” He practically leapt across the room, grabbing Rhea’s hand to get a better look. “I’m gone for two days and y’all go and get engaged?” he exclaimed, his excitement evident.

Jey laughed, throwing an arm around Rhea’s shoulders. “It was overdue, man.”

Damian looked between the two of them, his grin never fading. “Well, it’s about damn time! I’m so happy for you guys.”

Rhea beamed, her fingers still in Damian’s grip as she squeezed his hand in thanks. Jey, leaning back a little, smirked. “Now you know what’s next, right?”

Damian raised an eyebrow. “You guys planning a wedding already?”

Jey nodded. “Actually, yeah. We’ve been talking about it.”

Damian sat back, crossing his arms and looking at the two with curiosity. “Alright, hit me with it. What’s the plan?”

Jey’s smile widened as he glanced at Rhea before turning back to Damian. “We’re thinking three weddings.”

“Three?” Damian repeated, intrigued. “Why three?”

Rhea jumped in, clearly excited about their plans. “First one at the courthouse, just something small and quick with Jon and Trinity. Then we’re doing one in Vegas—full-on party, wild vibes, you know? And the third, the big one, in Samoa.”

Jey nodded, adding, “Samoa’s gonna be more traditional, a proper ceremony with family, honoring our culture.”

Damian’s smile grew even wider. “Three weddings, huh? That’s bold. I love it.”

Rhea then shifted in her seat, looking a bit more serious but still smiling. “Actually, Damian… there’s something else.”

Damian looked at her, curiosity written all over his face. “Yeah?”

Rhea took a breath, and then asked, “Would you walk me down the aisle in Vegas?”

For a second, Damian seemed stunned, processing what she had just asked. Then, in true Damian fashion, he broke into the biggest grin. “Are you serious? You want me to walk you down the aisle?”

Rhea nodded, her eyes shining. “Of course. You’re my best friend, Damian. I wouldn’t want anyone else.”

Damian was so thrilled he couldn’t contain himself. He scooped Rhea up in his arms, lifting her off the ground as he spun her around. Rhea laughed in surprise, her arms instinctively wrapping around his neck as he twirled her, her laughter filling the room. “Damian! Put me down!” she cried, though she was laughing too hard to really be mad.

Jey watched the scene with an amused grin, shaking his head. “Careful, man. Don’t break her before the wedding.”

Damian finally set Rhea back down, still beaming with excitement. “I’m so honored, Rhea. You have no idea. I can’t wait. It’s gonna be epic.”

Rhea smoothed out her clothes, still laughing as she caught her breath. “I knew you’d be perfect for it.”

Jey leaned back, arms crossed, clearly pleased with how happy everyone was. “You know, this is gonna be one hell of a wedding. I can already see it.”

Damian, still buzzing with excitement, looked at Jey and Rhea, his eyes full of emotion. “I’m so proud of you two. You guys have been through so much, and to see this… it’s just, man, I’m happy for you both.”

Rhea smiled warmly, reaching out to take Jey’s hand, intertwining her fingers with his. “Thanks, Damian. It means a lot.”

Jey gave Damian a nod, his expression softening. “Yeah, man. Appreciate it.”

The room was filled with a quiet, joyful energy as the three of them sat there, thinking about everything that had brought them to this moment. The road had been long, filled with its share of challenges, but now they were looking ahead to a future that was full of promise, full of love, and full of celebration.

As the conversation shifted back to wedding plans, Damian started going on about what kind of suit he should wear for Vegas and whether or not there should be a theme for the reception. Jey and Rhea exchanged amused glances, knowing that with Damian involved, their Vegas wedding was bound to be unforgettable.

—

11:21 p.m.

After the PLE, Jey and Rhea arrived at the Waldorf Astoria, the city lights glowing softly against the night sky. The ride had been long and exhausting, especially for Rhea, who had fallen asleep on Jey's shoulder. Her championship match had left her physically drained, and she didn’t want to talk about it. She had quietly mentioned earlier that her stomach had been bothering her, likely from the bumps Liv had given her in the ring. Liv, trying to be cautious, had taken it easy, but it hadn’t been enough to keep Rhea from feeling the impact.

The Uber came to a smooth stop outside the hotel, and Jey carefully eased his way out of the car. He glanced over at Rhea, who hadn’t stirred. She was still fast asleep, her body slumped against the seat, completely worn out. Waving over the bellhop, Jey motioned to their bags, and the young man eagerly came forward to assist.

Jey gently shook Rhea awake, his voice soft. “Babe, we’re here.”

Rhea barely opened her eyes, her words a sleepy murmur. “Carry me,” she muttered, her exhaustion evident in her tone.

Jey’s brow furrowed in concern, but he nodded. He didn’t want to push her after everything she’d gone through tonight. He walked over to the bellhop and explained, “Reservation under Fatu.” One of the bellhops quickly moved to the desk to retrieve the keycards while another helped with the luggage.

Carefully, Jey scooped Rhea up in his arms, carrying her bridal-style toward the entrance. She nuzzled her face against his chest, still half-asleep, while he stepped into the elevator with the bellhops following behind. They rode up to the 6th floor, the only sound being the soft hum of the elevator and the quiet breathing of Rhea against him.

When they reached the suite, the bellhops opened the door and led the way in, setting the bags down carefully. Jey stepped in, carrying Rhea straight to the bed. He gently laid her down, her Damian Priest shirt wrinkling slightly as she shifted under the comforter. He gave a nod of thanks to the bellhops, reaching into his wallet to hand them each a generous tip.

“Could you put in an order to room service for some 7Up and soup, please?” Jey asked before they left.

“Of course, sir,” one of the bellhops replied, nodding quickly before they both exited the room, leaving Jey and Rhea alone.

Jey sighed softly and sat down on the edge of the bed, his hand resting on Rhea’s cheek. She barely stirred, her exhaustion overwhelming her. “I shouldn’t have come back so soon,” she mumbled, her voice heavy with fatigue.

“Don’t blame yourself,” Jey whispered, brushing a lock of hair away from her face. “You did amazing out there.”

Rhea’s eyes fluttered shut again, too tired to respond. Jey pressed a soft kiss to her forehead before gently undressing her, leaving her in just the oversized Damian Priest shirt. He pulled the comforter over her, tucking her in with care, and then held her hand, watching her as her breathing steadied into a deep, peaceful sleep.

Jey sighed, a mix of pride and worry swirling inside him. He hated seeing her this drained, but he knew she was strong. She always pushed herself to the limit, and even though he admired her for that, he couldn’t help but feel protective.

Leaning back on the pillows next to her, Jey kept her hand in his, his eyes fixed on the ceiling. He was tired too, but there was no way he was leaving her side tonight. Not after everything she had gone through.

Just then, there was a knock on the door. Room service had arrived. Jey quietly got up, careful not to disturb Rhea, and opened the door. The server brought in the tray with the 7Up and soup, setting it down on the small table by the window. Jey thanked them before closing the door and returning to Rhea’s side.

He placed the drink on the nightstand next to her in case she woke up later, then laid down beside her again, pulling her gently into his arms. Rhea stirred slightly, snuggling into him, and for the first time that night, Jey felt a sense of calm. They had each other, and that was all that mattered.

--

Rhea struggled in her sleep, her body restless as her mind tortured her with vivid, painful memories. The hospital replayed itself in her head—Trinity’s face filled with sorrow as she told Rhea she had lost the baby. Then the memories shifted, dark and haunting: snorting the pills, the haze they put her in, and, worst of all, Matt’s brutal assault. It all came flooding back, a horrifying loop, each moment bleeding into the next, dragging her deeper into a nightmare.

Her body began to move more violently under the covers, her fists clenching, and she let out a whimper. Jey, who had been lightly dozing, immediately stirred. He blinked, realizing Rhea was tossing and turning more than usual. Sitting up, he reached out to her, worry etched on his face. “Rhea,” he said softly at first, gently shaking her arm, but she only thrashed harder.

“No!” Rhea yelled, her voice filled with fear.

Jey’s heart raced. “Babe, wake up,” he said more firmly, his grip tightening on her arm to try to pull her out of whatever nightmare was holding her.

“No! Don’t hurt me!” Rhea screamed, her voice raw with terror. She flailed again, this time her fist coming up instinctively—and before Jey could react, it connected with his face, squarely on his nose.

"Ow!" Jey yelped, immediately holding his nose as blood started to trickle down. “Rhea!” he shouted, more in shock than pain.

Rhea snapped awake, her breathing erratic and eyes wide with fear. She saw Jey beside her, holding his nose, and her heart plummeted. “Babe, are you okay? What happened?” she asked, her voice shaking, not fully comprehending what she had done.

Jey’s face contorted with a mixture of pain and amusement. “I love you,” he started, wincing as he gingerly touched his nose. “But you just punched the hell out of me…”

Rhea’s eyes widened, her hand flying to her mouth as the realization of what she’d done hit her. “Oh my God… I’m so sorry! I didn’t mean to—I didn’t know—” she began to ramble, her hands trembling as she tried to check his nose, completely panicked.

Jey waved her off gently with his free hand, still holding his nose with the other. “It’s okay, babe, it’s okay. Just… maybe next time don’t dream about fighting me, yeah?” he joked, trying to lighten the mood despite the situation.

