Chapter 14

I had to use the restroom. I slowly opened my eyes and looked around as best as I could. It was still rather dark but I was able to make out a few shapes. I sat up and soon felt something fall into my lap. I smiled when I realized that it was Ethan's arm. I looked down and saw him lying on his back in a deep slumber. He looked so damn cute sleeping. I gently moved his arm off of me and climbed out of bed, careful not to disturb his rest. I reached onto the nightstand by the bed and found my cellphone. I went to my flashlight app and was able to make my way to the bathroom.

Once I was finished, I was still slightly too wired to go back to sleep. I wanted to turn on the TV but I was afraid the noise and light would wake Ethan up and I didn't know how he reacted to being woken up early. A little part of didn't ever want to find out. I laughed at my own thought and went over to the living room area of the suite and took a seat in one of the comfy arm chairs. I turned my phone back on and decided to play a little Candy Crush. About five minutes into yet another evil level, I got a notification that I had a text message.

'Who in the world is texting me this early?' I wondered. I touched the notification and soon got my answer.

(E)-Hey Dayna. It's Eddie. Sorry to text you so early but I can't sleep

Eddie Edwards had just randomly texted me…at this hour because he couldn't sleep?

(D)-Hey Eddie. No problem. I just woke up myself. Why can't you sleep?

(E)-I have a lot on my mind.

(D)-Oh? Like what?

(E)- Well, maybe you can help me. Think of this as a mini counseling session. LOL

(D)- Yeah, I guess. How can I help? Why would Eddie be texting me for advice? We didn't know each other that well. Or maybe he tried Davey and like normal people he was sleeping so he tried me.

(E)- Well, there's this person that I can't stop thinking about. I know that I should think about this person the way that I am but I just can't help myself.

Oh boy...I had a feeling that this was what he was going to say. (D)- I see. Do you want to tell me who this person is?

(E)- It's you, Dayna.

(D)-Me? What about me?

(E)-I've been thinking about what happened with us backstage last night. I know that you are with my friend and I shouldn't feel this way about you but I do and I can't help myself.

I didn't know what to say or how to respond to what Eddie was telling me. I was in love with Ethan and so very happy to be with him. I liked Eddie as well but I was with Ethan and I was happy with him.

(D)-Eddie, I appreciate you telling me how you feel about me but like you said, I am with Ethan now. I'm very happy with him.

(E)-I guess I have to accept that fact. It still sucks though. I have to see you with Ethan and try to keep my feelings secret. Try to keep the thoughts that I have for you on the back burner. When I see you hug Ethan, I wish that it was me. I just truly think that if the tables were different, you and I would make each other very happy.

(D)-What do you mean, if the tables were different?

(E)- Well, this may be out of my place to say but I just feel that you and I have more of a connection. I mean, yes I find you insanely gorgeous but I also love your intelligence. I love the fact that we love Psychology. I just think if we were together, you would be happier.

(D)-You're entitled to your opinions, Eddie, but I must tell you that I am very happy with Ethan.

(E)- I'm sorry. I didn't mean to upset you at all.

(D)- I'm not upset. I'm just telling you how it is. I am happy with Ethan and it will take something very serious for that to change.

(E)- I understand. Well, I will leave you alone. Have a good night.

I didn't send a response. I was too busy trying to figure out what was going on between me and Eddie. Was there something there between us? I didn't think so but I couldn't deny that he was a sweetheart and very good looking. I shook the thoughts out of my head and made my way back to the bed and curled up next to Ethan, who almost instantly pulled me back into him. I smiled and cuddled up with him, how in the world anyone else could make me as happy as Ethan was making me. He loved me. He accepted me and my flaws. He was the perfect guy.

From Ethan's POV

Dayna and I had gotten up at about nine in the morning. I had a busy day ahead of me but was looking forward to it knowing that she would be right there with me. We enjoyed our room service breakfast and then took a quick shower, together as I requested. After our shower and a quickie, Dayna and I were out of the hotel room and off to start our day which would end with another round of tapings for work. As we walked down the long hallway and down to the lobby to reach my Cadillac, I couldn't help but stare at my girl. She was so gorgeous. Innocent and naughty all at the same time. She looked like an angel today. Her curly hair fell down softly past her shoulder. She had decided to wear a lavender sundress and a pair of black wedge sandals. Gorgeous, simply gorgeous.

We drove for about thirty minutes until we reached Rivera's, a nice little restaurant near the Impact Zone area where lots of the guys and the knockouts would go to grab something to eat and relax before the show. The plan for today was to meet up with Spud, Robbie and Eddie to discuss our evening at work and then head off of the gym to get a workout in before heading to the Impact Zone. I didn't have to bring Dayna along but I wanted to. The guys all seemed to really like her and that was important to me. None of them had ever cared for the other women that I had dated so the fact that they liked Dayna and enjoyed being around her was just even more of a reminder that I had chosen the right girl. Dayna and I arrived at Rivera's at about 11:30, we walked in and found Spud, Robbie and Eddie sitting at a six top table towards the back. They were all hovered around Spud's laptop. I knew it was his because of the huge Union Jack sticker on the cover.

"Okay guys! Put away the porn, there's a lady present." I called out to the guys. They all looked up and saw that Dayna was with me. I couldn't help but notice the looks on their faces. They seemed nervous. "Guys, what's wrong?"

"Hello Mr. Ethan! Nothing, everything is just fine! Come, sit down." Spud said, with a hint of nervousness in his voice. Something was going on and Spud was not doing a good job at hiding it from me.

"Spud. What is going on? You didn't even acknowledge Dayna being here."

