Wrestling With Love

by Whitney Shope

  Mila's eyes were wide with shock.

  “That had to have been a first for you Randall!”

  “Oh, it was. And after that our cat and mouse game was on. She made me work for it, really testing me. It was a month and a half before she even let me kiss her, three months before she agreed to a date.”

  “Okay, so when did things start to go off the rails?” Mila asked.

  “About 5 months after we began dating the whole ‘Randall Scandal’ happened and she lost it. She flipped out on me backstage in front of everyone. Screaming at me, hitting me, calling me every name in the book. It was humiliating. I'd already been embarrassed enough by the article itself, now this was happening?”

  “Oh boy!”

  “So, I figured if that's all she thought of me, all anyone thought of me, why not be that? The thing was it didn't really bother me so much what the dirt sheets had to say, but to know Violet thought no better of me than that. That hurt.”

  “And so, you just became that guy they accused you of being? You'll pardon me if that doesn't make much sense Randall!”

  “Trust me Mila, if I could go back and undo the things-”

  “- and people” Mila volunteered.

  “-and people I did, I would. The truth is, I was really starting to fall for Violet, for Kristen, and to know that she'd take some dirt sheets word over mine?”

  “It pushed you over the edge.”

  “Yeah, it really did. I figured why bother caring if you're just going to get hurt anyway? If you're never going to be enough.”

  “Did she ever try to apologize and talk things through?”

  “Once, about a month after it happened. I had put up my own walls by then, and I couldn't just stand there and listen to that. So, I walked off.”

  “So, you were never with any of the girls on that list? Oh God, please not Star, anything but that!”

  Randall hung his head in shame.

  “Oh Jesus Randall! She's the worst, not to mention Violet's mortal enemy!”

  “It happened twice, both times were at parties. One of them I remember seeing Violet there with some rocker dude. I ended up getting wasted and Star was right there to ‘comfort’ me.”

  “My, how helpful of her!”

  “She's a slut, Mila, we all know it! But when you're hurt and drunk and out to prove yourself that's exactly what you go for!”

  “Trevor never...?”

  Randall looked at her like she’d just sprouted a second head.

  “Christ no! He took her on one date basically to shut her up and be able to say, ‘hey we tried, it didn't work’. Halfway through it he texted me ‘S.O.S’ so I called with a fake emergency to get him out of it.”

  “Using the oldest trick in a woman’s book, huh?” Mila said, laughing.

  “Hey, desperate times Mila, desperate times!”

  “So, if you and Violet's relationship dissolved into hatred, how did we get here?”

  “It was after Trevor got hurt. We went to grab a coffee from the hospital cafeteria, and we started talking. Not yelling, not fighting, just talking like we used to. That night I gave her a ride home and when we got there, she... she invited me up to her apartment.”

  “I take it you happily accepted the invitation?”

  “Three times.”

  “Oh yuck, Randall!! That's one of my best friends, I so didn't need to know that!”

  “Well, the next morning over breakfast we agreed to give dating another try. And it's been going well, except she doesn't want to go public yet. Not even to you guys. I can't say that doesn't sting.”

  “So, what got into her tonight?”

  “I wish I knew. She just slipped out before I could -”

  Mila's cell phone interrupted.

  “Hang on its Britani.”

  Randall nodded and gestured for her to take the call.

  “Hello?”

  “Hey chick, we found her!”

  “Is she ok? Was she at Bixler's?”

  “Yes, she was right where predicted.”

  “Can I talk to her a minute?” Mila asked.

  “Umm, see that's the thing. She says it's your fault she left, and she doesn't want to see or talk to you.”

  Chapter Sixteen

  C hristmas Eve dinner had ended with Mila in tears, Violet refusing to return, Britani attempting to run interference while simultaneously not ruining the evening she had planned with Lucas, and Trevor hovering protectively over Mila.

  Randall had gone to Violet's apartment, where she had returned after Bixler's Diner closed, to try and talk to her and Phoebe had gone on to her family celebrations.

