Ambitchous

Last Laugh #1

{{Sunday, November 1st
Hollywood Hills
1:15 AM}}

After things settled down following the Halloween party ending early and Kelcey being taken to the hospital, we are all back at Sienna's house. She never did tell me exactly what the powder was, which I assume she put into Kelcey's drink. I did see Kelcey moving a bit and I think talking to one of the EMT's as well as Blake before the ambulance left, so I was fairly sure she was going to live. Given the way Sienna had been going after her and ranting about wanting her gone, I admit I was concerned she'd actually tried to kill her. Once we got back to Sienna's, she didn't say anything about Kelcey at all. Simply told everyone she was going to have a shower and go to bed. She told me, Dom, and Jaina to make ourselves at home, grab a snack or drink from the kitchen if we wanted, that kind of thing. Jaina helped herself to a bottle of water before going upstairs. Dom and I did the same.

In the room Sienna gave us, Dom and I took off our party outfits and got ready for bed. He wanted to shower first so I put on a robe. As I tossed the damn wedding dress into the closet, not bothering to hang it up, I told myself I would get rid of it as soon as we got home. Sure, it got the reaction out of Blake I wanted, but I hated the fact that it caused me to have to tell more lies than I had anticipated. I'm not a liar, dammit! Looking for a way to distract myself from my self-loathing, I go to the guest room next to ours, where Jaina is staying. I had a few questions for my niece. I knock, and she invites me in. She's in bed, sitting up with her legs crossed, phone in her hand. Her hair is damp from a shower.

“Hey babygirl. Can we talk a minute?”

“Sure.” She sets the phone aside, but gives it a concerned glance.

“Everything okay?”

“Oh... I'm not sure. I was waiting to hear from Christian. He went to the hospital with Kelcey and... everyone.”

I nod. “I see. Nothing yet?”

“No. Do you really care?”

“Of course I care. Just because I can't stand the woman doesn't mean I wish ill health or worse on her. I hope she'll be okay.”

Jaina looks at me skeptically. I mean it, though. “Okay. Yeah, so do I. Christian and her are really close, he was pretty worried before he left with them.”

“I'm surprised he didn't ask you to go with him, you two seemed pretty cozy.”

“Yeah.... But I don't need to be there, I'd just be in the way. I asked him to let me know what happens though.”

“I'm sure he'll text you as soon as they hear something.” Jaina nods, glancing at her phone again. I see my opening. “Speaking of Christian.... I noticed you two disappear together below deck.”

Jaina gives me a sideways look. “Really? I'm surprised you noticed anything after the way you argued with Blake.”

I frown a bit and put a finger in the air. “First of all, that was exactly what I intended when I decided to wear that dress. And secondly... you can't change the subject that easily. Nice try though.” I smirk. Jaina sighs. “You wanna tell me what that disappearing act was all about?”

“We just wanted to talk somewhere quieter.”

“Uh huh. You went down those stairs and I didn't see you again til over an hour later when the yacht got back to the dock.”

“We were preoccupied.... we didn't even notice the boat had turned around until we felt it bump the dock. When we came out of the room we were in, we saw Blake helping Kelcey go up the stairs. We waited til they were up there before going up behind them, Christian didn't want them to know we were down there.”

“Why not? What were you doing?”

Jaina huffs and slaps her hands against the bed. “We were in a guest bedroom, what you think we were doing?”

“Oh Jay... really?” I can't stop my face from scrunching up in disapproval. Jaina shrugs and nods. “Do I really have to sit here and list all of the reasons why that's a terrible idea?”

“Actually, yes. Go ahead. This should be good.” She seems amused. Fine, she asked for it.

“First of all... he's a Cannon.”

“And you and his dad were like besties until a few weeks ago.”

I ignore that and continue. “Secondly, it was just a few days ago you told another man you wanted to slow down whatever was going on between you. Why, for this?”

Jaina sits up straighter, defensively. “Wait a second, that's none of your business! How do you even know about that? Reece told you?” I nod. Jaina sighs. “Okay fine. But does it really matter? And how is this even your business?”

“Anything that could lead to you being upset or hurt is my business.”

“Christian isn't going to hurt me, Aunt Bree.”

“Are you sure? Because word is that he's been messing around with Peyton Rice.” I can't believe I just used gossip Scott told me to make a point.

Jaina shrugs. “I know about that. He told me. It was months ago, around Rise to Greatness. It doesn't matter. None of this is anything serious anyway, I don't care who else he is or isn't messing with. I can't do serious right now. You know, like I told Reece.”

I sigh. In many ways Jaina is more like me than her mom, but in this way? All Amy. I was debating with a wall. “Okay. You obviously know what you're doing, I won't say anything else about it. Just please be careful.”

“Thank you. And I will. If it makes you feel any better, I'm pretty sure Owen saw us talking, if not leaving together.” Jaina smirks. I laugh.

