Sy : Hello I am a small mushroom please feed me waters and dead planet and I will give you some knowledge what do you have to offer :)
Small 6 year old Luo binghe : I have rotten cabbage .
Sy : what do you want in return? :)
Luo binghe : finding romantic true love .
Sy: never get a harems it well make you depressed, if you like someone Court them with gifts never rush into mating with them be a gentleman and take them on dates and if you enjoy begin around them ask them to be thare fiance if they say yes then continue dating them and begin romantic with them even with the simplest thing after two years marry them and never stop begin romantic with them that's how you get a successful true love.
Small Luo binghe : okay thank you bye 👋
‧͙⁺˚*･༓☾ 𝐿𝑢𝑜 𝑏𝑖𝑛𝑔ℎ𝑒 ℎ𝑎𝑑 𝑎𝑙𝑟𝑒𝑎𝑑𝑦 𝑓𝑜𝑟𝑔𝑜𝑡 ☽༓･*˚⁺‧͙
*＊✿❀ 16 𝑦𝑒𝑎𝑟𝑠 𝑙𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑟 ❀✿＊*
Sy : hello again I am surprised you remember the way here , how did the true love go?
LBH 22 : I don't like all of them so it didn't work it all but here's a gift for my rude entering *hands him basket filled with rotting flowers*.
Sy: do you need anything in return?
LBH : no it's a gift I don't want anything in return.
Sy : that's nice of you but I can't accept it because it's free and any gifts are considered a court gift.
LBH in a small voice while getting out of the place : Thanks for letting me know I well bring more next time.
*＊✿❀ 𝑛𝑒𝑥𝑡 𝑑𝑎𝑦 ❀✿＊*
Sy : I told you i can't accept those.
LBH : that's fine I wanted to learn about red rose monster an exchange for those.
Rook is always fascinated by Emmrich’s hands. It’s mesmerizing to watch him teach, the way he emphasises his words with an elegant flick of the wrist, to watch him perform an intricate spell as though leading a grand orchestra. The bands of gold adorning his long fingers has Rook sharp, a magpie attracted to the gleam, taking in every motion as he leafs through the pages of an ancient tome.
In the dining hall, they’re biting their lip as his palm cradles the shape of an apple and he exhibits his grace with knuckles curled around a paring knife. In Rivain, Rook is easily distracted by him, from the way the tendons flex in the back of his hand as they have to scale the steep shoreline down the delicate wave as he shoos away a persistent sand fly. In the Necropolis, they’re shameless, hawkish and hungry, as he traces the rune carved into one of the great doors, bringing the ward to life, effortless power. It’s Dock Town where Rook looses their grip. Emmrich buries his fingers in a merchant’s offering of plush fabric. Smooth silk gives beneath his hand and Rook actually groans. The look of surprise on Emmrich’s face has Rook grinning as they drag him into the nearest alley. It’s not truly secluded, life goes on around them, but they’ve lost their friends to the swell of the market and Rook is breathless, eager.
“Rook, are you-”
“Touch me,” they plead. “Or I think I’ll go insane.” There’s a moment where Emmrich hesitates, he glances, briefly, at their surroundings and weighs his options. It isn’t the time, it isn’t the place, everything is simply off. Then he looks back at Rook and understanding passes between them, shared longing, as if Emmrich has been just as desperate.
“Forgive me, my dear,” he murmurs, “for how I’ve made you wait.” His beautiful hands slide around Rook’s waist, pushing beneath their robes until it’s skin to skin and Rook curves into the shield of his body, grateful. The way his grip tightens on Rook is intoxicating. Perfect, how his fingers dig in just enough to dimple their flesh, to feel his touch against their bones.
“Sometimes I’m jealous of the things you touch,” Rook lets the admission slip, grasping the broad lapels of his jacket. Emmrich’s hands have slipped up their back now and it smooths the gnawing edges of their want. “Silly, you know? I just always want your hands on me.” Emmrich is a romantic. Rook is enthralled by the fact that he smiles and presses his lips to Rook’s forehead and his touch lingers, seeming to count each of Rook’s ribs.
“Would it soothe you to know my hands have never felt anything as fine as you?” He asks and Rook isn’t sure about the word giggle, but it’s got to be close. “That touching you is one of life’s greatest joys?”
“I’d definitely call you a flatterer,” they counter.
“It isn’t flattery to state a simple truth.” It’s Emmrich’s turn to grin. The corners of his eyes crinkle and Rook can’t help noticing the lines that mark years of joy, and the charming mole on the bridge of his nose. Maybe it’s more than his hands Rook can’t get enough of and they are caught off guard the sudden, overwhelming weight of their affection. Struck by their own simple truth.
“Okay,” they agree, “then I’m soothed. As long as you never stop.”
“Never stop?” Emmrich asks, less question, more uncertainty at Rook’s quick acquiescence. They’re too taken to stop and Emmrich’s hands are still on them and they take his face in their own.
“Yeah,” they say and they never meant to ask for forever in a Dock Town alley. Then again, no one means to fall. “Today, tomorrow, the next - never stop touching me.” Emmrich is quiet and Rook swallows the abrupt well of emotion, of nerves, because the way Emmrich is looking at them is indescribable. Then those incredible hands are pulling them higher, and Emmrich’s mouth is as warm and wonderful as ever.
“Today, tomorrow, and the next,” he answers finally, and his voice is almost as tight as Rook’s, “and for as many tomorrows as you wish.”
She loved to watch Sun fight. Her movements were expertly smooth and steady, fierce lines being cut through defenses and gods, she was beautiful. Hair pulled back, sweat on her brow, expression determined with teeth bared...