Rhea, however, wasn’t laughing. Her eyes were filled with guilt, and her whole body was shaking. “I’m sorry… I didn’t mean to. I was—” She paused, the memories from her nightmare still fresh, her voice breaking. “I was dreaming about… him.”

Jey’s expression softened immediately, his own discomfort forgotten. He lowered his hand from his nose, wiping at the blood with his sleeve, and pulled Rhea into his arms. She melted into him, burying her face in his chest, as tears silently escaped her.

“I’m sorry,” she whispered again, her voice muffled.

Jey kissed the top of her head, his grip on her firm yet gentle. “You don’t have to apologize, Rhea. It wasn’t your fault.” He held her tighter, stroking her hair. “I’m here. You’re safe.”

Rhea’s breathing began to slow as she listened to Jey’s heartbeat, grounding her in the present. Jey winced again, reaching for a tissue to catch the blood from his nose, but he kept one arm wrapped securely around her, not wanting to let go.

After a few minutes of silence, Rhea spoke again, her voice small. “I hate that it still haunts me. I thought I was stronger than this.”

“You are strong,” Jey reassured her, lifting her chin so he could look into her eyes. “You’ve been through hell and back, and you’re still here. You’re still fighting. And I’ll be right here with you. Always.”

Rhea sniffled, nodding, her tears slowly subsiding. “I don’t deserve you.”

Jey smiled softly, brushing a tear away from her cheek. “Nah, I’m the lucky one.”

Rhea let out a small, shaky laugh, her heart swelling with love for him. She reached up to his face, gently touching his bruised nose. “I’ll get you some ice for that.”

Jey grinned through the discomfort. “Yeah, I think I’m gonna need it.” Rhea got up from the bed and opened the mini fridge and saw a small Perrier bottle of water, she figured it'll do. She brought it out and she sat next to Jey and gently pressed the glass bottle to his nose, he winced and Rhea frowned. "Babe… it's okay for real.." Jey said noticing her frown. "I guess I got that superman punch.." Rhea said.

They both laughed, the tension slowly easing as they sat together. Rhea pulled back the bottle once the bleeding stopped and she leaned her head back on Jey’s shoulder, and for the first time since the nightmare began, she felt a sense of peace returning. With Jey by her side, maybe, just maybe, she could continue to heal from all the pain.

-

Sunday October 6th

Jey woke up to the sound of the alarm blaring at 7:30 AM, the bright screen illuminating the dark hotel room. He rubbed his eyes and glanced at the clock, realizing they had a flight to St. Louis at 10 AM. Nudging Rhea gently, he whispered, “Hey, sleepyhead, time to wake up. We’ve got to get ready for St. Louis.”

Rhea stirred, mumbling something incoherent as she rolled over. Jey chuckled, leaning closer to her. “Come on, we need to shower and hit the road.”

They had reached a level of comfort in their relationship where sharing a shower felt completely natural. It wasn’t about intimacy but rather a simple, affectionate routine that had become a part of their daily lives. As the warm water cascaded down, they enjoyed the peaceful moment together, laughing and teasing as they washed up.

After they finished, they dried off and began their morning routine. Rhea was in the middle of brushing her hair when she noticed Jey's bruised nose, the aftermath of her unintentional assault during the night. “Come here,” she said, setting her brush down and walking over to him.

Jey raised an eyebrow, a playful smile creeping onto his face. “What are you gonna do? Put me in makeup?”

“Actually, yes,” she replied, a grin forming. She reached for her universal contour palette that Liv had gifted her last year for her birthday, flipping it open to reveal a variety of shades. She found one that matched Jey's skin tone perfectly.

“Sit still,” she instructed, and Jey complied, a mock-serious expression crossing his face as he pretended to be a model.

Rhea focused intently, applying some primer first to ensure the makeup would set in place. She carefully used the creams and powders, blending them seamlessly over the bruising on his nose. “You might want to avoid getting into fights with your fiancée,” she joked, glancing up at him with a wink.

Jey laughed, his eyes sparkling. “I’ll keep that in mind.”

After she was satisfied with the base, Rhea gently covered Jey's eyes, carefully spraying setting spray on the small spots where the bruising was starting to appear. “There. You look almost normal,” she teased, stepping back to admire her handiwork.

Jey chuckled, touching his nose lightly and pretending to be impressed. “I should hire you as my personal makeup artist.”

“Only if you promise to wear my looks every day.” Rhea quipped, crossing her arms, referencing to her routine dark make up look.

“Deal!” Jey grinned, knowing she was joking but loving the playful banter between them.

As they finished getting ready, the lighthearted atmosphere helped to ease any remnants of tension from the night before. Rhea felt a sense of normalcy returning, and with Jey by her side, she knew she could face whatever challenges awaited them in St. Louis. They shared a quick kiss before heading out the door, ready to take on the day together.

--

Rhea sat by the airplane window, gazing out at the clouds as they soared through the sky. The steady hum of the engines was almost calming, but her mind was elsewhere, filled with thoughts of the future. She turned to Jey, her eyes catching the glint of the matching permanent bracelet on his wrist. A small smile played on her lips as she reached over, gently rubbing her thumb over it, feeling the connection between them in that tiny piece of jewelry.

Jey, sensing her touch, looked at her with curiosity. “What?” he asked, his voice soft, a tender smile spreading across his face.

Rhea’s eyes sparkled as she looked at him, feeling a warmth inside her chest. “What are your plans for us, Joshua Samuel Fatu?” she teased, using his full name.

Jey took a deep breath, the weight of his words forming in his heart before he spoke them. His hand found hers, their fingers intertwining as he began, “Demi Fatu… we are going to build a life together, one that’s everything we’ve dreamed of and more. You’re going to move in with me, and we’re going to make that house our home—every holiday, every season. We’ll decorate it the way we like, fill it with love and laughter. You’re going to become a stepmother to my kids, and in time, you’ll be a mother to our own children. I’ll adopt your dogs, and even that little fur-asshole of a cat,” he laughed, “and I’ll be a fur daddy, for real.”

His voice grew more serious as he continued, the intensity of his love for her clear in his tone. “We’ll get through everything, babe. The good, the bad—everything. I’m going to devote my life to you, to us. We’re going to marry as soon as these divorces are finalized, and then we won’t have to worry about anything else. No more secrets, no more fears. Just you and me, in this life together, for the long haul. I’m with you, Demi. Always.”

Rhea’s eyes glistened with tears she fought to hold back, her heart swelling with the depth of his words. She looked at him, her voice soft, almost breaking as she asked, “You’ll stand by me? Even with my true crime obsession?” She laughed, trying to lighten the moment, her usual playful self shining through.

Jey grinned, his thumb brushing gently against the back of her hand. “Even with your true crime obsession,” he chuckled. “Though I gotta admit, sometimes that stuff really does freak me out.”

They both laughed lightly, the moment shared between them warm and intimate. Jey leaned in and kissed her softly, their lips meeting in a quiet promise, the weight of their love felt in that simple act.

As Rhea pulled back, she turned her gaze back to the window, watching the clouds drift by beneath them. The future they envisioned together felt closer than ever, and in that moment, nothing else mattered but the two of them and the life they were about to create.

--

Jey and Rhea had just landed in St. Louis and were in their car rental heading straight to their hotel. The flight had been long, and both of them were ready to relax after the whirlwind of events from yesterday. As soon as they arrived at the hotel, they collapsed onto the bed, exhausted. They slept for a solid four hours, the fatigue from Rhea’s match still lingering in her bones.

When they woke up, it was nearing the late afternoon. Jey stretched out, feeling slightly more energized. He turned to Rhea, asking, “You wanna do something, babe? We’ve been cooped up for a while.”

Rhea thought about it for a moment, her body still aching. “I’m still tired, honestly… but something light would be nice. I just don’t wanna be stuck in this room all night.”

Jey nodded and pulled out his phone, scrolling through possible attractions in St. Louis. He showed her the famous Arch, suggesting they check it out, but Rhea made a face. “Maybe something air-conditioned? I’m not ready for the heat again.”

Jey laughed and kept scrolling, trying to find the perfect low-key activity. Before he could settle on something, Rhea’s phone buzzed with a FaceTime call. She glanced at the screen and saw it was Damian. “Babe, it’s Damian,” she said, answering the call. Damian’s face appeared on the screen, and he was taking a shot just as Rhea answered.

Rhea raised an eyebrow. “Isn’t it a bit early for that?” she asked with a smirk.

Damian grinned, clearly in a good mood. “Nah, it’s never too early for a shot, especially when you’re celebrating. Where you guys at?”

“We’re at the Marriott,” Rhea replied, turning the camera toward Jey, who gave a quick wave.

Damian’s grin widened. “Perfect! I’ll send you the address to where I’m at. Come meet me!” Before Rhea could respond, Damian hung up the call. A minute later, her phone dinged with a text message.

Rhea glanced at the message and then looked at Jey. “I don’t like how my fellow Terror Twin is acting already.”

Jey chuckled but nodded in agreement. “Yeah, I’m kinda worried too. Last time we hung out like that, I ended up getting fined. I’d like to avoid that again.”

