Daniel's House. Orlando, Florida.

"Do you want to call your family now or you want to wait a little while longer? The signals here are very unpredictable."

His voice makes her jump and she can't begin to fathom why. Perhaps she'd been too engrossed in her own thoughts to notice he has entered the room or the funny feelings she's been having all morning has returned. Once she turns around to face him though, she realizes he's standing close behind her. Much too close. When she takes a step backwards so her mouth doesn't accidentally brush against his nose, her back hits the wardrobe with a soft thud which still manages to ring in her ears.

She has stood in front of him many times before. Enough times for her to notice just how tall he is and how much he towers over her but she has never felt quite as small and intimidated as she's feeling now sandwiched between the warmth of him and the hard wood of the wardrobe pressing against her back. The heat of him or the sun burning outside for the first time in days—she's uncertain as to what it is—but something or the other is beginning to make her sweat.

All the tiny things she hadn't cared to notice before now stands gorgeous and handsome in her eyes. With his head bowed and face slightly creased in concentration mere inches from hers, she can't help but stare at the delicate curve of it or the way his wet strands of hair is clinging to his neck and shoulders. It has been just one night and he suddenly looks more handsome than she has ever seen him.

It also doesn't help he seems to love walking around shirtless, oblivious to the little butterflies which dance in her stomach when she sees his chest bare. She wonders if this is the same kind of feeling he'd felt when he saw her naked. She quickly shakes the thoughts out of her head. She can't think like this. 'Get a grip on yourself,' she scolds herself, forcing the unwanted thoughts further and further away from her mind. 'Whatever the hell is happening to me?'

"So," he drawls and looks up at her expectantly, waiting for an answer.

Rebecca's senses jerk back to reality, fingers curling around the pillowcase in her hand when she realizes she has completely forgotten what he had asked in the first place. "What were you saying?"

He frowns at her and a smile she can only deem as amused, tugs at the corner of his lips. He takes a step closer to her suddenly, making Rebecca swallow hard and wishing there's more space behind her so she can back away from him. "Is it just me or are you pretending not to recall what I asked earlier?"

"Why would I pretend," she asks, pulling every sort of incredulity she can muster into her voice. At this point, all she wants is to be done with whatever he wants to say and get away from him before she's tempted to do something she might regret in the future. "I wasn't exactly paying attention to—"

"Why are you sweating so much," he cuts her off with a dubious look, touching the back of his hand to her forehead. "You don't have a fever," he squints hard at her as though if he peers closely, he might be able to unravel her secrets. Although it's impossible for him to, Rebecca keeps her expression neutral all the same, not wanting to give anything away. "Do you feel hot in here? Should I open the windows to allow more fresh air inside?"

She wipes the sweat beaded on her forehead with her hand and forces a smile. "It's fine, really. I guess combined with tidying up the room and the weather today, I feel a little flustered but I'm fine."

"No, you aren't fine. You've been nervous and jumpy around me and you weren't like this even when you didn't know my name. Now that we're friends, what has changed?"

'Because last night made me realize how kind and good you've been to me all this while and how sexy you are without a shirt,' she doesn't dare say that aloud. "I don't really. . . . know what you're talking about."

"You've been avoiding me all morning."

She hasn't technically been avoiding him. She's been pretending to be busy all morning so she doesn't have to fulfil the promise she made to him and Daniel last night. She had thought she's doing a fine job in making up excuses but she was wrong. He sees right through her and now he thinks he's some sort of problem. Perhaps in a way he is. "I haven't been avoiding you and besides, why would you make me nervous?"

He shrugs, "I don't know. Did I say something last night to make you feel uncomfortable around me? Or is it that you're just not in the mood for company today?"

He looks so bothered and worried about her behavior and she doesn't like it one bit. He shouldn't care so much about her and her company. It makes her dream of things she has stopped dreaming about a long time ago; a family with a husband that cares and loves her. He makes her believe there's a man out there like him; loving and caring but the last thing she wants right now in her already miserable life is to get her heart broken twice. "Listen, it isn't you. You aren't the problem, I am. I'm just not in mood for anything right now. Got it?" He doesn't answer, only presses his lips in a thin line before sighing raggedly. Rebecca turns her back to him and places the pillowcase back inside the drawer. "So what were saying again?"

"'Do you want to call your family now or you want to wait a little while longer? Signals here are very unpredictable,' trust me Rebecca, that's word for word of what I said earlier." The sound of her name has no right to sound so adorable on his lips and cause her insides to melt but it does. She doesn't turn to face him but instead fusses over the bedspreads she finds in the drawer to keep her burning face from him. "If you're still hot, I suggest you step outside for fresh air. You've been cooped up in the house all day. Besides, the weather is beautiful today. See how the sun is shinning."

