The Bucket List (6 page)

He got up from the bed and pulled his black formal shirt off. He didn't like wearing such things.

"How come you're in bed anyway? I've never known you to nap in the day."

"Been working too hard," she answered as she sat up on the bed and stretched. "Haven't been sleeping at all."

That explained the sleeping pills as well, he thought as he sat on the couch.

"Well, if I was you I'd hide those pills from
Corey. You know how he feels about those things."

She did as she was told before joining him.

"Watching a movie?" she asked. "What do you have?"

"I want to check out that Accidental Husband."

"You are such a girl!" she teased as she snuggled close to him. "Can't we watch something with loads of guts and blood?"

"This is a beautiful movie."

"Beautiful?" Rae asked incredulously. "Really?"

"Hey, I'm a sensitive guy. I'm allowed to say things like that," he laughed as he held her closer.

"You seriously need to get laid. Beautiful movie..."

"Hey, just because I can appreciate
good movies doesn't mean I need to get laid."

"Are you sure? I'm willing to do you that favour right here right now," she smirked.

"Down, girl! Watch the movie."

"Hey guys."

Corey walked in on the cosy scene, Rae resting on John's naked chest as they watched a movie. It didn't bother him; he knew John would never touch Rae with a barge pole, even with all her persistent flirting. Yes, he knew how hot and bothered John got when Rae really turned up the heat. He was only a man, after all.

"Hey, sexy. Heard you were having a drink with a certain Playboy pin-up."

Corey dropped a kiss on her lips and sat next to her. He always kissed her on the lips, he'd been doing it for as long as he could remember.

"Yeah, what was that all about? You practically told me to fuck off," John said.

"We were just talking. I am allowed other friends besides you two, you know."

"And when do I get to finally meet her? You've kept her from me long enough."

"Tonight, actually. She's coming with us to the Ceremony and tomorrow we'll hit the clubs after Riptide Rumble."

He was watching John's face as he said that and grinned when he saw the faint blush on his cheeks. The man needed serious work. It would be fun to watch him fall all over himself when
Mandy was about.

"Can I play with her?" Rae asked.

"No!" both men answered.

"Can I at least touch her? She got to be the most beautiful girl I've ever seen," Rae begged, looking from one to the other.

"I thought you were doing the whole dating and finding love thing," Corey said.

"I decided I'll start tomorrow," she chuckled. "Come on, just one breast then. That'll keep me happy for a long time."

"I doubt that," John laughed.

"Well, okay, maybe for a few seconds."

"I'm serious, Rae. Alyssa is my friend."

"Okay. Okay. I won't touch her," she laughed. "I was only teasing anyway. Tonight is all about you guys. You'll have my undivided attention."

"I wonder what Dave will think of that," John teased.

"What, you think he'll think we're together just because I slept with him? He's a grown man, he knows how these things work."

"I don't know. I saw the way he was looking at you this morning. I don't think one time will quite do it for him," Corey laughed.

"Who said it was one time?"

"So this whole dating thing is off?" Corey asked.

"I decided to start tomorrow. He was just too hot to ignore. The man can do things with his tongue that should be illegal!" Rae chuckled.

"Can you guys stop talking about this, now? I really don't want to know what you and Dave did this morning."

"I can show you, if you want," Rae said wickedly as she ran her fingernails down his muscular torso. "You know you want to. Come on, how could you not. I'm
molded to perfection and blessed with so many wicked talents!"

"Such an ego! Get off me, woman," John laughed, trying to untangle
himself.

"John is still out of bounds,"
Corey warned.

"Ow," she said with a pout, her manicured nails trailing down his chest. "I was getting ready to play."

"You can play with me when the devil wears a winter coat, babes," he chuckled, dropping a kiss on top of her head. "Now watch the movie."

"Wow,"
Corey said, his eyes fixed on her as she walked out of the bathroom.

She gave him a little twirl, showing off her Channel evening dress. It was backless with tiny straps that held it up tied behind her neck and a neckline that dipped low enough to show her ample cleavage. It was long and
molded her body, showing her curves off to perfection. She had her hair up in a disarray of curls in a look Corey believed only she could pull off; elegant, sophisticated and slutty at the same time. Diamonds adorned her ears, fingers and wrist, discreet ones that didn't take all the attention away from her features.

"You like?" she asked with a smile.

"You look so beautiful, baby," he answered, giving her a little kiss. "I'm going to be the envy of every man there."

"You look good enough to eat yourself," she smiled.

He wore all black, the colour making his tan kick out.

"Thanks."

The door opened and John came in.

"The Limo's downstairs... wow," he said when he laid his eyes on Rae. "You look amazing, Princess."

"Thank you, kind sir. You look good, too," she smiled. "Now lets get going, we're already late as it is."

The limo took them to the Amway Arena where the Hall Of Fame Ceremony was being held. They had met
Alyssa in the lobby of the hotel and Rae had wished she could go back on her word. Alyssa looked so gorgeous in a little white dress and dangling earrings she couldn't help staring. The whole ride to the arena, she had been imagining all sorts of things she could do with the Diva's limber body. Damn the list!

"Rae, stop,"
Corey warned.

She pulled her eyes away from the brunette to smile innocently at
Corey.

"We didn't say nothing about me not looking."

