Chapter 6
“You know,” Brody draws out. “Call me crazy, but you could always talk to her. Have you considered that?”
I roll my eyes as we walk through backstage toward the media room.
Tonight is Battle of Champions, the first of two premiere events this month.
This show sets the stage for Wrestlefest every year, and at least two storylines will officially be booked to come to a head on the grandest stage in all of EWE in three months.
This is the same conversation I have with my best friend every time he finds out a certain NextGen rookie will be backstage.
I don’t know how he knows she’s here; neither Raelynn nor Wolf mentioned anything when I ran into them earlier.
Usually, when she’s around, the three of them are attached at the hip.
“God, the universe, Cupid, whatever you want to call it, has given you a chance to get to know this girl. Weren’t you the one who said you wanted to try and figure out who she was? I don’t understand why you haven’t taken advantage of it.”
He’s right, I did want to find her. I know it’s crazy to say that I felt a connection with her, this girl I’d never met before, who I had a one-night stand with, but it’s true.
She had a softness in her eyes, and from the very first time I looked into them, I felt an intense connection to her.
I’d never felt something so intimate before, and I was certain she felt it, too.
Or maybe I haven’t pursued her because of my past. I’ll never deny that I was—for better or worse—a bit of a…
fuckboy? Playboy? Whatever word you want to use, I was one when I first joined EWE.
Can you blame me? I had been a small-town, Midwestern boy surrounded by the same girls since kindergarten.
When I joined this company, I was introduced to a new league of women, and I’m not talking about just my female counterparts.
Did that make it right? No, but that’s not who I am anymore—not for a long time.
No matter what some of the rumors might say.
I had my fun, but who didn’t in their twenties?
“You’re friends with one of her best friends, why wouldn’t you—”
“Oh, hello, boys!” A shrill voice interrupts us before Harper Valentine jumps down from one of the black production crates, abruptly ending her own conversation with Ava Anderson—the crony who only gets screen time when doing Harper’s bidding. “Where are you headed?”
“Media,” Brody says. “We’re already late, so if you’ll—”
“Oh, what a coincidence, so am I.” She bats her lashes, shifting her stare between us. “What are the chances?”
“Apparently, pretty good,” I say under my breath, earning an elbow to the side from my best friend.
Harper is a decent wrestler, not the best by any means, but her confidence makes up for what she lacks in the ring.
I don’t know a lot about her resume, except for the little bit that Wolf has told us as we’ve gotten to know him.
I have a bad habit of tuning him out when he talks about their “relationship.” I like to think of it more as a situationship, because I can’t think of a better word to describe them.
They are all of the things you want—good morning texts, safe sex, and a reliable dinner date—without the label.
Except he wants more, while Harper…Harper wants her cake and to eat it, too.
“So, if you’ll excuse us. We really have to be going, because—”
A fit of laughter echoes down the hallway before three people appear in the doorway where Brody and I were supposed to be two minutes ago. Not just any three people: Raelynn, Wolf, and Savannah.
“See, I told you.” Brody chuckles, staring straight at me. I pay him no mind, too focused on the woman walking down the hallway. But she’s too preoccupied with whatever story Wolf is telling, hands waving wildly in front of him, to notice me.
“Oh, you’ve got to be kidding. Who let her in?” Harper scoffs, and my gaze falls to the dirty blonde blocking our path. She looks over her shoulder at her crony—and sometimes friend, depending on the day, maybe even the hour—Ava. “Is she debuting tonight?”
Ava shrugs in reply and rolls her eyes when Harper turns away, but when Ava meets my gaze, her eyes widen, realizing she’s been caught. I always had a feeling that she hated Harper, but her loyalty keeps her face on television, and around here, screentime is the most important thing you can have.
“I wish Wolf would stop hanging out with those two. It makes him look bad,” Harper says.
“Worried he might find someone else, Harp?” Spencer fills the gap between me and Brody. He lifts onto the balls of his feet to drape his arms around our shoulders, but still stands at least four inches shorter. “I’ve always thought he had a thing for Savvy.”
My hands flex at my sides, but I force them to uncurl. I know that’s not true. I know that Wolf has only ever had his eye on one person, and it’s not Savannah.
“Well, I heard she doesn’t want to date wrestlers,” Harper says.
“Say that again?” Spencer laughs.