"Yeah right. You just want someone to sit with you by the river so you don't have to feel alone every time you go there," she teases with a chuckle, looking at him over her shoulder. She catches his mischievous grin before he suddenly grabs her by the arm and turns her around. Her gasp makes him pause, eyebrows raising suspiciously at her reaction. His grasp slackens around her arm and he steps back as if he has finally understood what she wants. But she doesn't want him to move away at all; she wants him closer to her but she can't say it. 'How can I?'

He keeps a somewhat safe distance and holds out the phone to her. "Call your family first and then you'll see just how manipulative I can be." 'Thank goodness his playfulness is still there.'

She turns to face him, lifting her chin up and squaring her shoulders with feigned indignation. "Is that meant to be a threat?"

"A promise," he winks at her, causing her proud facade to falter and shatter as she smiles large and bright.

"Have you finished speaking with your family by the way? Were you able to speak to your brother?"

His face drops, "I have. Well to my mother at least. My father refuses to speak to me and my brother isn't home. He never is," he adds in was definitely meant to be a whisper but Rebecca hears. She wants to press and ask him more about his family but thinks better of it and shuts her mouth. They probably won't see each other again after today. They have agreed to leave the earliest and that can only indicate tomorrow. Which is why he's pressuring her to call her family today itself. "Why am I telling you this again?"

She gives him a puzzled look, "Because we're friends, remember?"

His eyes widen dramatically and he sighs as if he's just recalled something he'd forgotten about all day. "Oh right, right. But I seem to recall making friends with someone called Carolina last night," he pretends to glance around the room, searching for someone. "Where is she by the way?"

She laughs and smacks him on the arm. "When will you forget about it, huh? I've apologized multiple times already. What more do you want?"

"You can start by calling your family," then he gestures outside, after that, you'll come with me to the river where we'll take a swim together to cool you off."

She snatches the phone from his hand, "It didn't take you long to corner me into swimming with you, did it?"

He gives her one of his devious smiles that threaten to leave her knees buckling, "Told you I can be very manipulative. Now call your family. I'll be sitting here in the rocking chair and don't pretend to be calling when you're not. You'll suffer bitter consequences if you do."

"You really can't trust me with anything, can you?" She says, shaking her head with a light laugh. Her thumb hovers on the phone screen as she bites her bottom lip, considering who to call. She isn't exactly enthusiastic about going back to Los Angeles no matter how much she misses her family and Ashley. 'Why can't I stay here forever and ever? Preferably with Colby?' The blunt thought makes her breath catch. "Do I really have to call now," she protests, managing one of her sweetest smiles. "Can't I wait until we finish dinner tonight? My family might not even be home now."

"Rebecca," he sighs out her name, rocking back and forth in the chair, looking nothing short of a strict, overbearing father. "I'm pretty certain your family are home, fretting over your disappearance as we speak and you are going to be the good daughter every child should be and call them. Now. Or like I stated earlier, you'll suffer bitter consequences."

His threat does little to frighten her. She holds the pressure of his gaze, scowling hard at him, "Alright Dad," she mocks, dialing Ashley's number. She looks down at the wooden floor beneath her feet to avoid Colby's piercing scrutiny as she waits for her friend to answer. She's just about to give up and disconnect when Ashley's voice rings through. "Ash?"

She can hear the sound of a car screeching to a halt and images of her own car smashing into a tree three nights ago flashes through her head. "Becks? Becks, is that you?"

Ashley's voice reminds her of only one thing; home. Hearing her friend's voice makes the sound of home and Los Angeles a little bit appealing to her ears. "Yes, it's me Ash. It's Rebecca. How are you?"

"How am I? For Christ's sake Becks, you've been missing for days and we just found your car smashed into a tree last night with your body nowhere to be found so how do you think I am? I'm so blessed Becks!!"

"Ash, please stop with the sarcasm okay. I'm sorry I didn't call sooner."

Ashley's sigh rattles her. She has put her family and loved ones through a lot due to her selfishness and stupidity. "Fuck Becks, forgive me. It is just that I was so worried," a sob cracks in her voice, "we all thought you were dead or something. How have you been? Where are you now? Why did you leave the farmhouse like that?"

"I'm at a place where. . . . someone kind enough brought me to and took care of me." She glances up to find Colby's gaze on her, attentive and unwavering. Her heart lurches. "No injuries or anything. I'm fine. You don't need to worry about me anymore."

"Thank goodness. Aunt Ann and Fergal have been so worried about you."