As soon as Sun tripped her opponent in the ring and held them at sword point, Myrna was cheering for her, clapping and hooting, "That's my girl!"
It was unbecoming of her to act so foolishly in public like this, but damnit, that was her girlfriend and she wanted to praise her efforts and celebrate her victories. To the void with acting proper like an Inquisitor should.
“Please don’t tell me you’re gonna pout all the way to Boston.”
“I’m not poutin’.”
“Then what do you call that?” Rhea asked, first pointing to his crossed arms, then to the scowl on his face.
Jey huffed, watching as the white DOWN arrow flashed above the elevator doors. He was actively ignoring his gloating girlfriend so he didn’t do something dramatic and get them banned from the hotel and their jobs.
“You’re such a sore loser.” She added, grinning at his childishness. She was surprised he didn’t just take the stairs. That thought alone nearly made her burst out laughing. The elevator dinged, and they both moved back in case someone needed to step out. To their relief, when the doors slid open, the car was empty. Jey held his hand in front of the right door, using his left to wave her in first. She blew him a kiss as she moved into the space, nearly cackling when his scowl deepened. He followed her, pulling his suitcase behind him, unable to help glaring at her back in a very non-childish way. She was really trying his patience.
Rhea pushed ONE on the number panel, then leaned against the opposite wall raising her brows at him.
Jey worked his jaw. “I’m not poutin’.”
“Liar.”
“I’m plottin’.”
“What?” She laughed out in confusion.
He held her gaze, face unreadable, knowing she hated it when he ignored her. Good. He glanced down at his watch, one to hide his grin, two to see how long she’d let him get away without clarifying what he meant.
Rhea dug her nails into her thighs to stop herself from stomping her feet. She was the mature one here. “You shouldn’t have tossed me over your shoulder.”
“You didn’t have to tackle me to the damn bed.”
“You usually love it when I tackle you to the bed.” His head popped up, eyes a little darker than normal. She smiled knowingly. That’s what I thought, big guy.
Jey held back his reply when the elevator stopped and the doors slid open. A couple with three kids stood on the other side. All of the adults looked awkwardly from each other to the small amount of space in the car.
Rhea crossed her fingers, hoping they wouldn’t try and cram themselves between her and Jey. The tension between the two of them needed a resolution, and there were small kids that had no business finding out what it meant… she jammed her nails into her palms to get away from any thoughts above a PG rating.
“We’ll wait for the next one.” The man said, and Rhea wasted no time hitting the CLOSE button on the panel.
“You didn’ have to dig your knees so hard into my back.” Jey said like they hadn’t been interrupted at all.
“I told you I was sorry.” She waved her hand at him, stopping herself from literally pointing her finger at him. The last time she’d done that, he’d grabbed it and bit it. “It was an accident.” If she took her leather jacket off, even claiming it was hot in there, he’d immediately know he was getting to her.
“Uh huh.”
“It was.” Rhea didn't appreciate his accusatory tone. “You’re just mad because you didn’t get to retaliate.”
“Don’t worry ‘bout that.”
“What does that mean?”
Jey smiled, not even pretending to be innocent. He walked the short distance between them, only stopping when he had her trapped between the wall and his chest. Her breath tripped over itself and he wanted to replay the sound over and over knowing he was the only one that got to hear it. Her eyes flashed with a hint of shock, and a whole lot of want. “That’s wha’ I thought.” He lowered his voice, his lips purposely hovering right above hers… just out of reach.
“What?” Her head swam with the scent of the cologne he’d spritzed before they left their room. She wanted to trail her nose down his neck and breathe in the warm amber and vanilla he was partial to. If she were a little weaker, she’d cave and beg him to kiss her. She wasn’t weak, and she wasn’t about to let him win whatever game they were playing. He must’ve sensed her resolve, because he pressed more into her so there was nothing separating their bodies. This close, she could see every fleck of caramel that highlighted his dark chocolate colored eyes. Just kiss me already.
“You’ve been teasin’ me all mornin’, and I ain’t gonna forget it.” Jey let his lips touch hers, with no intention of taking it further than just a taste. The elevator stopped, jolting them. His eyes burned into hers, agreeing to promises she hadn't yet asked. He applied a hint of pressure against her lips, nearly folding when they parted underneath his. The doors slid open. A reminder they were in public. He kept his composure as he extracted himself from her, even when she grunted in protest. “Sorry.” He mumbled.
He wasn’t.
I ain’t gonna forget it. Rhea fumed all the way through check out. Jey had gone ahead of her with their luggage so he could pack the car up, and she just knew that smug coward was basking in what he thought was a win over her. Oh, hell no. She thought. “Have a wonderful rest of your weekend.” The receptionist said, way too cheerful for Rhea’s irritated mood. She smiled to be polite, then slung her purse over her shoulder and slipped her sunglasses over her eyes. Skirting around the line behind her, she quickly made a beeline for the exit, making sure not to cause a scene as the glass doors slid open. She was greeted by the morning sun, but the bright rays couldn’t stop her from spying Jey across the parking lot leaning against the car. He wasn’t even trying to be sexy, he just was. Rhea told her feet to keep moving and not trip on the sidewalk.
“Oi!” She hollered, glancing both ways before stepping off of the curb. Jey looked up at her, the all-black shades paired with his black shirt and sweats was so unfair. How was he so effortlessly handsome? He flashed her a smile, then mouthed “baby?” Rhea didn’t slow her speed until she was right in front of him. He repeated himself, tone more than curious, but she ignored him and instead gripped the front of his shirt and pulled him into her. He “oomphed” against her mouth. She swallowed it, hungry for more of him. Jey’s hands came up to clutch at her hips. “Baby.” He breathed against her mouth and she swallowed that too. Pushing her lips harder into his, she swiped her tongue across his teeth, not even needing to get even with him for all of the teasing. She just wanted him.
