Under Attack 2020 #1
{{Wednesday, October 7th
Philadelphia}}
Sienna and I won again, thanks in part to some interference by the ridiculously over-American Lucy-something and Ricky James. Their shtick is kinda like me when I was United Stated Champion and pushing Breemerica.... except on crack. They're Mexican! It's absurd. But, they have heat with Jay Gold for some reason and came out to mess with him and Holly Adams, and Sienna and I were more than happy to take advantage. It was a good moment for us considering that previously in the night, while I was otherwise occupied, Sienna found Kelcey backstage and tried to attack her. I don't know what else to do to keep her from seeing red every time Kelcey is in sight. But I am going to have to find a way, because the whole show kicked off with one hell of an announcement...
David Helms has some undisclosed injury, and gave up the World Championship. Tommy Valentine and I both demanded to know what this meant for Under Attack, as we were meant to have a Three Way Dance match. Katya made it easy, and I was actually surprised. Tommy and I will face each other for an Interim Championship. While he ran his mouth about David, I decided pretty quickly that with David out of the way for the foreseeable future, there was no reason to keep up this business arrangement Tommy and I had, given we were getting our one on one match now. So, I made sure he knew what the deal was gonna be from here on out by Classifying his midsection into his spine. My actions ended up later giving Jordan and Cookie a win over him and Kandis, but it was worth it just to make sure he knew terms had changed.
Following all that though, after the main event which featured Aaron Blackbourne and Owen Cruze, Sienna decided to go out to ringside again, claiming she just wanted to talk to Kelcey. I didn't believe her for a second, so I followed, Xiomara did too. But Sienna didn't get to get close, because Giovanni Aries showed up and attacked Kelcey from behind. First of all, I am really starting to run out of reasons to hate the man. Secondly, I was able to keep Sienna away from Kelcey. But just the fact she went out there can't have made Katya happy. Which means her eyes would be on me, which was something I have had just about enough of.
All of this was on my mind as Sienna, Xiomara, and I get back to my locker room. I slam the door behind me as Sienna sits down. I glare at her.
“What the fuck is wrong with you, Sie?!”
“I just wanted to talk to her, honestly!”
“Oh, like you were trying to “talk” to her earlier with a goddamn wrench?!”
“Bree-”
“No! I have enough, Sienna! You need to listen to me! If you want to continue to fuck with Kelcey personally? I don't care, go right ahead, I'd love to see it. But here? On TV and where Katya can use it to fuck with both of us? No! What did I tell you earlier? She could have taken me out of the Under Attack match because of you!”
Sienna sat back, almost guiltily. “I told you I would never cost you-”
“Yes, that's what you said. Then you went to the ring to approach her again! Do you really not understand how this is insane? I was lucky as it was that Katya made my Under Attack match just me versus Tommy instead of making it a chamber and adding in all the other miscreants who have been trying to nose their way into my business.”
“She was probably handcuffed by the board. And anyway you are worrying about Katya for nothing, didn't you hear that Sasha is returning at Under Attack?”
I scoff. I see Xio shaking her head. At least she gets it. “Oh, you think that's gonna be any better? Sasha hates me more than Katya does, and you are the reason Sasha was out! Katya has been very lenient with both of us, but you know damn well Sasha will not hesitate to fine, suspend, or even fire you! Is that what you want? Are you trying to get fired?”
“Of course not! Look, I had a moment earlier when I saw Kelcey, I admit that. But just now I didn't mean any harm, I swear. I just wanted to say something.”
“Do you think Katya or Sasha will see it that way?” Sienna stops to think a second, then shakes her head. “Finally! You see what I have been trying to tell you for weeks. Listen, I hate yelling at you babe, I love you. But you have got to stop this. I understand wanting to make Kelcey pay for everything she's done, but we have to be smart about it.”
“I know. You're right. That's why I did nothing when Aries arrived and I just watched as he choked her.”
