"He says, I'm sorry I am not
an easy person to want.
I look at him surprised
who said I wanted easy,
I don't crave easy,
I crave goddamn difficult"
M I L K AND H O N E Y, R U P I K U A R

◆◆◆

"You know it feels like forever since we have had a proper girls day." Nattie spoke and I wasn't going to deny the fact that I had basically been glued to Baron's side.

I didn't really feel bad about it either considering I had spent years without a significant other while my girls were meeting guys, getting married and in the absent Brie's case having babies. I had never been bitter, don't get me wrong, it just felt nice to have someone who I knew had good intentions with my heart and didn't want to lose me.

"Well there is kind of a reason I planned this whole shindig" I announced filling my glass with some champagne before passing it around to everyone else. They all turned to me and frowned, "you're not pregnant are you?"

"No, Nicole. I'm not" I rolled my eyes and her blunt question only made me more nervous.

They knew I was smitten with the wolf and loved being able to tease me about it but them actually knowing I was this serious. A ring wasn't necessary but it helped point out just how serious we were about each other.

"Uhm well Baron and I are engaged"

"What? Since when?"

"Since.. Well since Kevin stupidly pointed it out on TV" I shrugged as it was when Baron had decided in his head he wanted it so I would let it be then.

"What? That was like a month ago and you haven't told us, girl" Trinity shook her head.

"Congratulations!" Nattie smiled and pulled me into a hug which opened the door for the chorus of appreciation that sounded genuine but also worrisome.

"Thank you, I look forward to becoming Mrs Renee Pestock" I stated proudly and they giggled but I saw the look on Nicole's face but of course avoided it. I knew she would have some things to say when she was the one who had braved the Joe storm with me the most.

The hype soon died down and we were discussing random shit to be honest and I took one last sip of my champagne for courage before making my way over to the Nikki Bella.

"You haven't exactly been looking happy"

"I am, you know that I am." She smiled but I knew she had things to say and better they come out now than at work.

"I would believe that if I thought it were fully true. What's the problem? Baron is nothing like Joe, not even remotely." I felt like I needed to say it since she had been weary about us being together due to Joe being a relationship with someone at work having gone terribly.

"I know he is but I just feel like he is trying to hold you hostage in a sense." She shrugged before filling her glass with some champagne.

"What?"

"Renee, you are obsessed with him, which isn't bad. Trust me, I know the feeling but I just don't want you to be so dependent on someone." She whispered.

"He is my fiance?" I frowned holding back the laugh as he was the person I would be dependent on for the rest of my life?

"I know he is but has he even bothered to speak to any one of us. Try to make something..."

"He speaks to Trin and the twins just fine, its not like you are around too so you can't be on his case about it. Baron isn't the life of the party like Jon, he doesn't owe anyone anything."

"He doesn't but doesn't it make you feel like he isn't supportive? He never really speaks to you, if we happen to be around then you're just another woman." I sighed as yes Baron made it a note of acting like I didn't exist but I knew it was because he believed it exposed him to vulnerability. I felt the same if I saw him, all I wanted was to smile and I knew that's how he felt too. I made him happy..

"Which I like because I understand why he is like that. Nicole, what point are you even trying to make?"

She focused her eyes on me, "He might not be Joe but he is still making you lose yourself like Joe. You have been on a fucking rollercoaster since you have been with him. I know my fun loving best friend and you have gone through depression to mood swings galore and then you're engaged to the man causing them."

I wasn't going to deny her points because I had been avoiding them due to me not feeling like pretending I was okay when I wasn't. But in the end Baron had become a priority to me and figuring him out was what I wanted to do. If it led to me briefly distancing myself from them it was okay because I needed to be selfish for a bit and focus on what I needed, ultimately it was him.

"Because we have finally reached a place where there aren't so many mixed emotions. I'm in a relationship, Nicole so of course there are things that will change my mood. I am only fucking human, its not fair of you to blame Baron. You don't know him."

"That's exactly what I have been saying!"

