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

Chapter 21: Summer Time Part I

Sunday July 1, 2012 - Tampa, Florida

Joe POV

9:00 PM

I had just finished my in-ring promo after returning to the ring from my injury and I'm feeling pretty good; no action for me tonight, though, not yet, but soon. I'm walking back to the locker room when I run into Summer Rae coming my way.

"Hey there Joe, good job on that promo." She says smiling at me.
"Thanks Summer, that introduction helped to get me goin' though." I say with a wink.
"I'd like to know what else gets you goin'."
"Nah, nah, you know I ain't mean it like that." I coyly say.
"Mhm, sure you didn't big boy. Anyway, we should totally catch up soon, talk about how your recovery's going, all that good stuff."
"Aight, I'm down. I'll text you."
"Cool, I'll be waiting."

She gently rubs my arm as she walks away swaying her petite hips in her tight skirt. Being home with my girlfriend and daughter was great...save for all the arguing my girlfriend and I did. I don't know what's gotten into her, but that shit ain't cool. Am I thinking about cheating? Nah, never that, but I don't see the issue with spending some time with someone who isn't going to make you feel like shit for no apparent reason for once.

I finally get to the locker room, quickly change my clothes, and head back towards my home. Sitting in my driveway now, I shoot Summer a quick text.

Me: U free Friday night?
Summer: Ya, Friday's good 4 me. Wats up?
Me: Wanna get drinks or something?
Summer: I'd love to :-)
Me: Cool, pick u up at 9
Summer: Can't wait ;-)

She's my friend...sort of. This is totally platonic, nothing else...I just can't tell Galina.

*~*~*~*
Friday July 6, 2012

8:45 PM

"And you're goin' out with who again?" Galina asks me as she's bathing Joelle.
"Just with Adam and a few other guys, not for long though."
"Alright, just don't make a lotta noise when you're comin' back."
"I won't, promise."
"Mhm. Well, go, have fun, I'll be here...like always." She says that last part in a whispered voice and I just pretend like I don't hear her and bend down to kiss her cheek and give my almost four year old daughter a kiss too. I leave the bathroom and leave the house to embark on my night out with Summer.

*~*~*~*
11:00 PM

Sitting in a bar in the downtown area, Summer and I indulge in some light conversation about work, our co-workers, and our families and we're currently exchanging embarrassing date stories, her going through a story about a blind date she went on with a friend's cousin.

"Ugh, he wouldn't stop rambling on and on about how Superman is overrated, why Spider-Man is better, and no matter how many times I changed the subject, he would go back on some tangent about something else comic book related. I just dissed him; told him that I had to use the bathroom and escaped through the kitchen." She says and we share a laugh and continue drinking.
"Oh, that's really bad."

"Yeah, like, so bad. You know, your stories aren't as bad."
"Eh, they're pretty cringey to me. Like my first date with Galina: I decided to take her out on a pretty chill date, y'know, pick her up at eight, take her to a nice dinner, a movie, take her back to her dorm and it was nice, really nice. We made it in time for our reservations, were talkin' and laughin', havin' a good time; you would never guess what happened next."
"What?"
"As we're eating, this other girl I had been talking to comes outta nowhere and starts grillin' Lina 'bout if she knows who I am, the type of guy I am, that I'm a player, I'm this, I'm that."
"Ew, rude."