Masked Heart

Chapter Fifteen

Brushing angrily at the tears that trickled down her cheeks, Rain focussed on following the Sat Nav guidance. She'd not been to Kayla's house before as the two hadn't really been friends for all that long. Rain still couldn't say exactly why she hadn't gone to Trish or Lita, but she felt she needed someone who wasn't emotionally involved with her and Bret. Kayla didn't really know Bret at all. She was still new to the company and though she'd interviewed him for the podcast they hadn't socialised outside of work. When she pulled up, Kayla was standing in the porch, waiting for her. The house was much bigger than Rain had expected and sort of old fashioned to look at from the outside. It had a large driveway and garden and was set back from the road. She pulled up beside Kayla's jeep and got out.

"You found me ok then?" Kayla said, giving her a quick hug and then taking one of her bags. Rain nodded.

"I really appreciate this, Kayla," she said and Kayla smiled.

"It's fine. I'm not going to pry, Rain but if you do need to talk I'm here."

"Thanks. Though to be honest right now I just want to shower and go to sleep."

"Come on. I'll show you where you're staying." Kayla led her inside and Rain looked around curiously. They came into a hallway with a grand staircase, surrounded by doorways. She could make out a kitchen and what looked like a den but the other doors were closed. Kayla led the way up the stairs and took the landing to the right. She opened the first door and led Rain into a bright, sunny room with a large double bed and a door leading to an en suite which had a bath and shower.

"Wow," said Rain. "This is beautiful."

Kayla smiled and nodded.

"I know, I'm very lucky. It was my gran's place before she passed and she left it to me. I've been renovating it the last five years, doing a room at a time. So far I've got the kitchen, the living room, my bedroom, the bathrooms and this room done. If you need anything I'm just the other side of the stairs, first door you come to opposite the bathroom."

Rain smiled and gave her friend an impulsive hug. Kayla hugged her back then left her alone, closing the door softly behind her. For a moment Rain sat numbly on the bed, but then her phone vibrated. She knew it would be Bret.

Please can we talk about this Rain x

I'd like you to leave me alone for a bit, give me some space.

She kept the message short and brutal deliberately and then switched her phone off, pushing it back into her bag. She'd told Kayla the basics when she first came home, as she'd headed into HQ and met with her for a meeting. Kayla had asked after Bret and Rain became tearful. She hadn't told her everything, just that they were having a few issues and she felt she needed a break but didn't want everyone knowing their business. Kayla had offered her a place to stay while she sorted her head out and had promised she wouldn't say a word to anyone. At first Rain wasn't sure if she would need to take her up on it,  but then as she kept going over and over what happened with Joe and with Bret she made the decision that she needed some time alone. She knew Bret would be home for a few days before the next tour started up and couldn't face trying to live with him while she sorted things out in her head.

Now as she sat on the bed alone she heaved a deep breath. She didn't think she had any tears left to cry. Getting up slowly, she unpacked her bag and went through to the en suite deciding to bath rather than shower. Filling up the tub, she climbed in and lay in the water soaking, her eyes closed. A small part of her wondered if she had overreacted to everything; they'd all been drinking. Joe had been carried away in alcohol and high spirits after his success at Wrestlemania. She'd had far too much to drink to drown out the hurt she was feeling over Bret's behaviour towards her and he had been angry about Joe. Ducking her head under the water she stayed for a while with her eyes closed enjoying the watery silence before she emerged with a gasp.