I laugh a bit, and I see Xio look warily at Sienna. “You know, that's something else I wanted to ask you. Did you have something to do with that? Did you go out there on purpose to distract Kelcey so he could attack her?”
Sienna just looks at me. Xio shakes her head. “That is a good question, Mami.”
Sienna still says nothing. I pull a chair over and finally sit, in front of her. “Listen, if you did, it's okay. I support that, it's someone else messing with her instead of you. But we're a team, we're best friends, and I need to be told these things if we are going to be on the same page.”
Sienna grins. “Don't worry about that, sweetie. You focus on getting your title back, Interim or whatever they want to call it. You will be World Champion again.”
“You know what? I do have to worry about it, I can't focus on the title if I have to constantly keep my eyes on you! I was in the ring for five minutes conducting business and that was enough for you to track Kelcey down! I am not playing around Sienna. This has to stop. Now! Tonight!”
I'm not sure I was ever this angry with her, even when I hated her. Sienna looks up at Xio standing behind me. “She's right. You've done enough. Katya wouldn't give you the match you wanted, Sasha is unlikely to do it either. It's over.”
“Oh, it is far from over. But....” Sienna looks back at me. “Okay. I get it. I will leave her alone... until after Under Attack. You get your title back, then it's my turn to get what I want.”
I smile. “Thank you. I can live with that, I will even help you. But for right now you need to let things die down a bit. Let her think you are done. Then when she least expects it....” I smirk. Sienna nods, smirking back.
“I win.”
I sigh in relief. I know she told me before that she would stop and then didn't.... but SCW changed their scheduling, there is no Breakdown the same week as pay per views anymore, which means I only have to be concerned with this for one more night – Under Attack itself. Sienna doesn't have a match, I am hoping Xiomara can keep her away from Kelcey while I am preparing for my match. And then it won't matter, because I will have my title back, and Katya will be gone. Sasha is a different problem, but one to worry about later.
{{Monday, October 12th
Kenner}}
Things were calmer after Breakdown, I've noticed that Sienna seems to be in a better mood when we are not near SCW people at all. I am hoping that the schedule change works in my favor and the extra few days away from work keeps her calm longer and when we do get to Under Attack? She'll actually remember she told me she would back off and keep her word. I cant take much more of this, stressing over Sienna, my title match...
And then of course Jaina. I told her I would take the time to really think about her side, try to see things from her point of view, and consider helping her in doing what she wanted to do about this pregnancy – end it. And I did. But as much as I've tried to understand everything she said, about not wanting her career to potentially be over, not wanting to be 'stuck' with Reece the rest of her life, not wanting to disappoint her parents? I just don't see how any of that justifies ending a life. I'm not one of those nutjobs who thinks a cluster of cells is an actual person, but if left alone it will be, and I do believe that everything happens for a reason. God wouldn't have given her this if He didn't think she could handle it. Maybe the best way to help her is to get her to understand that. She thinks she can't do this. I think she can.
It's afternoon and I am just getting home from the gym, Sienna and Xio came with me. I knew Dom wouldn't be home, he had business to take care of in the city concerning his bank account. But I was curious as to why Jaina wasn't home. She hadn't told me she was going anywhere, and she usually does. The three of us went upstairs to our room to shower. When I was done and changed, I heard Sienna on the phone, and Xio had her door closed so I didn't bother her. I went downstairs to go into the library and relax, but as I was walking through the formal living room, Jaina came in. She stops in her tracks when she sees me. She has a small bundle of papers in her hand.
“Oh... hi Aunt Bree.”
“Hey babygirl. Where'd you go?”
“I.... um. Here.” Rather than answering, she handed me the stack of papers. I look at the top one, it's a pamphlet from the Women's Health Care Center in the city. It's one of only three clinics in Louisiana that perform abortions. I look up at her, stunned.
“You went?!” Jaina just nods. “Did you....?”
“No. Laws are stupid, I have to go back. Apparently you have to listen to a bunch of garbage, read that stuff, have an ultrasound, then wait at least twenty-four hours before you can go back to have it done.”
