...And Beyond... | To Infinity... Book Two [ON HOLD]

Chapter 1: Meeting With Vince

Monday March 22, 2021 - Calgary, Canada

3:00 PM

Joe POV

I finish lacing up my boots as Dean and Seth finish getting ready, all of us in our own locker room again now that we're the Shield again. Sitting on the bench, I stretch out my legs and roll my feet around to loosen my ankles up a little bit before stretching out my neck.

"So, Deano, how's you and the wife?" Seth says breaking our silence.
"Pretty good, pretty good, can't complain; the food's great, the company's great, the sex's great, we're happy. How 'bout you man? Got anyone special yet?"
"Nah man, just haven't met her yet. Dated that one girl for a couple months; she wasn't in it for the long haul, but I wouldn't be able to handle her for too long anyway: way too clingy."

They laugh but I stay quiet, hoping that they don't try to include me in this conversation.

"So, uh, Joe, how things with you been?" Dean asks.

Dammit.

"Um, well, the kids are okay, so that's all I really care about, I dunno." I shrug and get back to stretching.
"Ooohkaaayyyy...well, how are you doing? Like, for real man?"

I take a deep breath and lean my elbows on my knees.

"I'm as okay as I'm gonna get, man. The divorce is almost over, I'm leaving Lina and the kids the house; Lina tried to get like, two mil a year out of me for alimony but that fell through when she turned up pregnant. Turns out that Galina's been fucking Tommy, our real estate agent - the same guy that helped me find and buy the condo for..."

I trail off, the very thought of her name bringing back pictures of her face, red and puffy with anger and tears and pain, pain from the emotional damage I caused in her; I couldn't bare to say her name because I'm still dealing with the reality of not having her here with me, not going home to her, not knowing where she is now when she's not at a party and I haven't seen her partying or posting anything on her social media since I saw her in Spain. As far as I know, she broke her lease and sold her apartment before she moved into our...my condo and my best guess is that she's been staying with Lenni since we broke up but I don't dare go to that neighborhood anymore; not gonna lie, Lenni kind of scares me. I'm a big dude and I can hold my own but I'm a lover in real life, not a fighter, and Lenni is all fight. Anyway, I know she's blocked my number so I've given up on tracking her and I'm just letting live her life; I'm sure she's better off without me anyway while I'm a wreck without her.

"Earth to Joe! Dammit, man! I'm tired of doin' this with you!" Seth exclaims while he snaps his fingers in my face and I shake my head.
"Sorry, got lost in my thoughts." I say getting up.
"You sure you're gonna be okay, bro?"
"Yeah, I'll be fine eventually. I just...I just miss her is all, more than I want to but I can't help it; I wish I didn't feel like this."

I let out a long exasperated sigh and Dean stands up to clap my shoulder firmly.

"You'll get through this, we believe in you." He says and I chuckle.
"Thanks man, I appreciate it. So, what's this meeting about?"
"I dunno, Vince said some shit about a Pre-RAW photo shoot; vague ol' man."

I laugh and pat his back lightly and we leave the room in Shield formation.

*~*~*~*

"You're gonna love 'em, I guarantee it. They're really easy to work with, make your job real easy. They should've been here by now."

I hear Vince talking to someone as we approach the door and I hold the handle, pushing it down to swing the door open. Upon briefly inspecting the room, I see Vince, Trips, Stephanie, a security guy Vince likes to have around, and...Desi??