“I had no idea you had such ill will towards Owen.”

“I don't. But Christian does. Part of the point of going downstairs together was to piss Owen off. Even if he didn't see us himself, someone would have told him. Once we got downstairs though...” Her words trail off, and she shrugs. Yeah I get it.

“I see. Well-” Jaina's phone dings, and she puts one hand up to get me to pause, then grabs her phone. I wait while she reads. She exhales and smiles. “What?”

“It's Christian. They just heard from the doctor, Kelcey will be okay.”

“Glad to hear that.” Other than the whole not wishing harm on anyone thing, it also meant that whatever Sienna did wasn't that serious and she likely wouldn't get into any trouble over it, assuming anyone ever figured out she was the cause of this at all.

“He um... also says that Chris and Blake got into a fight.”

“What else is new? So glad neither one of them is my problem anymore.” Jaina nods, but she's looking at her phone and typing a reply. “Well, I'll let you talk to your friend. Send him my regards. I really am glad she will be okay.”

Jaina looks up, and smiles. “Okay, I'll tell him.”

I get up. “Thanks. Good night.”

“Night.” Jaina immediately goes back to typing.

I get back to my room and Dom is sitting up in bed.

“Everything okay?”

“Yeah, why?”

“You just look... off.”

“Do I?” Dom nods. “I don't know... I guess I'm not really a fan of what Jaina told me. But as she bluntly told me, it's none of my business.”

“What, the Cannon kid?” I nod. “They were doing what we thought?”

“Yeah.” I make a face.

“She's right... none of our business.”

“I know. Doesn't mean I have to like it. Good news though, Kelcey is apparently going to live.”

“That is good news.”

I don't want to talk about Kelcey anymore, so I just nod. I pull my robe off and go have my shower. When I'm done, I get in bed next to Dom. He puts his arm around me and I lean back against him. I can't help thinking about the lies I told him earlier, and how much I hate it.

The international tour had it's ups and down. Dom came with us since he didn't have any reason to stay in the States. Sydney was fun, we explored the city, interacted with some fans. I was a little surprised how many people there were fans of mine. More than anywhere in the States anyway. The Breakdown taping went fine. I had a segment where I went over all five people in the contendership series, which personally I find the whole thing to be a joke. People who should be in the running aren't and the people who are in it, shouldn't be. Probably some ridiculous compromise between Sasha and Katya. Jaina had been glued to her phone most of the time, and almost ran into the corner of the wall when we were going back to our rooms. The hotel SCW put us up in didn't have suites or even adjoining rooms, so Jaina was next door to me and Dom, and Sienna and Xiomara were across the hall. At least they kept us on the same floor. I tried to ask Jaina who she was busy texting and grinning about. All I got out of her was “a friend.” All my attempts to guess got nothing but silence. I got the hint – none of my business.

Johannesburg was more eventful. Firstly, I had even more fans there than in Sydney, but I had expected that. It's Sienna's hometown and we were expecting to go in front of her people and have a competitive match before coning away with the victory... except Matt Hodges and Subarashi didn't show. I half expected the masked guy to not be there, he'd been hurt a week or so before. But Hodges? For a man who keeps talking about getting a shot at my title, he sure has a funny way of showing it, by refusing to get in the ring with me. If that wasn't bad enough, Sienna decided she would do something to give her people a show... and made a beeline for Mr. D and his girlfriend in their suite. It was all Xio and I could do to drag her away before she could do something stupid. Kelcey was there too, Sienna made some dumb comment about Mr. D's girlfriend resembling Kelcey and maybe there was a reason for that... the idea made me ill. But that wasn't all. Oh no. During the main event Sienna went out to the ring, and after Owen beat Blake (ha!), Giovanni Aries showed up and it sure the fuck looked like Sienna was helping him. Xio and I had to go out there and get involved. I wasn't sure if Katya still had some pull with Sasha being back and if she was still holding a sword over my head about Sienna's actions. I couldn't afford to stand back and do nothing, no matter how irritated I was at the whole situation.

All this time Sienna tried to downplay this thing with Aries, but it's more and more clear that she has some deal with him. I shouldn't care, because he's the one going after Kelcey and Owen physically, not Sienna. But the fact she is there every time he is doesn't look good and I don't think Katya or Sasha are that dense. But I know I can't stop Sienna from doing what she wants. I just had to find a way to keep my hands clean of it and at least make it look like I was trying to control her.

Sienna and Xio went back to their room alone while I waited for Jaina. I was irritated and it was best if Xio handled Sienna herself, she could tell I was in no mood to deal with her and offered. I thanked her and told her I owed her a favor. After they left, Scott and I just looked at each other in silence. Sometimes I don't have to say anything to him at all, he gets me. The bigger story out of this is that I will be defending my title against either Owen Cruze or Ravyn Taylor, as Ravyn had won a triple threat in London to earn the opportunity. That would definitely be a match to pay attention to.