“Shit.” Jey’s brain had short-circuited somewhere between her tackling him to their bed and the encounter in the elevator. He was moving on autopilot at this point. Rhea’s hands slipped under his shirt, and the feel of her fingers tracing across his stomach had him biting down on her bottom lip. She panted his name, moving her left hand up his back, pulling him closer. The movement made him lose his balance and they both tipped into the back of the car. Jey’s back hit the rear passenger window. Instinctively, he gripped her hips tighter to keep her steady.
The car honked beneath them, startling them. “What was that?” Rhea asked between labored breaths.
“Hell if I kno’.” His hands flexed and the car beeped again. He looked down, realizing it was the keyfob. “Oh, damn.”
Rhea followed his gaze, shooting daggers at the object that had accidentally interrupted them. Her hand rubbed up his back again, making him groan low enough for her to hear. She looked back to him, feeling smug as the motion made his face twist in pleasure. “That was fun.”
“Rhea, baby.” Jey took a second to ground himself. His head was starting to clear and the reality that they had been sucking face in the hotel parking lot hit him like a bucket of ice water being dumped over his head. “We gotta stop.”
She shook her head. “I don’t wanna.”
“Baby. We’re in the parkin’ lot. We gotta stop.” She pouted at him, and before he could decline her demand, she kissed the corner of his mouth. He whispered a desperate expletive before turning his head to fully capture her lips.
His temptress.
His queen.
Who was he to deny her?
“We’re at a hotel. Why don’t you two get a damn room?”
Rhea pulled back, keeping her hands under his shirt. His lips were still comically puckered for a kiss. “I’m sorry.” She said, all sarcasm. Jey closed his mouth, bracing himself for whatever was about to go down. “How is this any of your business?” She eyed the middle-aged, raggedy, looking woman with disdain.
Raggedy Ann had the nerve to look offended. “You made it my business when you act like you’re filming pornography out here.”
Jey choked on air and failed to cover it up. Rhea’s fingers dug into his skin, but he figured it had more to do with the woman than him.
“Bet you’d enjoy that, huh, Karen?”
Raggedy’s face scrunched in annoyance. “That’s not my name.”
Rhea eyed her up and down, not impressed. “You look like one.”
“Why don’t you find some class, skank.”
She stiffened in his arms and he knew his little scrapper was coming out to play. Slowly, she removed her hands from his shirt. Jey had to bite down a hiss at the sensation of her nails scratching against his bare skin. Now’s not that damn time, damnit. Rhea rolled her shoulders, like she always did to pump herself up, then did the same with her neck. Her jaw clenching the entire time. “Play nice.” He pleaded in a whisper.
Rhea answered with a closed-mouth grin, turning to face the saggy ass low-life behind them. She made sure she was standing directly in front of Jey. He was her man. Karen didn’t get any peeks at him. “Let’s see, here.” Her voice was as sugary sweet as she could make it, and it must’ve alarmed Jey because he snaked his right arm around her stomach, locking her in place. Rhea brought her hands up, making sure she had Karen’s full attention. “I think there’s some class in here somewhere.” She moved her fingers like she was counting off, then stuck both middle ones up. “How’s this?” She almost broke when Jey snorted behind her.
Karen scoffed, her mouth opening and closing in irritation. Score one for Rhea. “Pure trash.”
“Not what my guy was saying when you so rudely interrupted us.” Karen scowled. She took one last angry look at Rhea, then craned her neck to try and see Jey. Rhea mimicked the movement, keeping him totally shielded from view. Karen’s fists clenched. Rhea smiled sweetly, daring her to try something. Raggedy caved after ten seconds, spun on her heels, and marched away. “That’s right.” Rhea called out, disappointed. “Keep your eyes forward, you old stanky hag.” She glared until Karen had disappeared inside the hotel. “Can you believe that swamp creature?” She pretended to spit on the ground.
“What?” He chuckled.
“Bet she followed us from Florida.” Jey pushed away from the car, gently nudging her forward. She took the opportunity to snatch the keyfob from his hand.
He grinned, shaking his head. “Let’s go before her relatives pop up.” For good measure, he bent down to kiss the back of her head. He was proud of her. She didn’t get herself arrested. Even though she’d look like a babe in her mugshot photo.
Nah.
He definitely couldn’t go there.
“They better not.” Rhea glared at the hotel doors one last time. He kissed the side of her neck then moved his arm from around her. As much as she didn’t want to get on the road, Jey was right: making out in the hotel parking lot wasn’t ideal, hot as hell, yes, but they needed to get him to Boston and she wanted to beat traffic. She pressed the UNLOCK button, listening as the doors all unlatched. “Come on, big guy.” Jey looked at her curiously as she patted him on the hip. “Scooch.”
“What’re you doin?” He backed up, watching as she reached around him to open the passenger side door.
“Allow me.”
“Baby?”
She beamed at him. “I’m holding the door open for the sexiest man I’ve ever laid eyes on.”
The right side of his mouth lifted. “Tha’ so?”
“Uh huh. Now get that juicy ass in there.”
Jey was going to blame the sun for the way his neck and face flushed. “Yes, ma’am.” He ducked inside the car, keeping his head down. Damn, they needed the air-conditioning turned on as soon as possible.
