The Man (A Seth Rollins Story) (Reupload)

Chapter 31- Regret (Colby's POV)

"Thanks a lot!"

I watched as Mercedes walked into the room. She had clearly been crying and I assumed Marci must have told her that she knew what happened.

"Hi to you too."

"I thought we said we would tell her together?"

"She was going to be mad at both of us anyways."

"Yeah, but she is even angrier at me because I wasn't the one to tell her first."

"She'll get over that. She is just going to be mad about the cheating part eventually."

"You don't get it, do you? I just lost my best friend because of you."

"I mean, technically, it was because of both of us, not just me."

She scoffed. "Did you even care about her at all? Even a little bit?"

"Of course I did."

"Really? Because you sure didn't seem like it last night."

"Please, leave. Marci will most likely forgive you so you really don't have anything to worry about."

She still sounded upset as she walked out and slammed the door behind her. Then, soon after she left, I heard the door open again.

"Nice one, Colby. You did a really great job."

"What do you want, Jon?"

"You managed to lose the one girl you loved more than anything in a matter of 24 hours. And you're standing there acting like it isn't a big deal."

"That is because it isn't."

"Oh, don't give me that. I know you. You try and act like you don't care but you do. I just want to know why you thought it was a good idea to sleep with her best friend?"

"It was never going to work out with us anyways. Let's just all try and move on, yeah?"

I patted Jon on the back before walking to my car. As soon as I was in, I set my stuff down on the seat beside me. I took several deep breaths before letting it all out. I didn't cry often but this was one of those times. I just wanted to take everything I did back. I wanted to go back and instead of getting angry at Marci, I wanted to tell her I loved her. I wanted to say that marriage wasn't something completely out of the picture. And most of all, I didn't want to sleep with Mercedes. But I couldn't do that. I couldn't take it all back, no matter how much I wanted too.

~ Last night ~

"Why don't you go enjoy the party, yeah? I'm going back to the hotel. I'm kind of tired."

"I'll go with you."

"No. No. I'll go alone. I'll take Mercedes' car back. Just, give her ride if she needs it, ok?"

She started to walk away but I grabbed her arm.

"I don't want you going alone."

She pulled her arm away. "I'll be fine. I think I'm just tired. Just, forget this conversation happened. We're good."

She walked back in and I stood outside for a while. She was going to end it, wasn't she? I couldn't give her what she wanted. She is going to leave you, Colby. Just like Cameron did. No, Marci wasn't like that. Marci wouldn't cheat on me. Marci wouldn't leave me...right? I stood out there contemplating what was going to happen when I got a message from Jon. I opened it and saw it was a voice message.

"What? What is it? What do you want?"

"I wanted to say...I love you."

And then that was it. That was the whole message. That was clearly Jon and Marci. They left together? I walked back in and didn't see Jon anywhere. Memories of Cameron replayed in my mind. This was it. She was going to sleep with Jon. I knew. I could feel it. I knew her and Jon were always close and she was angry at me. It was over. We were over. I started drinking. I was doing shots by that point. I saw Mercedes walk up to me and she seemed upset too. I didn't know over what but she started buying a round of shots too.

"Ok, you two. You have had enough to drink."

I saw Joe but he was kind of blurry. How many drinks did I have? Four, five, eight? I had no idea. Joe walked both of us back to the car and drove us to the hotel.

I woke up to see Mercedes beside me. What happened? And then everything came back to me. No...no, no, no.

"Mercedes. Mercedes, wake up."

She groaned and sat up in bed. She looked at me and realization crossed her face. She immediately stood up and started putting on her clothes. She ran out of the room and I was freaking out.

"Morning."

I looked to see Joe. He looked well rested and had coffee in his hand.

"Joe, it isn't what it looks like."

"It is what it looks like. And I have every urge to throw this hot coffee on you. But I'm not. You've made your bed and now you have to lie in it, literally."

"Thanks for the jokes, Joe."

"I told you to not get with Marci. That you would eventually hurt her. And now look what happened?"

"I don't have time for your crap, Joe." I thought over everything last night. And then I remembered the voice message I got. "Where is Jon?"

"My room."

I grabbed Joe's key from him and went into his room. Jon was asleep and he was about to get a rude awakening. I was about to wake him up when I noticed a bruise around his eye.

"Do you really think you should be doing that? After already punching him in the face?"

"I did that?"

"Yeah, you went to your room and punched him in the face. I had to diffuse the situation and bring him in here. I took care of his eye and then went to bed while you were...well, you know."

"Yeah, I know."

"You're going to have to tell her."

"I know. Not until after Mania. This is a big night for her. I don't want her distracted. You don't tell her either."

He nodded. "Fine, I won't say a word."

"And don't tell Jon either. I know he will run his mouth if he hears a word of this."

"My lips are sealed."

"Thank you."

I started to walk out when Joe caught my arm.

"I hope that you regret this."

~ Present Day ~

Joe's words came back to me. 'I hope you regret this.' And I knew I would.