Back at the hotel Dom could tell I was annoyed too, but rather than rehash everything, I asked him to help me relax and forget things for the night. He happily obliged.

All the sightseeing and meeting fans who actually like me was great, but I couldn't wait to get home.

{{Friday, November 13th
Kenner}}

We got home yesterday and everyone spent the day resting and adjusting back to United States time after all the travel. Today though, everyone had plans. Dom had a meeting with Lisa, something about the upcoming DVD release of Deep Cover. Jaina had gone next door to spend the day with Reece. Sienna and Xiomara were going to lunch and shopping together.

And me? I went to the local Mercedes Benz dealership to find a new car, to replace the one Hurricane Zeta smushed with a tree. Scott gave me a ride there, and told me to text him when and if I needed a ride home. It didn't take long for me to find what I wanted, a 2020 model of the car I had, a Mercedes Maybach. They didn't have the same paint color as my old one anymore, a pearly white, but there was a dark silver. It's called Iridium Silver Metallic. The inside I chose a woodgrain trim with beige leather. The best part though was that there was actually one on the lot that included all the options I picked out as well, so I didn't have to wait for my car to be delivered – I could drive her home. I only had to wait while they changed the rims to the ones I chose, and for it to be detailed. I sat with the salesman to work out payment. The base model plus the options I chose brought my total to about 210K. Seemed fair to me. I did get a surprise, though. I started to get my bank information out to pay by bank transfer, and I was told it was already taken care of. I was very confused until the man explained to me that Dom had called ahead and told them to use his bank information for whatever I picked out. He'd even already cleared it with his bank. I knew he was in a meeting but I texted him a bunch of question marks. He replied with 'you're welcome' and a winky face. Have I mentioned how much I love this man? Sometimes I wonder if I deserve him. Especially after Halloween.

After the payment was taken care of, it was another hour before they were done with the rims and detailing. I didn't mind waiting, since I was leaving with the car today. Last time I bought a car, it took a week to be delivered. An hour or so was nothing. Finally, I was handed the keys. I let Scott know I was driving myself home, and drove off.

When I parked my new car in the driveway, I saw that Dom was back from his meeting with Lisa. I hopped out and almost skipped into the house. I owed him a big hug and kiss for the way he set things up to pay for it for me. I close the door behind me and toss my purse onto the foyer table.

“Baby, I'm back! Where are you?”

“In here....”

Dom's voice comes from the kitchen. I kick my flats off near the door and go into the kitchen. Dom is sitting at the breakfast table, he has his phone on the table in front of him. For a man who just surprised his future wife with a car for no reason, he doesn't look like he's in a very good mood. I assume there's a stupid article on his phone that's annoyed him, and I don't really want the trash media to bring my mood down.

“Hey baby. So, how many times can I get away with saying thank you before you tell me to shut up?”

He gives me a weak smile. “I'll let you know.”

“Okay well I'm starting with three. Thank you thank you thank you!” I go up to him and plant a kiss on his cheek, then sit at the table across from him.

“I take it you found something you like?”

“I did! It's a little darker color as the old one, and the inside is a different color leather. The radio is better, and it rides smoother. Although that may be just because it's new and has like thirty miles on it, fifteen of which includes me driving it home. I couldn't believe they had a car with everything I wanted on the lot!”

“That's great, Bree. I'm glad you're happy with it.”

“Want to come outside and see what you bought?” I grin big. Dom just shakes his head. I don't understand what this mood is but I don't like it.

“I will, later. There's something I want to talk to you about first.”

“Okay.... what is it?“ Guess I'm about to find out what the bad mood is over.

“The Halloween party. When you had the idea to dress as a bride and groom, you know I was a little skeptical, but in the end it seemed like a good idea. You were excited to do it, and at the time I thought it was all about you and me, and the future. And then I met with Lisa.”

“I don't understand...”

“Neither did I, until she showed me some article by Inside Edition that went up while we were overseas, with pictues of us after the party. When she asked me if we were trying to pull some kind of publicity stunt, I had no idea what she was talking about. Then she showed me this.”

Dom unlocks his phone and slides it to me. Pulled up on the screen is a Vanity Fair article. An interview I sat for almost three years ago. It's scrolled down to a picture of me and Blake VF ran in the article. I had forgotten all about this. There I am, standing next to my ex-husband in my old house... wearing a wedding dress. That dress. I can't make myself look up. Fuck!

“Imagine my surprise when I realized that I was angry at Blake that night for starting shit with you for seemingly no reason, when in reality, you had actually provoked the entire thing the second we stepped foot on that boat.... his boat! Would you care to explain to me why you chose not to fill me in on the significance of your costume choice?”

The screen on Dom's phone blacks out. I still can't look up. “I didn't think you would understand.”

