"He's the king of mixed signals
And she's the queen of
getting her hopes up."

●●●

"Baron.." I poked his sides as we had landed while I guess the smart thing would have been to leave him be and run for the hills, knowing he didn't really want me around would probably lead to him working on every nerve of my body.

"You're home" I whispered into his ear and I hardly ever saw a smile, well besides last night when he was happy-go-lucky Baron but it was there.

I wasn't sure why he even thought to invite me with on his off day even if he was in a drunken state but it got me two days off. Maybe if I hadn't gone crawling back I wouldn't have gotten the invite. But like I said before, he was right I wasn't his girlfriend so I had no right to be mad about pictures. He didn't need to know that's why I was mad though...

"So do you live here or just your mom?" He tensed and I guess he hadn't known I knew about his dad.

It always surprised him that I knew anything about him, at first I was offended because I liked to believe I knew most wrestlers but I was starting to think he wasn't sure why I would put in the effort.

I doubt he even remembered suggesting I keep the wedding band so its good I placed it in his luggage instead.

"Yeah" he simply said and gripped my luggage from my hands and placed it in his car.

"Why don't you like me touching you?" I randomly asked as we got onto the road.

😘😘😘

Unlike drunk Baron who was all over me in the elevator he got annoyed with any contact in public.

"Cause we just fucked a couple times. Don't need people thinking there's more" He shrugged.

Couple times?

The first time with Baron was so much more intimate and even though every single time after was certainly pleasing. Yes it was rough and crazy but it was as if he cared to make it pleasurable. And although it still was, it really was...
I just wasn't sure how the kissing had stopped along with the touching. I contemplated dragging him to a bar just so that I could have him be more affectionate but that would mean changing him and he didn't have to. I liked sober Baron too, just not when his harshness pushed down my walls. I had a high tolerance, a thick skin, which I learnt the hard way you needed in this business whether you liked to believe everyone's intentions honest or not. But I guess once you start mixing business with pleasure the skin withers away as your heart is left on your sleeve.

"Trust me people don't." I giggled, ignoring my little heart breaking.

Okay maybe not, I knew what we were.

"My mom and my relationship are on and off I guess." I heard him as we pulled up in front of a house having had a silent drive, not even music, just silence as he seemed to be deep in thought...

"So you figured you'd bring me along, I was wondering my purpose" I mused but he seemed to be in a mood, I honestly couldn't keep up with this wolf.

"Yeah"

I sighed and stared out of the window, "Its cute that your mom still has Christmas decorations up"

"She leaves them up till the end of the month." He shrugged as he shut the car off and stepped out.

"Does your mom know I'm coming?" I asked as I followed him up the small pathway.

"No, why would she?"

"For all I know I could have been a pretend girlfriend to pit her mind at ease" I rolled my eyes.

Easy, Renee! He clearly doesn't remember...

He shook his head and gave a slight knock and I instantly heard the loud barking inside and he then pushed open the door.

"Hey boy!" He chuckled dropping down to his knees as the dog seemed pretty happy to see him.

"Tommy" I heard a female voice and for a moment confusion filled me but that was indeed his name, I glanced up as she moved towards us.

"Hi, I'm Renee!" I extended my hand, doubting Baron even remembered I was his guest and she nodded with a warm smile. Something I hadn't received from her son yet, well out of his drunken state.

"Mona... Are you his.." She glanced down to Baron before looking back up at me.

"Just a friend from work." He said in his usual I don't really care to communicate tone.

"Oh yes, now I recognize you!" She chuckled and I nodded with a small smile.

"I'm glad you're hanging out with more people"

By the look on her face at seeing a friend I wondered how the pretend girlfriend idea would have affected her mood.

"One person." He said crushing my hopeless dreams as he sighed and stood up, walking in, I guess they weren't the hugging type.

"You must be cold, I'll get some hot cocoa" She moved further into the house and I slowly followed.

"We were just picking Xander up." He mumbled.

"I'd like some hot cocoa though" I shrugged and sat at the counter and heard him grumble something before sitting beside me. I felt someone pushing against me and giggled as I saw it was his dog.

"Urgh I wish I had a dog" I groaned.

"Why don't you get one?" his mom smiled.

"I had one, his name was Burger, he was the cutest thing" I smiled recalling my little angel who I had when I was still brunette.