Rhea laughed, but her eyes held the same concern. “We should come up with a safe word. You know, just in case we need an escape plan.”

Jey grinned, thinking for a second. “Alright, how about ‘Yeet’? That’ll be our code.”

Rhea blinked, giving him a blank stare before bursting into laughter. “Yeet? Seriously?”

Jey shrugged, laughing with her. “It’s effective, isn’t it?”

Rhea leaned into him, her eyes softening. “I’m marrying you because I love you… and maybe despite your questionable choices.”

Jey smiled warmly, pulling her into a gentle kiss. “I love you too. Now, let’s go see what kind of trouble Damian’s got us into this time.”

After Rhea had touched up her makeup, she decided to change out of her comfy sweats into something that felt more like her, something that would match the vibe of the night. Jey lay back on the bed, scrolling through his phone, but he couldn’t help stealing glances at Rhea as she moved about the room. He smirked, watching her peel off her sweatpants and slip into something a bit more her style.

“Go slow,” he teased with a grin, the playful glint in his eyes unmistakable.

Rhea rolled her eyes with a laugh. “Not even, you clown.”

Jey chuckled, enjoying the easy banter between them. As Rhea finished getting ready, she finally stood before him, dressed and ready for the night, her makeup perfectly done and her outfit on point. She turned to him with a playful smirk. “So, do I look good?”

Jey sat up, giving her a once-over, taking in how stunning she looked. “You’re my twin..” He said in referencing to his outfit.

He got up, moving to his side of the bed where his Cuban chain lay. It was something he admired, a piece of jewelry he had worn it often and held it close. Rhea saw what he was doing and immediately started shaking her head.

“No, babe, that’s yours—don’t,” she said.

But Jey was already behind her, lifting the chain and placing it gently around her neck. He clasped it and let his hands rest on her shoulders for a moment, his voice low as he spoke. “Now you’re dripping in diamonds.”

Rhea looked down at the Cuban chain resting against her collarbone and smiled, her heart swelling with love for him. She turned back to face him, her fingers brushing over the cool metal.

“You didn’t have to do that,” she murmured, feeling the weight of the chain.

“I know,” Jey said, meeting her eyes. “But I wanted to. It looks better on you anyway.”

Rhea’s smile widened, and she leaned in to give him a soft kiss, appreciating his gesture more than she could put into words.

“So, fast food, right?” Jey said, pulling back with a grin, breaking the moment just enough to lighten the mood.

Rhea nodded. “Yeah, can you Google directions? I’m thinking McDonald’s sounds good right now.”

“McDonald’s it is,” Jey said, pulling out his phone to look up the nearest one. As he typed away, he couldn’t help but feel a deep sense of pride watching Rhea wear his chain, like a quiet but powerful acknowledgment of the bond they shared.

With the directions sorted, he grabbed Rhea’s black jacket as they headed for the door and handed it to her, ready to grab a quick bite before diving into whatever chaos Damian had in store for them. But even amidst the excitement, it was the quiet moments like these—wrapped in love and laughter—that made everything feel right.

Jey and Rhea pulled up to the McDonald’s drive-thru, ordering two Big Mac meals with a sense of comfort in their usual routine. Once they got their food, Jey parked in the lot, and they sat there, enjoying a quiet meal together.

“Processed food to the rescue again,” Rhea quipped as she took a bite.

Jey chuckled, wiping his mouth. “Always does the trick, huh?”

Once they finished, Jey cleared the trash and put the directions to Damian’s place into his phone. “Twenty minutes away,” he told Rhea, who sighed in relief.

“Perfect. I don’t have the energy for anything longer.”

The drive was peaceful, the city of St. Louis passing by as they enjoyed the quiet company. As they turned into Damian’s neighborhood, they both noticed how packed the street was—cars lined up on both sides, filling every spot near the house.

“What’s going on here?” Jey said, eyebrows raised as he drove past the house. The music was booming from inside, and they could hear it thumping through the neighborhood.

“Is this… a party?” Rhea asked, confused. She pulled out her phone, double-checking the text Damian had sent. “He didn’t say anything about a party.”

Jey found a spot at the far end of the street and parked, the two of them getting out and looking back toward the house as the music grew louder. Rhea squeezed Jey’s hand, her unease slowly building. She wasn’t expecting this at all.

“Is that Bad Bunny playing?” Jey asked, a small smile forming as they walked toward the house.

Rhea nodded, letting out a breathy laugh. “Has to be Damian. But why didn’t he mention this?”

“I don’t know,” Jey said, glancing at her. “I thought we were just going to hang out. He didn’t say anything about a crowd.”

As they approached, they noticed the house was alive with activity. The booming music came from inside, but there wasn’t anyone outside to greet them. Rhea looked at Jey, her expression somewhere between amused and exhausted. “I don’t know if I’m ready for this.”

Jey gave her hand a squeeze, nodding. “We can always leave if it’s too much. Remember, ‘Yeet.’���

Rhea laughed softly. “Right. Yeet.”

Jey smiled, his gaze softening as he looked at her. “We’ll see what’s going on. If it’s too wild, we’re out of here.”

Rhea took a deep breath, nodding in agreement. “Let’s see what Damian’s gotten himself into.”

Jey knocked on the door, but there was no response. He knocked again, louder this time, assuming the music was too loud for anyone to hear. Finally, the door swung open, revealing a very buzzed Liv Morgan, clad in sweats and a hoodie, a glass of what looked like a fancy drink—maybe a cosmo—in her hand.

“Rhea!” Liv exclaimed, her face lighting up as she pulled Rhea into a hug. Rhea was surprised; she had seen Liv drunk on Total Divas but had never experienced it in person.

“Wow, you’re really feeling it, huh?” Rhea laughed, pulling back to assess her friend.

“Just a little!” Liv giggled, her eyes sparkling. “Come on in!” She stepped aside, welcoming Jey and Rhea into the lively atmosphere.

As they entered, the loud music surrounded them, and the energy was infectious. Liv led them to the kitchen, where they found Damian, Kayden, and Kayden’s tag team partner, Kacy, better known as Katana Chance. They were gathered around the counter, debating which bottle of liquor to take shots from.

“Look who’s here!” Damian shouted, his face lighting up when he spotted Rhea. He moved over to hug her tightly, his buzz evident in his embrace.

“Hey, Damian! You really started the party without us!” Rhea teased, glancing around at the cluttered kitchen.

“Just getting warmed up!” he replied, beaming with excitement. “Shots, anyone?”

Liv chimed in, pouring from an unknown tequila bottle. “This is going to be fun! Get the lime, Damian!”

As Liv poured the shots, Damian turned to Jey and Rhea. “Have you ever had genuine tequila from Mexico?”

They exchanged glances, then shook their heads nervously. “Nope, can’t say we have,” Jey said.

Damian laughed, handing the couple a pair of limes. “You’re in for a treat!”

Liv passed out the shots, and just as they were about to raise them, a very drunk JD McDonagh stumbled into the kitchen. “Awh shit, it’s Main Event and the Eradicator!” he exclaimed, slurring his words slightly.

“Hey, Funkopop!” Rhea greeted him with a smirk.

JD pouted, “I want a shot!”

Liv playfully chided him, “Slow down! It’s only 6 PM!”

Rhea couldn’t help but laugh at the scene. “Liv, you’re already buzzing! Are you sure you can handle it?”

“I’m buzzed, not drunk!” Liv protested, mock indignation in her voice. “There’s a difference!”

Jey rolled his eyes playfully. “Let’s just hope you remember this tomorrow.”

As the atmosphere filled with laughter and camaraderie, Rhea felt a rush of warmth, grateful for this moment of fun amidst the chaos of their lives. With a nod from Jey, they all raised their shots in unison and took the shots. Rhea’s face scrunched as she quickly sucked on the lime. Jey didn’t budge but he did feel the heat of the liquor down his throat.

Rhea turned to Damian, curiosity dancing in her eyes. “Who all is here?”

“A lot of people from the PLE,” Damian replied, his enthusiasm palpable. “I even invited Cody, and he’s not usually into these kinds of parties. But he brought the Wheatley vodka, and that’s what got JD to show up.”

Just as he spoke, JD stumbled back into the living room, dramatically slurring, “WHEATLEY SO GOOD YOU’LL DRINK IT NEATLY!” His exaggerated proclamation earned a few chuckles from the crowd, and Rhea and Jey exchanged amused glances.

As “My Type” by Saweetie kicked in, Kayden clapped her hands and shouted, “Come over here, my bisexual Undertaker!” She playfully dragged Damian into the dance, both of them moving to the rhythm as Kayden performed an infamous twerk on Damian, drawing laughter and cheers from the onlookers.

Jey shook his head, a smirk tugging at his lips. “Babe, you know I’m damn near 40 years old. I feel so out of place.”

Rhea shot him a teasing look, leaning closer. “You want me to do that on you?”

Jey’s eyes sparkled with mischief. “I’m open to it.”

“Maybe later if you’re good,” Rhea winked, turning her attention back to Liv, who was in the process of mixing a colorful drink.

Jey opened the fridge and noted the impressive collection of Wheatley Vodka bottles lining the shelves. “I need to have a word with Cody about this liquor situation,” he said, shaking his head in disbelief.