I exhaled in relief. “Why did you even go by yourself in the first place?”
“Because I wanted to know what I had to do. And how it works. And how much it costs. They gave me that, it's all there.”
I flipped through the papers. One described the procedure, one was a cost list, one was an advertisement for an adoption agency. The last one was aftercare information. I shook my head and stopped reading. “Jaina....”
“I didn't want to wait longer, okay? The longer I wait, it costs more, and if I wait too long, they can't do it. It wouldn't be legal anymore.”
“How long is too long?”
“Twenty weeks. So... December sometime.”
“That's a while yet-”
“And I don't want to wait even that! That's five months, people would be able to tell by then. I'm surprised no one has seen it yet already. I can.”
I look at her stomach. She's right, it still looks flat to me. But she is dressed, maybe it's noticeable without a shirt on. Jaina catches me looking and raises her shirt, then lowers the waist of her shorts. Oh. Yeah... she has a tiny bump where before it was flat.
“Please, my stomach looks like that after a large meal.” I grin, hoping to make her smile. She glares. I tried. “Sorry. I know you're-”
“I'm what? Upset? Scared? Not thinking straight? I thought you promised you were gonna start treating me like an adult?”
“I have been! Don't you think I would say these same things to anyone?”
She tilts her head a bit, then shrugs. “Actually... yeah. You probably would. But that's not even the point. I just don't want to wait til the last minute, I don't want anyone to know, I just want to be rid if it!”
I sit on the couch and look down at the papers in my hands again, and the cost list more closely. I see what she means about it costing more the further along a woman is. I think back to her doctor's appointment and calculate that at this point in time she is around eleven weeks. No wonder there's a small bump, I hadn't realized it was that long already. Looking at this scale, if she were to do it in the next week or two, it would cost $750. Sweet baby Jesus.
“Well I can see your concern about the cost.”
Jaina sits next to me. “That's not even an issue, I have the money. That's not what I want you to help me with. I just need you to take me there the day I do it. That's all.”
I'm still looking at the papers. I start to read the one that describes the procedure, but I can't finish it. I lower my hands and look up at Jaina. “I just don't understand why you want to do this.” She looks incredulous. “I mean, I heard everything you said, I just don't think any of it is founded. You're looking at this the wrong way, everything happens-”
“What, for a reason? Are you gonna give me the tired “God won't give you what you can't handle' crap? One of the women at the clinic said that. It took everything I had not to laugh in her face.”
“Jaina-”
“Look, I'm not asking you to understand it, okay? I just want you to accept it and help me. I can't go by myself, they won't allow it, someone has to drive me home.”
“What will you do if I refuse?”
“I'll ask Kelsai to bring me. Or Sienna. Or maybe even Jordan, I mean she already offered.”
I blink a few times, unsure I really heard that. “Wait, did you say Jordan?!”
“Oh... yeah. I mean, we've talked.”
“Since when?”
“A week or so? She randomly texted me. I didn't see the problem in texting back.”
“And you told her about this?” Jaina nodded. “I thought you said you couldn't trust her.”
“I can with this. She hid things from me, not spread secrets. It's different.”
“I see.” I look down at the stack of papers again, not really at them, but just because they happened to be in my hands. “And she thinks what you want to do is right?”
“She said she supports me, and offered to help. I told her you disagreed with me.”
I look up and scoff. “Oh well that's why she supports you, because I think this is wrong.”
“You know that isn't true. She never had a problem with you.”
Unspoken was that Jordan's problem was with Sienna. “I never had a problem with her either, until she hurt my best friend. And for that matter, neither did you until she lied to you.”
“She apologized for that. I told her you don't hate her, I hope that was okay.”
I sigh. “Yeah. It's fine. I don't. I just wish things had worked out differently.”
“Me too. If it had, I wouldn't be in this mess right now.”
I grin. “Yeah, that's true.” She grins back. It felt good to agree on something for once. “But that doesn't mean you should be asking her for help with something like this.”
