chapter seventy-one

Lita drove Angela back to the hotel later that night. It was around 7:30 and Angela was looking forward to being alone with Matt tonight, she never needed him to hold her as badly as she did right then.

"Thanks for everything Lita. We’ll talk in the morning?" Angela asked smiling at her from across the front seat.

"Yeah we will. Listen have a good time okay... just do what feels right." Lita said softly staring at Angela.

Angela grinned, "I’ll try. Thanks. Night." Angela said smiling at Lita.

"You gonna be okay, " Lita asked smiling at Angela, and Angela shook her head. "Night." Lita said softly as she watched Angela get out and waited until she was safely inside before she drove back to the arena to meet Jeff. ***

Angela took the elevator up to the floor of her room and walked slowly down to the room. Angela stared at the familiar door for a long time before she dug through her bag for her key.

Angela held her breath as she opened the door and saw that it was dark, from down the hallway she could see an orange shawdow dancing across the ceiling and she took a deep breath, setting her bag down and tossing her keys to the side table as she took off her coat, hung it up and locked the door shut behind herself. Angela ran her fingers throught her hair and heard soft music, she closed her eye’s leaning against the door preparing herself for whatever romantic sweet evening Matt had planned. She longed to be in his arms and she forced herself finally to move.

Angela got to the end of the hallway and looked around the room, the curtain was pulled shut, the fireplace was lit, burning brightly, and it made everything seem warm and cozzy. Angela smiled seeing little white rose pedals scattered all over the floor and across the bed and couch. There were several candles scattered about, and the soft music was playing, it sounded sweet and relaxing. The dinning room table was set so beautifully....

Angela looked towards the bed and saw a pretty silk gown lying neatly across the end of the bed. She smiled seeing her favorite flower lying on her pillow, a beautiful white rose.

The coffee table was moved aside and blankets were on the floor infront of the fireplace, with big fluffy pillows set infront of the couch. A big bucket of ice with a bottle of white wine sat on the coffee table. Angela smiled as she noticed a small wrapped box on the edge of the couch, Matt shouldn’t have gotten her anything. She sighed looking around but not seeing Matt anywhere.

Angela sighed as she walked inside and saw a note setting on the dresser next to the bed. Angie, Hey, I forgot to get something, I had to run out really quick.... I’ll be back soon, its around 7:15 now... get changed, have some wine if you want... I’ll be back in a little while. Always, Matt

Angela smiled, Matt was so sweet! Angela giggled as she sat down on the edge of the bed and picked up the gown looking at it. It was a long white silk dress, and it was beautiful. Angela giggled as she got up and went into the bathroom to change and put on a little fresh make-up. She wanted to look perfect when Matt got back.

***

Angela stood in the full length mirror in the bathroom and looked at the beautiful dress she wore, Matt was so great for buying her a new, and probably really expensive dress.

The dress was long, and white silk, it was off the shoulder, her favorite, and there was a long slit on both sides going all the way up her legs. Angela felt so elegant and gorgeous in this dress and she couldn’t wait to see Matt. She pulled long brown hair into a high ponytail and added a pretty silver hair clip to both sides and smiled satisfied with how she looked. She checked her make-up really quick, and made sure she looked perfect before she left the bathroom.

Angela sighed as she looked around and went to the back of the couch leaning against it wondering where Matt had gone. She sighed as she went into the hallway and grabbed her cell phone out of her jacket pocket and dialed Matt’s number.

It rang several times and then Angela heard Matt’s voice, "Angie, hey, where are you?" Matt asked waiting for Angela’s response.

Angela giggled, "Well I’m wearing an amazing dress, admiring a beautiful room and waiting for a my gorgeous, sweet, and incredible boyfriend to come, so I’m not so cold and all alone." Angela said softly teasing as Matt laughed.

"Really?" Matt asked laughing.

Angela giggled, "Yeah... Where are you Matt?" Angela asked shivering as she looked around not wanting to be alone for too long, esspecially after the conversation she’d had with Ray.

Matt sighed, "I’m in the lobby, I forgot something back at the arena I had to go get it. I’ll be there in a minute or two okay?" Matt asked taking a breath.

Angela sighed, feeling better knowing Matt wasn’t far away, "Okay." Angela said softly as she hung up and went back to the hallway turning her phone off and putting it back into her pocket.

Angela went back inside near the fireplace and looked down smoothing her long dress and glancing in the mirror on the closet door to make sure she looked good.

Angela paced slowly realizing she was really anxious to see Matt. She took a deep breath hearing the door open and then after a moment it closed and she heard a thud and she looked toward the hallway and saw Matt leaning against the wall, standing there smiling at her.