“Go ahead! I’ll be here with Liv,” Rhea replied, taking a seat at the counter, her demeanor relaxed yet alert.

With a quick nod, Jey ventured through the house, greeting various wrestlers mingling in the living room and dining room. The atmosphere was lively, filled with laughter and loud music. After a short search, he finally spotted Cody’s signature platinum blonde hair peeking from the backyard.

Sitting beside him was his younger brother, Joseph. Jey approached, and Joseph stood up to greet his brother with a warm hug.

“What's up, guys? What are you two doing out here?” Jey asked, sinking into a chair across from them.

Cody leaned back, a relaxed grin plastered on his face. “Just enjoying the evening and trying to keep up with the chaos inside. Damian knows how to throw a party.”

Joseph chuckled, glancing back toward the house. “Yeah, it’s a wild one. Just trying to keep it all together. The last time I saw Damian this hyped, we got fined.”

Jey laughed, shaking his head. “I didn’t think I’d feel out of place at one of these gatherings, but here we are. I feel like I need a T-shirt that says ‘I’m too old for this.’”

Cody raised his drink, clinking it lightly against Jey’s bottle. “You’re never too old to have a good time, man. Let loose! This crowd will bring your youth back in no time.”

“Speaking of that Wheatley vodka situation,” Jey said, raising an eyebrow. “I didn’t know you were the one bringing it. That’s bold.”

Cody shrugged with a smirk, mischief glinting in his eyes. “Gotta keep the fun going, right? Just a little something to spice things up. You want some?”

Jey shook his head, grinning. “I’ll stick with beer for now. I’ll leave the hard stuff to the younger crowd. Besides, I have to keep my wits about me with Rhea mixing it up in there.”

Joseph laughed, shaking his head. “You know she’ll be the life of the party. Just wait until she gets on that dance floor.”

Jey nodded, a smile spreading across his face as he thought of Rhea enjoying herself. “Yeah, she’s got that energy. I just hope she doesn’t go too hard. I’ve got to keep an eye on her.”

Cody smirked. “Good luck with that! But hey, you’ve got to have some fun yourself. We’re all here to unwind a bit.”

“Yeah, I get that,” Jey replied, glancing back toward the house. “Maybe I’ll join them in a little while. Just trying to shake off this old-man vibe I’ve got going on.”

Joseph leaned in, lowering his voice playfully. “Just remember, age is just a number. If you let the younger crowd have fun, you might just surprise yourself.”

Jey laughed, appreciating the encouragement. “Alright, you guys have convinced me. I’ll give it a shot when I'm ready.”

The three shared a laugh, the sounds of laughter and music from inside blending into a warm backdrop. As they continued to talk, Jey felt the weight of the past few months slowly lift, the night promising a much-needed escape.

Jey leaned back, curious. “So, Joseph, how does it feel working with Cody these last few months in the Bloodline storyline?”

Joseph’s face lit up as he spoke. “It’s been great, honestly. Working with a veteran like Cody has been an incredible experience. He’s got so much knowledge, and he knows how to tell a story in the ring. I’ve learned a ton just by watching him.”

Cody nodded in agreement. “It’s been a fun ride. Joseph has a natural talent; he brings a fresh energy to everything we do. It’s cool to see him grow into his role.”

“Yeah, it’s wild,” Jey replied. “I remember when I first started, and now here you are, holding your own in some of the biggest storylines.”

The three continued to chat about their experiences and the direction of the storyline, each sharing insights and anecdotes that had led them to this moment. As they laughed and reminisced, the atmosphere felt comfortable and uplifting, far removed from the tension of their past.

Meanwhile, inside the house, Rhea sipped her drink as Liv leaned against the counter, an eager expression on her face. “So, I’ve been meaning to ask you about the match yesterday. Any pointers for me?”

Rhea smiled, feeling the warmth of camaraderie. “Definitely. I noticed a few spots where you could have played to the crowd a bit more. You have the talent; just let your personality shine through. You’ve got the skills, and sometimes it’s all about connecting with the audience.”

Liv nodded, soaking in the advice. “Thanks, Rhea. It’s always good to get tips from someone who’s been in the game for ten years. You know the ins and outs.”

As they chatted, Liv’s curiosity piqued. “So, how are things with you and Jey? I’ve seen the changes, and you both seem happier.”

Rhea took a moment, a genuine smile spreading across her face. “I actually feel at peace now that I’m with Jey. It’s like everything just clicked into place, you know?”

Liv’s eyes sparkled with excitement. “I noticed the new ring! You’re not gonna spill the beans, are you?”

Rhea chuckled softly, appreciating Liv’s enthusiasm. “I’m thankful for you, Liv. I haven’t wanted to talk about the engagement with anyone just because of the backlash we have been experiencing from some people.”

Liv grinned, raising her glass. “Fuck the haters! You deserve to be happy. Anyone who has a problem with it can shove it.”

Rhea laughed, feeling a surge of gratitude for her friend. “You’re right. I’m focusing on the good things in my life now, and that includes Jey. He makes me feel safe and supported.”

Liv nodded in agreement, her tone earnest. “That’s what it’s all about. Finding someone who lifts you up and brings out the best in you. You two are great together.” Liv grabbed the tequila bottle and set it down on the counter.

Liv turned to Rhea with a mischievous grin. “Hey, do you want another shot?”

Rhea nodded enthusiastically, the buzz of the party mixing with the excitement of being with friends. Liv poured another shot of tequila and handed Rhea a lime, her eyes gleaming with anticipation. “Alright, on three!”

“Ready!” Rhea replied, her heart racing a little.

“One… two… three!”

They both slammed back the shots simultaneously. Rhea felt the burn as the tequila hit her throat, and she scrunched her face in reaction. Liv’s eyes widened, and she yelled, “Fuck! That tequila is strong!”

“Why are we doing this?” Liv asked, trying to distract herself from the intensity of the shot, her voice half-laughing, half-groaning.

Rhea chuckled, shaking her head. “I have no idea, but it seemed like a good idea at the time!”

Liv, always the instigator, laughed and suggested, “Let’s do another!”

Feeling a mix of bravado and recklessness, Rhea foolishly agreed. Just as Liv prepared for another round, the kitchen door swung open, and Bayley strolled in. She looked at Liv and then turned her gaze to Rhea, a mildly ugly look crossing her face.

“I’m leaving early,” Bayley said curtly, not bothering to hide her disdain as she shot a glance at Rhea.

Liv quickly said goodbye, her attention split as she sensed the tension. Rhea maintained her composure, her expression neutral as Bayley kept her eyes locked on her while exiting the kitchen.

“What’s with her and her staring problem?” Rhea muttered, raising an eyebrow in confusion.

Liv, already tipsy and swaying slightly, responded with a giggle, “Who, me?”

Rhea rolled her eyes at her already drunk friend. “No, not you! I meant Bayley.”

“Oh,” Liv replied, finally processing the comment. “I don’t know. Maybe she’s just jealous or something?”

Rhea shrugged, trying to brush it off. “Whatever it is, it’s annoying.”

Liv, ever the optimist, poured another shot for herself and Rhea, attempting to lift the mood. “Come on! Let’s not let her ruin our vibe. Cheers to bad bitches and tequila!”

“Cheers!” Rhea replied, clinking her glass with Liv’s. They both downed the shots again, the night continuing to swirl with laughter and chaos around them.

Rhea and Liv were deep into their drinks, the fun of the party washing over them, when suddenly, the unmistakable beat of Get it Sexyy by Sexyy Red filled the room. Liv’s eyes lit up, and she let out a joyful scream. “Oh my god, it’s my song!”

“Join me!” Liv shouted at Rhea, who looked a bit confused.

“Wait, what do you mean?” Rhea asked, laughter bubbling up as Liv tugged on her hand.

“Just follow my lead!” Liv exclaimed, practically dragging Rhea into the living room.

As soon as they reached the center of the room, Liv began dancing energetically, her hips swaying to the beat. Rhea hesitated for a moment before breaking into a smile and joining in, letting the music guide her. The two women laughed and danced, embodying pure joy.

Meanwhile, Jey was engrossed in his conversation with Joseph and Cody when he noticed Cody taking a sip of his drink and staring wide-eyed at something into the living room.

“Ude’, I wouldn’t look over if I were you,” Cody warned, a hint of mischief in his tone.

Jey, confused by Cody’s expression, turned to see what had caught his friend’s attention. His jaw dropped as he saw Liv dancing on Rhea, the two of them laughing and enjoying themselves without a care in the world.

“Are you serious?” Jey exclaimed, unable to believe what he was seeing. Just then, Liv and Rhea switched positions, and Rhea shook her ass while Liv smacked her butt playfully and repeatedly.

“Now that’s a party!” Joseph laughed, nudging Jey with his elbow. “You should be over there instead of Liv.”

“Yeah, what are you waiting for?” Cody chimed in, laughing at the spectacle. “Get off your Waffle House-made rear and go get your woman!”

Jey hesitated for a moment, a mix of pride and protective instinct rising in him as he watched Rhea have fun. But the laughter and camaraderie in the air were infectious. With a determined grin, he finally stood up, brushing off their teasing. “Alright, alright, I’m going in!”