“So you didn't trust me, is that what I'm hearing? Or did you just not want me to know at all? You hid the significance of the dress, lied about where you got it from. You've told me your brother showed up at the courthouse that day at the last minute, so I'm going to assume that's actually what he was asking you about so you lied about that, then you lied when I asked you what Blake's problem was. You said this lying thing wasn't going to become a habit, but it didn't take very long for you to start doing it to me.”

At first he sounded angry, but now he sounds hurt. I look up finally, and the look he's giving me breaks my heart. “I'm sorry... it wasn't meant to turn into all that. I forgot Wyatt had been there that day, I didn't think anyone else but Blake would recognize it. I wanted to make a point to him that he isn't the honorable person he's pretending to be, and the best way to make that point was to remind him how he walked out on me. I didn't tell you because I didn't think you'd understand. Or if you did, I didn't think you'd agree to go along with it.”

Dom nods a bit. “Okay. Translation... you didn't want me to stop you because you wanted to mess with his head no matter what. Right?”

I sigh. He knows me too well for me to bullshit my way out of this. “Yes... look, he's been antagonizing Sienna, refusing to fight her when all she wants is a chance to get him back for hurting her years ago. He's been taking cheap shots at me, waving that contract clause of his around in the air... I was sick of it! Sienna attacked him at a show, that's her way of dealing with it. Me, I am more cerebral. Again, I'm sorry I didn't tell you, and I'm especially sorry I lied. I hate that it played out in a way that made me lie, I've been kicking myself over it ever since. I'm not going to lie to you ever again, I promise.” I am near tears by the time I finish speaking. Dom seems largely unaffected.

“That's good to hear. Because I need to ask you something, and it's very important that you're completely honest.”

“Of course. What is it?”

Dom takes a deep breath, then looks me straight in the eyes. “Do you still love Blake?”

I blink in surprise. What? “Seriously?”

“Yes, seriously. Answer the question.”

I think its asinine that he thinks he needs to ask me that, but I can tell by the look on his face that for some reason, it's important to him. So, I lean on the table and make a point of looking him directly in the eyes as he did to me. “No. I don't.”

“Are you sure?”

“Of course I'm sure. What kind of question is this anyway?”

He sighs again. “Look, I understand that there's always going to be some kind of... connection, or attachment, there because you were together a long time and married. But going to all this trouble to annoy him and not even bothering to fill me in on any of it raises some questions.”

“Dom-” He cuts me off.

“I also understand that feelings don't have switches and if there are still any there, that's fine. But you need to find better ways to handle it. Having to constantly deal with the arguments and bullshit due to cheap shots over this lingering... whatever, between you two isn't really my idea of a good way to go into marriage.”

I wait a few seconds. “Are you done? Can I talk?”

“Yes. Go ahead.”

“One, if you're going to ask me a question, I'm going to need you to believe me when I answer it.”

“That's fair.”

“Secondly... you asked me to be completely honest, so I will. Even though I am angry at Blake for more than a few reasons, I will admit that there is a tiny part of me, deep down, that does care about him. Just in the way that I hope he finds the happiness he's been looking for his whole life and couldn't find with me. I believe everyone deserves that. But I don't love him. Not anymore, that was over a long time ago. I love you, just you. I hate that I did something that made you feel you had to ask me that, but it's not something you need to be worried about.”

Dom sits back, and I can't tell if he believes me and feels silly for asking, or if he's still not sure. I don't often regret things, but I wish I hadn't put on that damn dress. Getting a rise out of Blake isn't worth all of this.

“I want to believe you, I really do Bree. But you've been telling these little lies here and there the last few weeks... I know, most of it was for Jaina's sake, but then I get blindsided with this. We can't do this, you can't keep doing things like this. I mean, we go to a party together, dressed like that, and the whole thing is a set up to piss off your ex? You understand how this looks from my point of view, right? I mean, it's obviously why you didn't tell me.”

It would be pointless to try to deny that. “I know, I understand. I didn't think you would ever know.”

“That doesn't really make any of this better.”

“I know. All I can say is I'm sorry. It was a bad idea that I didn't really think through, and.... I'm just sorry...” I hate repeating myself but I don't really have a defense. A knot forms in my throat and I turn my head away, I don't want him to think I'm faking crying on top of everything else. But I'm not, I really never thought this stunt to piss Blake off would become this big huge thing. If I'd only remembered that damn VF article...

“Hey...” I look up, and Dom is reaching his hand across the table, gesturing for mine. I reach and grab his hand, and he squeezes. “Just so you know... I do believe you.” I just nod. “You understand I had to ask?”

“Yeah, I do.” Dom squeezes my hand again. I can tell he's still mad but he's trying to not be. “Can I ask something now?” He nods. “If I had told you my idea... would you have gone along with it?”

Dom pulls his hand away from mine. “I think you know the answer to that is no.” I look down. “There just isn't any reason for it, Bree. The SCW issues are one thing, deal with it if you have to there. But all this personal shit? It's unnecessary. Would it be too much to ask for you to just leave that man alone? Let him live his life, you live yours. Aren't there enough positive things to look forward to, without focusing on the past?”

