Page 20 of False Comeback

“I am doing my job,” I snarled. “I’m just politely asking we take out the one move I’m not comfortable with.”

“You’re not being all that polite.” Vince smirked.

Hogbody shifted his cigar over to point at him. “Stop trying to fucking rile him up, Burke. Jesus, you two. Why the fuck did Holt pair you up? This is going to age me fifty fucking years and we haven’t even fucking started yet.”

“Crossbody, a word?” Corey jerked his chin at me.

Breathing faster, I stalked across the ring and climbed out, refusing to look at Vince as I made my way over to Corey.

When I reached him, he glanced behind me at the ring and lowered his voice. “Holt told me you asked for this specifically.”

Heat rushed to my cheeks. My voice stiff, I lied, “I thought it could help. Make us work together.”

“Mmm.” Corey raised his brow. I couldn’t tell whether he believed me or not. “And what are your qualms about the move?”

My nostrils flared. I lifted my chin. “It’s beyond undignified. Surely you must agree, Corey.”

He shrugged lightly. “It’s not real. And it’s entertaining. That’s what we’re here to do. To entertain. To perform.”

My fingers flexed. “I know, but—”

“This has to go well, Crossbody.” He reached out and lightly touched my shoulder, gazing down at me with a sad frown. “I didn’t like telling either of you off in court, but I can’t let this behaviour continue. Something has to be done.”

“It’s not me. It’s him. He’s the one who makes things difficult.”

“He’s not the one making things difficult right now,” Corey said pointedly.

I gritted my teeth. “Because he gets to win. It’s not fair.”

Corey’s brows shot up. “It’s not fair?”

I flushed, feeling like a spoiled child. “I didn’t mean it like that. I mean he—Nothing I do in the ring would embarrass him, so he gets to make a fool out of me and then he gets to win.”

Corey frowned. “He wouldn’t make a fool out of you. It’s just wrestling, Crossbody. It’s just one move, one match, and I’m sure if Holt pairs you up again he will ensure you win next time. You could have a grand comeback and defeat him. The audience would adore it.”

I hesitated, shifting on my feet. “I suppose.”

“And if you want that to happen, if you want that chance, then you can’t make waves this time.”

“I suppose,” I muttered again.

“It’s really not a big deal, Crossbody.” Corey squeezed my shoulder and coughed delicately. “It’s not like his tongue actually… goes anywhere. He knows how to give the illusion while remaining respectful. He’s a professional.”

Heat rushed back to my cheeks. I didn’t want his tongue there. I didn’t want any part of him near me there.

I didn’t.

“Fine,” I ground out.

Corey’s face broke into a big, beaming smile, his tusks gleaming as they jutted from his lower lip. “Wonderful. And darling, let’s go out for a drink next week and catch up. Maybe decompress and talk about how it went.”

“Alright,” I said quickly, because I liked Corey. He was one of the very, very few friends I had, and he was always so busy that it was rare we got a chance to spend time together outside of work. “Yes, I’m sure I have an evening free next week.”

I had every evening free.

“Lovely.” Corey squeezed my shoulder again before letting go. “Now, let’s put on a show for them, shall we?”

I nodded in determination. “Yes.”