As he made his way over to the dancing duo, Rhea caught sight of him and her face lit up with a smile. Jey slipped behind her, wrapping his arms around her waist and joining in on the fun, much to Liv’s delight.

“See, now that’s what I’m talking about! An Australian sandwhich!” Liv cheered, dancing with them, and the three of them became the life of the party.

As the three danced, Liv suddenly paused, putting her hands on her knees, a look of concern on her face. “Hold on, I need a break,” she said, glancing around as if fearing she might throw up from all the drinking and dancing. Rhea laughed, giving her a playful pat on the back as Liv stepped to the side, trying to catch her breath.

Just then, a familiar tune filled the air, and Rhea's face lit up with recognition. It was Cupid’s Chokehold by Gym Class Heroes, one of her all-time favorites. The nostalgic melody wrapped around her like a warm blanket, and she couldn't help but smile.

Jey noticed the change in her expression and grinned. “Oh, this is a classic!” he exclaimed, and without hesitation, he began to sing along, his voice rising above the music. Rhea joined in, their voices harmonizing effortlessly as they swayed together, lost in the moment.

The energy in the room faded away as they danced closely, sharing smiles and laughter. Jey couldn’t help but reflect on how far they had come. Just a few months ago, their paths seemed worlds apart, filled with uncertainty and complications. Now, here they were, completely in sync, enjoying a carefree night together.

As they danced, Jey looked deep into Rhea's eyes, feeling a warmth spread through him. “Can you believe this?” he asked, his voice softening. “It’s crazy how life works out sometimes.”

Rhea smiled back, her heart swelling with happiness. “I never thought I’d find myself here, dancing with you like this. It feels perfect,” she replied, feeling grateful for the unexpected joy that had entered her life.

With each beat of the song, they lost themselves in the rhythm, the laughter of their friends and the vibrant atmosphere fading into the background. In that moment, nothing else mattered. It was just Jey and Rhea, dancing together under the glow of the party lights, savoring the connection they had found amidst the chaos of their lives.

As the party continued into the early hours, the atmosphere shifted with more guests having departed, leaving a tight-knit circle of friends. Now, it was Jey, Rhea, Kayden, Damian, Liv, Kacy, Joseph, and Cody lingering together. The clock ticked closer to 1 AM, and the music had lowered, creating a comfortable hum in the background as Joseph and Cody managed to gather everyone in the backyard for some casual conversation.

After people had left, Rhea had requested a song that held a special place in her heart: How Deep is Your Love by The Bee Gees. As the familiar melody began to play, Jey looked down at Rhea, who was swaying gently in his arms. He hadn’t heard the song before, but he could tell it was an old classic—definitely not something you heard in the mainstream anymore.

As they danced, Rhea’s buzz began to fade, replaced by a warm feeling of connection. She looked up at Jey, her eyes sparkling. “I love you,” she said softly, breaking the silence.

Jey smiled back, his heart swelling at her words. “I love you too,” he replied, leaning down to kiss her. They melted into the moment, swaying together in perfect harmony, oblivious to the world around them.

What they didn’t notice was Damian, standing on the patio, capturing the sweet scene with his phone. He grinned, already imagining blowing up the photo to display at their wedding. “This is going to be legendary at the wedding,” he muttered to himself, chuckling at the thought.

The others, curious about the couple's relationship, watched with admiration. Kayden playfully hit Damian’s arm, interrupting his daydream. “Forget he said that. Let Rhea tell us when she’s ready,” she said, nudging the focus back onto Rhea.

“Yeah, she’ll get us with that engagement ring eventually,” Joseph chimed in, a teasing grin on his face.

Cody joined in, a smirk on his lips. “I don’t wanna be on the receiving end of a riptide,” he joked, referencing Rhea’s signature move.

“They are perfect for each other, really,” Liv said, watching Jey and Rhea dance, their connection palpable. “Their chemistry has always been there. Did you guys ever see how he looked at her at Fastlane? It was like they were screaming, ‘We are in love!’”

Damian nodded in agreement. “I loved it when he said, ‘We Miss You… We ALL Miss You,’” he recalled, referencing a segment they had done together, showcasing their bond.

Kacy, intrigued, leaned in. “Did they ever say how long they’ve been dating?” she asked, genuinely curious.

Damian shrugged, though he secretly wanted to respect Rhea and Jey’s privacy regarding their relationship. “Honestly, I’m not sure,” he replied, deflecting the question.

Liv sighed dreamily, her gaze still fixed on the dancing couple. “They are just so beautiful together… I want that type of love,” she commented wistfully.

Cody, reflecting on his own experiences, smiled. “I have that with my wife… It’s really something, especially when you have a child. You learn to appreciate the good moments even more,” he shared, a soft smile crossing his face as he thought of his family.

“I definitely think he is finally happy… my brother was miserable up until he started with Rhea..” Joseph commented.

“Don’t say nothing. I caught him smiling at her one time… I looked at Rhea and asked what’s the Samoan want? She was like, probably an Australian.. I swear I didn’t know she was referencing herself.” Damian said.

“Men are clueless…” Liv added.

As the night wore on, laughter and light banter filled the air, but the undeniable warmth radiating from Jey and Rhea continued to draw everyone’s attention. It was a love that had flourished amidst challenges, and in that backyard, surrounded by their friends, it felt as if anything was possible.

As the last few notes of How Deep is Your Love faded, Jey and Rhea stopped swaying, caught in a moment of bliss. The warmth between them was palpable, but the spell was broken when someone cleared their throat loudly. They both turned to see Cody waving them down with a grin, gesturing for them to join the group gathered at the patio.

Jey took Rhea's hand and led her over, sitting down in one of the chairs before pulling her gently into his lap. The rest of the group couldn’t help but smile at the sight of the couple—there was an undeniable ease and affection between them, one that everyone else could sense.

Cody leaned back, chuckling to himself before making a comment. “You two look like something straight out of a fairytale. Honestly, I don’t know how else to describe it.”

The others chimed in with similar remarks, nodding their heads in agreement. Liv, sipping on her drink, added with a playful sigh, “I’m just saying… where’s my fairytale? Someone needs to find me a man like that.”

Jey glanced around, smiling at his friends' comments before resting his chin gently on Rhea's shoulder. “Y'all don’t even know… she makes me happier than I’ve ever been. Happier than I even thought I could be.”

Rhea blushed at his words, her heart swelling. She turned her head and kissed him softly on the cheek, making the group “aww” in unison.

Kayden, ever the jokester, raised an eyebrow and leaned forward. “Okay, Rhea, I gotta ask. How’s it feel dating an old man?”

The group burst into laughter as Jey feigned offense, throwing his hands up in mock disbelief. Rhea’s eyes twinkled mischievously as she fired back, “I don’t know, Kayden. I should be asking you… you’ve got Damian, after all.”

Everyone roared with laughter, especially as Damian, who had been lounging in his chair, sat up straight, narrowing his eyes at the playful jab. “Hey, hey, hey!” he protested with a grin. “For the record, I’m only 42. That’s not old.”

Cody, who had been taking a drink, started laughing so hard he nearly spilled it. “Damian, man, if you’re 42, then what does that make me? I’m 39! Guess that makes you the wise old man of the group.”

Jey couldn’t help but laugh along with everyone else as Damian dramatically shook his head. “Alright, alright, I’ll be the old Wiseman if that’s what y’all want!” Damian said, throwing up his hands in defeat.

The group’s laughter filled the air, the sound echoing into the warm night as the gentle breeze swayed the trees. In this moment, surrounded by friends, Jey and Rhea felt more at peace than they had in a long time. It was as if, for a brief time, all the chaos of their past melted away, leaving only love, joy, and the warmth of friendship.

Rhea leaned back against Jey’s chest, her heart full. “I’m just lucky,” she said softly, looking at the group with a warm smile. “Lucky to have all of you.”

The group continued to laugh and joke, it was clear that they all felt the same. No matter the trials that had come before—or the ones that might come in the future—in this moment, they had each other, and that was enough.

After saying their goodbyes and sharing hugs, Jey and Rhea headed out toward their rental car. The night had been filled with laughter, love, and good company, but now, it was just the two of them. As they walked, hand-in-hand under the moonlight, Jey looked over at Rhea with a soft smile. “You have a good time, babe?”

Rhea glanced up at him, her eyes sparkling. “The best time,” she replied, squeezing his hand. “I needed that… we both did.”

Once in the car, the drive to the hotel was calm and peaceful, a perfect ending to the evening. The streets were quiet as the city slept, and they soon pulled into the guest parking lot of the hotel. Together, they walked through the lobby and took the elevator up to their floor, savoring the calm after the whirlwind of the party.

When they reached their room, Rhea couldn’t help but feel a sense of peace and contentment. She dropped her bag onto the chair and turned toward Jey, giving him a playful look. “You know…” she began, her voice sultry as she moved closer to him. “I’ve been thinking… we haven’t exactly broken in the spa bath in this room yet.”

Jey raised an eyebrow, a mischievous grin already forming on his face. “Oh? Not just a regular bath, huh?”