Rhea closed the door once he was settled. She wanted him to have a good day despite the jitters he had about the Red Sox game. She wasn’t even thinking about the rest of the week and Wrestlepalooza looming over him, too. They just needed to get through today, hopefully having as much fun as possible. Rounding the front of the car, she stopped to do a shimmy. Her jacket was too bulky to give him the good show, but the way he stuck his tongue out and did a small yeet, with his hands, told her she was doing something right.
Jey watched, a smile playing at his mouth, as she opened her door and slid in. She put her purse over the cup holders, pressed her right foot on the break and pushed START to turn the car on. He reached over and turned the AC all the way up.
“So.” He said, way too casually, once he could feel the effects of the AC. “We makin’ pornos now?”
Her foot slipped off the break. “Don’t.”
“Don’t get shy on me now, baby.” He teased her. Rhea squirmed in her seat, before turning to look at him. Her cheeks were a tad rosier than normal. Who knew getting the Rhea Ripley to blush would be one of the biggest accomplishments in his life. He reached out and tenderly tucked a strand of hair behind her ear.
“I’m not.”
“Mmhmm.” She wasn’t even fooling herself, judging by the tiniest smirk she couldn’t hide. He brought his other hand up to push her sunglasses onto her head. The sight of her piercing blue eyes threatened to steal the marrow from his bones. All of the teasing he had in mind evaporated. Jey would never grow tired of having her gaze directed at him, especially when she looked at him like he was special to her. He’d spent so many lonely days, and nights, traveling on buses and planes wondering, wishing, hoping, to be in the exact place he was now. The Right Hand Man dreamed of being able to see her ocean depths this close. Her eyes had always reminded him and made him long for the home of his people. Where it was bright and warm days with saltwater coating his skin.
She’d stolen something from him the day he’d crossed paths with her in some random arena parking lot. He bet she didn’t even remember that day, or him, but it changed his entire life. Jey rubbed his thumb along her cheekbone, counting his blessings. “You good?”
Rhea stared back in confusion. She’d been expecting a lot more teasing from him. “Yeah. You, babe?” He nodded, thumb still brushing against her cheek. “I’d be more insulted if she’d called me a dollar store whore than ‘skank.’ Complete amateur.” She huffed, then smiled to let him know she was truly good.
Jey leaned forward to taste it. “Still.”
“I’m fine, pookie.”
“I’m ‘pookie,’ now?”
She shrugged. “I’m trying new ones out.”
“Don’ call me that in public.”
“My wittle pookie wookie.” His lips parted to protest, but she shushed him by covering his mouth with her hand. Jey nipped at her palm. “Hey!”
He playfully nipped at her again. She squeaked and pulled her hand back. Her eyes were wider with excitement, and because he loved bugging her, he pushed her shades back down. “Need me to buckle your seatbelt for ya?”
She shoved him to his side of the car.
When GPS announced they were thirty minutes away from Boston, Jey’s nerves kicked back in. Rhea noticed, because he’d been keeping time with most of the songs on his playlist, but the closer they got, the more erratic and offbeat his left leg was bouncing. She’d hoped letting him play his music would help, and maybe it had to a degree. He’d been hilariously stunned when she’d told him he could login to his playlists on her phone. Usually, when they were together, and she was driving, they listened to her music. It was the rule with most people she traveled with. Jey, however, would be the exception. Anyway, she didn’t hate his music as much as she pretended to, and if she were being honest… she wanted to like it, or at least let him know that she was making an honest effort. Jey went out of his way to do things for her, even when she didn’t ask him to. She just wanted him to know that he was her person. The one that made her want to write poetry in a diary like some lovesick teenager. Her younger self would’ve been equally proud and mortified by her older self.
Not being able to stand seeing his leg bouncing nervously anymore, she reached her right hand over the gear shift and squeezed his thigh. “You’re gonna be fine out there.” Jey didn’t say anything. His leg stopped moving, but the muscles beneath her hand were way too tense. “You are.”
“Yeah, yeah.” He replied, caught up in his own head.
Rhea used the volume control on the steering wheel to turn the song almost all of the way down. “I know you're anxious, pookie, but you’ll be great out there.”
He shifted in the passenger seat so he could see her without hurting his neck. “I guess.” There was no conviction behind it, but the “pookie” did make his lips twitch. The car slowed as they came up on a cluster of traffic. Rhea flexed her fingers against the door to loosen some of the tension from gripping the wheel. Jey let her movements distract him, totally missing out when she said his name.
She squeezed his thigh, repeating his name.
“Yeah?” He asked, mentally shaking himself.
“This is an honor.” Jey’s leg tensed under her hand again, and she held back her amused grin. “Not everyone gets to throw out the first pitch of any game, and they chose you. Look how many other wrestlers are gonna be at Wrestlepalooza and it’s you going out there.” She took her eyes off the road long enough to give him a reassuring smile. “It’s just one throw, baby. It doesn’t even have to be good.” He huffed out a small laugh at that. “Just do it and all that Nike inspirational ish, and then you’ll have that moment for the rest of your life.”
And you, he hoped.
“Thank you.” He covered her hand with his, letting the soft feel of her skin be a welcome distraction.
“Uh.” Jey stared out of the window in confusion as Rhea pulled the car into Tasty Burger’s parking lot. “What’re you doin’?” He was supposed to be going to Fenway Park just down the street, not here.
“We have some time to kill, so let’s enjoy it.” She turned the car off, then pulled the visor down to check herself in the mirror. Blindly, she fished for the lip balm in her purse and quickly applied some to her dry lips.
