before he cheats | a.cole

forty three

Bobby leaves at five to deal with something at the Performance Center. Marina orders pizza for us at six.

Troy brings back my brace and asks, "Can I sit with you and Uncle Austin while you watch TV?"

I nod and say, "Of course you can." I put my brace back on and lift up Troy so he's sitting between me and Adam.

"What would you like to watch, buddy?" Adam asks, grabbing the TV remote.

Troy thinks and says, "I wanna watch you and daddy wrestle."

Adam smiles and brings up the WWE Network on the TV. He looks up Roderick's name and looks through the matches. He finds the match where him and Roderick fight against Pete Dunne and Ricochet. Troy gets into the match, asking Adam what each move is.

I lay my head on Adam's shoulder and close my eyes.

I must have dozed off because I jolt when the doorbell rings and Troy yells, "Pizza is here!"

Adam gets up and answers the door. I rub my eyes. Troy looks up at me and says, "You were sleeping."

"Was I?" I ask. "I didn't know I was."

Troy nods and says, "Uncle Austin looked at you and told me to shh because you were asleep. Why does he call you 'princess'? Isn't your name Angelina?"

We make up and the first time he calls me princess is when I'm asleep.

I smile and say, "That's my nickname for Uncle Austin. Only Uncle Austin gets to call me that."

Troy asks, "Why?"

Adam walks into the dining room, holding the pizzas and I respond to Troy saying, "Because I'm his princess. He treats me like one so he calls me 'princess'."

Troy blinks at me and asks, "Are you my aunt now since Uncle Austin broke up with Britt?"

I raise my eyebrows and ask, "Do you want me to be your aunt?"

Troy thinks then he nods. "You're a lot cooler than Britt was. She didn't let me do anything when her and Uncle Austin would watch me."

I smile and say, "You're very smart for how old you are, Troy."

He giggles and says, "Mommy and daddy say the same thing."

I laugh and Marina calls, "Troy. Come get your dinner, sweetheart."

Troy calls, "Coming, mommy." He gets up. He runs into the dining room. I slowly get up, stretching as I move. I'm careful of my knee.

I grab the crutches and work my way into the dining room. "I'm here," I say.

Adam looks at me and says, "Hi, Aunt Angelina."

I smile and say, "He told you."

Marina laughs and says, "I've never seen him so happy."

I laugh and sit at the table. I reach for the pizza but I can't reach it. I sigh in frustration. Adam notices me struggling and says, "I got it. How many pieces?"

"Two, please," I say.

Adam grabs two pieces of pizza and puts them on my plate. He hands me the plate and I thank him.

I start to eat my pizza when Adam's phone begins to ring. I look at him and get a little nervous. "That better not be Britt or I swear I'll throw something," Marina says.

I laugh a bit and Adam says, "It's my mom." He answers the phone. "Hi, Mom. What's up?" Pause. "No, just sitting down and having some dinner." I eat my pizza and watch as Adam's eyes widen. "Now? As in you just knocked on my front door?" I blink at him. "No, I'm at Roddy's." Adam holds his head in his hand and gives his parents Roderick's address. He pauses before he continues speaking. "Yeah. I'll tell you when you get here. Bye."