Rhea let out a laugh, taking his hand and pulling him toward the bathroom. Before she could say anything else, Jey was already quickly stripping off his clothes, his playful side emerging in full force. “You’re not wasting any time, are you?” she teased, her own laughter filling the room.

The night continued in their own private world, laughter, and love shared between the two of them as they enjoyed each other’s company, with no one else around.

Monday, October 7th, 2024

The next morning, the soft buzz of Rhea’s alarm filled the room. She stirred slowly, opening her eyes to see the early rays of sunlight peeking through the curtains. She sat up in bed, stretching her arms before turning to see Jey still sound asleep beside her. His breathing was steady, his face calm and relaxed—he looked so peaceful that she didn’t want to disturb him.

Slipping quietly out of bed, Rhea grabbed some workout clothes from her bag and made her way to the bathroom. After brushing her teeth and tying up her hair, she threw on her headphones and grabbed a water bottle, deciding to head down to the hotel gym for a morning workout.

The hotel was still quiet as she made her way to the fitness center. Rhea always found peace in her morning routines, and with everything going on in their lives, she needed this time to herself, just to clear her mind. As she stepped onto the treadmill and started her warm-up, she thought back to the night before—the joy of being with her friends, the love she shared with Jey, and the way everything seemed to fall into place.

It was moments like these that made all the challenges they had faced worthwhile. With a soft smile, she increased the speed on the treadmill, letting her thoughts drift as she focused on the rhythm of her footsteps. This morning was just hers, a chance to breathe before another busy day.

Rhea continued her workout, the rhythmic thudding of her feet against the treadmill grounding her as she worked through the last ten minutes of her routine. She wiped the sweat from her brow and reached for her water bottle when something caught her attention. There was that unmistakable feeling of being watched.

Slowing down her pace, she looked to her left and, sure enough, there was Bayley, staring at her from the stair master with an expression that could cut through stone. Rhea felt her blood begin to simmer. She wasn’t in the mood for this—not after such a good night with Jey and their friends.

Taking a deep breath, Rhea hopped off the treadmill and walked over to where Bayley was. The tension in the air was palpable as she approached. “You got something to say to me?” Rhea’s voice was steady, but there was an edge to it.

Bayley glanced at her, barely breaking her pace on the stair master, before letting out a bitter chuckle. “Yeah, actually. If you had any common sense, you wouldn’t be messing around with a married man.”

The words hit like a slap. Rhea’s eyes narrowed. She could feel her pulse quicken, the adrenaline from her workout blending into pure anger. “Why don’t you fuck off, Bayley? You don’t know a damn thing about my life.”

The tension escalated instantly. Bayley stopped her workout, stepping off the machine as the two women squared up. "I know enough," Bayley shot back, her tone cold. "You’re playing with fire. Jey’s still technically married, and you’re acting like none of that matters. How long do you think this little fairytale is gonna last before it all blows up in your face?”

Rhea’s fists clenched at her sides, her jaw tight. She wasn’t about to let Bayley try to lecture her, especially about something she had no business in. “Why don’t you keep your nose out of my business? Maybe worry about your own shit. Last I checked, you shouldn’t even be here. You’re on SmackDown. What are you doing in St. Louis anyway?”

Bayley scoffed, crossing her arms. “Don’t worry about why I’m here. Maybe I had something to take care of.”

“Yeah, right,” Rhea fired back, not backing down an inch. “Sounds more like you’re sticking your nose where it doesn’t belong.”

Bayley’s lips curled into a smirk, but there was no humor behind it. “I’m just saying—watch yourself, Rhea. You’re not invincible. And this thing with Jey? It’s not going to end well. Maybe take some advice from someone who’s seen relationships in this business go south.”

Rhea stepped closer, her voice lowering but thick with warning. “Back. The fuck. Off. You don’t know me, and you sure as hell don’t know what’s going on between me and Jey. So don’t you dare try to lecture me like you have any clue what you’re talking about.”

Bayley raised her hands in mock surrender, though her expression remained smug. “Whatever you say, Ripley. But don’t come crying when everything crashes and burns.” She turned, muttering something under her breath as she grabbed her towel, ready to leave the gym.

Rhea, still seething, caught the snide comment and clenched her jaw tighter, her hands still balled into fists. She wanted to let it go, but Bayley’s audacity was gnawing at her. “What was that?”

Bayley didn’t turn around, but her voice carried across the room. “I said, ‘Some people never learn.’ But you’ll figure it out soon enough.”

Rhea felt the urge to fire back, but something held her in place. Maybe it was the exhaustion from the workout, or maybe the fact that she knew deep down she had nothing to prove to Bayley. She wasn’t going to let her ruin her morning or plant doubts in her mind.

With a heavy exhale, Rhea turned her back on the situation, reminding herself that Bayley’s opinions didn’t matter. She had Jey, they were solid, and no amount of petty comments from someone else was going to change that.

But as she returned to the treadmill, her mind was still racing, her pulse still high. Bayley’s words lingered, unwanted, and Rhea couldn’t shake the sense that the confrontation was far from over.

Rhea finished her workout, her muscles slightly sore but her mind sharper. She headed back up to the hotel room, her thoughts still lingering on the tense confrontation with Bayley. As she opened the door, she spotted Jey sitting on the bed, engrossed in something on his phone. He quickly tried to hide it, a smirk playing on his face as if he'd been caught in the act of something mischievous.

Rhea rolled her eyes, knowing exactly what he was doing. "You don’t have to hide it, Jey. I already know," she teased, her tone light despite the frustration still gnawing at her from earlier.

Jey caught the change in her voice instantly. Putting his phone down, he stood up and walked over to her, his brow furrowed in concern. "Nah, babe, what’s up? You sound off," he asked, his protective nature kicking in as he placed a hand on her waist, pulling her close.

Rhea let out a heavy sigh. "I ran into Bayley in the gym," she said, her irritation rising again. Jey’s eyes narrowed at the mention of Bayley, sensing where this was going.

"What’d she say?" he asked, his voice now serious.

"She basically called me out for ‘messing with a technically married man,’ acting like she knows anything about us," Rhea said, crossing her arms and shaking her head. "We got into it a bit. I told her to back off, but she just kept pushing."

Jey’s jaw clenched, and he let out a slow breath through his nose, trying to keep his temper in check. "First off, she don’t know anything about what we’ve been through. She’s talking outta pocket, and that’s on her. Second, you don’t need to explain anything to her or anyone else. We know what’s real."

Rhea looked up at him, her shoulders relaxing a little as she took in his words. "I know, it’s just annoying. She doesn’t have any right to come at me like that."

Jey pulled her into a tight hug, pressing a kiss to her forehead. "Forget about her. You’ve been through worse than Bayley running her mouth. You’re stronger than that, and we’re solid. She can’t break what we have."

Rhea softened in his arms, feeling the tension slowly leave her body. "Thanks," she whispered, feeling a sense of relief wash over her.

Jey kissed her again, this time softly on her lips, lingering there for a moment before pulling back. "Now, how about we get ready for tonight’s RAW? We’ll kill it, like we always do. Before you know it, tomorrow, we’ll be back home with Jon and Trinity. It’ll just be us, no drama."

Rhea smiled, the thought of being back with Jon and Trinity, away from all the chaos, bringing her some comfort. "Yeah, I like that plan," she said, nodding.

"Good," Jey said, grinning as he rubbed his hands together. "Now let’s shower and get this day started. We’ve got a show to steal."

Rhea smirked, her playful side resurfacing. "Shower, huh? Together, I assume?"

Jey gave her a mischievous grin. "You’ll get some head out of it..” Rhea grinned.

“Come again…” She said, while looking at him.

“If you don’t get your ass to the shower so I could eat you out…” Jey said and Rhea pulled his head to lead him into the shower with the quickness.

As the shower went on, the tension from earlier seemed to fade, leaving behind only the connection and trust they had in each other, ready to face whatever the world threw at them—together.

—

Tuesday October 8th, 2024.

Jon kept driving around the pick-up loop until he finally spotted Jey and Rhea waiting by the baggage claim exit. He hit the brakes abruptly, coming to a stop just as he was about to reach the exit once again. Jumping out of the car, Jon popped the trunk open, not wasting any time.

Jey groaned as the carousel continued its slow rotation. “Man, they always take forever with this luggage. They do this on purpose, I swear.”

Rhea chuckled softly, nudging him. “Relax, love. We’ve been through worse than waiting for bags.”

Jon smirked as he helped load their luggage into the trunk. “I’m hearing complaints about luggage like y’all didn’t just leave me for dead in this traffic.”

Rhea smiled warmly at Jon. “Thanks for coming to pick us up, Jon. You’re a lifesaver.”

Jon shrugged casually but grinned. “Anything for family. Besides, we need to get back. Takecia flew Jeyce out already, and he’s at the house.”

Jey’s eyes lit up immediately at the mention of his youngest son. “Jeyce is already there? Man, I can’t wait to see him.”

Rhea couldn’t help but smile, seeing the excitement on Jey’s face. He missed his kids fiercely, and moments like these were everything to him.

Jey leaned back into the car seat, still smiling, but his expression shifted slightly as he asked, “What about Jaciyah? Is he at the house, too?”