  Mila, still utterly in shock at how one of her best friends could feel this way and completely exhausted from it all had changed into something comfy and crawled into bed. She was laying there staring at the ceiling when Trevor came in.

  “So, I talked to Randall.”

  He now had Mila's full attention.

  “He seems to think it's jealousy on Violet's part.”

  “Jealousy?”

  “Yeah. Apparently Violet was told several years back that it'd be very difficult, if not impossible for her to get pregnant. The years of wrestling took a toll on her body. So, when she found out one of the closest people to her was pregnant, she freaked out.” he said.

  “Why not just come to me? Even if it was just to yell at me it'd be better than just shutting me out.”

  “Give her a little time babe, I'm sure she'll come to you and talk it out. She loves you.”

  “I hope so.”

  “How about I go change into my sweats and make us some hot chocolate and then the two of us can get under the blankets on the couch with just the Christmas tree and the fireplace going? How's that sound fiancé?”

  “That sounds amazing fiancé!”

  Mila stood and gave Trevor a kiss before heading out to the living room.

  Once in the living room and settled on the couch with a couple of classic Christmas movies, Mila was finally starting to feel a bit more relaxed. That is, until her phone rang around 11:30.

  “Ugh, seriously? At this hour?”

  Mila still wasn't making a move towards answering the phone.

  “Babe, aren't you even going to see who it is?” Trevor asked.

  “No Trevor, this is our time together, our first Christmas together, we just got engaged, we're expecting a baby, whoever it is can just wait!”

  Trevor couldn't help but try and glance at the Caller ID on Mila's phone as it stopped ringing. Without missing a beat, it immediately began to ring again.

  “Baby, whoever it is obviously isn't going to give it up until you answer.”

  He breathed a sigh of relief as Mila finally reached for her phone. . .and then inhaled sharply as she promptly turned it off and tossed it back onto the coffee table.

  “Babe-”

  “Leave it Trevor! I will not let anyone ruin this for us any more than they already have!”

  “Consider it forgotten.”

  Somewhere along the line Mila's sadness had switched to anger. Maybe it was the hormones, maybe it was the emotions of the time of year, all she knew was she had done nothing to warrant that kind of reaction from Violet. She felt awful that Violet had experienced that, but Mila had been through her own hell. She didn't take it out on every couple she saw. No, it was time she embraced Mikey's words. She deserved this. She deserved to finally be happy. And so, whoever was on the phone could wait.

  “I'm sorry I yelled at you; I just don't want this night to turn negative again. Christmas Eve will not be ruined completely!”

  Mila snuggled up even deeper against Trevor as she spoke.

  “Well, it's a little late for that!” he said.

  Panic started to flood Mila's brain.

  “What?”

  “Because it's already Christmas!”

  ***

  Christmas morning was the stuff of Hallmark movies for Mila and Trevor. After waking up snuggled tightly in bed, t
he two made their way out to the living room where they first realized that a fresh blanket of snow had fallen - a bit more than predicted but that's what made it even more beautiful.

  “A white Christmas!”

  Trevor smiled to himself at Mila’s childlike enthusiasm.

  “You're going to have to get used to them babe, they're not all that uncommon here!”

  Trevor called from the kitchen where he was already starting on breakfast.

  Still watching the snow falling onto the beautiful blanket of snow that already graced the ground, Mila replied.

  “Back in Indiana they're spotty at best. Sometimes we luck out and get a few inches of snow on the ground, other times we'll go 3, 4 years without a snowflake in sight on Christmas.”

  She finally pulled herself away from the window and went to help Trevor with breakfast in the kitchen. He reluctantly let her help, knowing this was far more about the experience of their first Christmas together than it was about Trevor's desire to not make Mila lift a finger from now until the baby came.

  After a breakfast of Belgian waffles, bacon and scrambled eggs they sat down in the living room to open presents. Mila was hoping her gift would be okay.

  “Oh, let's see what we have here!”

