"And as I sat and looked at her
and the rolling hills she sat upon I thought,
what amazing luck I have that the world
had created such beautiful things and
given me the eyes to see them."
Atticus

▽▽▽

"Are you sure you don't want to join us, love?" I whispered into his lips before moving back in his arms.

"I have the show and then I have a meeting with the directors for the other one. Besides, I'm pretty sure I'd end up sinking the board" He smirked and I giggled not being able to picture him.

"I'm going to be with a pro, I'm going to embarrass myself." I groaned into his chest.

"Then why agree?" He cocked his eyebrow with a small smile when he had gladly said I would tag along the previous night.

John had invited AJ over to see our house, I guess it was a piece of art. I had found it amusing, I was sure he had a big house of his own with three boys but it was amusing seeing the amazement in his eyes.

"There aren't much pictures." I heard him behind me as we moved up the staircase because John had taken a business call. It was just after dinner so before 8pm and yet his phone had not stop ringing.

"What's wrong with that?" I turned to face him with a slight frown.

"Well I do happen to follow you on Social media, you aren't exactly shy for the camera" He smiled a bit and glanced away.

I guess he was right, "Yeah it was a bit of a museum when I first moved in a few years ago. Our apartment in San Diego has much more though, you'd think in my time off I would have decorated it but..."

"Family kept you busy?" I raised my eyebrow and he chuckled, " I have caught your show a couple of times. Makes for some good television on a flight."

"And did 'Tommy' join you with popcorn?" I teased and he shook his head.

"He does love him a good episode of Total Divas though." He nodded and I giggled, slightly shaking my head.

"Uhm you should head up to the room on the left, John will join you when he is done. Should be soon.." I smiled as we entered the top but heard him say my name.

"So while the guys share drinks where will you be since no one else is here?"

"Sleeping. I have a busy day ahead of me." I narrowed my eyes and he realized.

"Well I suppose you do, will there be cameras following us or..."

I giggled, "No. Either way, I doubt your partner in crime who is going to doom me to my downfall would like to be caught on camera so I would ask them to disappear or edit it out."

"Here I thought I would have my five minutes of fame" He groaned.

"Aaaah so now I have another reason for this friendship. You feel bad because you beat my boyfriend and now you want more fame." I shook my head.

"I was kidding about..."

"Goodnight, Allen."

"Agree? I remember it more like 'Oh Nicole would love to join you!' " I tried but failed at imitating him as he chuckled and lift me onto the counter.

"Its better than you being in this big house while I'm gone, I promise I'll pick you up when you're done. We can have a nice quiet dinner, with a good bottle of wine, steak and my horrible company" He said seriously and I tugged on his nose before kissing the tip and then his dimpled cheek.

"You better pick me up! I guess I should go and get my things. AJ said they'd be here at 11 and they seem to be people who actually stick to time."

"Its called being courteous, Nicole." He smirked placing on his shirt and slowly buttoning it up.

I shrugged and kissed him briefly before finishing up his tie for him. "What if I get eaten by a shark?"

He did a pout reflecting mine causing me to break out in a smile, "You won't, Nicole. You've had a chain around you for so long and now you are free of it. Enjoy your life."

I sighed and nodded, maybe it was my injury making me weary but I suppose if I could take getting slammed into a mat five nights a few, this would be easy...

△△△

"You know Brie and I did this a couple times. But it wasn't the real deal, we were pretty good though. I mean I stayed on longer than her.." She screamed out a few feet away from me as we floated on the calm waters waiting for the tide to pick up.

"How about we test how long now?" Shinsuke smirked which led to a bright smile on her face as she took it as a challenge.

I didn't mind as I was sure I would end up losing, I had been out in the ocean quite a few times with Shinsuke but this was the first time in awhile and I was prepared to be rusty but of course my big mouth went to mention it at dinner last night.

I had been honest when I told her I caught a few episodes of her show but their house was certainly huge. I knew Cena lived a lavish lifestyle but seeing everything hearing him say where things were from, paintings and shit. Hell, it was interesting.

