"But none of it is supposed to make sense,
for sometimes you break
the things you love
and sometimes the things you love
break you."
RM. Drake

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RAW - WEEK AFTER EXTREME RULES

"I will forever be grateful for you, Joe"

I heard Sasha as I had been grabbing a bite to eat by myself after my segment. Even though I wouldn't be needed for the rest of the night I decided to stay behind and wait for Brie and Dean to finish up so that we could head out for a couple beers.

I obviously didn't have anyone to rush to.

"Mmm what now?" I lazily asked briefly glancing at the monitor to see Brie fighting and knew Dean was most likely at the gorilla waiting for her.

It was a routine I had adapted with Nicole as soon as The Shield split, especially after things with John ended. I would walk her to the gorilla, get whatever backstage business I needed to do done and then wait for her. With my entrance having been entering through the crowd she couldn't really walk with me before a segment because the fans usually packed the area. But I knew she would be there after my match...

I saw my cousin take the vacant seat beside her and then kiss her cheek, making me smile as he grinned like an idiot finally having gotten what he wanted.

"Mmm took you guys long enough!" I chuckled as I glanced between the two, pushing back the brief thought of Nicole filling my mind due to Sasha's presence.

"Perfection takes time uce" He winked and I nodded knowing that all too well. Only my perfect romance was fading before it had even begun and there was nothing I could do to stop it.

"Hey man. No hard feelings about last week?" I heard Seth as if he knew he was on my mind along with Nicole's words.

She was extremely wrong though, her being with Seth was not what urged me to realize my feelings for her. They were always there growing each day, last year it could not stop blooming because even though this year had been hard without her. Last year when the world turned their backs on me, Nicole was there through it all. She was soaring but she never forget me but yet in my time chasing the champion I had. Never intentional, she was more important to me than it all but even before she was with Colby, when she left after I hadn't been victorious at TLC I had been angry at her. I didn't want to admit it but I was, so even if I did have some downtime I stayed away because in my eyes I hadn't seen why she needed to get home. I didn't understand why she had to leave when I was right there. I was selfish in that I believed I was most important to her so anyone else should have come second.

But I was wrong, I wasn't. And Colby was most likely waiting for her then..

I glanced at him and shook my head.

I hadn't spoken to him back here since last Sunday when he delivered a pedigree onto me as a sort of warning that he planned on cutting my title reign short. Yes last week's Raw saw me heading out to confront him but he left and so did I as I wasn't really in the mood, especially after my fight with Nicole. I had the opportunity to fly home after Raw and took it.

"Where's the Neth to your Bellins?" Sasha teased and he chuckled as he pulled a seat over to the table.

I had barely seen him when he would come in for meetings accompanied by Nicole sometimes and sometimes not. I preferred to mostly keep my distance but with him back I doubt I would be able to.

Don't get me wrong, he fucking stabbed me in the back but apart of me was happy to see him doing well. I just allowed that part to be buried beneath all my resentment.

"Well Banks. She had to stay home, she has a check up and all that. While she made sure I had an amazing birthday weekend, she's currently in our bed without me" He said sadly while I simply listened.

I wasn't surprised to not get a single text from Nicole on my birthday last Wednesday. She was mad at me and me her and while I knew she had probably been conflicted as she decided not to I didn't hold onto it. I knew it was just how she was, her sending me a birthday wish would mean she was giving in and holding up the flag; admitting she was wrong.

My day was spent at my parents' house with my little girl and that I wouldn't trade for anything...

"Our?" Jimmy questioned and I remembered what he had said so I briefly glanced over at him having felt his eyes on me while Brie's music filled the arena, signalling a win.

"Yeah, didn't she tell you guys? She moved in with me. I mean flying back and forth between San Diego and Tampa for her appointments is a hassle you know? And we didn't want to be away from each other so she moved in with me." He shrugged and I frowned.

"She just gave up the beach house?" I knew how much Nicole found it relaxing being close to the beach.

She always said the waves washing up on the shore had a calming effect and allowed her to sleep peacefully. Being champion took its toll not only on her body but her mind so her time at home provided a sort of clarity when my voice wasn't there to ease her thoughts. While Seth's house wasn't too far out from one. I just knew how Nicole valued her own space even if she hardly happened to be there.

"Yeah and we're hoping to get Winston from her mom's house cause you know I have quite the space for him to run around."

"Winston doesn't get along with cats" I stated and Jimmy smirked and I wasn't sure why. Apart from Brie and Dean and well now AJ, thanks to travelling arrangements, no one knew how I felt but then again apparently they could see it.

"Hopefully Darrell will be the exception." He smiled.