"Burger" Baron shook his head at the name.

"I love burgers and I loved him. My schedule is just crazy right now and I have no one out here. I hardly make it home to Canada so I would hardly see them if I got one." I shrugged.

"You're alone out here?" I heard Baron.

"Yeah, I guess you could say that" my eyes roamed to the refrigerator and I saw what seemed to be Baron in a football jersey.

"Thank you so much!" I beamed as she set two cups down and I sensed Baron wanting to point out he didn't want anything but I pinched his thigh causing him to frown at me.

"You were so adorable"

He frowned and followed my eyes as his mom disappeared off.

"You're too nice" he stated, turning his attention onto Xander.

"What do you mean?" I placed my hands around the cup to warm them up.

"I wasn't."

I glanced at the picture again with a small smile forming.

"You were, I mean you're hot now but I could go either way."

Where are you going with this, Ney?

"Either way with what?" I felt his eyes on me and turned to him.

"Being with you either way, Corbin."

I smiled and leaned in to kiss him as he seemed to be gazing into my eyes to see whether I was lying or not but before I could, he immediately stood up.

He shook his head, "we're heading out to the yard!"

He walked out, opening the door for Xander and then following causing me to have to catch the door before it closed.

Of course his dog gets treated better.

I watched as he ran up and down with him. It made sense that he would get a Great Dane since he was quite tall.

"I meant we're heading outside. Figured you would enjoy her company" He sounded annoyed at my presence and here I thought being invited to his hometown would be fun.

I nodded before turning and heading inside to finish my hot cocoa.

I wasn't sure what I was expecting to be honest, Baron was everything I wanted in a guy at this point after being burned in the past. He was care free, in that he didn't give a damn about anyone, we were sleeping together to please our desires and that was that. That's all I wanted but of course it wasn't what I needed.

"He can be harsh but he means well" I heard his mom and smiled as she entered the small kitchen.

"Oh no, its okay. " I giggled hoping she hadn't heard him dismiss me.

"He wasn't always the sociable type and when his fighting kicked in as a way to push people away it got worse. Even now I can count on my hand all the friends that I know of..."

Whether they had a distant relationship or not she was his mother and it was clear she was worried about her son.

My mom checked in on me everyday and I doubt Baron would appreciate that so she was most likely left to wonder.

"Oh he is just in a mood. He has quite a few friends, despite the lone wolf act he gets along well with most of our colleagues I guess he just wants to keep up how he has always been." I shrugged knowing I probably shouldn't have lied but I didn't like the look on her face.

I heard the door close and sighed as I heard his voice, "we're leaving."

"I set up Danny's room for Renee and your old room is available. I know you won't be flying out right now, its better than staying in a hotel."

I remained silent sipping on my cocoa because I didn't feel like adding to the list of why Baron would blow off on me.

"Fine." He sighed and she smiled as he took the seat beside me and they talked about things while I simply zoned out to brainstorming ideas for one of my projects.

I felt him nudge me and frowned until I saw Mona's eyes on me, "Sorry?"

"I asked if you had a special someone. I know the lifestyle you kids have make it tough."

Was Baron classified as someone special? Maybe but my someone special? Nope.

"Oh no. I'm taking a break from relationships" I shrugged. "Is it okay if I maybe lie down. I was up for most of the flight and I'm sure you two have more to catch up on"

"Sure! Up the stairs, second door on the right."

"Thank you"

I stood up and noticed Xander following me and smiled entering the room seeing a few random trophies and a single bed with a few old photos of 'Danny' who I guess was his brother.

"You're the reason I'm even here and you come up to sleep?" I heard the door close but didn't respond because I was exhausted. Exhausted with myself for being a fucking idiot.

"Renee."

"Yes Baron?"

"Look, I get coming to my hometown and meeting my mom and well dog isn't what you signed up for in this babysitter deal. But like I said, things aren't really the best with me and my mom and I can't deal with you moping around on top of that."

I smiled and then pushed past him, "don't worry I'll stop moping around and go down there and be the bubbly person that you hate but want me to be"

◆◆◆

"I'm sure he can be quite a handful!" I giggled as I threw the ball one more time.

"Yes he is, takes up most of the space. I should probably get dinner going."

"Oh I'll help."