"Oh, I'm sorry, Hello Miss Dayna." Spud said. Even Dayna could tell something was wrong. She looked me and shrugged her shoulders.

"Guys, what's going on here?" I demanded. Now I was starting to get upset.

"I take it you haven't checked Twitter lately?" Robbie said.

"I've been rather busy," I said wrapping my arm around Dayna's waist. "Why, what's the latest crap Twitter is saying about me? Are they all butt hurt about how I am treating Jeff? For the record, a lot of the ideas are coming from him as well-"

"Ethan, it has nothing to do with you and Jeff." Eddie said.

"Then what in the hell is going on?"

"Come over here and take a look for yourself…Dayna, you may not want to see." Spud said. Now I was really getting irritated.

"Dayna is fine. Come on, babe. Let's see what's going on." Dayna and I walked over to the table and took a look at the computer monitor and what the others were looking at. As I read and looked at the screen, I could feel my blood go cold. I looked at Dayna and saw the hurt and sadness on her face.

"' Post from TNAssassin- What in the world does this chick think she is going with EthanCarterTNA? Guess he is doing charity work. Look at her! #hideous. #UcanDoBetter'" I read out through clenched teeth.

"There's more," Spud scrolled down and I was furious. Someone was posting absolute garbage about my relationship with Dayna.

'" EthanCarterTNA you know damn well that you don't love this creature. She is not at your standards. Let her down easily. She'll be okay. Give her some food that will surely make her happy. Post from, TNAssassin- Look at this candid photo of the 'happy couple'. Someone please get that ugly troll away from our champ before she ruins him!" And they just kept coming. With 24 hours, this account had posted about 7 tweets about Dayna and I and posted three pictures. What was worse, there were people commenting and agreeing with what this account was saying.

"Guys, I am so sorry." Spud said

"This is just disgusting!" Eddie snapped. "How could they say things like that about Dayna!"

"I want to know who's behind the account." Robbie said looking around the bar for any likely suspects.

I looked over at Dayna; I could see her eyes filling with tears behind her glasses. "Dayna, don't let them get to you."

"Why shouldn't I, Ethan! They're right! I'm hideous! I'm a fool for thinking that I wasn't." Dayna cried.

"Dayna, calm down...please," I begged. I didn't want her start crying. I didn't think I would be able to handle it.

"Calm down? Calm down?! Ethan, this is high school all over again! I think that I look fine and someone comes along and yanks the rug from underneath me. Fuck!" Dayna collapsed into a chair next to Eddie and put her head down on the table. Even amongst the commotion, I could hear the harsh sobbing crying coming from my girlfriend. She was crying. I stood there frozen as I saw Eddie put his arms around Dayna to comfort her. She shoved his arms away and sobbed harder. That did it.

"Alright! Who the fuck is the jokster around here?!" I snapped. Almost instantly the noise level dropped in the restaurant. The only noise that could be heard was the whispering at our table and Dayna's crying.

"What are you talking about, Carter?" Jessie Godderz asked from across the room.

"Don't act stupid, Godderz! I know damn well everyone has seen the posts of Twitter! Who the fuck started it? Whose got a problem with me and Dayna?" I demanded.

"Dude, none of us have an issue...I for one didn't even know you were seeing someone." DJ Z said.

"Well someone here has a fucking problem with it! I realize I am not the nicest in the company but for fucks sake guys, this is my personal life someone is messing with and its not just affecting me, its hurting the woman I love." I motioned over to Dayna, who had risen her head slightly. I saw her beautiful eyes, red and puffy from crying and it just pissed me off even more. "Look at what someone in here has done to her! She is crying her eyes out because some jackass is calling her names...and total lies."

"But no one in here did it," Bobby Roode said. "Hey, sweetheart, don't cry over some idiot online. I saw you backstage. You are far from hideous."

"Thanks Bobby. And to honest, Dayna is hotter than the entire Knockouts roster and you want to know why? She doesn't need to flaunt it. Its just a natural beauty and its that natural beauty that I fell in love with. She makes me happy and to see her like this pisses me off beyond belief. If I find out someone in this restaurant had something to do with this, I will fucking end you." I looked over at Dayna and saw that she was looking right at me, tears still running down her face but there was a hint of a smile. "Babe?"

"Did...did you mean all of that?" She asked, her breath still shaking from the crying.

"Yes, Mari. I meant every single word of it. I love you. You make me happy and complete."

"But...you basically told everyone you work with that you are dating me,"

"Yes, that's right."

"And you defending me...in front of everyone."

"Correct once again, you are quite the genius." I said trying to get her to smile.

"But why?"

"Why? Dayna, you silly girl. Why wouldn't I defend the woman I love? What kind of man would I be if I didn't?"

I watched as Dayna stood up and wrapped her arms around my waist in a tight hug. "Thank you."

"For what?"

"Defending me. No one has ever done that before."

"Well, those people are in your past. I'm here. I'm your present and I'm your future." I leaned down and gave Dayna a kiss in front of everyone in Rivera's. I heard Spud clap and whistle and soon everyone else was clapping and whistling along. I broke the kiss and stroked her cheek and wiped another tear from her face. "I love you."

"I love you more."

"Wanna get out of here?"

"Yes, please." Dayna giggled. I turned to my colleagues and waves a goodbye. I told the guys that I would meet up with them later to discuss what he needed to do. As I was heading out with Dayna, I couldn't help but notice the sour look on Eddie's face. I wasn't sure what was going on with him. I chalked it up to him being upset with the Twitter posts and didn't think anymore of it.