“Gimme some of that.” Jey said, reaching his hand over to snatch it from her. She yanked her arm away, smirking. “C’mon now. Yous always complainin’ when these bad boys aren’t ‘pillowy soft.’” He added that last part in a terrible impersonation of her accent.
“That’s because I have standards.” She flipped the visor back in place. “But, here.” Rhea didn’t hand him the balm, instead she leaned over the center console and rubbed her lips against his. “Much, much, better.”
“Mmm.” Jey’s upper half followed as she shifted back. “I need some more.” He puckered his lips, but it was no use. She shook her head, reaching for her purse.
“Maybe later. Now let’s get a snack.”
Jey didn’t say she was all the snack he wanted.
“Let’s go, big guy.” He rolled his eyes, even though she couldn’t see through his sunglasses, and opened the door and climbed out. She met him by the front of the car. “I’ll get us something, if you secure a spot for us.” She pointed at the row of red picnic tables by the entrance. One already had people sitting at it.
“You wanna sit outside?”
Rhea shrugged. “Yeah. It’s not so hot yet, and the fresh air will do us some good.” She instinctively grabbed his hand, even though the walk to the benches wasn’t far.
He smiled fondly at her, letting her tug him across the parking lot. When they approached the tables, they both naturally turned their heads down to avoid the family happily eating. They didn’t always get recognized, and when they did they were always friendly, but that didn’t mean they purposely attracted attention. “This kinda looks like a place we use’ to eat at when we was growing up.” Jey noted, taking in the older, lived in, look of the burger place.
“Did you guys destroy it?”
“Shut it.” He laughed, pulling his hand out of hers. “Haven’t been there in ages. Hope it’s still ‘round.”
As much as she wanted Jey to see Australia and all of the places she’d haunted, she wanted him to show her where he grew up more. He didn’t talk about his past much. When he did, it was little footnotes tossed in, and always relating to him and Jimmy. She looked around the outside trying to picture the twins from the photos she’d seen of them. One of the kids behind them laughed and it kicked her back into reality. Rhea slipped her hand into her purse and pulled out a twenty dollar bill. She shoved it into her jacket pocket, then pushed her purse into Jey’s hands.
He stared at it. “Really?”
“It’s just a purse. You’ll be fine.”
“It’s not that.” He held it out like it was emitting toxic fumes. “That ugly ass clown’s on it.” She huffed, started to put her hands on her hips, then did her little finger wave thing and walked away. Bye? He thought.
Man. Why’d he have to fall for someone obsessed with creepy clowns. He glared at that damn Terrifier before sitting down on the bench. Since he valued his life, he placed her bag in his lap, making sure it was out of view. Jey honestly didn’t want to know who Rhea would choose if she had to pick between him and Art. He thought he might have a slight edge, but… why entertain that idea if he didn’t have to?
His phone vibrated in his pocket, scaring him. He glanced around making sure no one saw the way he almost fell backwards, then pulled his phone out.
Priest: Break an arm today 💪
Jey: thx uce
Priest: btw i’m stealin my sis on tues
Jey: Doin press all week u can have her
Priest: don’t let her see that
Jey: we good 😂
Jey: what you have planned??
Priest: TT biz
Jey: 🙄
Jey looked up when a shadow passed over the table, followed by the smell of salty fries. His mouth watered. Rhea swung her right leg over the bench. “Alright. One lemonade for you.” She handed him the styrofoam cup. “Diet Coke for me. And.” She triumphantly held up a red basket with greasy paper lining the inside. “Fries for us to share.”
“Share?”
Rhea sat down, bringing her left leg over the bench. She pushed the basket closer to him when he made no effort to grab a fry. “What’s the problem?”
“You said yous gettin’ us a snack.” Jey stared down at the small basket like she’d stolen a pair of his beloved Air Forces. “Not even a burger?”
“Babe. This is a snack.”
“This is punishment.”
They really should’ve fed him before they left. Grumpy pookie was one beast to deal with… a hungry one was something entirely different. “We’ll get something a little healthier at the stadium. Promise.” She tapped her straw onto the table, tearing the paper on top. “Hey.” The second Jey looked up at her, she raised the straw to her mouth and blew the wrapper across the table. It didn’t hit him like she wanted, instead floating down just shy of where his hands were resting on the table.
He grabbed the wrapper, without thinking, and folded it in half. “There’s one downfall to bein’ wit’ ya.”
“What’s that?” She watched him twist the wrapper for a bit then snatched a fry. If he wasn’t going to eat them, she sure as hell would.
“You don’ let me eat good food.”
Rhea took a sip of her soda to stop herself from scoffing. “We have work tomorrow. Plus, I ‘don’t let you?’ Please. You eat whatever the hell you want when I’m not with you.”
“No, I don.’” Jey protested.
She shoved another fry in her mouth. “You’re saying if I weren’t here you wouldn’t be two bites away from finishing a burger?” The liar had the nerve to shrug. “Uh huh. Your little side handles tell a different story.”
“My what now?”
“Side handles.” Rhea motioned towards her waist. “The bits that hang over your pants.” She tried to say it as nicely as she could. It didn’t work given the scowl on his face.
“Dafuq, baby?” Jey frowned at the wrapper, twisted it a few times, then glanced back to the traitor across the table. “You sayin’ I’m chubby?”
“No!” Rhea burst out. “I didn’t say that at all. Here.” She grabbed a fry and stretched across the table to him. He shut his mouth, shaking his head. “C’mon, baby. I didn’t mean it in a bad way. In fact. I love your side handles.”
“Sure.” He stared at the fry, his mouth watering again. He deserved it after she called him a damn fatso.
