Page 82 of Wild Side
It doesn’t help.
Rhys:
Lol. I will let him know.
The opening notes of loud music cut off his tirade about how Wild Side is old and past his prime. Out walks a gorgeous blond woman with a belt slung over her shoulder. She smiles at the crowd, waving like a pageant queen. Her silky hair is poker straight, and her bike shorts and crop top do her nothing but favors.
Tabby:
Damn. Who is she? She’s so hot.
The woman struts down the ramp to the ring, taking the mic that’s handed to her from someone on the side. “Will, Will, Will. You sure have a lot to say for someone who hasn’t beat a world champion without the help of all his little goon friends.”
“Elle, how lovely to see you. Looking good, as usual. Did you come to beg for me back?” Will’s gaze roams up and down her body like she’s a piece of meat, and he licks his lips for extra dramatic effect.
“Careful, trust-fund baby. I’ve traded in and traded up. If my man, Wild Side, catches you looking at me like that, he might beat your ass harder than he’s already going to.”
I go still.My man?
The crowd’s response is a mix of surprised gasps andoohs. Will’s face goes slack as he does his best to look terrified by this revelation. I’m assuming it’s a revelation. Rhys’s character having a love interest is news to me. Or maybe I’m out of the loop. It’s not like we are in the habit of telling each other lots of things.
I make a mental note to google it later. Or bring it up casually with Cora next time she babysits.
My phone vibrates in my hand.
Rhys:
I didn’t know about this. I haven’t been back to HQ yet to talk with the writers.
My brows furrow. Iknowit’s not real. Nothing about it matters, but it still feels like a bucket of icy water down my back, and obviously it’s caught Rhys off guard too.
“Oh, don’t look so scared, Little Willy.” Elle pouts at the suit-clad wrestler across from her as she circles him. “You had to know this was coming. Wild Side just needed a little nursing back to health.” She gives him a suggestive wink. “And I was the perfect girl to get him back on his feet.”
Hoots and hollers sound from the audience as my cheeks heat.
“That’s right. I’ve been keeping him locked up safe with me. Working outhardto get ready for that championship match. In fact, we have a little message for you.”
Then she points up at the Jumbotron. It crackles to life, and on the screen, playing to tens of thousands of people, is the promoIfilmed. The one that led to teasing, and chasing, and a hot and heavy make-out session that is burned into my brain. Seeing it on TV hits me with a thrill I didn’t expect. And thescreaming of the crowd hits me with a realization that Rhys is a much bigger deal than I’ve been giving him credit for.
Tabby:
That’s ours! We did that! I filmed that!
Rhys:
Tabby, I swear I didn’t know about this storyline. No matter what, it’s fake.
I swallow. He seems very fixated on that point, whereas I was trying desperately to move on. And while he may not have been entirely honest with me in the past, I get the sense that he’s an earnest and thoughtful person.
So, I opt to cut him the slack he needs, playing it off like hearing some hot-as-hell chick talk about working outhardwith him doesn’t make sparks of jealousy flash in my chestat all.
Tabby:
Of course it’s fake. I’ve had you locked in *my* basement. How on earth could she have you locked up safe with her? That’s absurd.
Tabby:
Unless you have a twin brother?
