"I don't know babe... You really want to move all the way to Philadelphia?" Blake skeptically looked at Brad as he brought up the topic of possibly moving. "I thought you loved LA and New York."

"I do... But that's where I'm from, all my family is there. It'd be nice to go back there for a little bit." He explained. "How about, we make a deal?"

She rose an eyebrow, intrigued. "What kind of deal?"

"We move there for a year, see how it is, feel it out. If you still don't like it after a year, we'll come back or move somewhere else." Brad proposed.

Blake thought for a moment. She really wasn't up for packing up her life and moving to the east coast. But change is good a majority of the time. And she did want to get closer with Bradley's family.

"Fine." Blake agreed. "But I get to house hunt and you have to come with me."

He smiled, full of content. "Thank you for agreeing to this. Maybe a new start and a new house is what we need."

She leaned over and kissed him quickly before pulling back.

Her mind immediately went to Joe's text. It had been a week since he sent the message, after contemplating a response, she agreed to meet him.

"So I fly to Miami tomorrow to do a campaign for Gucci, will you be okay without me for a few days?" Blake teased.

It really wasn't a lie that she was going to Florida. She did have to work, but just for one day, not three days like she told her husband. Joe lived down in Tampa, she just didn't inform Brad on the detour she was going to be taking.

"I think I'll manage." Brad laughed. "Are you sure you don't want me to come with you? I can always reschedule my meetings."

Her eyes widened. "No no. I don't want you getting in trouble. I'll be back before you know it."

But will it still be the same between them when she comes back? What did Joe have to say to her? Their story was unfinished, there was no doubt about it. Their book had many empty pages in them. Blake already wrote her own story though. She'd written another book. And it was her and Brad. It was always going to be her and Bradley Cooper. Joe was just another one on her shelf sitting right next to Finn Balor collecting dust bunnies. What could he say or do that would rewrite the ending?

———————————————

The humid air in Miami had took its toll on Blake. Or maybe the fact she'd be driving down to Joe's house in a few hours.

The photoshoot for Gucci had gone well. She was shocked the photographer had gone with a natural look for her as she was used to makeup artists caking her face.

After thanking the crew for the shoot, she said her goodbyes and made her way to her rental car. Thankfully paparazzi only spotted her at the airport and turned their attention to Drake who luckily was also in Miami this week.

She'd been staring at the address Joe sent her for so long that cars had began honking at her, wanting her parking spot.

"Stop being such a pussy." She grumbled to herself and hit start on the GPS.

For once shockingly in her life, she wanted to call her sisters and ask for advice. She didn't know what she'd be walking in to. But she also didn't want a scold from them on how she's a married woman and shouldn't be hiding where you're going from your husband.

No one knew of Joe and Blake's relationship backstage. Everyone always assumed they hated each other, which they did once upon a time. But towards the end of their run together and her split from Finn Balor, they had chemistry. When the kissed backstage after she announced her retirement, she wanted to stay there forever. She really did expect Joe to run after her or come find her after that, but he didn't. And she never understood why. Then she got tired of waiting and answered her own questions with her own answers.

Four and a half hours later she arrived at his house. She made sure to park down the street instead of his driveway. She needed about twenty minutes to mentally prepare herself before physically preparing to get out of the car.

"Fuck, what am I doing?" Blake groaned as she looked at her ring and wedding band on her left hand.

Deciding to get this over with, she quickly grabbed her purse and marched to his front door.

Aggressively she knocked on the door. A minute passed and she repeatedly rung the doorbell.

"Jesus Christ what the hell is wrong with you?!" Joe swung the door open.

His hair was messy, and his voice was groggy. She probably interrupted his beauty sleep but she didn't give a damn. He invited her here, and she wanted to get this over with.

"Really you invite someone to your house and you're asleep?" Blake snapped.

"Uh yeah especially when that person is at least four fucking hours away." Joe said.

A moment of silence fell between them.

"I didn't drive all the way down here just to stand outside your house." Blake crossed her arms.

"Sorry... come in." He stepped to the side.

She walked in and took a look around. It was quite a nice house, she knew Joe had money but not this much. "So what do you want Reigns? Why am I here in Tampa?"

"Do you want like a water or anything? Maybe something to eat?" He completely disregarded her question.

"I'm okay, thank you." Blake said. "So?"

"What?"

"Why am I here?"

Joe took in a deep breath. "Do you remember when you finished your segment when you announced your retirement?"

"Of course."

"And what happened backstage between us?"

"Unfortunately."

Joe just stared at her.

It wasn't like before.

He didn't have his annoyed expression on his face.

He wasn't rolling his eyes or looked done with her.

It was a soft stare.

It was lust.

It was admiration.

"No... no." Blake shook her head and began walking to the front door.

"It's no use Blake."

"No–"

"Blake we got to have it out, I have loved you ever since I've know you Blake." He ran in front of her and stopped her from going any further.

She repeatedly shook her head.

"And I tried to show you but you wouldn't let me which is fine, but I must make you hear now, give me an answer because I cannot go on like this any longer!"

Blake began panicking. "Joe, please- please don't."

"I gave up the championships, I gave up everything you didn't like and couldn't have anymore, I'm happy I did. It's fine and I waited and I never complained because.... I figured you felt the same way Blake."

"You gave up the titles?" She gasped. "Why the hell would you do that?"

"If you couldn't wrestle anymore then I wouldn't either." Joe grabbed her hands. "And I realized I'm not half good enough and I'm not this great man–"

"No no you are! Yes you are! You're too good for me, and I'm so grateful for you, and I'm really proud of you. I am Joe. But..." Blake pulled her hands back. "I waited so long for you after our kiss... I waited for you and you never came back around. I didn't care whether you were still in the business or not, I wanted to be there with you and.. And I wanted just to be by your side, god Joe I wanted you to show up on my doorstep or even send me an email... I wanted something! But life went on and I had to move with it. I'm so sorry Joe but I'm not waiting for you anymore. I just... I don't see why I can't love you anymore. I don't know why."

"Because of Brad. Your Hollywood husband." He shook his head.

"Even if I wasn't married, I can't. I can't change how I feel." Blake sighed. "I'm so sorry but I just can't help it."

"I can't love anyone else Blake..."

"Joe we'd be a disaster together."

"It wouldn't be a disaster."

"We'd be miserable."

"I would be perfect!"

"I can't, I can't! I've tried it and I've failed. Finn and me didn't work. And me and Brad have come a long way before even discussing marriage."

"Why are you saying this?" He grabbed her hands once more. "Just say yes and lets be happy together!"

"I can't say yes to you. So I'm not going to." Blake said. "I have an attitude and make snarky comments all the time, you are too stubborn and your patience sucks. Everything will be horrid."

Joe let go of her hands and looked at the ground. "Is there anything more?"

"Joe I didn't believe I would ever get married. I loved my independence way too much and only cared for myself and I wasn't in any hurry to give it up but now I have a ring on my finger. And I love him. I do Joe, I really do. And I try every single day not to screw it up because I don't know if I'll ever find something like this again."

He gently cupped her face and placed a single kiss on her lips, holding her tight before she could run away.

"I think you're wrong about that Blake. I think you'll find someone and love them and live and die for them because that's your way and you will." Joe let her go and opened the front door. His back was turned to her. "And I'll watch."

I broke his heart 'cause he was nice

He was sunshine, I was midnight rain
He wanted it comfortable
I wanted that pain

He wanted a bride
I was making my own name
Chasing that fame

He stayed the same

All of me changed like midnight.