Angela stared at him, he looked incredible! Matt’s hair was pulled back into a ponytail, and he wore a long sleeved white shirt, his usual silver chain & light silk pants, he was holding another white rose, and his smile was amazing!

Matt stared at Angela for a long time, she looked like an Angel, for real! She was so beautiful. Her sweet smile was so wonderful to see. The dress fit her great, Lita who’d helped him pick it out the week earlier had been right about the size and everything. Angela’s cross and the angel necklace he’d given her for Christmas hung around her neck and they both sparkled in the glowing fire light. Matt was fascinated that it was possible that Angela had gotten more gorgeous from when he’d last seen her earlier... but she had.

Matt sighed as he moved from the wall and took a few steps toward her and reached to give her the rose. Angela smiled at Matt, her cheeks blushing as she reached up and took the white rose from him. "Thank you." Angela whispered staring at Matt, his smile meeting hers.

Matt took a breath and grinned, "Your welcome." Matt whispered staring down at her.

Matt reached over touching Angela’s hand and he smiled as Angela set the rose gently on the arm of the couch and snuggled against him as he slid his arms around her and held her gently, kissing her cheek.

Angela held onto Matt, hugging him tight, more happy then she ever was to be in his arms again. Matt sighed as he rubbed Angela’s arms gently, as she shivered snuggling close against him. "You like the dress?" Matt asked whispering softly as Angela picked her head up from his shoulder and smiled up at him.

"I love it." Angela whispered staring at Matt. "Thank you!" Angela whispered touching Matt’s cheek softly.

"You look so beautiful do you know that?" Matt asked kissing Angela’s cheek. Angela closed her eye’s and took a breath, his voice was such an incredible sound and it didn’t scare her like Ray’s.

Angela smiled as she moved back and looked up at Matt, "You went to a lot of trouble." Angela said softly looking around the room again.

Matt chuckled touching her cheek, "Not really, tonights supposed to be speciale... it was no trouble, I was kinda of excited actually." Matt whispered continuing to kiss Angela’s cheek.

"Really." Angela said smiling as she looked up at Matt.

Matt grinned and shook his head, "Yes." Matt said softly smiling at Angela, then letting her go. "You hungry?" Matt asked excitedly as he took a few steps towards the diningroom table.

Angela shrugged, she really wasn’t, she had to many things on her mind and she just wanted to be in Matt’s arms, but he was obviously a little more excited then she was about tonight so she didn’t want to disappoint him. "A little." Angela said softly following Matt to the dinnning room table. "What are we having?" Angela asked smiling at Matt who turned staring at her, an anxious smile across his face.

Matt grinned, "Do you remember the last time we were in Vegas?" Matt asked staring at Angela.

Angela smiled, how could she forget? "Yeah..." Angela said staring at Matt.

Matt smiled, "The night we all first went to the Underground... remember?" Matt asked watching Angela smile.

"Of course I remember.... so?" Angela asked watching Matt grin.

"The next morning, well afternoon really.... we had "brunch." Remember? You were asleep and I ordered us some food and you woke up and I surprised you......?" Matt said staring at Angela.

Angela giggled, "I remember that." Angela said smiling as Matt lifted up the silver plate cover from the setting in front of him and glanced up at Angela.

Angela laughed staring at waffles, eggs, sausage, and bacon. "There’s white wine, brandy, and orange juice too... if your thirsty." Matt said shrugging, smiling at Angela who laughed staring at the plate full of delicious food.

"Matt this is crazy!" Angela said staring at Matt laughing, "Your unbelievable! I can’t believe you did all this...." Angela said shivering as she stared from Matt to the food.

Matt smiled, "It’s like the first meal we ever had together." Matt said softly grabbing a wine glass and going to the coffee table taking the bottle of wine from the ice bucket and popping the cork, pouring Angela a glass that he handed to her as he began pouring another for himself.

Angela stared at Matt was she leaned against the edge of the table and watched Matt set the bottle down on the table an turn to her. "What are we toasting to?" Angela asked giggling as she smiled at Matt.

Matt sighed thinking, "To.... being together for 6 whole months..." Matt whispered staring at Angela.

Angela grinned shaking her head, "To 6 months......" Angela said softly toasting with Matt’s glass. Angela smiled at Matt over the rim of her glass and she took a small sip. Then she set her glass down sighing as she looked back down at the table still not believeing Matt had done all this.

Matt set his glass down and pulled a chair out for Angela, Angela smiled as she sat down and waited for Matt to sit down next to her.

"It looks good Matt." Angela said softly as Matt lifted the cover from his plate and smiled taking another sip of wine.

"It does." Matt said staring at Angela. Angela sighed, cutting a corner from the waffle in her plate, dunked it in some syrup and took a bit.

"Any good?" Matt asked watching her smile.

