Chapter 30
Backstage Breakdown
"Oh my God, Brooke," Davina whispered excitedly, tugging on my shirt, pulling my attention to the right. "That is Star. Oh my God." She pointed across the long, wide hallway to a woman with bright burgundy hair wearing a hot pink and black glittery wrestling costume.
I'd been to dozens of matches now, but this was Davina's first time backstage with me.
The halls were filled with people in suits, wrestlers in costume waiting for their air time, and then there was me and Davina, leaning against the wall waiting for Matt to finish his interviews for the night.
"Wow." I tried to match her enthusiasm, but I had no idea who Star was. "That's so cool."
"Hey," a giant blonde man smiled. "You look familiar." His brows furrowed.
"We're here with The Mountain," Davina practically squealed. "And you're Dallas 'The Dominator' Dodger."
He smiled. "I am. You a fan?"
"Huge."
His gaze shifted back to me. "You're the woman from the bar." His smile widened. "Yeah, I remember now."
My brows raised. "I'm sorry," I forced a smile. "What bar?"
"Oh," he laughed, shaking his head like it just dawned on him that I had no idea what he was talking about. "The night you met. We were all there cheering him on, but I had no idea you two were still hanging out."
"She's his girlfriend," Davina said matter-of-factly. "They've been dating for a few months now."
"No shit," he smiled. "And to think it all started with a bet."
My chest tightened, and my smile faded. "Bet?" The word came out so softly I wasn't sure I'd said it out loud.
"Dallas," someone yelled from the other end of the hall. "Let's go."
"I gotta go," he said. "But I'm sure I'll see you around."
Swallowing hard, I nodded, unable to speak. Davina and I both watched as he disappeared down the hall.
"Did he say bet?" Davina finally asked what we were both thinking.
"It all started with a bet, was his exact words," I repeated. "I was a bet. This was a bet." My hand came up to touch my forehead. "Oh my God. This all makes so much sense now."
"Brooke," Davina said. "Do not jump to conclusions."
"Conclusions?" I huffed out a humorless laugh. "He just said it all started with a bet. They bet him he wouldn’t go talk to the fat girl." I shook my head as I pushed off the wall, storming to the exit. "Or even worse, they bet him to date me."
"Brooke…" Davina ran behind me.
"I knew this was too good to be true." I shoved open the exit into the parking lot. The cool rain hit my face.
"Brooke," Davina snapped, stopping me in my tracks.
She was going to be the voice of reason, but I was so angry and so hurt that I didn't want to hear it.
I slowly twisted around to her. "I know that you're upset right now, and I get it if you need a minute to collect your thoughts or whatever, but you should talk to him, hear him out.
That could have been taken completely out of context. "
I was angry and sad, but I was also humiliated. Everyone in that room knew I was nothing more than a bet.
"Right now," I said. "I don't want to talk to him, not here, not now. I'm already embarrassed and heartbroken." Her facial expression softened. "I want to go home."
She nodded. "Okay. Let's go."
The short ride from the arena to my apartment was silent, neither of us knowing what to say. I was honestly scared that if I said anything, I would burst into tears. I'd believed everything he said. I'd let myself fall for him, and it was all a lie.
"You don't have to stay with me." I dropped my purse on the counter with more force than necessary. "I just want to shower and sleep."
"I'm not leaving until I know you are ok."
I sucked in a deep breath as I moved through the kitchen and opened the fridge, pulling out a beer. "I'm heartbroken, but I'm okay." I huffed out a humorless laugh. "Guess Chris was right."
Davina shook her head as I twisted off the bottle cap. "Brooke," she sighed, pausing for a brief moment like she wasn't sure she should say whatever she was going to say. "Look, I don't know if what Dallas said was true or whatever, but I know that you can't fake the chemistry between you two."
"Davina…"
"Brooke, I'm not going to tell you what to do, but I think you should talk to him. Hear him out."
"Davina, I love you, but right now I need you to hate him with me. I need you to be angry with me."
She shrugged. "I just don't believe it."
I stared at her for a long moment. "I do," I whispered. It was the only thing that made sense.
Davina nodded, her shoulders sinking as if she were defeated.
"Maybe you're right. Maybe there was a bet, but was the bet for him to date you for almost a year?
Was the bet for him to fall in love with you?
" I shook my head. He obviously wasn't in love with me.
"Was the bet for him to invite you to Ireland with him.
Think about it, Brooke. Really think about it. "
I ignored her logic. "I've been going to his matches for months now." I took a long sip of my beer. "Everyone knew I was a bet."
"Maybe or maybe not. Maybe Dallas was the only one who knew anything. Or maybe Dallas misspoke. We don't know anything because you haven't spoken to Matt."
I nodded, suddenly feeling exhausted. "Right now, I want to go to sleep and I'll figure the rest out tomorrow."
"Okay," Davina sighed, grabbing her keys from the counter. "I'm going to go, but before I do, I want to say this. Don't let yourself sit and stew on this. The sooner you talk to him, the better you will feel one way or the other."
I knew she was right. I knew I needed to talk to him, but I was spiraling at the moment, and I couldn't stop myself. I'd already made my mind up, and I wasn't sure I could hear him out right now.
"Good night, Davina," I forced a smile. "I'll call you tomorrow."
"Good night," she said before leaving.
The apartment felt impossibly quiet after she left.
I finished my beer and headed to the bathroom, hoping a hot shower would wash away the humiliation and hurt.
But as I stood under the spray, all I could think about was Matt's hands in my hair, his voice whispering my name, the way he looked at me like I was the only person in the room.
Stop it, I told myself. It was all fake.
I wrapped myself in my fluffiest robe and padded to the bedroom, where Karen was sprawled across my pillow like she owned the place. Her green eyes fixed on me with what could only be described as disdain.
"Don't look at me like that," I muttered, gently moving her aside so I could collapse onto the bed.
Karen repositioned herself on my chest, her purr a low rumble as she kneaded my robe. For a moment, I thought she was being comforting. Then she opened her mouth and let out the most accusatory meow I'd ever heard.
"What?" I asked, scratching behind her ears.
Another meow, this one somehow more pointed.
"You think I should talk to him too, don't you?"
Karen's tail flicked dismissively, and she turned her back to me, curling up in a tight ball. Even my cat thought I was being ridiculous.
I stared at the ceiling, tears finally spilling over. "Well, Karen, at least you've never lied to me about your feelings. You've always made it clear you barely tolerate me."
A soft purr was her only response, and despite everything, I found myself smiling. Tomorrow I'd have to face the mess I'd made of my life. But tonight, I had my judgmental cat and a broken heart, and maybe that was enough.