CHAPTER 18

Few days after Wrestlemania

@HollyWoodNews: Newly engaged couple WWE star Royce Presley and model Neels Visser make their first public appearance since he proposed!

———

One month after the proposal

"What are you wearing tonight?" Becky asked Royce.

Tonight Vince was holding a formal party to celebrate the success of Wrestlemania. It was mainly only wrestlers and WWE legends. Neels was unable to attend since he had a huge fashion show tonight. Since the day he proposed, the soon to be married couple already started planning their wedding. Both so caught up in the moment, neither realized how fast they were going. Royce had been slammed left and right with not only work and the tag team titles but with multiple wedding planners. Even Neels' phone was blowing up 24/7 from the planners on ideas they had for the big day.

"I have no idea, you?" Royce replied.

"No clue either, me and Seth were supposed to go shopping together but he isn't picking up his phone." Becky groaned and dialed Seth's number again.

"Want me to call Dean? Or Joe? He's most likely with one of them." She suggested.

"Try Joe," Becky sighed.

Royce pulled her phone out of her pocket and went to Joe's contact.

"Hello?"

"Hey Joe," Royce greeted.

"Hey, what's up?" He wondered why she called.

"Becky has been trying to get a hold of Seth, are you with him by any chance?" She asked.

"Yeah me and Dean are with him at a repair store. He dropped his phone in the water fountain after he tried to push Dean in." Joe sighed. "We were all gonna go shopping for tonight since none of us brought any formal clothes, would you like to come?"

Royce was a bit taken back. "Uh y-yeah. I need to go shopping too."

"Great, we'll pick up you and Becky once we're done." He said.

"Okay, thank you." Royce looked over at Becky who seemed to be angry texting Seth.

"Anytime Royce." Joe smiled, which made her smile. Wait.. Joe made her smile.. Without even trying. What?

———

"Beep beep," Dean pulled up to the front of their hotel. "Get in losers we're going shopping."

"Screw you Dean." Becky laughed and hopped in the car.

As Royce walked to the other side, Joe opened the car door and stepped out, letting her go in first.

"Thank you." She smiled at him and got in.

"What's up Presley," Seth hugged her.

"Or soon to be Mrs. Neels Visser." Dean remarked. Joe instantly tensed up.

Royce let out a chuckle. "What's up guys?"

"Becky?" Seth tapped her shoulder. "Becks? What's wrong with her?"

Royce shrugged. "Maybe because you weren't answering the phone."

"It wasn't my fault!" Seth cried out.

"Yes it was!" Dean and Joe said at the same time.

"You tried to push Dean in the fountain, you got what you deserved." Joe made a point.

"Thank you brother." Dean gave Joe a fist bump.

"Roy what are you thinking of wearing?" Becky turned around from the front seat.

She shook her head. "I have no idea, maybe a nice dress or something."

"We should color coordinate." Dean suggested.

"Yeah let's color coordinate Dean." Becky said and nudged him, just to get Seth jealous.

"Uh what about me?" Seth asked her.

"Looks like you're the odd man out." Becky shrugged him off.

The couple began to go back and forth with each other, the remaining three just sighed and listened to their silly argument.

Royce turned to Joe. "So do you want to color coordinate?"

Joe laughed and nodded. "Sure."

She smiled at him. "Alright, sounds like a plan."

———

Once they arrived at the mall, Becky took off with Dean, Seth was running all over trying to find them. Most importantly to make it up to his girlfriend. Royce and Joe disappeared into a nice formal store that was secluded from the busy part of the mall.

The sales lady shoved Royce into a dressing room with a bunch of dresses.

"Roy?" Joe called out after he put on a suit he had been eyeing since they first walked in the shop.

She opened the curtain of the room she was in. For a moment she gaped at Joe, he was in an all black suit, he no doubt looked handsome. "Can you um," she pried her eyes off him. "Can you help me with the zipper?"

"Yeah sure." Joe stepped in the room and closed the curtain. "There you go."

Royce looked at herself in the mirror and sighed. "It's not too much right? I don't know, I don't think I should wear it."

"Why not?" He wondered. "You look good Roy. I like it."

"It just... I think it looks to dressy and just too much." She let out a breath. She had no clue why she was overthinking wearing a dress. If it was her and Becky, she'd pick the one she thought she looked good in and go about the day. But with Joe; she was overthinking for no reason.

"Why are you overthinking this?" Joe looked at her through the mirror. "It looks beautiful on you."

Royce locked eyes with him. It seemed like forever they stayed that way, his eyes pierced through hers and she honestly didn't mind it. Subconsciously Royce played with her lip ring, which is still one of Joe's favorite habits that she did. The tension was nowhere near sexual. It was more lustful and a strange feeling of being complete.