Jon paused for a beat, a little hesitation in his voice before he answered, “Nah, Jaciyah didn’t want to come, Uce.”

The happiness drained from Jey’s face, and the energy in the car shifted as silence fell between the brothers. Rhea, sensing his disappointment, squeezed his hand tightly, offering her quiet support.

The rest of the car ride was quiet, the earlier excitement replaced by somber contemplation. Rhea continued to hold Jey’s hand, giving him the reassurance she knew he needed.

When they arrived at Jon and Trinity’s house, everyone helped unload the car, bringing the bags inside. Jon made his way toward the kitchen, leaving Jey and Rhea to head into the guest bedroom, where Jeyce was fast asleep on the pullout sofa bed.

Jey stood in the doorway for a moment, watching his youngest son sleep. The sight calmed him a bit, but the weight of Jaciyah’s absence still lingered. “I’m gonna take a shower,” Jey mumbled, his voice thick with emotion.

As Jey disappeared into the bathroom, Rhea walked over to the pullout bed where Jeyce was peacefully sleeping. A mischievous idea crossed her mind, and she smiled to herself before gently shaking his shoulder.

“Hey, buddy,” she whispered softly.

Jeyce stirred and blinked sleepily, his eyes slowly focusing on her. When he realized it was Rhea, his face lit up. “Rhea!” he squealed, instantly sitting up and wrapping his arms around her in a tight hug.

Rhea chuckled, hugging him back. “Hey, kiddo. I missed you too. You’ve been sleeping in, huh?”

“Yeah!” Jeyce grinned, rubbing his eyes. “I missed you and Dad. What are we gonna do today?”

Rhea grinned, thinking about how to make this day extra special for him and maybe even lift Jey’s spirits a bit. “Well, what do you want to do today?”

Jeyce’s face scrunched up as he thought for a moment. “I wanna swim in the pool! And eat burgers! And hot dogs! And snow cones! And candy!”

Rhea burst out laughing at his enthusiasm. “You’re aiming high today, huh? That’s a lot, but I think we can make it happen.”

Jeyce’s eyes widened in excitement. “Really?!”

“Really,” Rhea confirmed with a smile. “How about this: you come with me and Auntie Trinity to the store, and we’ll get everything we need for the best pool day ever. Sound like a plan?”

“Yeah!” Jeyce bounced with excitement, practically bursting with energy now. “Let’s do it!”

Rhea smiled, brushing a hand through his messy hair. “Alright, get dressed, and we’ll head out as soon as you’re ready.”

Jeyce scrambled off the pullout sofa to find his clothes, leaving Rhea chuckling at his excitement. She couldn’t wait to tell Jey about the plan. Hopefully, spending time with Jeyce would bring some light back into his day, especially after the disappointment of Jaciyah not wanting to come.

With Jey in the shower and Jeyce getting ready, Rhea felt a bit of relief. Today was going to be a good day, no matter what. She was determined to make sure of it.

Rhea made her way downstairs to find Trinity sitting at the kitchen counter, finishing up her morning coffee. The house was filled with the relaxed sounds of a Saturday morning — light chatter from the TV, the faint hum of the refrigerator, and Jon rummaging around in the kitchen.

“Hey, Trin,” Rhea greeted her with a smile, walking over to the counter. “I’ve got a little plan.”

Trinity raised her eyebrows, intrigued. “Oh yeah? Let’s hear it.”

“Jeyce wants a pool day. Burgers, hot dogs, snow cones, the works,” Rhea explained. “So I figured we could take him to the store, grab everything we need, and make it a full-on summer party.”

Trinity’s face lit up at the idea. “Oh, I love that! He’s gonna have the best time.” She quickly finished her coffee and stood up, glancing toward Jon, who was busy cleaning up. “Hey, babe, you mind cutting up the veggies for the skewers? And check the pool, make sure there aren’t any leaves or anything in it.”

Jon looked up from the counter and waved them off with a grin. “I got you. Pool’s gonna be perfect, and the skewers will be ready by the time y’all get back. Don’t forget my ice cream, though.”

Trinity rolled her eyes playfully. “You and your ice cream. You act like we’d forget.”

Rhea laughed and started to head back upstairs to get Jeyce. When she reached the guest room, she found him already dressed, his excitement almost contagious. “Look at you, all ready to go!” she teased.

“I’m ready, Rhea!” Jeyce said, bouncing on his feet.

“Alright, alright. We’re leaving in a minute,” Rhea chuckled before hearing the shower turn off in the bathroom. She knocked on the door lightly before peeking in, finding Jey towel-drying his hair. “Hey, we’re about to head out. Jeyce is coming with us to the store. You need anything?”

Jey glanced over at her, his eyes softening. “Nah, I’m good. You girls and Jeyce have fun. Be safe, okay?” He walked over and planted a quick kiss on her cheek, the warmth of his affection lingering even in that small gesture.

Rhea smiled at him. “We will.”

With Jeyce practically pulling her out of the room, they headed back downstairs to meet Trinity. Rhea could see how happy the little guy was, and it warmed her heart. She wanted today to be perfect for Jeyce, and maybe it would help ease the tension Jey was feeling after the news about Jaciyah.

Once they were out of the house and piling into the car, Jey stood in the guest room, his thoughts heavy. After a moment, he grabbed his phone off the dresser and stared at the screen. He knew what he had to do — he needed to check in with Takecia.

As the dial tone rang, Jey braced himself. Their conversations had been tense ever since things with Rhea had become more serious. And the situation with Jaciyah… that was harder than anything he had expected. He knew his son was hurt and confused, and no amount of words could fix that overnight.

When Takecia picked up, her voice was calm but distant. “Jey.”

“Takecia, hey,” Jey greeted, leaning against the bedpost. “Just wanted to check in. How’s everything going?”

There was a brief pause before she responded. “We’re fine. Everything is fine.”

Jey winced at the formality in her voice, but he pushed through. “I heard Jaciyah didn’t wanna come to Jon’s.”

“Yeah, he didn’t,” Takecia said flatly. “He’s… He’s still having a hard time with everything, Jey.”

Jey closed his eyes for a moment, feeling the familiar guilt settle in his chest. “I know, I know. It’s just… hard, you know? I miss him.”

“You should’ve thought about that before,” she replied, her tone cutting a little sharper now. “This was always going to be hard on him.”

Jey let out a sigh, knowing she wasn’t wrong. “I just wanna talk to him. I wanna help him through this.”

“He doesn’t wanna talk right now, Jey. And I’m not gonna force him.”

The silence between them grew heavy. Jey rubbed his forehead, the weight of everything pressing down on him. “Alright. Just… let him know I love him, okay?”

There was another pause before she quietly agreed. “I will. Take care of yourself, Jey.”

“You too, Takecia,” Jey replied softly before ending the call.

He stood there for a moment, staring at the phone in his hand. The conversation didn’t leave him feeling any better — if anything, it made the weight on his shoulders even heavier. But he knew he couldn’t dwell on it right now. He had Jeyce with him, and today was supposed to be a good day for his youngest son.

Pushing the lingering thoughts aside, Jey went to get dressed, determined to focus on the time he had with Jeyce and the rest of the day.

--

Jey and Jon were by the grill, engaged in a casual conversation while keeping an eye on the sizzling food. The sun beamed brightly overhead, creating the perfect summer day atmosphere. Meanwhile, Rhea, Jeyce, and Trinity splashed around in the pool, the sound of laughter echoing in the warm air.

Rhea playfully splashed water at both Trinity and Jeyce, who squealed in delight. “Watch out for Trinity’s hair!” Jeyce warned, giggling as Rhea soaked them.

“Come here, let me get your hair wet!” Trinity teased back, her own hair slicked back from the water.

Rhea laughed, her heart full as she watched the two interact. The music played softly in the background, and the smell of grilled food wafted through the air, setting a relaxed vibe. Jey, watching from the sidelines, couldn’t help but feel a swell of happiness seeing his fiancée bond with his youngest son.

As Jon turned to Jey, he asked, “Everything okay?”

“Yeah, everything’s great,” Jey replied, a smile stretching across his face. He set his beer down and walked to the edge of the pool, where Rhea was twirling Jeyce around in the water.

“Are you having fun, buddy?” Jey asked Jeyce, who beamed back at him.

“The best ever!” Jeyce exclaimed, laughter spilling from him.

Rhea smiled brightly, feeling a sense of warmth and connection in the moment. She gently set Jeyce down and swam closer to Jey. “You should get in!” she encouraged, splashing him playfully.

“No way! I’m not getting my hair wet like Trinity!” Jey protested, trying to keep his composure.

Rhea laughed at his response and, in a moment of mischief, lunged forward, grabbing Jey’s arm and pulling him into the pool with her.

Jey let out a surprised yelp as he splashed into the water, his expression shifting from shock to laughter. “You got me!” he exclaimed, shaking his head to get the water out of his eyes.

Rhea giggled, loving the spontaneity of the moment. “Now you’re in! No backing out!” she said playfully.

Jey glanced around at Jon and Trinity, who were both laughing at the sight. "You are too crazy!” he protested, though it was clear he was enjoying himself.