"How are they? Have they hired private investigators yet?"

"Hey, don't mock our sentiments. Your mother has been crying for days and Fergal. . . . well you know him. Destroying everything he sees out of anger. He even called off my fashion show, can you believe it? It's only because I was so worried about you that I kept quiet. I didn't have the strength to argue with him. You need to come back Becks otherwise I swear, every single person in the company will lose their job."

Rebecca laughs through her tears. She can already picture her brother screaming and shouting at his employees. As if those poor people aren't already suffering at his hands without her disappearance. The mansion and the company must be in utter chaos. "I'll be coming back. . . .," she looks towards Colby for an answer she herself can't give. He mouths tomorrow to her and she nods in consent, even though her racing heart is saying something completely different. "Tomorrow. Yes, I'll be coming back tomorrow. But as you can imagine, we don't exactly have transport. It will take hours to travel back to Los Angeles.

"Who are 'we', Becks? Who are you with? Don't tell me you eloped with someone? Because if you did, then there's no pressure Becks. Stay there for however long you want with your Prince Charming. But wait. . . . why don't I know this Prince Charming of yours? That doesn't matter. Just tell me where you are and I'll come there. Aunt Ann and Fergal won't know, I cross my heart—"

Rebecca palms her face in her hand, "Geez, Ash. What makes you think such things?"

Ashley sighs helplessly, "So you didn't elope with anyone and got into an accident in the process? What a shame. Thought I was going to get a new brother in-law; a sensible, decent one this time who can bring happiness into your life again Becks."

She glances back at Colby, finding his gaze still on her. She stares at him for a while before looking away. 'Maybe she will find someone in the future just like Colby. It doesn't have to be necessarily him; just someone like him will be more than enough for her. But maybe there's only one kind of him left in the world or it's just that her heart wants only him?' She shuts her eyes and curses secretly inside her head. 'What happened to guarding your heart, Rebecca?' "Just forget about those things Ash. They may never come true. We'll talk about everything when I get back."

"Whatever you want Becks. I'm going to call Fergal so we can see what we will do. Please call again tonight. We've so much to catch up on, you silly girl."

"That won't be possible. The phone isn't mine. We'll talk once I get back, okay? Bye. Kisses." She exhales in relief once the call ends, feeling like a weight has been lifted from her shoulders. "There. Are you happy now, Dad?"

Colby holds his hands up in the air, "Very and thoroughly pleased. See how good it feels to talk to the people you love? Nothing will come out of you always running away from your problems. You've to face them head-on and hope for a better tomorrow."

"You seem to love giving lectures and motivational speeches but you don't look like the office type."

He throws his head back with a laugh as they step into the living room, "That's because I am a wrestler and wrestlers aren't exactly suited for offices."

"That explains a lot of things."

He frowns at her, "Like what?"

She waves her hand at him, "Your physique, the yellow streak that was in your hair—I'm certain that was part of your look—and why you love walking around shirtless."

He stops to smirk at her, planting his fists on his hips. "Why? Haven't you been around a guy who is shirtless before except me? Does it bother you I'm shirtless?"

"No way! Why would it?" She shrugs nonchalantly, playfully swinging the phone in her hand. "My last boyfriend didn't really like being shirtless so it feels weird having you always shirtless around here. That's why I'm complaining because I'm not used to it."

"You won't survive a second in an Independent scene locker room if you're so bothered about having men shirtless around you," he declares, walking off.

"What is 'an independent scene'?" She spends her afternoon bombarding him with questions about wrestling and places he has wrestled at. It shocked her to know he once wrestled in front of twenty people before he tried his luck with a promotion called Ring of Honor. She got to know bits of facts about him—those he answered anyway—he was busy fixing something in Daniel's van and when she joked he lied about being a wrestler but in fact he's a mechanic, he told her one of his friends is the mechanic instead. Their conversation then steered back to wrestling; where he had trained, when and where he first wrestled, stories about the encounters he'd had in the locker rooms and eventually the girls he has dated.

"If you want me to tell you about the girls I dated, then you'll have to tell me about the first time you had sex."

Luckily, Daniel who is sitting in a chair in front of the house reading a newspaper isn't close enough to hear it. Her mouth drops open in shock at his brazenness, her face turning beet red. "Never," she objects before quickly changing the topic back to wrestling before he can protest. They seem to be having a normal, healthy conversation for once. It was all going pleasantly well until she asked about WWE.

"Vince, the CEO didn't want me there so I had to leave."

"Did you beat him in a wrestling match or something? Vince hates losing."

She expected him to inquire about how she knew Vince to know he hates losing but he didn't. Her joke about him besting Vince didn't seem to go well with him either. "I don't want to talk about it." He walks off to the house, leaving her standing by the van, utterly confused.

