Chapter 32 #3
Cal and I looked to one another, a bit confused. Leaving for the road wasn’t new territory; we were conditioned for it. My dad had never stopped by before I headed out back on the road before.
“This shit is going to be different,” he added. “I don’t think I need to explain that to you two, do I?”
“I guess not, but it isn’t going to be that different,” I countered.
“It will be. You two may not be out to your coworkers or your fans, but your dynamic shifted this week. And whether you like it or not, son, I know you. And I know shifting back isn’t going to be easy for you. Either of you.”
I hated that he was right. I hated that he saw what I was feeling. I hated that Maverick was actually being a dad right now, even if I had craved this from him my entire life.
You’re trying, I thought bitterly. But you’re trying far too late.
I appreciated the effort for what it was, a peace offering.
But it didn’t fix the cracks in the foundation.
It didn’t erase the nights I spent waiting for him to come home, or the nights I wished he wouldn’t.
It didn’t erase the memory of me dragging him to bed, or the pills I flushed down the toilet so Scott wouldn’t find them.
“I will do my best to make it easy on us,” Cal assured.
My heart swelled at the statement, but I couldn’t help but feel an ache at the thought. Cal always seemed to think it was his responsibility to carry the weight of everything, and the idea of him thinking this all was going to rest on him killed me.
Maverick looked at Cal, his expression softening into something genuine. He wasn’t vetting him anymore; he was looking at him with respect.
“I couldn’t ask for someone better for him,” Maverick said quietly. “Man or woman. I never thought I’d see Silas so… true to himself. You did that, Cal.”
He turned his gaze to me.
“Silas, don’t take this any kind of way,” Maverick started, his voice rough.
“But you are a better man than I’ll ever be.
To have lived through the shit I put you through…
being raised by my dad, seeing what you saw from me and Scott fighting our demons…
you turned into the best person there could ever be. ”
He looked back at Cal.
“But he carries that weight,” Maverick said, pointing a finger at me but looking at Cal.
“He carries more weight than he should. He carries my burdens, and Scott’s burdens, because he thinks he has to, even when we tell him he doesn’t.
He’s stubborn. He’s sensitive. He’s horrible at communicating what he feels because I’m shit at it too, and being raised by an old Southern man does that to you.
That’s not on him; that’s on me for not knowing how to be a dad. ”
Maverick stepped closer.
“He forgets to eat, or he says he does, when really he’s exceptionally picky about food.
Don’t let him live off of just coffee and the handful of foods he will actually eat.
Remind him he doesn’t have to kill himself training.
Make sure he’s taking care of his shoulder, that he rests it.
He’ll never tell you this either, but he’s got asthma.
Cigarette smoke sets it off horribly. He carries inhalers in his bags but they’re hidden in there because he doesn’t like people to know if he needs them.
Don’t let him hide it until he gets sick. ”
Maverick paused, his voice cracking.
“And the panic attacks. I don’t know how to help him through those.
As a father, I’ve never felt more powerless than when I saw him go through those.
Promise me when they happen you won’t leave him.
I made that mistake when they started happening and told him to shake them off.
I should’ve never done that. Please don’t disregard those.
Make sure he’s safe. Protect him. Please. ”
Cal didn’t even respond verbally; he just pulled Maverick into a tight hug. I looked away, tears blurring my vision. This was validation that Maverick was always paying attention to me, even when I didn’t think he was. This was healing. This was our new beginning.
But it felt like choking down glass, accepting that he knew me this well, that he saw all the cracks, but hadn’t known how to fix them until now. I wanted to scream at him for waiting this long. I wanted to hug him for finally trying.
Maverick pulled back and hugged me too, holding on for a long time.
“You guys need help loading the car?” Maverick asked as he wiped his eyes.
“We should be good,” I said as I held onto Cal’s arm, trying to anchor myself back to reality.
Maverick nodded. “Alright then. Well, I will leave you two to it. But before I go…” He reached into his pocket, unlocked his own phone, and held it out. “Put your number in here.”
Cal took the device without hesitation, his fingers quickly tapping his digits into the screen before respectfully handing it back.
“Like I tell Silas, don’t you ignore my damn calls, kid. Especially if you have my son with you,” Maverick said sternly, sliding the phone back into his pocket. “Now, I’ll see you two in Sacramento. Scott and I are flying out tomorrow to watch you boys. Don’t disappoint.”
Cal nodded as he kissed my temple.
We said our goodbyes and began loading the car. The early morning chill was turning into the hellish Carolina spring heat, and by the time we were loaded back into the rental car, we were sweating.
The drive to Wilmington was lighter than I expected. We had the windows down, blasting nineties rock.
A thought popped into my head, breaking the comfortable silence.