Rhea beamed when he accepted it in his mouth. “In fact. I love them so much I wanna take a bite every time you take your shirt off.”
Jey started choking. He grabbed for his lemonade, nearly knocking it over. When he got the straw to his mouth he pulled in a few large sips, swallowed, then drank some more to calm himself down.
She started to stand up, asking if he was okay.
He waved her off. “You can’t say shit like tha’ when I’m eatin’.” He coughed a few times to clear his throat.
“Sorry.” She inwardly sighed in relief as he grabbed another fry from the basket. “Jey. I love your body. I’ll love it no matter what shape it is, okay?”
“Thanks.”
“Hey.” Rhea didn’t want to move on until he really understood she was only playing with him. He nodded at her. “I mean it. I have little handles, too.” She brought her hands down to pinch at her sides. He stared at her, and if the heat that went down her chest told her anything, he was picturing the way he grabbed her when… she shoved that back down. “If I hurt your feelings, I’m sorry.”
Jey sighed, dramatically. “You didn’t, but you’d tell me if you don’ like somethin’, right?”
“Of course. Don’t worry. I like whatever you have going on.” She smiled when he mumbled “That’s what I’m talkin’ ‘bout.” Rhea would never admit that right after SummerSlam, when they were heavily flirting online, she’d greedily watched tons of videos of his career. She’d seen the evolution of his personality, and body. Back when he was softer around the middle, wore face paint and barely had any tattoos. If that’s who was sitting across from her now, she’d be just as crazy about him. She was so far gone for Jey, she’d want him no matter what he looked like. That didn’t stop her from being so damn proud of how hard he was working on himself, though. He felt better and that’s what mattered.
Jey held up the twisted straw wrapper. “For you.”
“What is it?”
He grinned. “Gimme your hand.” She looked at him in confusion, but held her right hand out to him anyway. He gently gripped her wrist with his left hand, and slid the paper onto her index finger. “There.” He sat back, snatching a few fries as he did so. “Don’t say I never gave you anythin’.”
Rhea’s breath stuttered as she stared down at the paper ring on her finger. Her heart knocked violently against her ribs. In front of her, Jey grabbed another fry from the basket. Her eyes stayed on the ring. She didn’t know why she suddenly felt like crying. She turned her hand over, taking in the way the twisted paper looked on her finger. No one had ever done something like that for her. “These ain’t bad.” Jey said, forcing Rhea out of her spiraling thoughts. “Yeah.” She rolled her shoulders, looking up from her hand. “Did you just quote One Tree Hill?”
He snatched another fry. “What? It was a good show.”
“Whatever you say, old man.”
“Bigger question.” He paused to smile knowingly at her. “How’d yous know that, hmm?”
Rhea groaned, finding the tabletop fascinating. Jey shook his head. Uh huh. “That’s what I thought.”
“I have a sister. And TikTok.” She tried to defend herself. He wasn’t having it. “Shut up.” And because she felt like it, she kicked her foot into his. His brows rose over his shades, but he didn’t say anything. Rhea reached to grab a fry, happy to see that he’d cleared most of the basket. Her eyes drifted down to the paper ring, then over to Jey. Since he’d told her she had a habit of compartmentalizing areas of her life she didn’t want to share, she’d been thinking about it. While he listened to his playlist in the car, she’d been working herself up to share the one thing that really scared her. Sure, she was afraid of a lot of things, but recently the number one in her life was the thought of not being good enough for Jey. For him to wake up one day and realize he’d made a mistake with being with her. “Since I’m spilling my guts today.” Rhea said with as much confidence and courage she could muster up.
Jey immediately clocked the mood and tone shift. He straightened his posture, watching as she took a small bite of the fry then tossed the rest into the basket.
“I wanna talk about Dom.”
He had a short list of people he genuinely couldn’t stand, and that lowlife was near the top. “Rhea, I…”
She cut off his protest. “Look, I get it. Okay?” She didn’t wait for an answer. “He’s the last person I wanna talk about, too.” Rhea rubbed her left hand down her right arm, letting the sun-warmed leather soothe her insecurities. She saw Jey shift uncomfortably across from her. This is why she didn’t like talking about the hard crap in life, but, if they never did, then they’d never be able to move forward in their relationship. “Remember, last year, when you walked up on me and Finn?”
Jey tensed. “‘Course. I wanted to kick his teeth in.”
A humorless laugh escaped her. “Same.” Like distant echoes, she could still vividly hear every hateful word Finn had hurled at her that day.
“Rhea, sweetheart?” He prompted.
“Can you believe that he hurt me more than Dom?” Her eyes followed a couple of kids riding by on their bicycles. “Dom broke my heart. No secret there. The whole world got to see that.”
His stomach soured like he’d drunk funky milk. “What you mean?”
“Before Dom, it was me, Priest and Finn.” Rhea looked back to him, crossing her right leg over her left. Needing movement to help release her nervous energy. “Finn called me ‘sis,’ and I dunno. I honestly believed we were a family.” She uncrossed her legs, too antsy to sit still… and too antsy to have this conversation. She needed to get this out because the chances were slim that she’d be brave enough to broach the topic again. Jey remained quiet across from her. She picked up her drink and took a long sip, then sat it next to the basket. “Being so far away from home, I got suckered into thinking Judgment Day was my family here, you know?” The question was rhetorical. “I loved those guys so much, Jey. Like, I did everything for them. You saw some of the shit we did. Hell, you were even mixed up in it at times.” Rhea tried to drag in a steadying breath, but the weight of her past was too heavy in her chest. “Then Dom came in and I was obsessed with him, and us, and everything we were together. He made me feel things I’ve never felt before, and I was caught up in it all.” Out of the corner of her eye, she saw his hands twitch on the table. If the roles were reversed, she’d probably already be up and walking away. She moved her left hand to cover his on the table. “Babe, I know this isn’t easy to hear.”
