"When tough times come your way, you really only have two options. You can either fight the waves or you can ride them"
WALKTHEEARTHWRITER

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"Nicole, this aint my first rodeo" I sighed, having just gotten out of the shower to loads of missed calls from her. I immediately called her back because I knew how into her head she could get and I didn’t want her to be overthinking or worried that me not answering meant something had gone wrong.

I was currently backstage at Raw which meant she was flying to the city Smackdown would be taking place in. I set my phone down and left it on speaker, so I could get dressed while her voice filled the locker room.

"I know that, Joe but it’s like every time you end up in trouble it’s because of me. And I'm not there with you so I feel like I'm just lost right now." Her voice softened, and I knew her just taking my whole speech at the live event in stride would come back to haunt me.

I admit it was a bit out of character for me to just blurt out my personal life. But I felt like I was pushed into a corner, while Nicole and I could both be pushovers I knew she was more vulnerable. She had two exes within the company and was married to me while Vince was respectful, he was also hungry for ratings. One crazy pitch from the writers stands out and he goes running. I also knew how difficult it was for Nicole to adjust to being on the road without me and her sister, with everything changing within the business too. I didn't need her being pushed into a storyline with a man who had been a false source of hope for her.

"We don't even know if I'm in trouble, babe." I replied as I laced up my boots.

Even though we weren't facetiming I could certainly assume her eyes were narrowed, "Are you forgetting that you were with Colby and I when Carrano called shortly after your whole possessive act. Have you gone to see him yet?"

I rolled my eyes due to her choice of words, as I wouldn’t really describe myself as possessive. I just didn’t like him thinking he had any chance with her whether it be within a storyline for the fans to fall in love with or in reality.

"No, I haven't. It’s not that serious, I doubt I will be taken off TV or anything. Just focus on getting to the next city and keeping an eye on Jon. I love you" I spoke as Colby came out of the bathroom and rolled his eyes.

I heard her sigh, "Fine I will stop worrying but just let me know what happens okay?"

"I will." I took it off speaker because I would be hanging up soon before her nerves led to us getting into an unnecessary argument.

"What do you have planned for tonight?" She questioned and if I were honest I wasn't sure what the situation was.

"I don't know. Probably some segment with Braun, we'll see how it goes."

"Okay anyway I love you too and we'll speak when we can."

"Is she still stressed?" He questioned as I had rest my head back against the wall and ran both my hands over my face as soon as she hung up.

"She's Nicole, her mind is always working overtime with thoughts. Hopefully Jon can distract her" I grabbed my vest into my lap and traced over the material.

"If anyone can cause a distraction it’s the lunatic." He chuckled as he put conditioner into his hair.

"Yeah. For me though it would be a different thing if it was an accident like what happened last year when I was hung up on Nicole. But this time I felt like I needed to speak up cause I wasn't going to have it where me as her husband was the one being surprised while he had the ball in his court"

The only time I ever went against John was when he provoked me because I never wanted to let Nicole feel conflicted. And maybe I was playing right into his hands, I didn't know but what I did know was I would do anything to sabotage the storyline he wanted with my wife.

"All of us loved it but we were scared as hell for what the repercussions would be. There was no way Vince would allow you to drop the wife bomb without putting his play on it" Colby shook his head and I shrugged knowing it was true.

"I can't do what he tells me to do when he says one thing and goes all shady. He told me he separated us because of the personal conflict but here he goes and puts her in a storyline with her ex, that makes me look like an idiot and her feel uncomfortable. I might be a poster child or whatever but when it comes to Nicole he had one thing right, that I would let my emotions control me because he had no fucking right to do that" My jaw clenched because he had gotten into my head with the idea that he was doing the best thing he saw fit to protect our individual careers. 

But as soon as John was back he got what he wanted. I always kept things professional with the guy after things between him and Nicole ended because there was never any love lost for me. I respected his work but personally he was selfish in my eyes and that would never change.

"It’s what's best for business, I guess. I do understand where you are coming from, especially with me dating Charlotte now. I feel like you and Nikki are both at a point where you can speak up and not just take the shit. But I heard rumors that John is here tonight so what do you think that means?" I glanced over at him after slipping on my vest as I heard the concern in his voice. 

We were the top dogs in the company now and we had gotten there quickly but when the older veterans wanted something they usually had first preference.