"Tastes exactly the same.... its very good." Angela said softly as Matt chuckled and they began to eat silently watching each other and laughing occasionally about a face the other had made.

*

Angela finished before Matt was done, she didn’t eat everything, and she didn’t want anymore. She got up taking her plate and she began turning for the kitchen when Matt spoke, "Where you going?" Matt asked softly as Angela looked back at him.

"To put my plate in the sink." Angela said softly watching Matt shake his head.

"Room service’ll get it later or in the morning." Matt said softly staring at Angela.

"Ohh right. Forgot." Angela said softly setting her plate back down and reaching for her glass of wine.

Matt watched her for a long moment.... she seemed restless, or impatient, like part of her was eslewhere, and Matt frowned worrying that something was bothering her.

"You okay?" Matt asked as Angela looked at him, metting his eye’s.

Angela looked at Matt a moment and sighed, "Yeah, I’m just a little stressed. Vince made me a bit.... aggrivated earlier." Angela said softly knowing she was completely lying again and she hated it.

Matt sighed strecthing a little as he stared at her, unsure if her believed her, "Vince is good at that." Matt said softly reaching for Angela’s hand.

Angela sighed sipping more of her wine. "Yeah I noticed... he makes me so... nervious, I think I make myself mess up." Angela said softly glancing at Matt.

Matt sighed, "Yeah I know.... what was he yelling about earlier? You and Lita were in the ring and I was watching, I thought you were both doing fine and then he just started yelling. What was that about?" Matt asked sighing.

Angela groaned, "Lita was making this face at me or something, and he had a cow... It was funny, but he just started yelling, I was like wow you need to chill!" Angela said smiling.

Matt grinned. "I’m done, I can’t eat another thing!" Matt said smiling at Angela.

Angela sighed as she let go of Matt’s hand and went to the window pushing the curtain aside and saw it had started to rain. She sighed looking out over the busy city.

"It gets easier you know." Matt said softly from behind her.

"What does?" Angela asked softly turning to stare at Matt confused.

Matt frowned, "Vince.... understanding his "ways" I guess... it gets easier." Matt said smiling at Angela.

Angela sighed, "I know..." Angela said softly watching Matt.

Matt sighed taking a deep breath, as the CD in the stero changed. Matt listened and then glanced back at Angela who bit her bottom lip gently as she looked up at him. "Dance with me?" Matt asked whispering as Angela stared at him a moment and smiled.

"Okay." Angela said softly as she followed Matt to an open space behind the couch, and Matt reached for her, pulling her into his arms as Angela snuggled against him. Matt felt so good, he was warm and sweet and he smelled so wonderful. Angela shivered as she slipped her arms around his neck and snuggled against him. Matt held Angela close and he rubbed her back softly sighing.

"You talked to your aunt since we left?" Matt asked softly as Angela sighed.

"She wanted me to call her when we landed, so I called her really quick while you were going to arrange the whole limo thing. I haven’t talked to her since then though." Angela said softly.

Matt shook his head an touched a strand of Angela’s hair softly, curling it around his finger, and Angela closed her eye’s hugging Matt softly. "She was nice, I liked her a lot." Matt said softly as Angela shivered a bit more.

"I’m glad, I think she really like you too Matt....," Angela paused touching the edge of Matt’s collar. "How’s your father?" Angela asked softly as Matt chuckled.

"He’s doing good... he’s takin’ it easy... I talked to him the other day. He actually said to say hi to you." Matt said smiling as Angela giggled.

Angela sighed, and looked up at Matt, "So what are we going to do tonight?" Angela asked staring at Matt.

Matt stared back at her a moment and then grinned, "Well I thought it would nice to just stay here...." Matt said softly, "It’s nice here... were alone... I turned of the phone... the do not disturb sign is on the door, and I told everyone already to leave us alone!" Matt said smiling as Angela laughed.

"Good because I didn’t feel like going anywhere anyways. I just want to stay... alone, right here with you Matt." Angela said softly touching the chain around Matt’s neck.

Matt sighed taking a deep breath as he leaned close to Angela and kissed her softly. Angela hugged Matt tight and kissed him back.... happy to be here... now... alone with him....

*

They kissed for a few minutes and then Matt sighed, whispering, "Let’s sit...I wanna give you your present." Matt said smiling as he let go of Angela and lead her to the couch.

Angela sat down against the pillows infront of the couch, smoothing her long dress beneath her and looked at Matt as he sat down next to her, handing her the small wrapped box and he slid his arm around her smiling.

"I hope you like it." Matt said softly watching her. Angela smiled and touched his cheek.

"I didn’t get you anything." Angela admitted feeling silly for not getting Matt anything, she should have figured he was going to get her something even when she didn’t want it.

