before he cheats | a.cole

thirty eight

I hear people walking toward me in the parking lot. I don't look up. There sounds to be a good eight or nine people walking.

"Angelina," I hear Adam say. I look up at him, mascara tears running down my cheeks. He crouches next to me. "Don't cry."

I feel more tears well in my eyes and I say, "I can't stop."

Adam takes my hand and stands up. He drags me up with him. He pulls my dress down and wipes the rocks off my butt. I look at everyone who's here. Roderick, Kyle, Bobby, Marina, Candice, Johnny, and Tegan all stand behind Adam. I look at Adam and ask, "What's this?"

He looks at everyone behind him and he says, "Everyone who's behind you and willing to protect you next week."

I look back at everyone and I say, "None of you have to. I probably deserve what's coming for me."

Marina says, "You deserve that win that's coming for you next week."

"You deserve the celebration that's coming for you after you win," Candice says, smiling at me.

I look up at Adam and he says, "You deserve all the love and all the kisses I'm going to give to you once that bell rings after you win."

Roderick says, "Nothing bad is coming for you next week, Angelina. It's all going to be good."

I say, "She said she was going to take everything away from me." My voice breaks at the end of that sentence. "That includes my title and my career."

Adam reaches out to me and cups my face. "She's not taking anything from you," he says. "Remember what I said to you the other day?"

I mumble, "You won't let anything happen to me."

"Because?" Adam asks, trying to get me to finish what he told me.

I look up at him and say, "Because you love me."

Adam nods then he turns a bit and points to everyone standing behind him. "They love you too and they won't let anything happen to you either," he says.

"It's true," Tegan says. "That's why Candice, Johnny, and I will all be out in the crowd that way we can get to you easily."

Roderick says, "I'll be at ringside with Adam."

Marina says, "I'll be backstage with Alexa, Nikki, Bobby, and Kyle."

Adam looks down at me. "You are as protected as you can be while in the ring," he says to me. "I know Britt more than anyone and I know what she'll look like before she tries anything."

I start to cry again. Not because I'm scared or overwhelmed with eight different feelings. I'm crying now because for the first time in days, I feel genuinely safe.

Adam wraps his arms around me, holding me close to him. I put my face in his chest and I feel Adam kiss the top of my head. He says softly to me, "I love you, I won't ever stop. I won't let anyone hurt you."

I hear a couple sighs from behind Adam. I look up at him. He wipes my makeup stained tears away and I say, "I love you too."

He smiles softly at me and he kisses me softly. I don't care who sees anymore. It's out that Adam and I are dating at this point. Or it will be out soon.

"Aw," Candice says behind Adam. "They're cute together."

I smile against Adam's lips and he pulls back. "There's that smile," he says.

Adam lets me go and he turns to everyone, saying, "As of right now, all of you are invited to my place so we can have our own little party. A little pre-win celebration for Angelina."