  Trevor wiggled his eyebrows, being silly, but his jaw dropped when he saw what was inside the box. It was an authentic vintage Joe Namath jersey from the New York Jets.

  “You like it?” Mila asked sheepishly.

  “I freaking love it! How did you -”

  “I got it at an auction about a month ago!”

  “No, how did you know that was my team, let alone my favorite veteran player of all time!?”

  “Oh, well I first noticed a couple of posters framed in the hallway at your apartment. I didn't think much of it until I overheard you and Randall talking one day and you were explaining to him why Joe was ‘the greatest player to ever do it’!”

  Trevor laughed and wrapped Mila in a hug.

  “Oh babe, I love you so damn much. The fact that you not only paid that much attention to things I've said but that you went out and did this for me -”

  He kissed her again.

  “I'm just so glad you like it!” Mila said.

  “I love it! It'll go in the frame with some of my other Jets merchandise! But first...”

  Trevor reached under the tree for Mila's present. He finally presented her with a beautiful red velvet box adorned with a big white bow.

  Gingerly, Mila opened the box while a very anxious Trevor looked on.

  “Oh my God!”

  Mila could feel the tears pouring as she looked down at the contents of the velvet box.

  “Trevor!”

  Mila's voice was only coming out as a whisper as she stared at the beautiful charm bracelet with not only her favorite color, purple, but beautiful charms that celebrated her impending motherhood.

  “I can't... I don't know what to say baby it's gorgeous!”

  “But incomplete...” said Trevor.

  “What?!”

  Mila was in such shock at his response that she didn't even notice Trevor reaching into his pocket and producing a smaller red velvet box and placing it in her hands. Stunned into silence yet again, Mila slowly opened the box. She read the words engraved onto the beautiful locket charm out loud.

  “Forever and Always My Beautiful Wife.”

  Mila was beyond words at that moment.

  “Trevor, I don't know what to say. Thank you doesn't seem enough, suddenly, my present, to you doesn't seem enough, I -”

  “You're enough baby, you're always enough. For the rest of my life, you and our little jellybean are all I need.”

  Mila leaned forward and kissed Trevor before pressing her forehead to his.

  “Merry Christmas baby!”

  “Merry Christmas fiancé!”

  ***

  Just over 2 hours later Mila awoke from her impromptu nap to find Trevor gone from the couch. Feeling a bit of anxiety hit she called out for him.

  “Trevor?”

  After a couple seconds she heard, “Back here baby!”, coming from the bedroom.

  After making her way back to the bedroom Mila saw Trevor, sitting on the edge of the bed, phone in hand. Upon seeing her, Trevor pulled the mouthpiece away and said, “It's just my annoying ass sister.”

  As Trevor hit the speaker button on his phone Mila heard Samantha.

  “Excuse you! I want to talk to my future sister-in-law!”

  Mila giggled at their exchange. For once it felt natural, like normal sibling banter.

  “So, talk, she can hear you, I put your big mouth on speaker!”

  “Mila? Mila, Merry Christmas and congratulations!”

  “Thanks Samantha, Merry Christmas!” Mila said.

  “Please, we're not at work, call me Sam. Just don't do that at work or everyone will think they can!”

  “I think she's got that figured out sis!” said Trevor.

  Samantha laughed, “Oh, hush you!”

  “So how are my nieces and nephew?”

  “Oh, just as full of it as ever! Sydney's currently dancing around in some sort of Princess dress, Emma's in the kitchen trying to convince Kenneth to let her cook lunch with her new Easy Bake Oven and Davis is watching the parade on the floor here.”

  Samantha had been married to Sports Editor Kenneth Turner for 11 years. They had the 3 aforementioned kids: 9-yr-old Sydney, 7-yr-old Emma and 4-yr-old Davis.

  “So, have you talked to Dad?” Samantha asked tentatively.

  “No Samantha but thank you for your attempt at ruining my first Christmas with my fiancé and child!”

  “Trevor, baby relax.” Mila said, reaching over to rub his shoulders.