“First of all, she offered. But more importantly, If you take me, I won't have to ask anyone.”
She has a point. I know Kelsai would do it, she's Jaina's best friend. I know Sienna would do it, she likes Jaina and doesn't have the same views I do about these things. Jordan? I shudder to think what could happen if those two shared something like this.
“Just give me a few days to look over this stuff, okay?”
“Fine. But just so you know, I am going back Friday whether you bring me or not. I already made the appointment. I don't want to wait until after Under Attack because that's another week and the cost will go up. Just let me know before Thursday night so I can call Kelsai if I need to.”
Jaina gets up and walks out of the living room. I'm still holding the papers from the clinic in my hands. I throw them aside, and they flutter to the floor. I rub my face with one hand.
I can't make this decision by myself. I don't want to deny her for the first time, but I don't want to defy the church, either. I had tried to talk to Dom about it, but his status as an atheist didn't really help me much. It only made me question my own faith, and that was ridiculous. It was my own fault though, he had warned me.
I pull my phone out of my pocket, and tap the screen a few times.
“Good afternoon, Divine Mercy Church, this is Sister Margaret speaking, how may I serve you?” I see this as a sign, Margaret is my middle name.
“Hi Sister, I'd like to make an appointment to speak with Father Robert please.”
“Of course. And to whom am I speaking?”
“Bree Lancaster.”
“Okay. And when do you think you'd like to speak with him?”
“As soon as possible. Please.”
“Alright.... he's free Wednesday morning, anytime before noon. Would nine be okay?”
“Of course.”
“Great. And what should I note that you'd like to speak about?”
I hesitate. “Um... it's actually a sensitive family issue.”
“Of course. No worries. He'll see you Wednesday.”
“Thank you, Sister.”
“Happy to help. God bless.”
“God bless.”
I end the call and sit back, staring at the papers on the floor I'd dropped. God bless, indeed.
* * * * *
I'd picked the papers up and brought them back to Jaina. They shouldn't be laying around with how she wanted to keep things secret. Neither of us said anything. I think she was waiting for me to say something, but I haven't decided yet. It's almost six when Dom gets back. I am in the library, trying to decompress and relax.
“Hey cakes.... you okay?”
I am laying on the couch, my head on a pillow and a half-drank cup of tea on the side table.
“Yeah, I'm fine, Just... Jaina.”
“What happened now?”
I explain to him about her clinic visit. “So, you know... I'm just torn.”
“Can I ask you something?”
We'd talked about this before and it didn't go well. But if he wanted to try again I was willing to listen. “Okay...”
“Do you want to help her?”
“I... normally, yes. But-”
“No buts.”
“No, there is a but. She's never asked me to do anything that goes against everything I believe in.”
“Do you really believe in it? Or is it just that it's the church's stance, so it has to be yours?”
I had never thought of it that way. Most things I vehemently stood for because of my faith were because of the church. What do I really think about this? “I... don't know.”
“Admitting that is a start.”
“I did call the church and make an appointment to speak to my priest.”
“And ask what? If you're already so against it?”
“Not sure yet. Maybe if there is any acceptable excuse, or way for forgiveness? I hate seeing her so upset, baby. But....”
“Let me ask you something else.... why is it so important to you to follow the church explicitly on this? There's other things you aren't as hardlined about.”
I sigh. “My mom. She was one of the most faithful people I ever knew, and I know she would be horrified at the idea of her granddaughter even considering this. I only went back to the church after she died. I had stayed away a long time, there was a priest at my childhood church who was one of the ones who messed with kids.”
Dom cringed. “Don't blame you for turning away then.”
“Mom didn't either. She and Dad started going to a different church after that. But I couldn't go back to any of them. Then she died a few years ago, and.... I guess I felt like I owed her that, because I hadn't been there for her while she was sick towards the end.” I wasn't going to explain that the reason I wasn't was because of Blake, we were living in Northampton at the time.