"Honey are you alright in there? Do you need another size or more dresses?" The sales lady asked, interrupting the moment.

Royce cleared her throat. "No um everything is perfect. I'll be out in a second."

She walked away and Joe let out his breath he had been holding in.

"I should, I should go get changed and pay for this." Joe quickly spoke.

"Y-yeah me too." Royce almost failed to speak. "Can you unzip me?"

Joe's warm hands traveled to her back, slowly unzipping the dress. He'd be lying if he said he didn't peek. She wore a red laced bra. In fact the one he bought her one time when they went out together. He mentally smiled.

"You're good to go." His hands fell away from her body. Royce refrained from letting out a frown. "I'll meet you at the register." He stated and exited her dressing room.

Royce rubbed her face and looked at herself. What was wrong with her? She looked down at the ring on her left hand. It was like it was taunting and teasing her.

Sighing she hurried up and changed, leaving the room and hopefully the thoughts behind.

———

"You look so gorgeous!" Paige complimented her as she walked in the ballroom Vince had rented out.

"Thank you," Royce hugged her. "You're stunning as always."

"Oh stop stop you're making me blush." Paige joked.

"Royce!" Nikki walked up to her. "That dress is.. Wow!"

"I was worried it was too much." Royce shyly laughed.

"No it's perfect!" Paige exclaimed.

"Oh look here comes the guys." Nikki pointed to the boys who had just walked in.

Royce seen Joe and had to do a double take. His hair was slicked back, perfect. She could tell he had just gotten a haircut, he was well handsome and perfect. His beard was growing out, and he purposely did it since he always knew how much Royce would love it when he kissed her neck and it tickled.

"Ladies," Joe approached them. "You all look better tonight."

"Thank you." They all said.

Joe looked over at her, "I'm glad you went with that dress."

"Yeah, me too." Royce said.

The night went by slow, all the McMahons seemed to have a long speech prepared. Some dragged on more than others, but it was a night of celebration. They ate, drank, and laughed together. Royce and Joe sat by each other all night and made jokes together.

Everyone was now dancing, all their friends left the table to go on the dance floor with their partners or even friends. 

Royce sipped her champagne and observed the people on the dance floor.

Joe stood up and went on the other side of his chair, holding his hand out. "Let's not be those losers who are in the corner watching everyone else."

She laughed and took his hand. "I think you're right on this one."

He led her to the dance floor, his hand went to her hip while the other held her hand. They swayed back and forth, enjoying the nice song that played.

As if the universe was playing games with them, the song changed to another slow one. Royce didn't think anything of it. That's until they both really payed attention to the lyrics.

(A/N: play song)

Walking down 29th and ParkI saw you in another's armsOnly a month we've been apartYou look happier

Joe looked down at her while she looked up at him.

Saw you walk inside a barHe said something to make you laughI saw that both your smiles were twice as wide as oursYeah, you look happier, you do

He looked at her ring.

Ain't nobody hurt you like I hurt youBut ain't nobody love you like I doPromise that I will not take it personal, babyIf you're moving on with someone new'Cause baby you look happier, you do

She thought back to the day where she overheard him.

My friends told me one day I'll feel it tooAnd until then I'll smile to hide the truthBut I know I was happier with you

All the nights they spent together. Laughing and going out, acting like a couple.

Sat on the corner of the roomEverything's reminding me of youNursing an empty bottle and telling myself you're happierAren't you?

Drinking till he forgot where he was. Till he forgot what he said to hurt her so bad. Or forgetting Neels walked in her life and made her light up the way she used to. Only that time, Joe was the one making her light up.

Ain't nobody hurt you like I hurt youBut ain't nobody need you like I doI know that there's others that deserve youBut my darling, I am still in love with you

Still crazy in love with him.

But I guess you look happier, you doMy friends told me one day I'd feel it tooI could try to smile to hide the truthI know I was happier with you

Royce was his oxygen. She didn't know it but she was the one who kept him going.

Baby, you look happier, you doI knew one day you'd fall for someone newBut if breaks your heart like lovers doJust know that I'll be waiting here for you

And he'll wait forever if he has to.

The song ended, and they still locked eyes with each other.

Then it all came back to her. It was Joe. It was always Joe.

Seeing the ring on her finger and watching him propose. Knowing he was happier with her, but now she's happier with someone who isn't him.

"I'm sorry, excuse me." Joe rushed out of there, leaving her standing alone.

Royce quickly ran after him, running out into the main hall, she seen him running outside. Deciding to give his some space, she returned to the table and checked her phone.

Baby Visser💍🖤: Hey, I just landed in LA. Any chance you can come back early? I want to talk to you about something, important.

———

to be continued