"... and you don't need to know him, I'm the one who loves him and he loves me so that's all. I need to know him and trust him and I do, that's why I'm engaged to him" I breath with an edge to my tone. I knew she wasn't the only one who felt that way, I had felt the hostility towards him when we had hung out before but tried to push through it.

"You trusted Joe too, Renee. I'm just trying to prevent something where you're involved in shit and almost lose your job"

"You don't need to worry about me. I am doing just fine, I'm not some vulnerable woman that attracts idiots to take advantage of me. I made one fucking mistake and I paid so many prices so much so that I have to deal with rumours and shit because of my association with Baron. I know its not some ship like Nean or liked by many cause he is a royal ass. But he is my royal ass and if no one respects that then well fuck all of you" I shook my head having raised my voice to grab the attention of the others but stood up and left the restaurant.

I had kept our engagement quiet for a few weeks mostly so I could just bask in it with Baron. I had only told Corey the past week and he was really surprised but that was probably due to the fact that we were proving his ass wrong.

I knew I would be making amends with my friends soon enough but it felt good having my say. The Renee before Baron would not have been so blunt, the Renee before engagement probably wouldn't either. But as I said before the engagement bonded us and made me feel secure enough that we would not be ending. And what if Baron and I were to get married tomorrow? Would I condone them talking shit about my husband? Hell no!

I was sure Baron was either sleeping or watching some game as he had been annoyed with me declining efforts of ripping me out of my outfit as I got ready to meet them.

"Renee" I smiled as I spotted John as I exited the elevator onto my floor.

"Hi, John" I hugged him briefly as while I was a big hugger I kept the squeezing for my wolf.

My eyes fell past him to my door that was a few feet down and hoped he would get the message that I was in need of my bed but unfortunately due to me usually being the one holding the conversation he started one.

"How are you?"

"Good, you?" I smiled despite still being annoyed at the interaction with Nikki before.

"Good. Er I wanted to ask if you're okay with your travelling situation." He slowly questioned as his voice lowered into a more serious tone.

"What's that supposed to mean?" I frowned not entirely sure where he was going.

"I have come to realize that Baron has a short temper and that night when I was next door and heard banging and shouting.."

I sighed recalling that exact night as it had been another night where we had gone downhill. It was possibly the worst of it all as Baron had actually just decided he was going to put me before him. I smiled slightly at the memory as he loved me so much, and I had been so fucking oblivious. He had wanted to put a ring on it and I had just distanced it all. "It was just a little argument that's all"

"Renee, we all know how you are but sometimes its best if you know when to quit. I'm sure if you speak to Shane he wouldn't mind changing your travelling partners. You don't have to be stuck with..."

"Stuck with? I'm perfectly happy travelling with Baron. We had an argument, how do you know I wasn't the one throwing things his way? Just because you heard his powerful voice doesn't mean he was trying to hurt me. I can handle Baron just fine."

"I didn't imply that he was, I just... he snaps easily and you could be collateral damage" he shrugged and I knew where he was coming from but things like these just made me realize what my poor fiance probably heard most of the time about him, its what got him down and it sucked.

"John, I appreciate you looking out for me. But well next time you hear things just know I don't need any rescuing. I know Baron better than anyone on the roster..."

"You like to believe that about everyone but.."

I really did not feel like a lecture when my wolf was all by his lonesome.

"I believe it with him especially. John, Baron and I are in a relationship so I know all there is to know about him. We're engaged to be exact so I don't really like being warned to beware of my future husband."

"Woah when did all of this happen?" His eyes widened at the news.

"Its been broadcasted all over Smackdown" I shrugged.

"Don't you think its a bit fast?"

"Nothing's fast when you love someone, Cena." I glanced past him and saw Baron walking from our room towards us, had we been that loud?

"I'm talking to Renee."

"And now I'm talking to you cause clearly it seems like you have a problem where your opinion doesn't fucking matter" his voice was calm but the way he looked at John told me he was ticked off.

"Wolf, let's go please" I whispered as all this conflict was honestly too ridiculous.

