Who Do You Love - Dean Ambrose

Chapter 43: Baby Don't Go

For a moment or two once the taping had ended, I sat in a stupor not sure what to do and not even totally convinced how I was feeling since my head was feeling foggy and painful and raw. Every last part of my system felt tired which I guessed was a reminder that the concussion was still in place, but I also felt alive and flushed full of adrenaline because in spite of all the hardships I honestly felt I had prevailed –

Me.

Little Lauren.

I had an actual full time role now and not only that but my boyfriend had won his match and taken a beating but kept on fighting and in the process earnt the cheering and respect of the crowd. For their part the audience were still buzzing around us and although their noise didn't much help my head, their total excitement and elation was infectious and made me grin inanely.

I was the girlfriend of a lunatic after all.

In terms of leaving my position at the announce desk, I wasn't too sure of the protocol involved. I had literally no idea if I had to stay longer, or if maybe there was some sort of post-show brief thing. Naturally what I wanted was to be with my boyfriend and to dodge my fuming father and get the hell out of there, but at the same time I didn't want to bail out too early and so instead took off my headphones and then sat looking lost.

"Um – ,"

Michael Cole glanced over in my direction as I tentatively issued the uncertain sound and then took off his own headset before lacing his fingers and giving me a look that I couldn't really read. In terms of expressions it wasn't a kind one but since he wasn't frightening he couldn't pull scary off, meaning that his face sat somewhere in the middle like an overworked teacher staring a student firebrand down.

"Vince wants this to be a permanent thing then?"

I shrugged as they all looked over at me,

"Yes?"

It came out with a wince which didn't sell my confidence and in response to it the slighter man heaved out a bitchy breath, like he couldn't believe what he was having to put up with although luckily Jerry Lawler was more comforting by far.

"Glad to have you here with us Lauren."

I smiled,

"Thanks King."

His words meant a lot, because although I could cope with them being disgruntled, my need to be liked was still pretty strong and so I appreciated having at least one sole supporter to back me up if things got too tense or went wrong. From my other side JBL bit out a grumble but it wasn't so much resentful as resigned to the way things were. He held his hands up,

"Well, if they're the boss man's orders, then I for one am happy to go along."

Michael Cole snorted,

"No surprises there John."

Evidently in the few months since I had last joined them on the microphone, their married couple bickering had yet to slow down and to prove that they then launched straight into trading insults that reminded me of being back in high school again.

"Just because I'm a company man Michael – ,"

"Actually it's called having a backbone John."