The Contender (Wrestling Diaries #1) (2 page)

  The bar was less crowded since hotel security was in place. Basically if you looked like a fan, they weren’t letting you into the bar. Luckily I didn’t, and was admitted in. There were a few people sitting at various tables and I saw some notorious rats as well. They sat clustered together as if their numbers made them look more appealing.

  I chose a spot at the end of the bar, away from everyone else. I wasn’t there to make friends. I was there to see what he wanted. Halfway through my second drink the wrestlers start arriving and they were full of energy. Mesquite wasn’t amongst them, but I wasn’t too worried. Since his match was last then it stood to reason that he would be one of the last ones to show up.

  Around eleven he came strolling into the bar looking delicious in jeans and a t-shirt. One of the rats called out his name, but he made a line toward me ignoring her and the others who were trying to get his attention.

  The bartender came over and Mesquite said, “I’ll take a shot of Patron and get the lady another drink of her choice.”

  “Patron sounds good,” I said. “Chilled with a lime, please.”

  Mesquite sat in the chair next to me. “Sorry it took so long. Some dumbass blocked my rental car in and I had to wait for someone to move it.”

  “No worries. Your match was great tonight.”

  “Thank you. Hopefully I’ll get the belt back in a few months if my leg doesn’t get any worse.”

  I’d noticed the limp, but didn’t say anything. Though the matches were scripted, injuries still occurred and could end a career. I prayed that wouldn’t be his case.

  Our drinks came out and we fell into easy conversation. We talked about what I did for a living and how he had almost became an accountant. We told stories about our families and said if we’d ever been married, which he hadn’t. For each question that he asked, I asked one in return and no one bothered us. It was nice being in our own little world and even nicer to have an instant connection with him.

  When his hand settled on my thigh I was glad. I’m not going to lie or even be coy. I wanted him to touch me. Badly.

  “So Jamie, you’re not a ring-rat and you’re not married. Are you seeing anyone right now?”

  What would he say if I told him I hadn’t been in a relationship in years?

  “No. I’m single. You?”

  He took a drink of Patron, as if he needed the liquid courage. I sat back, ready to hear what he had to say.

  “I’m going to be real honest here and I hope it doesn’t backfire. I’ve been engaged to the same girl for five years, but we decided to take a break. So, technically I’m single right now.”

  Ouch. That wasn’t the answer I was looking for.

  “So you
kind of
have a fiancée?”

  “Yeah.”

  That made things difficult. I wasn’t a cheater. And even if they were only ‘
kind of’
dating at the moment, I didn’t want to be responsible for wrecking a relationship.

  I voiced my thoughts and asked, “Do you want to be with her?”

  His answer was important. Before he could reply, the bartender announced it was near closing time. We needed to pay our tabs and find another place to go. Mesquite threw down cash to cover mine, too, even though I objected. As we walked from the bar he spoke in a low tone.

  “She’s more like a habit now. She’s used to my lifestyle and doesn’t get too upset about me being gone all of the time, like some women would. But it’s not love. I haven’t felt that way about her in a long time.”

  “If you think you’re going to break up with her then I’m more than willing to see where this is going. But if you’re going to try to work things out then this is where we say goodbye.”

  He looked me in the eyes. A girl could get lost in the blue depths staring back at me.

  “You know, this isn’t the type of thing I usually do. I try to stay to myself because there’s no drama that way. But ever since I saw you in that autograph line I can’t stop thinking about you. I’ve wondered what would have happened if I had gotten your number.”

  So he
had
been thinking about me!

  “I think we would’ve still found ourselves having this same conversation.” I reached into my purse and pulled out my card. “Listen. When you figure things out give me a call or text. If you decide to work things out with her then I promise there won’t be any hard feelings.”

  What I really meant was I wasn’t the type to go crazy on his ass. He took the card from me and stared at it. I wondered what he was thinking.

  “Promise?”

  “Promise what?”

  “Promise me that when I make a decision you’ll answer my text.”

  I nodded. I wasn’t naive. He wouldn’t call or text. But at least I could leave with my head held high.

May 29

  He texted today. Not going to lie – I’m glad he did.

  Him: Hey Jamie. This is Mesquite.

  Me: Hey

  Mesquite: I wanted to let you know that I’ve made a decision. I’m officially single

  Me: Oh?

  Mesquite: Yeah. She seemed to understand. No tears, so that was good

  Mesquite: What are you up to?

  Me: Just going through some stuff for work

  Mesquite: On a Thursday night? Woman, why aren’t you out having fun

  This made me laugh.

  Me: Not every one lives a glamorous life like you

  Mesquite: LOL. Yes, I’m so glamorous. Right now I’m waiting on the airline company to find my lost luggage

  Me: That sucks

  Mesquite: Tell me about it. I forgot to pack extra clothes in my carry-on

  Me: What’s in you carry-on then?

  Mesquite: Wrestling gear. Might have to resort to wearing that if they don’t find my bags

  Me: Poor baby

  We ended up texting late into the night. The airlines eventually found his bag, which he sent me a picture of. Who knew Mesquite was such a goofball?

May 30

  Today my co-workers kept asking me who the new man was. When I asked what they meant, one rolled her eyes.