I think about this for a few seconds. Sienna and Blake having some kind of feud gave me an excuse to go back to that place, and I don't need to be there. I nod, and look back up. “You're right. I could try to say I was doing it for Sienna, since she's been trying to fight him and he's been ducking her. But that's just an excuse.... the reality is I saw an opportunity to take a cheap shot and I ran with it. I just need to leave it alone and let Sienna handle it herself. I mean, you put your whole career on pause to focus on us and planning a wedding.... it's only fair I do the same. Not the career part, the focusing on us part.” We both grin a bit, I'm sure he knew what I meant but I had to clarify myself. “I will leave him alone.”

“Thank you.”

“If he starts shit with me though-”

“I know, you'll handle it. As you should.”

“Right. But I won't provoke anything anymore.”

“Good.”

“And I know I said this already but I want to repeat it so we're clear... I'm not ever going to lie to you again. I promise. I backed myself into a corner and I hated how it made me feel. You deserve better than that.”

Dom smiles at me, and we grab hands across the table again.

“You can start to make it up to me by showing me the car I paid for.”

I grin, and get up. He gets up too and we go outside, to my new car. Again, I can tell he's still upset, but trying to get past it. He has every right to be angry, I deserve it. I just hope he doesn't stay angry for too long.

{{Wednesday, November 18th
Miami}}

Dom and I only had the weekend together for things to be weird, before he had to go to Los Angeles for the Deep Cover DVD stuff. There was a photo shoot Monday afternoon he had to do with Kennedy Street for the DVD cover, and some ads. And then an appearance Wednesday at some store hyping the release, which would be on December 4th. So he just stayed at his house in Santa Monica while us ladies had to be in Miami. Dom had acted like things were okay before he left Monday morning but I'm not dumb, I could tell he was still dwelling on what I did. I think the few days apart while we're both working will do us some good.

In Miami, Breakdown wasn't what I was expecting at all. It's Jaina's birthday, and apparently SCW decided she didn't need to be on air, nor did anyone even mention it. If I didn't think it would embarrass her to the ends of the earth, I would make a big deal about it and complain. But I know she would hate that so I let it go. Besides, I had bigger things to be annoyed about, that being Sienna.

Yeah, I said Sienna.

Even though she pulled off a master deception for our Tag League match which gave us another win, she then lost her damn mind! After the main event, which Sienna decided with her knee, Xiomara had taken Sienna away from ringside after the show went off the air and led her to our locker room. Scott knew they were coming and made me leave, he knew I was pissed and that it would be better for everyone if I didn't try to talk to Sienna right now. What the fuck was she thinking?!

Scott leads me out a back door into the cool air. I pace along the sidewalk trying to calm myself. It's not working. Scott gets in front of me and grabs me by both shoulders.

“Breezy. I'm gonna need you to breathe.”

I take a deep breath, and exhale slow. “That didn't do any good.”

“At least you're not making me dizzy with the back and forth.”

“What the fuck was she thinking, Scotty?!”

Scott cringes at my sudden loud voice. “I wish I knew.”

“I mean... it's bad enough that everyone thinks she's in league with Giovanni Aries. I mean, I guess she kinda is, which I shouldn't be bothered about because he's the one going after Kelcey now, not Sienna, which means Katya can get off my fucking case. But Ravyn?! Why, WHY would she essentially hand her a fucking title shot?! She hates Ravyn! Did she really let Aries talk her into doing that just to screw Owen? It doesn't make any sense!”

“It makes a little bit of sense.”

“Scott!”

“Hear me out... Sienna hates Ravyn, right?” I nod, glaring. “And she has full faith in you, right?”

“Yes...”

“Okay. So she took the chance to knock her out, and she'll get to watch you kick her ass.”

I glare more, crossing my arms. “That's insane, Scott. It would have made more sense to knock Owen out, with Kelcey watching, since he's like her passion project or some shit, then watch me beat the shit out of him! Handing Ravyn anything is absurd!”

Scott sighs, he still has his hands on my shoulders, but he lets go and steps back. “Okay. You win. It's completely batshit. Aries had to have a hand in this.”

“That's what I'm trying to say! I don't like any of this babe, look at what he did to Jason Helms and Owen! Not that I really care about either of them, but he fucked with their heads! He's going to do the same thing to Sienna and she's just letting him lead her by the nose!” I exhale in despair. After everything Sienna and I have been through together, helped each other with... I can't seem to help her with this. She is so hellbent on destroying Kelcey that she'll align herself with this psycho.

“Maybe you should talk to her about it.”

“I've tried. She says she is just using him and I don't need to be concerned.”

“I meant about Ravyn. Ask her why she kneed her instead of Owen.”

“Why? I am going to face Ravyn at Last Laugh, it can't be undone, so it doesn't matter.”