"You're making the girl uncomfortable," Corey chuckled. "Come on, you said it would be just me and you tonight."

"You're right," she sighed. "We're here now anyway."

The limo came to a stop and John got out first before helping Alyssa out. The fans screamed for them and flashes went off as they made their way into the building. Then Corey got out and was greeted with the usual mixed reaction which immediately turned to hushed silence when his date emerged. Corey thought they were all probably awestruck. He didn't blame them, Rae was looking seriously hot!

Corey
looked down at her and smiled as he put her hand on his arm.

"You ready, sweetheart?"

It was only when they were inside that Rae thought what a stupid mistake she had made. She was in hiding. Her assistant was frantically looking for her because she had just bailed on all of her commitments. If this got out in the papers, she didn't doubt that witch would catch the first plane out here to try and drag her back to work. That would never happen. As of two weeks ago, she had started living the last days of her life. She couldn't waste her time with work now.

She knew she was the centre of attention as
Corey led her to their seats. She saw Irving sitting a few rows behind so she gave him a little smile before taking her own seat. Then the party began. They were all there to pay their respects to the men and women who had paved their way, to recognise their talent. Maybe one day Corey would walk up there and accept such an accolade. She really hoped he would because she knew how hard he had worked to get where he was, and she had no doubt his legend would only continue to grow. She really wished she could be there to share it with him, but she knew her three wishes had long since run out. He'd be on his own.

She put her arms around her friend, distracting him a bit from the proceedings.

"You okay?" he whispered as he put his arm around her.

She nodded and gave him a little smile. With a smile of his own, he kissed her softly and turned to face the stage again. Still in his arms, she turned to watch the men and women being honored, too. Neither of them realised that a few people were still watching them.

It had been an emotional night in a lot of ways. She and Corey had been affected by Rex's speech as much as the rest of them. He deserved this honour, he had done so much for the industry and had taken young Corey under his wing when he was just starting. She knew Corey was feeling gutted about his mentor's looming retirement.

The
fighters and crew were going on to a little after party but Rae didn't feel up to it. She just wanted Corey to hold her and pretend everything was going to be all right. They could talk into the night like they always did, she could make plans, even though she knew she would not carry them out. She could just pretend, for one night only, that she wasn't going to die.

"Are you
all right?" John asked when they found him to say they were leaving.

"Yeah. Just tired," she assured him. "We'll see you when you get back."

She gave him a little kiss on the cheek and turned to do the same to Alyssa.

"I'll definitely see you tomorrow," she whispered in the brunette's ear.

Damn! She really needed to work on that. She wouldn't find what she was looking for if she was sleeping with everyone, would she?

As they made their exit, a group of men stood by the door, watching them.

"Wow," Kennedy said. "Did you really hit that?"

"A gentleman doesn't kiss and tell," Dave answered.

"So, what's going on. Are you two together now?" Brian asked.

"Did it look like they are together? She didn't even know he was here,"
Nate chuckled.

"Well, thanks
Nate," Dave said sarcastically.

Lunch with
Irving hadn't gone the way she'd planned. Oh, it had been pleasant enough but he had started talking to her, really talking to her. In all the time he had been trying to get to know her, they had never talked like that. She'd got a glimpse of what lay beneath the Crusher’s mask. And she had really liked it. Halfway through the meal he had tried to explain his actions towards her mother so many years ago, how they'd both been too young and foolish to have ever made it work. Rebecca had said the same thing but she had never really believed her. Hearing from the man himself brought it all home.

So now the man had her wishing she had more time to get to know him. This whole thing had been a bad idea. She had expected to just sit there and not really feel anything, then when it was time to walk away she'd just give him a little kiss and disappear. She couldn't afford to feel anything, it would only make saying goodbye that much harder.

He walked her to her door after the meal, still talking to her.

"I really had a good time," he said when they stood in front of her door.

She turned to look into his eyes and smiled at him.

"Me, too," she answered truthfully.

"Do you want to do it again?"

The way he asked it, she could tell he was dreading her answer. Normally she didn't make such a commitment, she just brushed him off. So far she'd call the shots in the relationship, if you could call it that.

"I'd love that. Breakfast again tomorrow before you leave for the next city?"

Irving
smiled and nodded his head. As he was turning to walk away, she stopped him with a hand on her arm and gave him a little kiss on the cheek. Irving was just as shocked as she was but his was more a pleasant shock. In all their time together, she had never made any contact with him at all, not even a handshake.

"Bye," she said quickly as she used her key card to enter the room she shared with her friends, then quickly closing the door to lean on it.

He was a good man. And she could tell he really was the sort of person she could run to whenever she was in trouble. But she would never get the chance. It all suddenly just started to hit her again, how life was so fucking unfair.

"Rae, what's wrong?"

Corey was sitting on the couch with John, but she realised he had been watching her. She needed to get her shit together, before Corey found out the truth.

"Nothing. It was just a bit intense, that's all," she lied as she breezed into the room and kissed him.

"How come?" he asked.

"We were talking about mom," she said softly.

It turned out that was all she needed to say. Corey pulled her down onto his lap and just held her tightly, knowing how she always drew strength on that. He didn't speak at all. Her arms around his torso, she buried her face in his chest and felt the tears slowly come. How was she ever going to let go?