Page 20 of Heartbreaker
“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 Wilderblush.
“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.”
Tonight is the annual special edition ofThursday Night Commotionbefore Wrestlefest, the biggest event of the year. I liken Wrestlefest to the Super Bowl of the wrestling world. All of Elite Wrestling Entertainment, along with hundreds of thousands of fans, descends upon a major city for a week-long celebration, ending with the big show where anything can, and does, happen. I had the pleasure of experiencing my first Wrestlefest last year from one of the corners backstage with the rest of the NextGen trainees, but this year…I have a front row seat to the action.
This year, I’m making my debut on the main roster during Wrestlefest week, and it’s happening tonight.Thursday Night Commotionis EWE’s weekly Thursday night event. The show is televised bi-weekly, but every other week it’s simply a live event without the extra glitz and glam, giving the talent more opportunity to try out new things in front of live crowds; except for the weeks of Wrestlefest and Beachbash, when it’s televised regardless.
Current women’s championMoxieissued an open title challenge at the beginning of the month, welcoming any woman inallof EWE (NextGen included) to step in the ring and give it their best shot. Defeat her and you could be walking into Wrestlefest as champion to faceFortuna, also known as Viviana Ridley.