“It matters for your friendship. I don't think I've ever seen you this angry at her. How long are you going to quietly go along with things you don't agree with just to placate her?”

“First of all... Sienna knows I don't like this business with Gio. Secondly, just because I disagree with how she is handling something doesn't mean I'm going to get in her face about it or turn my back on her. She's my best friend, and that's not what friends do. Friends help each other.”

“And that's what I'm trying to do with you, dollface. By asking you this... when are you going to actually help her, rather than enable her?”

“Enable?!”

“You heard me. Letting her stay at your house and booking the joint hotel suites and running to her side when she acts the ass on TV isn't really helping if you're only addressing the symptoms. All this acting out she's doing? Symptoms. You gotta get to the root, Breezy. Or do you want Katya breathing down your neck for the rest of your SCW career?”

I sigh hard, and look down. Scott was talking harsh, but he was right. Keeping an eye on Sienna and trying to stop her from causing chaos one, wasn't working, and two, wasn't actually fixing the problem. I tried to actually help when I made her go to church with me, but clearly that wasn't an option anymore. She hated it, and I am done with those judgmental assholes anyway. I have one last idea, and it's desperation.

“Bree?”

I look up. “You're right. I hate it, but you are. I have an idea... although it's a long shot.”

“At this point I think you have to try anything you can think of. What's the idea?”

“I need to talk to Amy.”

Scott's eyes widen a bit. “Oh... yeah. Good luck with that.”

He smirks at me. I grin. I did say it was a long shot. I can't talk to Amy tonight, we have plans to take Jaina out for her birthday. But I had time. I just needed to figure out what I was going to say.
“I'll need it. Thanks. Okay... do you think I can fake not being pissed so I don't ruin Jaina's birthday? Sienna and I planned to take her out to Mango's.”

“You sleep with an actor. I'd like to think you picked up a few tricks, at least through osmosis if nothing else.”

I laugh. “Maybe so. Thanks Scotty. What would I do without you?”

“Be constantly bored and horribly dressed, probably.”

I laugh again. Scott smirks. He knows he's good.

* * * * *

After going back to our rooms to change, Sienna, Xiomara, and I took Jaina to Mango's on South Beach. It's a nightclub with a restaurant so we didn't have to go to two different places. We went to the restaurant first to get something to eat. We were all dressed sexy, I'm in a silver mini-dress with matching heels, Sienna is in a tight fitting knee length red dress with a slit up to her thigh. Xiomara is in a skintight jumpsuit, navy with tiny white dots. And Jaina... in a black leather skirt, pink halter top, and black boots, a leather jacket over it all. I may have given her a wide-eyed look when she came out of her room in our suite. I have never seen her look like that... for the first time I saw her as a woman instead of my niece.

We are led to a table and given menus. For drinks, Xiomara ordered something she called a Cuba Libre, which she explains to me is just rum and Coke with lime in it. Sienna orders a Lemon Drop Martini. I thought that sounded good so I get the same. The server turns to Jaina.

“And you, ma'am? The Lemon Drop as well?”

“Um.... she's nineteen.”

“I did not hear that, Miss Lancaster.” He winks at me. I turn to Jaina. She grins. I give her a nod. Fuck it.

“Yes, that sounds good, thanks.”

The server nods and leaves.

“Apparently drinking laws don't apply to World Champion's and her companions.” I smirk.

“I might as well get some kind of perk out of being related to you.”

“Oh, the private plane isn't enough?”

Everyone laughs. A few minutes later we have our drinks. I hold mine up.

“Okay ladies. Tonight we celebrate the birthday of this beautiful woman here. Smart, strong, and the best goddamn reporter SCW has ever seen! Happy birthday babygirl. I love you.” I clink my glass to Jaina's. She smiles.

“Happy birthday sweetie.” Sienna does her glass.

“Feliz cumpleanos, munequa.” Jaina smiles at Xio and they clink too. We all drink. Holy shit, this lemon thing is good!

“Thanks, ladies. This place is awesome, and this drink... oh my gods.”

We ordered a few appetizers to share and make a meal out of that, the chips and guacamole, the calamari, and a shrimp cocktail. It didn't take long for the food to arrive. All four of us nibbled at everything, each had a drink refill, and made girl talk. Jaina kept looking at her phone and grinning, she was texting with someone. Normally I would find that rude but we were in a club... and it's her birthday. She can do what she wants. I figured she was getting a lot of messages from friends.

At one point she turns around and looks around the room, towards the bar and dance floor.

“Want to go dance?”

“What? Oh... no. I was just looking. Everything is so colorful.”

“Best club in Miami. Only the best for you, sweetie.”

Jaina smiles at Sienna. “Thanks. I love it. The music is fun, the food and drinks are amazing.”

Her phone dings again and she looks down, then smiles.

“Good friend?”

Jaina looks up, and maybe it was the lighting but I would swear she's blushing. “Yeah, you could say that.”