"That's okay. I know you hardly get days off." She smiled and I glanced upstairs not sure where Baron was. I had come down to please him but he hadn't followed.

I moved onto the porch watching the snow fall seeing Xander head in. I soon heard his heavy footsteps behind me. And as I spun around to voice my annoyance I felt his lips on mine.

I immediately wrapped my arms around him as I stood on my toes, feeling his arms embrace me. For someone who hated kissing he sure was good at it as he pushed his tongue past my lips, pulling me closer to him.

I tensed as I heard his dog bark, stopping a moan from escaping, and he slowly pulled away.

"Mistletoe" he shrugged but I pulled on his arm which caused him to frown.

"What's wrong?" I questioned.

"You get mad at me for wanting to be upstairs and then you leave me alone. I mean your mom's awesome but I tagged along for you." I had meant to sound annoyed but I found my voice being sincere as I stared into his eyes.

He smirked and then sighed sitting down on the bench while I remained on my feet instead, "I don't come back here much, well I do to pick his ass up. But my brother is out in Florida so I stick to that side cause I have my place there as well. Just coming back here... its been over seven years but its hard. My mom gets mad at me because I'm so distant but I walk in here expecting to hear his voice and getting a hug even though I fucking hate it. He would force it and set me down as we caught up, I have done so many things I wished he could see but.. You can shut me up you know?"

"Why would I?" I frowned as he leaned forward looking up at me.

"Because this isn't what you signed up for, Babysitter" he narrowed his eyes with a hint of a smile.

"There's a lot of things I didn't sign up for that accompanies this job" I shrugged resting my knee on his thigh.

"Mmm my moods, my fits of rage.."

"No, those are beneficial to me in the end"

"Then what would you say are the disadvantages of this job?"

I felt my cheeks heat up and I glanced away while he frowned.

"I don't think there are.."

"Seems to me there is.."

Oh I don't know, my sudden romantic feelings for you that became worse each day whether you were a complete jerk or the soft guy moments ago confessing things but cutting himself off not wanting to reveal too much.

"Maybe there isn't enough spooning" I stared down briefly thinking about his "thanks" most of the time before disappearing into the bathroom.

"Don't I warm you up enough to help you sleep soundly?" He mused.

"You certainly do." I giggled and shook my head."I'm going to help your mom with dinner"

He gripped my thigh before I could remove my knee, "She told you its fine."

I frowned not sure how he..

"I mean she told me its fine."

"I'll.."

"If you don't feel like talking to me then go inside." He let go and sat back as his jaw clenched.

"Forgive me if the guy who gets annoyed with my loudmouth gets offended if I don't want to listen to his"

He glanced away.

"I'm kidding." I sighed and sat down on his leg, burying my face in his neck feeling Xander's head on my lap ignoring him tense a bit.

"Aren't you going to talk?" I mumbled into his neck, feeling his arm hold me in place.

"No I've done enough sharing for one day."

I nodded and moved to stand up but his arm around me tightened.

"You're his pillow. Don't disturb my dog."

I bit into his neck and felt him tense, "you're so easy to mess with, wolf"

I sat up realizing Xander had gone inside, "he isn't even here."

He didn't say anything but stared ahead while I tried spotting the mistletoe that I had been too high from the kiss to look for.

I couldn't find it but stared at him slowly licking over his bottom lip while staring ahead.

"I want to kiss you. But for some reason you hate it. I mean maybe if I were a brunette you would want to.." I attempted to provoke him...

"That's not going to work blondie" he shook his head.

"I tried" I kissed his cheek briefly.

"I don't hate it, its just not what we do." He stated running his hand over his face, erasing my kiss.

I moved off his lap and sat on the other end of the bench, wishing his mom would call us for dinner, not wanting to get up and go inside giving him the satisfaction of showing he annoyed me.

"The last time I checked there weren't any boundaries. Baron wants it up against the wall we do it, he wants you on all fours that's what he gets. He wants you quiet he shuts you up, he.." I shook my head as I softly ranted.

"Hasn't gotten you on your knees yet" He mused clearly finding it amusing while I stood up.

" Fuck you Baron" I whispered.

"That's all you wanted from me isn't it? That's what you wanted and you got it. So what's the problem?"

"Nothing, just had to remind myself that everything else, besides the one night I initiated it all, is not what we do unless you approve..."