"I forgive you." Matt whispered winking at her as he elbowed her playfully, "Open it." Matt urged staring at Angela.

She sighed, riping the paper and tossing it aside. A small white box sat in her hand and she glanced at Matt taking a deep breath, then she looked back down and lifted the cover looking inside.

Sitting on a small pink cushion of fluffy cotton was a silver braclet with a small charm of Cinderella, and Prince Charming, then there was a crown and then on the other side a tiny slipper. Angela smiled looking down at it. She blushed smiling at it as she glanced up at Matt staring at him.

"You like it?" Matt asked softly watching Angela stare at the braclet again.

"It’s adorable.... I like it a lot, thank you Matt." Angela said picking it up and looking at it closer.

Matt smiled as he took the braclet, unhooked it and then locked it around Angela’s wrist. Matt sighed smiling at Angela who stared at him, "I thought Cinderella should be with you wherever you go... always." Matt whispered kissing her hand softly.

Angela smiled at him as she quickly wiped a tear from the corner of her eye and leaned over kissing Matt softly. "Your incredible Matt." Angela whispered softly against Matt’s lips.

Matt laughed as he kissed Angela again softly and then pulled her closer to him, holding her tight. They sat together silently, cuddled close to each other, enjoying the silence and the warmth of the fire, happy to be alone together...

Angela snuggled close against Matt and stared down at the new braclet Matt had given her. She smiled staring at it. Then she lifted her hand as Matt looked down at her, "Your Prince Charming." Angela whispered smiling as she looked up quickly at Matt.

Matt stared at her and smiled, "Royalty huh? A handsome prince... yeah I could live with that!" Matt said shrugging as Angela giggled.

"Yeah." Angela said smiling at him.

"Well then Angela that makes you my Cinderella.... Except you have no ugly step sisters... and no magic mice or pumpkin....and no fairy God mother.... just me... I hope you can live happily ever after with just me...." Matt whispered touching Angela’s cheek softly.

Angela sighed smiling at Matt, her throat felt dry and her heart raced as she stared at him, then she took a breath and spoke, "Except Prince Charming fell in love with Cinderella the moment he saw her... he was in love her at first sight." Angela whispered shivering as Matt met her eye’s and smiled.

Matt took a breath... it was time... "I’m gonna be honest Ang I’m no Prince Charming... but I do know what that’s like... falling in love with someone the moment you see them.... I know what love at first sight feels like...." Matt whispered staring at Angela, "I know because everytime I look at you I fall in love with you all over again... I’ve been in love with you since the second I saw you. I love you Angie. Your my whole world, your my everything.... you’ve become the most important person in my life.... you mean everything to me... you make me crazy... I love you so much... I want you to trust me.... I don’t ever wanna be without you... I love you more then anyone or anything. I love your smile, and your laugh, and the way your hair falls around you, I love kissing you, and I love your lips, and your neck, and your shoulders because I know kissing your shoulders drives you crazy..." Matt whispered smiling, "I love the way you hold onto me Angie.... I love the way your eye lashes brush against your cheeks when you close your eye’s. I love the way your eye’s stare dead into mine... the way you bite your bottom lip when your anxious, or serious... I love they way you look when your sound asleep snuggling against me.... the way you dance, the way you walk. I even love the way you won’t make eye contact with me when your trying to lie or get around something.... I love how cute you look when your surprised. I love the way you never wear socks or shoes... you never have anything on your bare feet! I love your red toe nail polish. I love the way you whisper my name, with your soft sweet voice... I love it. I love making you warm, I love the way your eye’s glitter when the light touches them.... I love the way your crinkle your nose when Jay or Jeff teases you. I love the way you smell...so sweet. The way you feel... I love the long romantic notes you leave me in return for mine, or the sound of your voice when you leave me a message on my cell phone....," Matt whispered pausing to take a breath and chuckle, "I love the way the rain clinges to your hair after running throught the parking lot to get to the arena... remember?" Matt asked pausing as he gently touched Angela’s cheek wiping a tear away gently. Matt sighed, "I can’t think of anything I don’t love about you Ang... I just love you. I’m not Prince Charming... but I’m happy I found my Cinderella.... she really is an Angel.... she’s everything... I love you Angela." Matt whispered staring down at Angela as she stared into Matt’s dark eye’s.

Angela couldn’t speak... her voice was gone. She stared at Matt. She’d waited so long to hear Matt say he loved her.

Matt loved her... Matt wanted her... Matt needed her... Angela couldn’t find the right words to say anything to him yet. She was speechless... happy and scared and amazed at what she had just heard. Angela never knew until now that it was possible to love someone so much... Matt was amazing... he was so incredible... she wanted to be with him always.... she loved him so much! It was time to tell him so....