“Rhea.” He sighed, then turned his hand over, smiling when she slotted her fingers between his. “I can take knowin’ you loved someone before me. I’mma big guy.” Jey’s thoughts nearly derailed at the inappropriate smirk she failed to hide. “Uh…” What was he saying? “Dom’s always gonna be part of your history. I get it.”
Her fingers squeezed his, seeking strength to say the next part. “Since SummerSlam, I’ve split myself into Rhea then and Rhea now.” She paused, buying herself a few seconds. She could already feel her emotions bubbling the way they did before she needed her bed to cry in. “Like I’ve disassociated myself from who I was then to, I don’t know… atone?”
“For wha’?” Jey’s tone was soft, despite the onslaught of thoughts he was having about Finn and Dom.
“I keep thinking if I distance myself from old Rhea, maybe people will actually like the new one.”
Someone could’ve sucker punched him in the jewels and it’d hurt less than hearing her talk about herself like that. What made it worse was that he knew exactly what she was feeling. Isn’t that what he did when he left The Bloodline? He shed the Right Hand Man to start over. He reinvented himself outside of his family, but the weight of who he’d been and what’d he’d done had only followed him. “Baby…” She shook her head at him, and he could tell she was anxious to get everything out, so he nodded for her to continue.
“Finn’s words always come back. I thought I was hot shit doing all these amazing things for my guys. But, the entire time they just saw me as selfish and…” Her voice broke over a sob. Jey’s hand clenched in hers. She didn’t want to say unlovable, but that’s exactly how she felt. No matter what she did, it would never be enough for people to love her. “Not enough.” The words stumbled their way out and she wanted them to be carried away in the breeze before they reached his ears.
“You’ve always been enough.” Jey was going to track Finn down and smash his head into a wall. He should’ve done it last year when he interrupted them, but it wasn’t his place to stick his nose in her business. He’d been trying to win her over. He didn’t think acting like a knight riding in on a horse would earn him any points. Still, Finn, and Dom, would need to keep to the other halls at work, because anyone that ever made his girl feel unworthy would catch his fists. She sniffled, then tried to cover it with a quiet cough. Jey used his free hand to cup his lemonade and hold it up in front of her face. “Take a sip.” Rhea turned her head to the side, not even needing to ask what the hell he was doing. His mouth twitched. “I was gonna say some ‘when life gives you lemons’ line, but tha’ shits too corny, even for me.” She let out a watery laugh. Mission accomplished. “Baby?”
“Yeah?”
“Why didn’t you tell me this before?”
“Jey.” Rhea ran her middle finger under her sunglasses, wiping away a few traitorous tears. “Everything was new back then.” She passed her finger under her eyes again, then let her hand drop to her lap. The paper ring scratched against her thigh sending an electric current throughout her body.
“Maybe, then. We’ve been together for a while now.” She could call him a hypocrite and be right. He wasn’t very forthcoming with his own past, so questioning her was a bold choice. Jey never wanted to discredit her pain, but his mess stemmed from a lifetime of family drama that got dragged into his job. In order to start unlocking his trauma, he’d have to go all the way back, and it made him sick to his stomach thinking about it.
“It scares me.”
“Wha’?” She rubbed her hand over her legs, then glanced over at a small group of people walking up to get food. It was fairly quiet for the time of day. Jey waited patiently for her to answer, but the longer she took the more anxious he was getting. “We can stop.”
“The person I was with Dom and The Judgment Day is still me.” Rhea continued once the group went inside. She looked back to him, ignoring the baffled look on his face. “No matter how hard I try to pretend I’m better, or at least decent, I’m not. Most days I don’t even want to be.” And that was it. The part she didn’t want to admit. Especially not to Jey. Not if it meant he’d see her differently and not want her anymore. “I can’t turn the eradicator completely off.”
“No one’s askin’ you to, babe.”
“Isn’t that what you want?” Rhea asked without thinking. Jey flinched back, and she wanted to pull it out of the air and shove it back down her throat.
Jey rubbed at his beard. “Wha’ I want?” He hadn't felt this on edge since he took her on their first date. Asking her had been a breeze compared to the actual date. His lame ass had forgotten how to form words and use his own damn limbs. “Wha’ I want is you. Just you, baby. C’mon now.”
“But, me since SummerSlam. The person that bites her tongue and holds her fists back.” Rhea was growing frustrated with how lousy her communication skills were.
Jey, on the other hand, allowed himself to roll his eyes behind his shades. Rhea did neither of those things very well. “C’mere.” He said, instead, using his hand to motion for her to join him. She stood without further prompting, breaking their connection, then hesitated like she was asking for further confirmation. He pointed to the space next to him. While she rounded the table, he moved his left leg over so he could straddle the bench. Rhea sat down, her back to the table, and he did an embarrassing mental yeet because she remembered the “no space between us” policy.
They’d never actually said that out loud.
It was just a known fact.
“Walk wit’ me for a sec, okay?” Jey pulled her against his chest, wrapping his arms around her. “I’m not a nice guy.”
“Jey.” Rhea protested. “Be real.”
“I’m bein’ more real than ever.” He rubbed his cheek against the side of her head. “Under all the ‘yeeting,’ I’m not nice. You don’t think my thoughts aren’t dark, baby? Jus’ last week you was sayin’ you saw it in me.”