"Aaah" I heard her scream snapping me from my thoughts and chuckled as she moved onto her surf board again.

"Seems the waves are picking up, huh Shin?" I smirked seeing the amusement on his face. In all honesty I knew she wasn't keen on the idea but received a text questioning what time we would pick her up so believed she was ready.

"Seems they are, now no more games" He winked and I heard her groan.

"She's determined huh?" He sighed as he joined me on the sand knowing the sun would be setting soon.

"She certainly is, came back from a neck injury and everything. She's strong" I smiled as she resurfaced again after being hit by a wave, they weren't harsh so we left her on her own.

"Mmm you like?" He chuckled knowingly.

"What?"

"I see the way you eye her when she came back after a swim before we start. Desire is easy to spot." He shrugged as if to apologize for pointing it out.

"Oh don't we always desire things we can't have, Shin. " I sighed as he slowly nodded.

"But this ain't one of them though, she's become a good friend. She's beautiful so it makes it hard not to stare but I don't desire anything more than friendship." I stated as I shook the night I had become champion that she was too intoxicated to remember which was for the best. She had believed I was her long time boyfriend anyway...

"For now." He smiled before lifting himself up as she approached with her wet suit hung mid-waist holding the board under her arm. A beautiful sight in deed...

"I think that's enough learning for today. Good job, you better than the phenomenal one on his first try" He hugged her briefly.

"Well that makes me happy." She eyed me.

"You need a ride back?" I offered.

"Oh uhm John said he'd pick me up. I'll check my phone.." She smiled and headed towards it and by the small frown on her face I already knew. "Mmm looks like he has another obligation. Uhm I could call an Uber and..."

"Nonsense, we were planning to get dinner. You join, we work hard today" He pat my back and I shook my head, he wasn't on the main roster but he sure could replace Tommy with his assumptions.  

"Dinner it is" I nodded and went to my bag while she went to return the boards with him.

"You know I came here dreading it, simply because I haven't met Shinsuke before and I feared I would be judged because I know what people think of me. But he is such a gentle soul" She smiled as I saw her take a seat on my towel causing me to frown slightly.

"He got caught up with a friend so he should be a few minutes, might as well enjoy the view"

Caught up with a friend, my ass...

I sat down beside her, "No he would never judge anyone. And what do people think of the great Nikki Bella."

"That she believes the world would end if she chipped a nail" She giggled as she tied up her hair.

"She wouldn't?" I smirked.

"Well I'd be pretty upset, people work hard to get them in good condition. But no, people sometimes forget that I am not just the lady companion to John Cena in his lavish lifestyle. I am a wrestler, I kick ass and take names. They think I can't be both or that I simply let myself go because of who I am with, but why would I do that when he loves me for all that I am you know?" She said confidently and I let out a small smile.

"I've never thought that about you if it helps you feel any better. I'm quite sure most people within the company don't believe that either."

"I know, it feels like that sometimes. I hear one whisper and it still gets to me, when I know it shouldn't. But it doesn't make me feel like its the end of the world either."

"What would be the end of Nicole Garcia's world?"

She frowned as she stared at the sun finally setting.

"Having no control over how my life goes. Yes of course loss of people I love would be the first, but being injured I felt what losing control feels like and I just never want to feel like that again." She whispered and I soon felt arms around me causing me to chuckle as I held her back.

"And that?" I whispered into her neck before she released me.

"A thank you, Allen. For surprising me with a day away from reality."

"I think Shinsuke deserved that hug, you were out there with him more."

"Is that jealousy I detect?" She poked my shoulder and I chuckled lightly.

"Maybe I mean I did invite you" I shook my head disapprovingly.

"Well I doubt Shinsuke will always want to deal with me and my endless talking. He seems content with peace so maybe you'll be the one forced out here by me next time."

I chuckled as we stood up and moved to join him, I glanced back at the ocean one more time before settling my eyes on her and smiling, "Becoming one with the ocean never sounded so good"