Chapter 25
Fandemonium
I'd never understood the appeal of wrestling. I thought it was all staged theatrics and over-the-top drama. But sitting in the front row of the packed arena, clutching my overpriced soda and trying not to flinch at every crash and thud, I was starting to understand the appeal.
The crowd's energy was electric, thrumming through the concrete floor and up into my bones. The air was thick with the scent of spilled beer, buttery popcorn, and an underlying musk of sweat and excitement.
The arena lights dimmed as Matt's entrance music hit, some heavy metal song that made my teeth rattle, and the entire stadium erupted. People jumped to their feet, chanting his stage name.
He walked down the ramp with purpose, his muscles rippling under the bright lights, and despite my nerves, I felt a flutter of pride. And okay, maybe a little something else too. The man was gorgeous, and at that moment, he looked like a gladiator.
His dark eyes scanned the crowd, and when they found mine, his entire demeanor shifted for just a moment. That familiar, crooked smile broke across his face, and he pointed directly at me before slapping his chest twice. My cheeks burned, but I couldn't help grinning back.
Matt slid into the ring, the canvas creaking under his weight as he bounced on the balls of his feet, hyping up his fans.
The announcer's voice boomed through the speakers, introducing his opponent, Victor the 'Viper', a lean, tattooed man who slithered into the ring with theatrical menace.
The contrast was striking. Matt's raw power against The Viper's serpentine agility.
I found myself leaning forward, which is something I never thought I'd do.
The men circled the ring, sizing each other up like they hadn't just been backstage goofing off together. My heart pounded erratically as I inched to the edge of my seat. Each wrestler took their neutral spot facing each other.
"Ready," the referee said. "Wrestle." He darted back as Matt and the Viper locked up in the center of the ring.
I had a whole new appreciation for Matt's technique.
He wasn't just throwing his weight around; every movement was calculated.
When The Viper tried to slip behind him, Matt pivoted smoothly, catching him in a side headlock.
The crowd roared as Matt's biceps bulged, applying pressure.
The woman next to me, who was wearing a shirt with Matt's face on it and had been coming to these matches since the dawn of time, looked at me with amusement. "First time, honey?"
"Is it that obvious?"
"You're still sitting on the edge of your seat instead of standing on it," she said, then cupped her hands around her mouth and shouted, "CRUSH HIM, MOUNTAIN!"
I decided I liked her.
The match continued, and I found myself getting more and more invested. When Matt executed what the announcer called a "devastating power slam," I cheered so loudly I'm pretty sure I damaged my vocal cords.
"Come on, Matt!" I shouted, forgetting that in the ring, he wasn't Matt. He was Mataio 'The Mountain' Strickland. "You've got this!"
The Viper had Matt in what looked like a painful submission hold, and I watched in horror as Matt's face contorted with the effort of breaking free. The crowd was on their feet, and I realized I was too, my hands pressed against the barrier, my heart hammering.
"That's your boyfriend?" the woman next to me asked, her voice full of sudden understanding.
"Oh, we're…" I started, but she was already grinning. She'd caught me off guard, and I didn't know what to say.
"Honey, you're glowing brighter than the ring lights. And he keeps looking over here like you're the only person in this entire arena."
She was right. Even in the middle of the match, Matt's eyes kept finding mine, and each time they did, I felt that same flutter in my chest that had been building for weeks.
The match reached its climax when Matt hoisted The Viper up for his signature move, and when he slammed him to the mat, I swore the entire arena floor vibrated.
The crowd went wild, and I found myself screaming along with them.
When the referee's hand slapped the mat for the third time, declaring Matt the winner, I felt like I might cry with relief and joy.
Matt's music hit again, and as he celebrated in the ring, his eyes immediately searched for mine. When he found me, that crooked smile spread across his face again, but this time it was softer, more intimate despite the thousands of people around us.
He ducked through the ropes and dropped to the ground, landing in the narrow space between the ring and the front row. Security started to move, but he waved them off, his eyes never leaving mine as he approached.
The crowd was going wild, phones were flashing, and the announcer was trying to figure out what was happening. But all I could see was Matt, sweaty, victorious, and walking toward me like I was the prize he'd been fighting for.
He stopped directly in front of me, and I had to tilt my head back to meet his gaze.
His hands were shaking slightly as he reached up to cup my face, and in front of 25,000 people, Mataio' The Mountain' Strickland kissed me.
Not one of those sweet, endearing kisses.
This was a kiss that told the entire arena, and anyone watching at home, that I was his and he was mine.
His lips were warm against mine, and I could taste the adrenaline and victory.
The crowd's cheers faded into white noise as his thumb brushed across my cheek, and for a moment, it was just us.
When we finally broke apart, both breathing hard, the arena was in complete chaos. People were on their feet, phones were recording, and I'm pretty sure my face was being broadcast on the jumbotron.
Matt pressed his forehead against mine, his smile so bright it could have powered the entire arena. "So," his voice was rough with emotion, "want to get dinner?"
"Yes," I laughed, still dizzy from the kiss, the crowd, and the completely surreal nature of it all. "But maybe somewhere with fewer cameras?"
I looked around at the sea of faces, all of them beaming at us like we'd just provided the entertainment of the century. My wrestling-expert neighbor was dabbing at her eyes with a tissue, giving me a thumbs up.
I wasn't a center of attention type of girl, but I loved the way Matt made me feel. The way he made me forget all of my insecurities.
Security finally convinced Matt to head backstage, and I was escorted out through a side door leading backstage to avoid the frenzy, and I couldn't stop smiling.
As I stood backstage waiting for Matt to shower and change, I realized I was falling hard and fast for Matt, and it was both exciting and terrifying.