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Lita sighed as she stood in front of her door. This certainly wasn't going to be easy, but it had to be done.
"I really wish you'd just stay here with me," Edge said with a tiny pout the redhead found adorable.
She grabbed hold of both his hands.
"I know," she said. "And so do I. But I have to go to work, baby." She'd decided it was no use sitting around the house and worrying herself sick over him - and now over Dawn Marie, who was still in the hospital. She needed to support herself, and that wasn't going to happen as long as she was here. Besides, she didn't think Christian would do anything to her.
"Fine," the blond man said with resignation. He sighed. "You're right. Okay... I'll hold down the fort." He cast a glance behind him to see Cody watching them and wagging his stubby tail. "Me and Cody both."
The redhead smiled, then gave him a kiss on the cheek.
"Okay. I'll see you later."
"Later," he said with a small smile.
As she slipped out the door, it was on the tip of Lita's tongue to say, 'Behave yourself,' but she didn't voice it.
The moment she was gone, Edge made a mad dash for the shower. He hated lying to the redhead, but he had no choice. He had to find his bastard of a stepbrother and have it out with him, once and for all - man to man.
*
The moment she stepped into The Stop, Lita was bombarded by questions from her fellow waitresses. Trish and Stacy eyed her with concern, told her they were surprised she'd come, and asked about Dawn Marie.
"How is she?" the shorter blonde queried. She hadn't gotten the chance yet, but she planned on to visiting the brunette in the hospital as soon as her shift ended that day.
"Are you okay?" Stacy asked, her brown eyes filled with concern. The last time she'd seen the redhead was when she'd had her panic attack.
"I'm fine - really," she told her. She was appreciative of the two other women, but at the same time, she felt as though a hurricane had blown over her.
"Lita," a new female voice called.
They all looked up to see Stephanie heading over. Like the blonde waitresses, the woman wore a look of concern on her face.
"Hi, Stephanie."
"How are you doing?" the brunette questioned. "Are you feeling better?"
"Yes, I am," Lita replied, holding back a sigh. Everyone was treating her like she was a precious piece of delicate china, and she hated it. "I really am."
"Good," Stephanie said, placing a hand on her arm. "I'm glad for that. But if you start feeling badly again at all, please let me know. We just want you to be well."
The redhead nodded, though she was groaning on the inside. On one hand, she really did appreciate her boss' and coworkers' concern, but on the other, it kind of embarrassed her. She hated being the center of this kind of attention.
"Okay." She sighed and glanced over toward the kitchen. "I'd better..." She pointed with her thumb in that direction.
"Well, well, well... Look who decided to grace us with her presence."
"Hi, Chris," she said almost sheepishly.
"Hi back," Jericho said merrily.
Lita found herself extremely grateful for his casual, friendly attitude. It was so much better than being coddled.
As she reached for her apron on the hook behind the man, there was a brief silence. Then, Chris asked, "So... How are you?"
"I'm fine," she replied.
"Good to hear it," the blond man said. He wasn't one-hundred percent convinced she was telling the truth but didn't voice it. Something strange was going on with her lately, and although he was her friend, it was obvious she didn't want to discuss it with him. He figured that if she wanted to indulge him, she would do it in her own time.
"You see Dawn yet?" he asked.
"Yeah, I did." She bit her lip, hesitating as to going to the bathroom to change into her uniform. She was suddenly feeling so overwhelmed by all that had happened in the last few days, and the mention of the brunette again just pushed her over. In no time, she was crying, the sobs hard and painful, the tears coming in droves.
"Oh, God... Was it something I said?" Chris hurried by the woman's side and enveloped her in a hug. "Lita, it'll be all right. I'm sure it will."
She pulled back just enough to look up into his crystal-blue eyes. And that was when she found herself blurting
it all out to him - the entire sordid mess.