Daniel gives her permission to cook dinner so taking the fish from last night out of the fridge, she proceeds to make a fish salad stuffed with rice, one of her father's favorite recipes he'd thought her when she was twelve. Daniel engages her in conversation about the medicines she's to take every morning and asks whether she feels pain anywhere. As much as Rebecca appreciates being allowed to do something and Daniel's company, it takes everything in her not to go to Colby and apologize for whatever she said wrong that he isn't even coming out of the room to join them. It hasn't even been an hour but she misses him already.

Once the food is ready, Daniel helps her set up the table while cracking jokes about the foods he burned when he tried to cook for his wife and daughter some time ago. Fortunately, Daniel is the one to call out for Colby, informing him dinner is ready. She didn't want to do it and risk the possibility of him ignoring her. 'It would hurt too much.'

"The food smells delicious," Colby announces as he comes out of the room, shrugging into a plain, white shirt. Obviously in a good mood now, he beams bright at her as if he hadn't walked out of her earlier. "Did you prepare it?"

Daniel pats the chair beside hers, beckoning him to sit. "Of course, she did. Rebecca went through so much trouble to prepare something other than pasta for us. Have a seat and let's eat."

The chair groans as Colby pulls it back and sits down. He doesn't take long to fill a plate with food for himself, digging in eagerly. He moans around the food in his mouth, "This is delicious," he complements before winking. "It isn't a disaster after all."

She feels a surge of pride and happiness at his compliment and his change of mood but she hasn't forgotten he walked out on her earlier. "I'm pleased I made you eat your words," she fakes one of her brightest smiles, gripping him hard on the shoulder. He flinches, his eyes wide as her fingers dig into the exposed skin at his shoulder blades. Rebecca enjoys his startled expression, knowing he can't scold her with Daniel there. "Next time, don't judge too quickly and when you feel like not talking, excuse yourself politely. Surely, you have manners for that at least if you don't have any for knocking before you enter a room?"

"What are you two bickering about now?" Daniel asks with a spoon of food halfway to his mouth, eyeing them curiously.

"We're not bickering. Are we fighting Colby," she glances down at him, smiling sweetly.

Colby smiles and shifts his chair a little, shrugging a bit to pry her hand from his shoulder. "No, we aren't fighting. She's just giving me advice but advice only matter when the person giving it applies it herself. Especially about the part of 'not judging too quickly?'" Her hand comes down hard on his shoulder, causing him to yelp. "Hey, what was that for," he laments, rubbing his shoulder dramatically.

"A warning. For you to shut up that smart mouth of yours. It's irritating."

"At least you admit I'm smart. That's the most nicest thing you've ever said to me. What is it with you and knives," he asks when she grabs the nearest knife on the table, "You must be a serial killer, aren't you?"

Daniel's laugh stops Rebecca from lunging the knife at him, "You two remind me so much of myself and my late wife. You both remind of the time I wanted to confess to my wife that I love her and couldn't find the courage to. I fought with her instead and eventually told her I love you. It came out so easy because she assumed I was joking until I kissed her. Then she realized I was serious." Rebecca and Colby exchange sidelong glances. "I'm not saying you love each other," Daniel adds, seeing their expressions, "but your fights makes it look like you two want to says something to each other but you can't, so you both fight instead. Like you've known each other forever."

"Nah, I can't love someone as stubborn as her but I can't deny the food is good though."

She rolls her eyes at him, "You're such a jerk." He mutters something under his breath which she can't hear but she makes a point to kick him with her legs under the table all the same. He kicks her back, "Stop it," she warns, pressing the heel of her feet on his foot.

The fork in his hand drops to the floor under the pain. "I'll get you for that later. We still have a river to swim, remember?" He whispers to her through clenched teeth under the table as he picks up the fork.

The sound of Daniel's phone beeping on the table feels so faraway in her ears. "You're out of your mind if you think I'm going to swim with you this late. I'm not going anywhere."

"We'll see about that," he grumbles. Slowly straightening in his chair, he whispers fast in her ears. "Do you have a swimsuit or do we have to swim naked?"

Rebecca was just about to reply when Daniel hands Colby the phone, claiming there's someone on the line who wants to talk to him. Colby frowns before taking it. Rebecca has no idea who could possibly be on the line to make him so upset. He immediately stops eating and excuses himself, walking to the far side of the room to answer the call. When he comes back, his mood has completely changed. He hands the phone back to Daniel without a word and says he has something to check outside and walks out of the house, leaving his plate of food half eaten and her confused yet again.