  “Jamie, we haven’t seen you smile this much in a long time. Whoever he is he must be special.”

  Was it that obvious how happy his texts were making me?

June 3

  Him: Wish you were here

  Me
:


  Him: Did I wake you?

  Me: It IS three a.m.

  Me: What are you even doing up?

  Him: Traveling to the next city

  Him: Don’t worry. I’m not texting and driving

  Me: That’s good

  Him: I mean it… I wish you were here

June 4

  We talked on the phone for hours tonight. He called as he was leaving the arena.

  “Little Pasty,” he greeted.

  “Little Pasty… what in the hell does that even mean?”

  He laughed. “You’re the palest girl I know of. I thought it fit you.”

  “You realize that: A) that’s insulting. I can’t help it that I’m fair skinned. B) A weird nickname. People are going to think it means something else entirely.”

  Like the kind of pasties a stripper wore. Guessing by his chuckle he’d thought of that, too.

  “Still gonna call you that.”

  I rolled my eyes, though he couldn’t tell. “Fine. I get to give you a nickname then.”

  “Give it your best shot.”

  Hmmm. I’d have to think of something good.

  I changed the subject. “Where are you headed tonight?”

  “I think Johnson City, Tennessee.”

  Ah, another house show. That made sense. The non-televised events tended to be in smaller towns.

  “When are you going to come see me?”

  I replied, “Well, I looked at the schedule online today and it doesn’t look like you’re in my neck of the woods for a few more months.”

  While looking at the schedule I had even contemplated traveling several states to go to an event, but I didn’t want to appear clingy. Because I wasn’t, dammit.

  “How are things at home?”

  What I really meant was how were things with his ex-fiancée.

  He must have known my true question because he said, “Good. I haven’t run into the ex yet. She’s supposed to pick up the rest of her things and leave her key while I’m gone this week. And the ring is already in my safe, so that’s good. It’s the most chill breakup I’ve been through.”

  “I’m glad to hear it.”

  We ended up talking until he got to his hotel room in Johnson City. The last thing he said made me smile.

  “We’ll have to work on getting you to a show, Jamie.”

  At least he made me feel missed.

June 13

  Him: I want to show you why they call me the Accumulator.

  Me: I think I have a good idea why

  Him: You’ll have an even better idea when I’m making you come.

  Oh my god!

  I shifted in my seat and crossed my legs. He was killing me. And I kind of loved it.

  Me: This isn’t fair. You know I’m in a meeting.

  Him: I’m not going to stop until you agree. And I can really heat things up…

  Me: I can’t just meet you in Ohio. I have a job. I have bills.

  Him: I said I’d take care of it. Come on Jamie.

  Guess that meant I was headed to Ohio… I mean… I needed to find out why they called him the Accumulator and all…

June 14

  There was something magical about seeing someone you admire naked for the first time. I mean I knew he’d have a great body, but Mesquite was AMAZING everywhere. And right now he was upholding a promise and about to make me come. Again.

  “You’re so damn beautiful.”

  He caught my lips in a kiss. Our tongues danced together and my entire body shook as I climaxed.

  “And you, sir, are amazing.”

  “Is that my new nickname?”

  I shook my head. “Not even close.”

  He pulled out and my body was sorry for the loss of connection. Funny thought to have in the moment and I shoved it aside. He got up and went to the bathroom. A moment later he came back with a damp washcloth. I was touched by his consideration.

  “Want to take a bath?”

  I nodded and we went into the large bathroom where the bathwater was already running. Turning, I found him watching me with a heated gaze. My brain screamed ‘danger’, but my body screamed ‘more’.

  Guess which thought won?

June 15

  Different city. Different hotel. Same results. I swear to god, this man knew my body like no other. We got caught making out in the elevator by some of the talent. They ribbed him and he took it all in stride. When they got out of the elevator he picked me up and pressed my back against the wall as we kissed. It was one of the single hottest moments of my life.

June 16

  Was I surprised when I teared up at the airport? A little. What was more surprising was the hug Mesquite gave me at my gate.

  “I wish you’d just come home with me.” His blue eyes were sad as he looked down at me.

  I needed to make this moment not so personal. We were moving too fast.

  “I’m sure my boss would love that. It’s only going to be two weeks. You’ll survive.”

  What I really meant was
I
would survive not seeing him. Hopefully.

  He brushed the hair from my face and I wanted to cave in so badly.
I couldn’t
give in. If I did I would be making whatever we had more than it was. It was too soon for it to feel like this, dammit.

  I hugged him. “It’s time for me to board. Text me when you get home, Mesquite.”

  I didn’t even look back once as I walked away even though it killed me not to.

June 25

  He hasn’t texted today and I realized that was the longest I’d gone without hearing from him since we started texting. I don’t like how this feels.

Update: He texted around eleven. Guess he lost his phone and had to get a new one. I told him I was glad he hadn’t forgotten me. He laughed. I was serious.

June 30

Denver, CO

  I knew where he was before I even saw him. A large group of people surrounded someone by the luggage claim. The airport wasn’t that big, either, so he stood out like a sore thumb. He was doing his best to ignore everyone, looking down at his phone with his headphones in.

  Pulling my phone from my pocket, I texted him. His entire face lit up as he typed a reply.