“So you feel like sticking to the church doctrine is honoring your mom?”
“Yeah... yeah I guess I do.”
Dom grabs my hand, and gives it a squeeze. “One more question... do you think she would stand by that as well, knowing that it meant Jaina was being forced to live with something she's too young for and doesn't want?”
“I do.” No hesitation. “She would have offered everything she could to help her take care of the baby. But she would never condone abortion. Ever.”
Dom sighs. “Okay. But what do you think? Is it really fair to ask Jaina to deal with that?”
I look down at his hand holding mine. “Probably not.” My voice was barely above a whisper.
“So you do want to help her, you're just afraid of the church.”
“The church, God.... I've gone against Him enough. Failed promises.” I look up. “Whether my fault or not. I know I do some things at work that God probably doesn't like. I try to... balance things out by always telling the truth, going to church, making confession.... you probably think I'm crazy.” I shake my head, I was trying to explain myself to an atheist.
“No, I don't think that at all. I think you're trying very hard to be the woman your mom wanted you to be. I just want you to ask yourself, is it the woman you want to be?”
“I don't know. That's why I'm going to talk to Father Robert Wednesday and see what he tells me. Maybe it's not as black and white as I always thought it was.”
“It probably isn't. I hope whatever he says clears things up for you. I feel like I haven't helped at all, although I've tried to.”
“No, you have. You've made me think about things I've never really questioned. That's got to be a good thing, right?”
“I'd like to think so. Did I really help?”
“Yeah. At first I was focused on me and how could she ask me to do such a thing.... you reminded me this isn't about me. It's about her.”
Dom smiles. “Oh good, I didn't make it worse.”
I smile back, and lean on him. “You could never.”
We sit there for a few minutes, quiet. I ran through my mind the things I planned to ask Father Robert about. What if I'm only helping her by driving the car and not doing it myself? I wouldn't ever, but she isn't me. Isn't it worth something to God that I am keeping my promise to Wyatt and Amy to take care of her, and to Jaina that I would always be there for her? Or was I just trying to negotiate with God and was on the losing end?
Dom then sits up and looks at me with a grin. It's the almost mischievous one.
“I have an idea that might cheer you up.”
“I am not having sex in the library.”
Dom laughs. I smirk. “Not that, although maybe later.... but no. I meant a phone call.” I squint in confusion. “Mom has been asking me why we haven't gone back to see her. I told her we've been busy, which isn't wrong. But I was thinking... since we really can't get away as long as Sienna is here – and I'm okay with that, don't think that's a complaint... I thought we could video call Mom and give her the good news.” He jiggles my left hand, which was resting on his leg.
“I thought you wanted to do that in person?”
“I did.... but with everything going on here, it would be another few weeks. What if it gets out before then? She'd fly down here herself to smack me if she heard on TV before I told her.”
I laugh. “You make a compelling argument. I guess telling her on the phone is better than not at all.”
“Exactly! So, what do you say?”
“Okay. Call her. Do I look okay?”
“It's just Mom, not a TV interview.” I fake-scowl at him, and he smirks back. “Yes, you look fine. Beautiful. Gorgeous!”
I put my hand on my cheek dramatically. “In that case... I am ready for my close-up.” I then pout my lips out, like in a photo shoot.
Dom laughs, shaking his head as he pulls his phone out and calls. His mom answers, and he talks to her a minute or so before asking if she wants to do video. She agrees. Dom taps a few things on the screen, then turns it to face himself. He pulls me in to lean on him, getting in the shot. I look at his phone screen and see the smiling face of Ms. Brenda.
“Oh, hello Bree! It's good to see you. Well... you know what I mean.”
“I do... you too Ms. Brenda.”
“So, my son tells me you have an explanation for why you two can't tear yourselves away from New Orleans in between your wrestling dates?”
“Yeah... at least a partial one. I have my best friend Sienna staying here right now. She is in a bad place, her husband recently left her... I really can't leave her alone right now.”