I just smile. I assume it's Reece and let it go. Jaina then looks across the room again, as if looking for something. She grins, then turns back to the table, eats one more chip with guac, finishes her drink (her third) and gets up.

“Be right back, ladies room.” As she walks off, I realize she had been looking for the restroom signs.

“So, am I the only one who's noticed that young woman has clearly been hot texting someone all night?”

I glance at Xiomara with a brow up. “You think?”

“Mami, her face has been flushed all night. And that was before the martini's.”

“I noticed. Maybe she and Christian are more than friends.”

I give Sienna a look. I hadn't told her that Jaina confirmed to me what happened on the yacht. But by the looks of it, I didn't need to. “Maybe. Could be Reece, too.”

“I thought she told him to kick sand?”

“No, she just told him to slow down. Then she got all cozy with Christian.... so who knows.” I finish the rest of my drink. I'm not sure I like the idea of my niece playing two men against each other.

“Well, she's young, she's having fun. I'm happy for her.”

“I didn't have that kind of fun when I was her age.”

Sienna smirks. “That's because you were raised by a nun.”

“Sienna!” I laugh in spite of myself. My mom was pretty strict with me growing up.

We joke and laugh some more, and get another round of drinks. Just when it occurs to me that Jaina has been gone longer than I expected, I look up and she's headed back to the table. Her face still looks flushed. She walks up to me.

“Aunt Bree.... I um... kinda met someone, and I'm gonna leave now and go back to my room. Okay?”

I give her a sideways look. “Jay.... we came here for your birthday, now you want to leave?”

“I think you missed the part where I said I met someone....”

My eyes go wide. She met someone she wants to leave with in ten minutes? “Oh.... right. Well, it is your birthday, you do what you want. Are you sure that's safe?”

“Absolutely. I'm going to my room, if it gets weird I'll make them leave.”

I don't like it, but she's an adult. “Okay. If it gets too weird, call me, okay?”

“I will. Thanks.” She then turns to the table to speak to Sienna and Xiomara. “Thanks for everything tonight, babes. This place is awesome and we totally need to come again. But I'm leaving with a friend..." She smirks.

“Oh... lucky you! Have fun, don't do anything I wouldn't do.”

“That doesn't leave out much, munequa.” Xio smirks.

“Shut it!” We laugh. Jaina gives me a kiss on the cheek before leaving. Sienna turns back to me. “Are you sure she should be leaving with someone she just met?”

“Aren't you the one who told me she's young and should be having fun? She'll be fine. She can handle herself. Her father used to instruct self defense classes, I know he's taught her some things.”

Sienna just nods, having more of her drink. My answer seemed to satisfy her. Xio finishes hers and smacks the glass on the table.

“Well... the birthday lady left to have some fun, I say we have some of our own and hit the dance floor. What do you say?”

Sienna gets up. “I'm in. Bree?”

“Might as well.”

I finish my drink too and the three of us head to the dance floor. The Latin music isn't really my favorite but it has a good beat and I have four martini's in me so fuck it. It'll at least make me forget the fact that Sienna pissed me off at Breakdown, and also the fact that I know Dom is still mad at me because he hasn't called, or texted me without me texting first, since he left Monday. Those are both issues to be dealt with later, though. Not tonight.

Amazingly, I didn't have a headache when I woke up, despite having at least five of those Lemon martini's. I did wake up later than I wanted though, and was rushing to get showered, and my things packed before we had to check out. It was nearly 10AM when I realized that Jaina hadn't come through her door yet, which meant she was probably still sleeping. She must have had a late night with her new friend. I wish I could let her sleep but we have to check out in an hour. I need her to get moving. Sienna and Xiomara were already mostly ready, as was I. I go to the door that leads to Jaina's room in the suite and knock. I wait a few seconds... and nothing.

“Jaina! We have to get going!” More nothing. I knock harder. God, how much did she drink? “Jaina? I'm coming in!” I grabbed the key from the side table near the door and opened the door. Jaina sits straight up, holding the covers over herself. I also saw the covers next to her moving as they cover a person from head to toe. Oops.... Jaina looks up at me wide-eyed. “Oh.... oh, I'm sorry. I didn't realize you still had company....”

“Gods... what time is it?”

“After ten. We need to get moving. Check out is at-”

“Eleven, I know. I'm sorry. I'll be ready soon.”

“Okay. Sorry again.”

Jaina waves me off and I close the door quickly, locking it again. I take a deep breath, realizing how much more awkward that could have been. It then struck me that I couldn't tell if the body shape under the covers was a man or a woman. I guess it doesn't matter.

* * * * * {{Jaina}} * * * * *

After Aunt Bree closed the door, Jaina exhales in relief. The covers fly up and off of the body of her guest. Jordan Majors sits up straight, terrified.

“Oh my God! Do you think she knew it was me?”

