before he cheats | a.cole

thirty six

Adam pulls into the parking lot. There are a ton of reporters and photographers. I see AEW and NXT superstars getting their pictures taken as they walk in on the "red carpet". The carpet isn't red, it's black. The background is a pattern of the AEW logo and the NXT logo.

We park in the dark park of the parking lot where no one can see or hear us. Adam and Roderick open the doors for me and Marina. I grab my title as I get out. Adam grabs his from the trunk. I put the title around my waist. Adam does the same.

I say, "So, how should we act? Like a couple or like friends?"

Adam thinks for a second before he says, "I was just going to see what the photographers wanted us to do."

I blink at Adam and I say, "I can go with that."

He smiles at me and says, "We'll take it as it comes to us. It just sucks that I can't hold your hand or touch you."

I look up at him and say, "In front of the cameras you can. Don't worry, I'll steal a dance or two from you tonight too. I'm sure there will be some photographers inside that would love to see us dance together."

"You're right," he says. "You're a lot better at this than I am."

I laugh softly and say, "It's only for another week or so."

Roderick says, "Come on, lovebirds. Everyone is waiting for you two."

Adam smiles and walks off. I walk a couple steps behind him, my heels clicking on the concrete of the parking lot. I look over at Roderick and Marina. They're holding hands. I feel a little jealous because they can do that but Adam and I can't.

As we approach the entrance to the "red carpet" area, reporters begin to say, "It's Adam Cole and Angelina! Roderick Strong and Marina Shafir are with them!"

Adam and I walk together. I smile a bit for the cameras. I'm blinded by the bright lights and the flashing.

"Angelina, are you nervous about your match with AEW's Britt Baker? Especially now that her and Adam Cole aren't together anymore?" I hear a reporter ask.

I answer with, "I'm not worried about it. I am the champion of the NXT women's division for a reason. I've fought against competitors like Britt Baker before and won. The odds are in my favor because she'll probably let her emotions get the best of her."

There's a few more flashes before a second reporter asks, "Adam, has your on-screen relationship with Angelina become off-screen yet?"

Adam laughs softly and says, "No. Angelina and I are very good friends but we've had some serious conversations about our off-screen relationship. That's all I can say."

I look up at him and raise my eyebrows, trying to look kind of surprised but not really.

A third reporter yells out, "Have there been talks about an off-screen relationship now that you're not with Britt Baker?"

Adam replies with, "No. As of right now, we are both single and that's how it will stay for right now."

A fourth reporter calls out, "Do you have feelings for Angelina?"

Adam chuckles softly and says, "I will not comment on that question." I feel Adam's hand on my back, just above my belt. I step a little closer to Adam and the flashes go crazy.

Eventually, Adam, Roderick, Marina, and I work our way inside the building. It's just as fancy as I remember. Wrestlers, interviewers, commentators, referees, and off-screen personnel from both NXT and AEW fill the place up. Music plays from what sounds like every corner of the room. It's very crowded.