Stephanie McMahon smiled slowly, the coffee finally having an effect albeit a little one. "And then, there was this one time that Jeff and Matt poured goo all over Lita while she slept. Needless to say that there were two Hardy Boys that got it good that night." Chris had been occupying her by telling her stories from the back. She listened intently, unaware that such things went on, and in a way envying them.
"Wow." She said, sipping her drink slowly, savoring the way the Java brew felt sliding down her throat. "You guys seem to have a great time, I'm glad that the talent gets along so well." She was afraid to look at him, afraid that he would see right through her façade and see the real her-the Stephanie that craved friends. Friend's were a sign of weakness. That was what she was brought up to believe. Her father had instilled that in her at a young age.
"That we do. When you spend 200 or more days a year with people, you tend to get attached to them. All of them but you." He said quietly, Stephanie shrugged, trying to act like it didn't bother her.
"Well, when you're going to be the boss eventually, you can't let yourself get close to the talent." She said before she even realized it.
"Close to the talent, you're married to the talent Stephanie, isn't that close?" Chris whispered as he sat his beer down on the table. He watched her intently, the way her delicate hand clasped the porcelain of the coffee cup, or the way her pouty lips were pursed together in deep thought. She was attractive when she was trying not to be. How ironic was that?
"You wouldn't understand." She said quietly, so quietly that he had to strain to hear her. She sighed and sat the coffee mug down. "I'm feeling much better now, perhaps I should go."
"Stephanie, I don't think Hunter is back yet. I saw him leaving the arena with Trish." It broke his heart to watch her face fall. What had this girl been through? What had she given up to be with this man?
"Oh, well, I think that I've bothered you enough. I'll go to Shane's room or something. I appreciate the hospitality Chris." She stood up and looked down at herself. "I, um, I'll have a hard time explaining these, won't I?" She pulled at his shorts and shook her head. "Can I tell you something that I've never told anyone?"
Chris nodded and kept his gaze locked with hers. She broke eye contact first and sat back down. "Needless to say, Hunter and I do not have the perfect marriage. He's not faithful, nor do I ever think he has been, but, he helped me gain respect, so I am indebted to him."
Chris scoffed and stood up, moving closer to her. "Respect, is that what you call it? Thousands of people calling you a slut day in and out-no friends?" He put his hand on his shoulder. "You were right, you're not so bad when you're not trying to impress people. Let me tell you something Stephanie, you've impressed me more in the past hour talking to me, listening to me, than you have in the two years that you've been on television."
Stephanie smiled up at him, a genuine smile that made her blue eyes sparkle. "Thank you." He squeezed her shoulder reassuringly and went over to the bed.
"You're more than welcome to stay here tonight, I'll take the couch. You look as if you could use some sleep." He took a pillow and a sheet over to the couch and watched her reaction. She looked surprised and nodded slowly.
"Thank you for listening to me." She said as she crawled into the bed. He shrugged and grabbed his sleep shorts from his bag and headed toward the shower.
"Thank you for letting me." He said before shutting the door. The last sound Stephanie heard before drifting off to sleep was Chris, singing in the shower.
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