Ms. Brenda puts a hand over her heart. “Oh, that's terrible for her. I understand, you have to take care of your friend.”
“I'm doing the best I can. She isn't easy to reason with. She's doing things at work that aren't good for us.”
“Oh, is she a wrestler, too?”
“She is. We're actually teaming together right now for this tournament.”
“I'm sure that's fun to team with your best friend.” I nod. “So, are you not getting any recourse after your title loss?”
Ms. Brenda had been upset when I told her David had beat me. As far as I know, she only ever watched one show, the one where David dropped me in front of Dom.
“Oh... well, about that.... I was going to. But David is apparently hurt and he gave the title up. So I'm fighting another guy for an interim championship instead. David's former best friend, actually.”
“Well, that's something. What did that man do to himself?”
“He wouldn't say.”
Ms. Brenda's mouth became a hard line. “Interesting.”
“That's what I thought.”
Dom clears his throat. I guess he didn't want to talk about David at all. “So Mom... while we have you on video and all, and since we won't be able to visit until this thing with Sienna is calmed down, there's something I think Bree and I should share with you.”
“I knew there had to be a reason you wanted to do this video thing. Well, lay it on me.”
I giggle as Dom smiles. He grabs my hand and holds it up to get in the video shot. “Notice anything about this?”
“Um, it's Bree's hand?”
I wiggle my fingers. “Anything else?”
Ms. Brenda squints, trying to see clear. Maybe her video feed is bad and she can't see my ring. Dom sighs. “Okay, fine. That's the ring I gave her, on her left hand. We've decided to get married.”
Ms. Brenda gasps, putting one hand over her mouth. She quickly removes it though, revealing a huge smile. “Really?!”
“Yeah, really.”
“That's fantastic! I'm so happy for you!”
“I knew you would be.” Dom grins.
“Thank you.”
“I do have to ask... Did I have anything to do with changing your minds?”
“Honestly Mom... a little bit. I wouldn't go as far as to say you talked me into it, but more made me realize I had thought about it, and wanted to do it.”
“You were just being stubborn because you'd always said otherwise, right?”
“Pretty much.” He grins again.
“What about you, Bree? I know you said you had reasons as well.”
“I did, but mine were silly. Honestly I would have been happy with whatever Dom wanted to do. I admit to being slightly terrified right after we agreed... but I'm excited about it.”
“As you should be. I'm absolutely tickled. When did this happen?”
Dom and I look at each other. I leave it up to him to say the truth or not. “Well... a while ago, actually. The weekend of Bree's big wrestling show in July.”
“Son... it's October.”
I grin. Dom sighs. “I know. We sort of kept it to ourselves for a bit, to let the idea sink in.”
“Okay, you're forgiven. I know it's a big deal for you. Both of you. Have you decided when yet?”
“No, we haven't really thought that far.”
“Right, we've really only told a handful of close friends and my family.”
“I see. What about your family, son? Your brothers?”
Dom closes his eyes for a second. “No. We are still not speaking.”
Ms. Brenda sighs sadly. “I really do wish you would work things out, I know you were close.”
“I wish they would too, Ms. Brenda. I would like for both of our families to be at the wedding and not have any trouble.” It suddenly occurred to me that if that happened, Ms. Brenda and David and Jason would be in the same building. I wonder if she's realized this yet. I don't dare mention it.
“You know, I would like that too, but I don't see it happening.”
“Not if you continue to be stubborn.”
“I'm not the stubborn one this time, Mom.”
“I think you should tell them your news. Or let it get to them somehow. It might be an icebreaker of sorts, get you talking.”
Dom immediately shakes his head. “I don't really think that's a good idea.”
“I don't know baby, it might be.”
“I thought you agreed with keeping it from them as long as possible? You even asked Amy not to tell Jason.”
“I know, but maybe your mom is right. They're gonna find out eventually.”
“As far as I'm concerned, they can read the news online after we decide to make it public.”