  “I'm sorry little brother I didn't mean it like that, I just meant it's Christmas maybe you -”

  “Have you talked to him today?” Trevor snapped.

  “Well yeah, early this morning but I -”

  Sensing tensions were about to reach a boiling point, Mila decided to speak up.

  “You were going to call your Aunt Ellen weren't you baby?”

  After mouthing 'Thank you ' to Mila, Trevor responded

  “Yeah, I need to call her soon here.”

  “Aww, tell her hi for me and that I will probably wait until after lunch to call her, give you time to talk and me time to feed this crew of mine!” Samantha said.

  “Will do, Merry Christmas Sam!”

  “Merry Christmas Trev, Merry Christmas Mila!”

  “Merry Christmas Sam!” Mila replied.

  After hanging up, Trevor looked at Mila.

  “Have you turned your phone back on yet today?”

  Truthfully, she had forgotten about it entirely but sighed when she realized she probably should.

  “Ugh!”

  Mila turned on her heel and made her way to living room where her phone had been charging. After sitting down on the couch, Trevor right beside her, Mila powered the phone back on. As it booted up, she saw a few missed calls; Britani and Phoebe. A couple texts, including one from Company Headquarters wishing her a Merry Christmas.

  Then she noticed the voicemail. Without even checking her missed call log she pressed play, immediately hearing Violet’s voice.

  “Hey, it's me. Umm, look I'm sorry for the way I acted. If you don't want to talk to me again, I get that. But I really think we should talk. Anyway, Merry Christmas Mila. I love you. Bye.”

  Chapter Seventeen

  M ila deleted the message from Violet. Before Trevor could finish his protest statement, Mila already had her number dialed and quickly hit call. She picked up on the second ring.

  “Mila?”

  “Yeah, hey Vi.”

  “Hi, Merry Christmas!”

  “Merry Christmas to you too.”

  Trevor gave Mila's shoulder a gentle squeeze as he smiled and went into the kitchen to give her some privacy.

  “Mila, I am so sorry for what I did. I just didn't know what to feel
and it ended up coming out as anger but Mila I'm so, so happy for you, you're one of my absolute best friends and I love you and you so deserve all these awesome things -”

  “Vi, honey, take a breath!”

  “You're right... whew, I did really need that!”

  Both girls cracked up laughing.

  They went on to talk for another hour. Tears were shed, laughs were shared, and, in the end, they agreed to go to lunch in a couple of days. Mila would be lying if she said it didn't feel like a huge weight had been lifted from her shoulders.

  Violet had filled her in on the Hanukkah celebrations that were had with her father's side of her family. Between her Dad, Hank, and good ole Aunt Frieda, it had been a trip!

  Mila was finally hanging up just as Trevor was sitting down at the kitchen island with a small stack of manilla folders in front of him.

  “What's that baby?” she asked.

  “Mila! Just the person I was looking for, come here and sit with me!”

  “Okay, what's up?”

  Mila grabbed a seat next to Trevor.

  “So, I had the chance to speak to my real estate buddy.”

  Mila could feel herself stiffen, then relax as Trevor placed a hand on her thigh, giving her a loving, reassuring squeeze.

  “Okay, so what does that mean?”

  “Well, he gave me the profiles of 4 available houses that match the criteria I gave him.”

  “I'm sorry, what criteria? You never talked to me about this!”

  “No, but I paid attention!” Trevor said. looking confident as ever.

  “What?”

  “There are 4 houses here to look at. All 4 are older Craftsman style, with at least 3 bedrooms, a window seat, a fireplace and a porch swing, some in front some in the back.”

  “You never cease to amaze me, you know that?”

  Trevor smiled and stole a quick kiss from her before turning back to the envelopes in front of them.

  “So, these are all in the Riverdale neighborhood of the Bronx, roughly 20 - 25 minutes to headquarters. Family friendly neighborhood. Really seems like a great place to live.”

  “Okay, let's see what we've got.” she agreed.

  “Okay, I'll lay them all out and you tell me which ones you want to know more about.”