“I meant that…” Rhea trailed off when his lips touched her temple, quietly shushing her.
“I know how you meant it. I’m just sayin’. You’re wit’ me no matter what, right?”
“Of course.”
“Then why wouldn’t I be there for you?” She shrugged weakly against him. “Baby, I’ve done a lot of shitty things. Not all of it was for The Bloodline. It’s like my DNA’s wired that way. I have to fight those urges.” Jey didn't want to think about The Bloodline, or Roman, or who he was or wasn’t. That’d mean having to dissect everything he’d been through, and he wasn’t ready for that. He needed to focus on where he was now and where he wanted to go in the future, not revisit the past. “I kno’ you wasn’t rockin’ wit’ me back then, but you knew who the Right Hand Man was. Do you judge me for that?”
“No.”
Jey kissed her head again. “Then why would I have issues wit’ who you were in The Judgment Day?”
Rhea itched to twist the paper ring on her finger, like she did with all of her rings when she was agitated. What if she broke it, though? Would it be a sign? She didn’t even believe in that stuff, but she was a self-destructive person by nature. Leave it to her to immediately break something he’d given her. She was already fearful she’d inadvertently say or do something that would push him away. “You weren’t with me then. You don’t know what I was like.”
He laughed, softly, pulling her closer into his chest. “Baby. From the first time I saw you, I haven’t been able to take my eyes off you.”
“Seeing and knowing are vastly different.”
“What ‘bout wantin’ to know?”
“Huh?”
Jey brushed his right hand up and down her arm, before resting it against her hip. “Every damn time I saw you. Every damn time I heard your voice.” He paused, lowering his voice so it was just her that could hear him. “I wanted one chance wit’ you. Even if it was you laying my ass out in some back alley."
She let out a wet laugh. “That’s probably what would’ve happened.” His hand was warm against her hip. “Jey?” “Hmm,” he mumbled, his beard tickling the side of her face. “Gimme.” She snatched his hand off of her hip and pulled it up to her chest. His arm automatically locked around her more securely. She felt safe.
He smiled in amusement. “Wanna kno’ what I remember?”
“What?”
“You saw the man I was in The Bloodline, and you still went to bat for me against your family. Last year, you defended me when they were tryin’ to start somethin’. Even against Dom.” That was the moment he truly felt like he had a legit shot with her. “Baby?”
“Yeah?” Rhea had come back from her injury already changed. Having her entire life ripped away from her had humbled her beyond words. Watching Dom slowly slip away from her had been one of the last threads tying her to her old self. At least that’s how she liked to categorize who she was before and after her injury.
When she came back, Jey Uso was right there, being goofy as hell, talking all big, getting under Dom’s skin. She’d eaten it up, hoping it’d make Dom jealous. What it really did was show her she’d always had a soft spot for him. She’d never looked at him romantically until he’d asked for her number. However, Rhea never wanted any harm to come to him. He could cry about the briefcase incident all he wanted, because she hadn’t hit him that hard. When their families were at the peak of their rivalry, she didn’t care about anyone in The Bloodline, except for their hothead. They could’ve all taken a riptide, but she’d avoided Jey unless he needed to be dealt with. Looking back, she could see how they’d always had a silent connection, even if she didn’t realize it until after Dom had broken up with her.
“Last week. You told me you didn’ care who I became as long as I took you wit’ me.”
“I did.”
“The girl I knew then and the girl I’m wit’ now are who I want.”
Rhea ghosted her lips over his knuckles. “Promise?” She hated how vulnerable that question sounded, but it was Jey. If she couldn’t be her true self with him, then what was the point?
Jey let her question sit so he could kiss down the side of her face. She squirmed in his arms, mumbling “that tickles” as his beard scratched against her skin. “You kno’ that I’m Your Papi shirt you use’ to rock?”
“Uh. Yeah.” What?
“I think ‘bout it with those damn suspenders all the time.”
She sat up enough so she could look at him. “You’re kidding me?” His mouth moved around a smug smile.
“Nope.”
Rhea pulled their joined hands up so she could push his sunglasses onto his head. Jey’s eyes blinked against the harsh sunlight a few times before focusing on her. All she read was the truth. Her mouth opened in shock. “Holy shit! You’re serious.”
“Dead.” Jey moved their arms down to her lap. Through the opening of her jacket he could see the black and gold YEET shirt underneath, but he was picturing what she’d looked like when he’d first met her. “Rhea, pookie?”
“Yeah?” She chuckled. It was tinged with humor and some lingering anxiety.
He moved his other hand to push her sunglasses up, too. Jey wanted her to see that if he meant anything in his entire life, it was this. “Every version of me has wanted every version of you.”
“Jey.” She mouthed, no sound forming. He held her gaze, allowing her to see how much she meant to him. She leaned forward, capturing his lips in a kiss. He let her set the pace. Similar to their first few kisses when they were learning the feel of each other, Rhea gave him several barely-there pecks in a row, letting each one cement how much she wanted to be right where she was. Jey matched every kiss with the same conviction, following her lead when she deepened it. Rhea pulled back when air became a necessity. “Baby, I…” she could only stammer out, too overwhelmed to form a coherent response. Jey, taking pity on her, stopped her with another kiss. There was no heat behind it like earlier, when they were getting freaky in the hotel parking lot. They’d have a good laugh over that later. Now, Jey's kiss was simple and sweet and exactly what she needed.
He was exactly what she needed.
𓍯𓂃𓏧 the end
FUN FACT: There’s a little angsty Easter egg to the paper ring in You’re My Right Decision ☺️