"No I wanna hear what more he has in that bag of his to try and fucking brainwash you." Baron glared while I moved to stand beside him.

"Bar..."

"The thing is I don't need to tell her anything. You'll fuck up yourself just wait..."

"Oh what big boy is threatening me now?" Baron scoffed and I immediately moved in front of him, I wasn't sure whether I was stopping him from attacking John because he was my friend or because John had major pull in the company and Baron was still on his way up. Joe had done enough messing with his career already. "Cause I don't do threats, John"

"No, you throw shit around while Renee plays dodgeball hoping she won't get hit."

Woah.

"What the fuck did you just say? Renee. Move. Now"

"No. For fucks sake! John, can you leave us alone please?"

He shook his head but turned on his heel and I looked at Baron to see him glare at the retreating figure before rolling his eyes muttering something and slamming open our room door.

Just great, I had envisioned coming back and spooning with my wolf and now he was riled up.

I took in a deep breath, prepared for the wrath of what was the wolf I loved due to me not letting him have at John.

"Do I scare you?" Was the first thing I heard and saw him laying back on the bed with his legs hanging off the edge.
Okay maybe no wrath...

"No. You know you don't. Why on earth would you ask me that? " I dropped my bag and stood between his legs which led to him sitting up and searching my eyes. "I'm really not, why would I lie?"

"Even when I throw shit around? Smash things? I don't forget things you know? I remember making you cry when I was shouting at you that night when he came." He whispered.

I sighed as I really wished he wouldn't let people's words get to him so easily but who was I to talk when I had gone off on my best friend before?

"Corbin, I wasn't crying because I was afraid. I know how you are by now, I was crying because I was hurt because I saw you hurting. I remember seeing you staring at yourself, like you hated yourself and I didn't like seeing that. I hated that you believe because people view me better you are not. You are better than most people, people are idiots who just decide things without giving you a chance..."

"I don't need them to give me a chance. You're all I need. I just don't want you to be scared of me, tell me if you are and I'll stop." He whispered and I smiled as his hands held my waist.

"I won't because you deserve to vent and smash things. You're entertaining and I told you when I came to your mom's house that I take what you say to me with a grain of salt when you're like that. You need to stop being so concerned about me and focus on yourself." I shrugged which led to him frowning.

"What?"

"Corbin, you're so fixated on trying to be everything you think I want? I said yes to this engagement because of who you are. I fell in love with the annoying brute who fucked me senseless and got mad jealous because he didn't know how to convey his feelings for me. I love the difficult person you are and I love the sweet person who plays music I hate but smiles when certain lyrics come on making me realize it reminds you of me. I love that even when I pushed you away you'd do so many things just to ensure I stayed in your life. You honestly do so much for me and you don't give yourself enough credit." I breath with a pout and seated myself on his lap, kissing his lips briefly.

He frowned, "I don't think out half the things I do. So how can I take credit for them?"

"Because you deserve to. Tommy, you are an amazing human being and it doesn't matter what anyone else says, you are perfection in my eyes. So I say fuck the twitter hate and my friends hate because I am insanely in love with you and that's all that matters, is it not?"

"Yes but..." He chuckled, his rosy cheeks becoming evident as he could not take a compliment.

"Nope. I don't want to hear it, you are mine so I got you this" I hopped off his lap and he frowned as I moved to my bag.

"What?"

I grabbed his hand and placed the black band onto his ring finger, "I saw Randy wearing one to the ring and asked him where he got it and well he delivered today. I have this skull and you have this band, you are engaged so you are officially taken too."

He smiled staring at it before placing a soft kiss in my neck, "mmm I guess I'm not loved enough for you to go on your knees huh?"

I giggled pushing him back, "we don't do those kinda proposals, wolf. We just slap on the rings and make sure the other person knows we love them"

He chuckled as he squeezed my behind and playfully bit my lip, "Well if I wasn't sure before, this band on my finger and being perfect in your eyes sure let's me know that. "

I smiled as he certainly was my perfect wolf...