“You heard me. Wanna-Be Wrestler Barbie thinks she’s too good for the likes of a wrestler boyfriend. She seems like the stockbroker type. I mean, she came from Alexandria, or something, didn’t she? Everyone down there is rich and snobby.”
I share a glance with Brody, who shrugs.
“Everyone knows it’s almost impossible to date someone outside of the business,” Harper continues. “Oh well, guess she’ll just have to learn the hard way.”
“Whoa! It’s a party over here,” Wolf says, breaking away from Raelynn and Savannah, who finish their own conversation at a safe distance.
He wraps an arm around Harper’s waist, going in for a kiss, and she returns it.
That’s strange. Normally, when he tries to show her affection in front of other people, she pushes him away.
“Hey, they’re waiting for you guys in there. ”
“Yeah, we were just on our way, but got interrupted,” Brody says.
“Hey, Wolf, you’d probably know…Is it true that Savannah doesn’t want to date wrestlers?” Spencer asks without pause.
“Dude.” Brody sighs, pinching the bridge of his nose.
“What? I’m just curious. Don’t stand there and act like you don’t want to know. It seems a bit extreme, if you ask me.”
“Where did you hear that?” Wolf chuckles, looking around the group with slight hesitation, but when he lands on the woman beside him, his eyes narrow slightly.
So, it is true, and not just some random piece of gossip Harper scrounged up.
Savannah doesn’t want to date a wrestler, and I’m…
a wrestler. While I respect the idea, it’s not easy being with someone outside of the industry…
They don’t (can’t) understand it. I’ve seen too many people try and fail to make it work because this life isn’t meant for everyone.
“Whether Savannah wants to explore her options backstage or not is her business,” Wolf says.
“However, I will say this, if you’re looking to make your move, I think you’re the last person she’d consider, Spencer.
” A brief smile tugs on his mouth, and his gaze falls to the ground before he blinks and meets my own.
“Well, Brooks and I better get goin’,” Brody says, stepping out of Austin’s grip. “We’re already late, and you know Martin hates to be kept waiting.”
Martin is one of the content photographers for EWE, and has one of the biggest crushes on Brody I’ve ever seen. He’s harmless, and it’s nothing more than a schoolyard crush, but that doesn’t stop the others from using it to make the fearsome “Reaper” Brody Wilder blush.
“He’s got the baby oil ready for you, Brods.
” Wolf chuckles, and his words do the trick, cutting through the tension that has crept its way into the conversation.
Even Harper laughs, and not one of her ear-piercing cackles to remind you she’s still there if you haven’t paid enough attention to her. This was a real one.
“Fuck off, Wolf.” Brody lifts his right hand over his shoulder, middle finger raised high. “Afternoon, ladies,” he says, walking past Raelynn and Savannah.
Raelynn rolls her eyes before turning to me, a few steps behind. “Brooks, make sure you keep an eye on him. Martin is feeling extra spicy today.”
“Yes, ma’am,” I say, and lift my left hand to my forehead in a salute. When I drop my hand, I catch Savannah’s gaze. The lift in the corner of her mouth is so slight, you’d miss it if you weren’t standing right next to her.
“You remember my friend, Savannah, right?”
With a soft hum, I touch my finger to my chin, pretending to think.
It’s been months since I’ve seen her, and you’ll have to forgive me for taking advantage of this rare opportunity to let my eyes roam freely.
The pink bandage dress she chose for tonight hugs her body in all the right places, and I want nothing more than to caress the defined curve of her waist. She’s bulked up since the last time I saw her, and the little bit of extra mass looks good on her.
Toned muscles exude nothing but power beneath her warm, tanned skin.
Trailing my gaze back up the length of her body, I meet her stare, and it takes everything in me not to toss her over my shoulder and carry her back to my bus for the rest of the evening. Fuck the show.
A slow smirk tugs on my lips. “You were…Pom-Poms, right?”
Savannah rolls her eyes, this time not even trying to hide a smile. “One of the many nicknames I have earned from Fata, yes.”
I extend my hand, and she looks between it and my face before returning the gesture.
My palm swallows hers whole, and my pointer finger extends, grazing the skin of her wrist. Her breath audibly catches, but she holds my stare.
“It’s good to see you again, Sweetheart.
I hope to see more of you around here soon. ”