Ms. Brenda shakes her head. “Alright, Dom, I know when to back off. It was just a suggestion. I only want things to work out well for you.”
“I know you do, and I appreciate it. But just trust me on this, okay?”
“Okay. The important thing is that you're doing it at all. I'm so happy for you! I know, I already said that, but I can't help it.”
Dom and I both smile. “Thanks, I just wish we could have told you in person.”
“That would have been nice but I understand. I'll just owe you both a big hug the next time you're able to get up here.”
“We'll take it. And I promise I will remind Dom to keep you informed when we make any sort of decision as to when we might actually do it.”
“You won't have to do that, cakes. She'll just ask me every time we talk until I have an answer.”
I giggle and Ms. Brenda laughs as she nods. “He knows me so well.”
“We'll let you go, Mom, we just wanted to fill you in.”
“And we will let you know as soon as we can make a trip up there.”
“Alright. Thank you for calling, you've made my night. Week. Year, even!” She laughs. Dom and I both smile again. “Good night, you two. I love you.”
“Love you too, Mom.”
I wasn't comfortable saying that to a woman I'd met in person twice, so I just smile. The video blinks out.
Dom sets his phone aside and sighs. “Well, that was meant to put you in a better mood, but it just ended up annoying me.”
“I'm sorry. But honestly baby you should have seen that coming.”
He looks at me, a bit sheepish. “Yeah, you're right.”
“I do think she has a point though. About letting David and Jason know somehow. It would give them a reason to contact you.”
“Bree....”
“I mean, we don't have to talk to them. I could tell Amy it's okay to tell Jason. He'd tell David I'm sure. Although it might be the last thing either one of them cares about right now, both being hurt.”
Dom sits up straight and turns to face me. “You know what, if you really think it's a good idea and it'll make any difference at all, go right ahead. I don't actually care anymore if they know, or what they will think about it.”
“Really?” Dom has this weird habit of changing his mind on things out of the blue. It's endearing but confusing at times.
“Yep. I just decided. It doesn't matter. What matters is that I love you, and sometime in the near future you're going to be my wife, and-” He stops, and grins.
“What?”
“I've never said those words before. My wife.” He grins bigger.
“I like how it sounds.” I smile. “So are you really okay with them finding out?”
“Yeah. It was probably a bit petty to hide it anyway.”
An idea comes to mind, and I can't stop myself from asking before thinking it through.
“What about everyone else? Like, what about making it public?”
Dom gives me a raised eyebrow. “Are you sure you're ready for that?”
“I can handle it. I have an idea.”
“I'm listening.”
“You said you didn't care if your brothers read it online with the rest of the world... what about if they heard it in a promo?”
Dom stares blankly at me for approximately three seconds, then laughs. “You want to make an announcement in a promo?”
“If we're gonna tell the world, I may as well make the best use of it I can, right?”
“Lisa is gonna have both our asses over it, you know that right?”
“So warn her.”
Dom gives this some thought, then smiles. “You know what? Go for it.”
“Yeah?”
“Yeah. You're right, you may as well use it for whatever purpose you have in mind. It's not like I need it to promote anything, right?”
“Promise you won't get mad with how I do it?”
“Not in the slightest. Promise.”
I lean over and kiss his cheek. “I love you so hard.”
He grabs my face and kisses me, properly. “Hard, huh?” He grins, there was that mischievous one again.
“I already told you, not in the library.”
He laughs. “You'd better get that cute ass of yours upstairs then.”
We went upstairs, and I checked on Sienna and Xio, seeing if they needed anything. They were fine. I explained that Dom and I would be in our room resting, but the look on Sienna's face told me she knew what I meant. I then checked on Jaina, told her the same thing, then made sure that everyone's bedroom doors were closed, before closing ours, and locking it. With everything going on lately stressing me out, wearing me down mentally, I really needed a night spent with just me and Dom. Not worrying about anything else except each other, taking our time, just being together. Everything that I had to deal with in the next few days could wait until tomorrow.