"It means that for once I wasn't the one being provoked" I smiled.

"So you had it all planned out?" He smirked and while I had failed to mention that detail to Nicole. When I had heard from Sasha that she saw John I was happy and maybe I should have been afraid because I had no clue what was going to happen.

"His pride is too great, Colby. I knew if I went out blasting him, making him look like the idiot he would show up. And him showing up here would mean that he was starting a feud with me and Nicole would be out of the picture" I spoke when it was more me being hopeful than anything else.

"Is that what Vince said?"

"No and I am sure he will use her in his words to provoke me but physically she isn't a free agent like he apparently is. She's on Smackdown and he is trying to shame me over here" I spoke as I figured what they would probably want to do.

Before Colby could respond a brief knock was heard on our door before one of the tech guys popped their head in, "Roman, you're needed at gorilla"

"Alright, thanks"

"I'll walk with you" I heard Colby follow behind me as I exited our locker room and slipped on my vest. "So is it a coincidence that John's music is currently ringing through the arena and they want you at gorilla?"

"I doubt it. I'm ready to go to war and I'm looking at it as a way to finally kick his ass with no repercussions" I was ready for him, ready to get out all the years of anger I had suppressed because of thinking of Nicole. If he wanted to fight fire with fire I was ready for it.

"I haven't seen cocky Roman in a while, but I am loving it, brother. Just try not to get fired" was the last thing I heard as we reached gorilla and watched the screen where John stood in the center of the ring.

“You know I have seen a lot of stuff happening over the weekend and I don’t usually pay attention to these things. But when something grabs my attention I cant ignore it so I thought I would be a man and show up here tonight to say what I felt face to face. Instead of being a bitch about it and running my mouth when I know the man I’m talking about isn’t even in the same State. So come on out here, boy”

“Ass” I heard Colby cough before patting me on my back as my music blasted while I was running water through my hair. I sighed and flipped my hair and eyed the screen to see him staring down at the ramp waiting for me to make my entrance so I made my way out.

I stared at him as I finished my entrance and I admit I had climbed the other two top ropes just to waste his time and annoy him. He had a smirk on his face, probably felt good about what he had said. “You’re out here calling me out cause you’re a man. Were you a man when all you could do was talk shit about me on twitter? Were you a man when you threw a tantrum cause I had to save your ass years before? John, as long as I have known you as a colleague you have never been a man. But now that you are here in my yard, are you going to run your mouth to my face?”

He smiled, “The problem is I didn’t come here to talk”

I watched as he dropped his mic and I did the same because if he wanted a fight I have been ready for it. He took off his t-shirt and I waited for him to throw the first punch but before that could happen we were interrupted…

■■■

I knocked on the door of the man I wasn't really expecting to see at work tonight but I should have known. John and I had been interrupted by a couple other superstars and John had come up with the idea for us to tag together. I wasn’t sure what mind games John was playing but Vince approved it so he most likely wanted to ensure I played nice even after he had called me out and insulted my ass.

"Hi, Joe" Vince smiled before gesturing for me to take a seat which I did after greeting him. "I assume you know why you are here"

"I do but I'm not sure how you feel about it all" I hadn’t heard from him or gotten a lecture from Carrano since I got to the arena. I knew they weren’t happy about my actions but the extent I had yet to hear.

He sighed and sat back, "Neither am I. I own this company but sometimes the people that work for me feel like they might be doing that. I must say I was surprised that you came to be one of those people this past weekend."

"All due respect, I had my own surprise when I was watching Nikki's match and saw John coming to her rescue" I spoke before I could stop myself.

"I thought that by placing you on different brands there wouldn't be any conflict." He replied, ignoring what I had said.

"You know that John Cena is her ex so I'm not sure why you wouldn't think that would cause some conflict. I was blindsided" I half glared, feeling the anger resurface because of the betrayal I felt for following everything he wanted but still getting the short end of the stick.

"So was I, you and Nikki are married. Maybe if I had known that detail I would have reconsidered." 

I remained silent instead of pointing out how that was a lie. "So now we have John Cena wanting to square up with you and I personally think it's long overdue. But the question is, can I trust you to be professional when you were certainly not this past weekend"

"If the endgame is me kicking his ass then I will be what you need me to be."