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IRL!

(Friday, August 19th, 2022)

After SmackDown

Montreal, Quebec, Canada

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"There she is." Rhea nudges Damian with her elbow as approach catering for a water. They wanted to sit with Briar, Uncle Jack, and Jason, but thought it'd be safer to just let them enjoy their front row seats and hang here in the back. I've been so focused on everything tonight and they've stayed out of the way, but now we can finally have our post SmackDown fun.

"Goddamn, CK, you fucking killed it." Damian praises, immediately rising from his chair and in two strides his arms were around me and my feet lift off the ground.

"Stunning job." Rhea compliments from behind us.

"Thank you." I murmur into Damian's chest to both of them before he sets me down.

"I'm serious, CK. That was one of the best damn promos I've ever watched." Damian squeezes my arm.

"Thank you, Day-Day." I hum.

"Now," Rhea slams her hands on the table as she stands. "Who's ready to fucking party." She grins evilly.

Damian and I smirk at each other. Though SmackDown is over... our night has just begun...

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Weeks ago when planning for Briar's birthday weekend, I found a bar, that I made sure had dancing and karaoke, for us to go to after the show, both of which Briar love, as do I. Denni wouldn't be caught dead singing anywhere that wasn't her shower, buttt Denni with some drinks in her was an entirely different story. Rhea and Damian are always down for anything, and Uncle Jack and Jason were just happy to grab some food.

"That was so surreal." Briar gushes as we find a table to claim for the night. The sticky atmosphere makes my skin feel clammy as I try to remind myself to breathe. "I've never seen you that way before, not even at any NXT show." She shakes her head. "It was amazing. Thank you."

I smile. "Of course. Front row so you can see my good side." I wink.

"Every side is your good side." She rolls her eyes at me.  "But I'm serious that would've been enough. This," She waves her hand around, "Also would've been enough."

I tsk at her, clicking my tongue. "It's not even midnight yet, your birthday hasn't even started." I point at her.

Briar brings her drink up to her lips, scoffing playfully. I lick my lips dry as the beads of condensation drip down her glass as the strong, burning stench of liquor and b.o. settles in my nostrils, flaring them out.

"Stubborn, isn't she?" Damian chuckles, swinging his arm around my shoulders, snapping me back to the conversation.

"Very." Briar grins in agreement.

"But that's why you love me." I push her arm back gently causing her to giggle.

"Only you." She winks before throwing her head back as she downs the rest of her drink in one gulp. Gin and tonic. Her starter drink before she slips into fruity drinks and shots. Denni can only handle fruity drinks. Her and Rhe are in line ordering. "Mmm, I'm gonna go join the girls in line. Take care of this one." She tells Damian, pointing to me.

"Yes, ma'am." Damian's chuckle falls distant as the pulse of the music vibrates off my skin, a sheen of sweat drips down my back as I can feel every inch of my throat as I swallow. "Dance with me, CK." Damian tugs my arms into his chest snapping me out of my daze.

"Hmm?" I blink up at him, wanting to scrub the sticky, unsettlingly old family feeling off my body. I said I could do this. I have done this. We've came to bars and clubs before, this is nothing new.

It's nothing new.

"Let's dance." Damian repeats, and begins leading us to the dance floor. "It's been a while." He smirks, grabbing my hips. As long as he keeps talking, as long as I can hear his voice, and focus on that, and keep breathing... it'll be okay. I can get through this night.

"It has." I swallow.

He tips my chin up with his fingers. "Relax, Carmesí. It's just you and me, okay?"

"Okay." I nod slowly, allowing my muscles to untense as my body starts to sway with his. March. Was the last time we went out dancing.

Damian leans down to my ear. "You remember what happened last time?"

I chuckle lowly, leaning my head back as he hovers my neck. "Mmm, I don't knowww." I hum innocently. "Why don't you show me."

His laugh vibrates against my skin, pulling my hips further into him and I smirk before I slowly begin grinding my body into his, letting the environment around us fade to the back of my mind.

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"Priest, come take shots with us!" Rhea calls us over to the table they've claimed.

He shakes his head. "I'm not drinking tonight."

Rhea immediately angles her gaze down, disapproving. "What?!"

Damian rests his arm on my shoulder. "Someone's gotta stay sober with this one and take care of you three." He points his head towards Denni and Briar taking shots out of each other's boobs. Impressive. Rhea snickers at them, shaking her head. Well, damn... maybe I'd have my first shot if I got to do that out of Rhea's... just saying. "And Jack and Jason." He adds. Oh, righttt. We definitely have our hands full.

"Looks like I'm drinking for three then." Rhea smirks slyly, raising her shot glass.

"You're not a lightweight, you can take it." I grin, my voice gaining Briar's attention.

"C!" She drunkingly squeals, rushing over she jerks me into her by my arms. "We HAVE to get up there and sing after I come back from the bathroom."

I snort. "You got it." Who am I to argue with the birthday girl?

"Let's go." She chirps.

"We'll be back." I glance over my shoulder. Everyone knows the rule to not go to bathroom at a bar or club by yourself.

"Where're you going?" Damian asks cautiously, stepping back over.

"Bathroom." I answer as Briar pulls us away. I notice the protective look on his face. "We'll be back, promise."

I check my phone to see it's almost midnight, perfect, when someone approaches from the side.

"Hey." I whip around to find one of the bartender girls and relax, a bit.

"Uh, hey, can I help you?" I raise a brow. Did Denni and Briar do something to get kicked out already?

"Are you Crim Kae?" She squints down at the notepad on her chair.

"Woah?! How'd she know?" Briar exclaims excitedly, backing up beside me as my eyes practically pop out of my head.

"What?" I look at her wildly, leaning forward to make sure I heard her correctly. Surely the music's too loud, right, right...

"Are you Crim Kae?" She repeats. "I have shots, curtesy of those gentlemen over there." She points behind her. My jaw falls slack as I glance over her shoulder— there's only one person that's called me that within the past month and I swear if he's here...

I blink. And then blink again, you know, just to make sure.

"Oh my gosh, is that—" Briar stretches to past me.

Oh, goddamnit.

Sure enough, a dark, tattooed arm shoots up in the air, waving high.

Jey Uso.

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𝟶ʙᴜᴛᴛᴇʀʙɪsᴄᴜɪᴛ𝟽sᴘᴇᴀᴋs!

Heyyy... been a min, huh... welcome back :)

It was truly not my intention at all to go this long between updates lmao. I was gonna update for Roman's bday & didn't feel good that night & then last couple weeks have been so crazy haha. I also got stuck on this chap for a hot min ngl, knowing what I wanted to say, it just not coming out lmao... BUT WE'RE BACKKK!! And honestly it was nice to have a couple weeks break, but I missed updating this book & hearing from y'all sm!!

ANYWAYSSS, LETS GET INTO IT SHALLL WEEEE ;)

What'd y'all think of the ending... any of y'all see that coming?! AND CAN WE TALK ABOUT CRIMSON & DAMIAN'S SCENEEE?! Ooo, y'all better be screaming & going feral in the comments hehehe. Also... Crimson's struggles... hmmm...

Happy MITB!! My predictions for who I thought would win were Roxanne or Naomi. Mami in the Bank with a purple briefcase would've been iconic & ate tho, but I just didn't see it happening. ALSO I THOUGHT ROMAN WOULD RETURN TONIGHT... *SIGH* my man BETTERRRR he coming back soon !!

I hope y'all enjoyed this chapter, & again sorry it took a bit, I tried to make the chap extra long for y'all!! Excited to get back into it & hear from y'all so don't be afraid to comment & until next time... MWAHHH!! <3