“I don't think so. If she did, she would have said something. You know her.”

Jordan nods, relaxing. “Right, she would have. That would have been... I don't even know.” She shakes her head, then gets up out of bed. She's naked. Jaina watches as Jordan quickly picks her clothes up and gets dressed. Jaina makes herself get out of bed as well, pulling a t-shirt over her nude body. When she turns around, Jordan is dressed and sitting on the edge of the bed, pulling her shoes on. She gets up and grabs her bag from the chair and heads towards the door.

“Wait...” Jaina stops her and kisses her. Jordan takes a deep breath.

“I thought I had to leave so you guys can leave. And holy shit, I have to be ready to check out, too!”

“I know. But it's only like five after ten. At least give me the chance to thank you for my present.” Jaina grins. Jordan smiles.

“I hope you enjoyed it.”

“You know I did.” Jaina grins again. “I knew I wanted it, but I didn't know how much I needed it until you were here.”

“Yeah... me too.”

“So, no regrets, then?”

“No.”

Jaina takes a deep breath. She was almost afraid to ask, but she had to. “So.... what about your girlfriend?”

Jordan sighs and looks down a second. “Yeah. That's something I'll have to deal with, but I don't want you to worry about it.”

“Yeah, right.” They both grin. Jaina knows Jordan knew better than that. “Before you go, I need to say something real quick.... I'm not sure what you expect now after last night, but my head is kinda all over the place... you get what I'm saying?”

Jordan nods. “So is mine, honestly. I have some things to figure out, for sure. But I don't have any expectations at all. I'm not gonna push anything. I just hope last night won't be the last time.”

Jaina just smiles. Jordan smiles back. The ex-fiancee's kiss again, and Jordan leaves without either saying another word. Jaina turns around to go get dressed herself. She walks towards the bathroom, and sees Jordan's underwear on the floor near the chair where she had tossed her clothes last night. Jaina laughs as she picks them up. Might as well return them when she can, right?

* * * * * {{Bree}} * * * * *

I am sitting on the couch in the sitting area of the suite, shaking my foot. It's after ten-thirty and Jaina hasn't come out of her room yet. Sienna and Xiomara are already downstairs getting our bags into the rental. I start to get up to knock on her door again, when it opens and Jaina comes out, wheeling her bag behind her. She's dressed in pajama pants and a loose t-shirt, and her hair looks like there's a 30 mph wind blowing through her room. I stifle a laugh.

“All ready, babygirl?”

“Yeah, I think so. Pretty sure I got everything.”

“Even your hairbrush?”

Jaina runs her hand through her hair. It helps slightly. “You told me to hurry...”

“It's fine, Jay. Really. Let's go. The girls are already downstairs, we just have to meet them and I have to check out at the desk. Scott is probably already at the airport”

Jaina pulls her bag behind her as we leave the room. As we go down the hall to the elevator, I reach over and fluff her hair around with my fingers, trying to make it look normal and not homeless couture. On the elevator, Jaina looks in the mirrored walls and adjusts it herself some more. It might be suitable for public by the time we get to the first floor. I've been thinking about something since I unlocked her door.

“Did you have fun?”

“Yeah.... more than you can even imagine.” Jaina grins, and I see a slight blush.

“Good. I'm sure... he? She?”

“She.”

“Right. She... had a good time too.”

“She said she did.”

I smile. “Good. Listen, I want to apologize again for just going in. I thought you were still sleeping and-”

“Well, I was.”

“Right. But it was your room, and I didn't think you'd still have company. I could have accidentally seen something private. God knows I've had that happen far too many times in my life for my liking.”

“It's okay, Aunt Bree. You didn't see anything. We were both still sleeping and-”

“Okay but I could have. So... I think in the future, you should have your own separate room. The last thing I want is another awkward situation like this. And I'm sure it wasn't fun for your new friend, either. I assume she knows who you and I are? Like from SCW.”

“She definitely does.”

“Exactly. So I think this is for the best. We'll get you your own room from now on.”

Jaina smiles. “That's a great idea.”

I smile back. “I mean, as long as I can trust you not to oversleep again and nearly miss check out.”

“That won't happen again, promise. I'm just not used to drinking and staying up that late.”

“Right. Okay. We'll do that. Good talk.”

Ding. The door opens to the first floor. As we step out of the elevator I would swear I hear Jaina trying to hide a laugh. I am far to embarrassed about having walked into her room while she had someone in bed with her to turn around and find out though.

Sienna and Xiomara see us and get up from their chairs in the lobby. Out of the corner of my eye I see a woman rushing by, hauling a wheeled suitcase behind her. I look and see it's Jordan, she seems to be in a serious hurry. She looks up at us, turns her head fast and walks faster. And here I thought we'd made peace when we spoke a few weeks ago. Oh well. I walk up to the desk to check us out. Time to get going to the next city, the next house show. Maybe I would hear from Dom today and things would start to get back to normal.