I tried not to let my jaw clench at the thought of her not only staying with him but now having the dog that had become a sort of promise of our bond share 'their' home with them. I had gotten Winston for Nicole as an early birthday gift last year, knowing she would be on her own I figured it would be nice to take her focus off of the ring. She had fallen in love with the little guy immediately. Once her injury became more serious her mom had offered to keep him at her place which basically led to me picking him up whenever I had downtime. I doubt Nicole knew though..

"I guess" I shrugged not wanting to seem too interested because apart of me believed he was sharing all of their relationship plans to get a rise out of me.

"So love birds, have you made it official, posted a couple picture on twitter?" I glanced at Sasha and Jimmy instead.

Seth frowned due to my words.

"Didn't you hear? They finally hooked up. I mean you were there at Mania when Jon and I were teasing his ass about wanting her?"

"Oh yeah. Woah took you guys sometime. I don't think posting it will be good though, you know my experience with social media.." He tried to persuade them, it was another reason I was pissed that he had told Nicole that shit because he knew Jimmy wanted Sasha and that I was helping them. Not because I told him but because he happened to be there.

I eyed him and sadly I knew him well too. He was nervous, which meant Nicole hadn't bothered questioning him about it.

I hadn't bothered going after Nicole as she stormed out of my hotel room because I didn't see the point. What was I going to do? Have another screaming match. She may have loved me but she was with him and I guess I had to accept it. Even though he had blindsided me yet again and all she could do was defend him. She believed that he had some good in him, why?

"Nicole is a wildcat in bed I tell you." He chuckled after I had zoned out for a bit realizing Brie and Dean had joined us.

"Its that Latina blood." Joseann laughed having heard him while standing with Jey a few feet away. Reminding me that all of them had found love in this place including me but I was the only one who couldn't have it.

"Yes it is. I got lucky there and.. Joe where you going?" He frowned due to me standing up, calling me out in front of everyone.

"I er..."

"He has to unlock his locker room door so I can get some clothes." Brie smiled showing her ring gear as Dean chuckled.

"Yeah we aren't sitting here listening to your love life for nothing!"

"Come on Roman. " Brie dragged me, saving me while Dean was called to the gorilla.

I tried not to seem affected but he had spent the past twenty minutes talking about her when I just wanted to not be reminded of her.

"Its like he's rubbing it in" I shook my head as we walked into my locker room which of course wasn't locked.

"Its Colby. You know how he is, just try and shut it out Ro, he is back now which means you'll have plenty of time to hear it. Nicole isn't here to hush him so he has the leeway to gush about their relationship as he wants to. If you don't get used to it then questions will be raised and the last thing we need is the group buzzing, making it even more uncomfortable"

I nodded as she of course had a point, while Jimmy's smirk hinted towards something. Actually having the fact that I was in love with Nicole pointed out would only make things worse and I wasn't exactly sure for who it would be. But all I knew was that the less people knew, the better...

"Is Nicole the same?" I found myself asking even though I honestly would not want to know if she were.

"What?"

I sighed, " I know how she has always been, she would have her moments about John but she wouldn't indulge too much. So does she gush about Colby to you like he was doing before we left and probably still is?"

She frowned as she seemed to think for a bit before answering me.

"Well I haven't seen Nicole much you know? But even so, she doesn't reveal much about them. She's quite secretive about their relationship which is odd because we know her but that's how I know my sister is not all in it with him. I have seen how she looks at you whether it was last year when you were holding each other or this year at opposite ends of a table, brooding. My sister is in love with you, she just doesn't know it so she's with Colby because she believes that he is good for her. But like I said it doesn't matter who she chooses, they are not you. I'm sure maybe its because we're together a lot so her sharing the relationship with me and with you not being supportive..."

I sighed, brief guilt filling me at the thought of Nicole holding it all in. But she wanted Colby, had him, so perhaps he was her new confidant, " And now she's truly alone with him here."

"No she's not, she's staying at my mom's house with Winston. I mean Johnny has been travelling a lot lately so they're keeping each other company, for this month at least."

I frowned with her words contradicting Seth's, while Brie was always honest with me. Firstly she was my friend and apart of me knew due it she would only have best interests at heart and confirming my idea of her living with Seth or even being alone would hurt me. But then again Brie hadn't even been there when he brought it up so for all she knew I hadn't known.

I wasn't sure what to believe anymore with Seth's constant lying it was hard to say whether it was true or not but his explanation made sense. Knowing Nicole, flying back and forth for appointments would cause annoyance to fill her.

"Well wherever she is, I hope she's happy even with him on the road. Even if she isn't in love with him as you say, she is with him for a reason so he makes her happy and he is here."

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Is Seth lying or is Brie trying to protect Roman's feelings?
And Roman wishing them well?
Hopefully you enjoyed!!!😘😘😘