“So,” I started, turning in my seat to look at him. “You told my very southern dad you drive a paid off truck. Was that just to win points, or was that real? Because in Philly, you were definitely driving a Range Rover.”
Cal scoffed, looking genuinely offended. “Absolutely the fuck not. That was a rental while I was in town for the day. Do not insult me that way. I own a blacked-out Silverado.”
I laughed, a wry smile tugging at my lips. “A blacked-out Silverado? Wow. How original. You’ll fit right in. Every other guy in Wilmington drives a truck exactly like that.”
Cal shot me a dry, unamused look. “Oh, I’m sorry. Is my vehicle not unique enough for you? Go find yourself some boring beach redneck with a mullet then. See if he handles you better.”
I laughed again. “I didn’t say I didn’t like it. I’m just saying… it’s basic. But it is an upgrade from that douchy Honda Civic you had when I was with you for Thanksgiving.”
Cal’s jaw dropped. “Douchy? That Honda was a tank! It was reliable.”
“It smelled like Axe body spray and desperation, Cal,” I deadpanned.
“It smelled like hustle,” Cal corrected, his voice dripping with dry sarcasm.
“And if I remember correctly, you didn’t seem to mind the smell when you were getting felt up in the passenger seat on I 95.
That Civic saved you from sleeping on a bench at PHL, so show some respect to the vehicle that brought you home, Silas. ”
My face flamed instantly. I sputtered, laughing despite myself. “Okay! Fine! Jesus. Respect to the Honda.”
Cal chuckled, tapping the steering wheel. “That’s what I thought.”
He drove for a moment in silence before frowning. “Wait a minute. Speaking of cars… there wasn’t a car at your house. Do you actually not have one down here?”
I rolled my eyes. “My dad owns six different cars. If I really need to drive when I’m here, I just take one of his. I’m not here enough to justify the insurance on owning one just to let it sit in the driveway for eleven months a year.”
Cal sighed, shaking his head like this was unacceptable. “Alright. Well, that’s changing. Guess we’re gonna have to drive my truck down here when we go to Philly for our next set of off days.”
“You want to drive your truck from Philly to North Carolina?” I asked. “That’s a long drive.”
“I don’t care,” Cal said firmly, reaching over to squeeze my thigh. “I want us to have our own wheels. I want to be able to take you out without borrowing Maverick’s keys like a teenager. Besides…”
He grinned at me.
“The truck has a much bigger backseat than the Honda.”
I laughed, intertwining my fingers with his. “Sold.”
The airport was madness, as usual.
The second we stepped through the sliding doors, the shift happened.
We fell back into “Deadlock and Silas Reed.” We walked a foot apart.
We didn’t hold hands. But the energy was different.
It wasn’t cold; it was a secret language.
He’d grab my bag for me at security. I’d hand him his coffee without him asking.
We dared anyone to look at us and see anything other than two best friends.
We boarded the plane, bickering about who got the window seat (I won), and settled in.
Simultaneously, our pockets buzzed.
I pulled my phone out. Cal did the same.
From: Creative Team / Presley Murran
Subject: Post Wrestle Empire Trajectory
I opened it. My breath hitched.
It was the script. As planned, Cal would retain the title this weekend at Empire. But then…
Evan will fall out of the feud. Silas Reed will begin immediate main event push.
Feud extension confirmed through Summer.
And then, in bold letters at the bottom:
HEATWAVE MAIN EVENT: AUGUST
SAN JUAN, PUERTO RICO
HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH
SILAS REED VS. DEADLOCK
NO LIMITS LADDER MATCH
WINNER: SILAS REED
My face lost all color. My eyes widened as I looked to Cal, fully expecting him to be disappointed, pissed off, anything in between. He was losing his title. He was losing the top spot.
But he wasn’t upset. I looked at him, and his hazel eyes were full of love. A smile spread across his face. It was pride.
“You’re about to be the Champion,” he whispered with a grin.
I froze. I didn’t know what to say.
“You’re going to lose it,” was all I could manage.
Cal shook his head, leaning in as close as he dared in the crowded cabin.
“It’s not really a loss if you’re who I’m losing to, baby.
I’m proud of you. You deserve this. All of this.
The title spot was always meant to be yours, Si.
This is everything to you. And now I get to be a part of it for you.
I don’t care if I lose a damn thing, because I’m not losing. This isn’t a loss at all.”
My chest constricted. He meant it. He really meant it.
“I love you,” I whispered, wishing I could kiss him right here in seat 4A.
Cal’s grin turned sharp, that competitive fire lighting up his eyes.
“Don’t think I’m gonna go easy on you, though. I’m not losing that belt without a fucking fight, Reed.”
I smiled, feeling the adrenaline spike in my veins. The future wasn’t scary anymore. It was ours.
“Give me everything you got, Deadlock.”