“Oh you'll be okay.” Rhea shot back with a playful grin, splashing him again, and the two were soon caught up in a friendly water fight, surrounded by the sounds of joy and laughter that filled the backyard.

--

Jeyce was fast asleep on Rhea's shoulder, his lips still faintly blue from the snow cones Trinity had whipped up earlier. Rhea, Jeyce, and Trinity were comfortably settled on the patio sectional, enjoying the warm afternoon as they chatted. Every so often, Rhea adjusted her position, making sure Jeyce was snug and comfortable, her arm wrapped protectively around him.

On the other side of the sectional, Jey and Jon were lounging back, beers in hand, catching the occasional drift of conversation from the women. The smell of the grill filled the air, and the faint hum of music blended with the sounds of the backyard—laughter, the splash of the pool, and the soft breeze rustling through the trees.

Jey couldn’t take his eyes off Rhea. The way she fit seamlessly into his world—laughing with Trinity, gently cradling Jeyce as he slept—made his heart swell with gratitude. She was everything he'd hoped for and more. His gaze lingered a little longer as Rhea threw her head back, laughing at something Trinity said.

Jon noticed and smirked, nudging his brother lightly. "Yo, Uce, you good? You lookin' real lovestruck over there."

Jey blinked, tearing his eyes away from Rhea and smirking at Jon. "Yeah, man. Just… it’s crazy, you know? How everything’s coming together."

Jon chuckled, taking a swig of his beer. "Yeah, I see it. She's the real deal, bro. You lucked out."

Jey grinned, feeling the truth of that statement sink in. "More than luck, man. She's everything."

Jon leaned back, his tone shifting a bit. "So the idea for the wedding?"

Jey nodded, his smile growing wider. "Yeah. We’re starting with the courthouse, just keeping it small. You and Trin will be there. Then we’ll do Vegas with all our friends—get a little wild, you know? And finally…" He paused, his voice dropping slightly. "The wedding in Samoa with the whole family."

Jon nodded thoughtfully. "Three weddings, huh? You really making it a whole event."

Jey chuckled, setting his beer down. "Gotta make sure it’s right. Rhea’s all in on the Samoa wedding. She’s been learning about our traditions, she wants to honor that, and she’s been so supportive through all of this."

Jon smiled, clearly impressed. "Samoa’s gonna be special. Family’s gonna love it."

Jey’s expression softened, but a slight hesitation flickered in his eyes. "Yeah, but there’s something else, bro."

Jon raised an eyebrow, curious. "What’s up?"

Jey took a deep breath, leaning in slightly. "I wanted to ask you to marry us. In Samoa."

Jon’s eyes widened, a mix of surprise and honor crossing his face. "Wait, what? Me? You serious?"

Jey nodded, his expression growing more serious. "Yeah, man. I wanted you to marry us from the start. But Takecia wasn’t cool with the idea. Said she didn’t think it was right for you to do it."

Jon frowned slightly, understanding the tension behind the situation with Jey’s ex. "Damn, man. I didn’t know that."

Jey sighed, but his smile returned quickly. "Yeah, but Rhea… when I brought it up, she didn’t even hesitate. She was all for it, right away. Honestly, that just made me wanna marry her even more, you know? She understands what family means to me, and she’s willing to embrace all of it."

Jon leaned back, taking in his brother’s words. His face softened, and he nodded slowly. "Man, that’s something special. Rhea's got a good heart."

Jey smiled, glancing over at Rhea again as she shifted Jeyce slightly on her shoulder, still laughing with Trinity. "She does. That’s why I want you to be the one to marry us in Samoa, in front of everyone. It feels right."

Jon’s expression was a mix of surprise and pride as he sat up a little straighter. "Bruh, I’m honored. For real. You want me to stand up there, in front of Ma, Pops, the whole family, and do that?"

Jey nodded firmly. "Yeah. You’ve always been there for me, through everything. I want you to be part of this too. It would mean everything to me."

Jon rubbed the back of his neck, clearly moved. He looked at Jey with a grin and shook his head in disbelief. "Man… I don’t even know what to say. You really want me to do this?"

Jey smiled, clapping Jon on the shoulder. "Just say yes, Uce."

Jon exhaled, finally grinning wide. "Hell yeah, Uce. Of course, I’ll do it. I’d be honored."

Jey let out a laugh of relief and clapped his brother on the back. "Thanks, man. I knew you’d come through."

Jon shook his head, still processing the request but clearly excited. "Bruh, marrying my little brother in front of the whole family? That’s wild, but I’m in. We’re gonna make it special."

Jey’s smile widened, his gratitude evident. "We’ll figure it out together. It’s gonna be perfect."

Jon raised his beer in a toast, his eyes shining with pride. "To family, Uce. To all of it."

Jey clinked his bottle against Jon’s, a sense of peace washing over him. "To family."

--

Rhea carried Jeyce upstairs, his small arms wrapped lazily around her neck as he slept soundly against her shoulder. Jey followed closely behind, watching the tenderness in Rhea’s steps. When they reached the guest bedroom, Jey quietly opened the door, and Rhea gently laid Jeyce down on the bed. She carefully removed his sandals, one by one, and pulled the comforter over him, making sure he was snug and comfortable. As she looked at him, she noticed the blue remnants of the snow cone still smudged on his lips. Rhea grabbed a tissue from the nightstand, dampened it lightly with water from the bathroom, and gently wiped the sugary streaks from his face. She leaned down and kissed his forehead, watching him for a moment as he breathed steadily in his sleep.

Jey sat at the edge of the bed, quietly observing the whole scene. There was something about watching Rhea with Jeyce that filled him with a sense of calm, a feeling of completeness that he hadn’t known he’d been searching for. She fit into his life so naturally, like she was always meant to be there.

Once she was done, Jey called her softly. “Rhea, come here,” he said, motioning for her to sit beside him. Rhea walked over and sat down next to Jey, the quiet intimacy of the moment surrounding them.

Jey took a deep breath, knowing what he wanted to ask but unsure of how to begin. “I know,” he started softly, his eyes searching hers, “I know it’s been really hard… losing the baby. I don’t want to push anything on you. But once we’re married… do you think we could try again? I want to give this another shot, Rhea. I’m ready. I’m willing to go all in—even more—on my wrestling career for the next couple of years. I’ll do whatever it takes to take care of you, our kid, and Jeyce and Jaciyah.”

Rhea’s hand instinctively went to her engagement ring, the one that held so much meaning. It wasn’t just a symbol of their love, but also of the child they lost, whose ashes were embedded within the delicate band. She looked down at the matching bracelet on her wrist, the permanent bond they had forged together, and took a deep breath, steadying herself.

She finally looked up at Jey, her voice soft but firm. “I don’t want you to ruin your body just to take care of me and our family, Jey. I can’t let you do that.”

Jey reached out, taking her hand in his. “I don’t care about that, Rhea. I’ll do it for you. For us.”

But Rhea gently pulled her hand away, her voice catching in her throat. “Let’s just get through the divorces first.”

Jey’s expression shifted, confusion clouding his features. “Why do we need to get through all that first? We already know what’s gonna happen, right?”

Rhea hesitated, her eyes dropping to the floor. Her voice was barely above a whisper when she finally answered. “Matt… he hasn’t responded. He won’t sign the papers.”

Jey’s entire demeanor changed in an instant. He turned away from her, processing her words. Takecia had already signed their divorce papers as soon as she was served, and California’s six-month waiting period had already begun. Everything was on track for him. But now, hearing this from Rhea, he felt blindsided.

Rhea’s words came out in a rush, as if she were afraid of what would happen if she didn’t say them quickly enough. “Matt thinks there’s still some chance for reconciliation. He says he won’t sign anything until he talks to me. I… I didn’t know how to tell you.”

Jey stood up abruptly, walking to the edge of the room. His back was to her as he tried to gather his thoughts, his emotions threatening to spill over. He had thought they were moving forward, that the worst was behind them. But now it felt like they were stuck, like something was holding them back from the life they were trying to build together.

Rhea’s voice was barely audible when she added, “Everything’s been happening so fast. I just… I feel like maybe we should slow down.”

Jey turned to face her, his expression a mix of frustration and hurt. “Slow down?” he repeated, his voice tight. “I thought we were in this together, Rhea. I thought we knew what we wanted.”

Rhea couldn’t meet his gaze. Her hands trembled as she gripped the pillow beside her. She had never wanted to hurt him, but lately she felt everything was becoming overwhelming, and the weight of it all was pressing down on her.

Jey, sensing her retreat, took a deep breath, trying to calm the storm brewing inside him. He wasn’t angry—at least not in the way that made him want to lash out. But he was hurt, deeply. He grabbed a pillow from the bed, his tone quiet but firm as he spoke.

“We can finish this conversation when I’m not mad. I’m a man who can control his feelings. I’m not the kind of man who hurts his wife to the point where she needs a blood transfusion.”

With those final words, Jey left the room, the weight of the moment heavy in the air. The door closed softly behind him, but the silence it left behind was deafening.

Rhea sat there, her heart aching as tears finally fell. She hugged the pillow tightly to her chest and buried her face in it, the sobs breaking free as she allowed herself to cry for everything that had been lost, and for everything that was uncertain ahead.