Page 33 of False Comeback

I felt jittery all of a sudden, tense and on edge. After another long pause, I deleted the rest of the message and tried to think of something else to say.

“Here we go.” Corey suddenly reappeared, making me jump. I hastily stuffed my phone into my pocket as he set my fresh gin and tonic on the coaster in front of me and sat back down with a satisfied sigh, sipping his martini.

“Appreciate it.” I picked up my drink and downed half of it.

More alcohol was what I needed before I replied to Vince. Yes, that was an excellent plan.

Chapter Eleven

Rehearsal

Vince

He never replied. Which made me fucking furious.

I knew he’d got the text. And read it. I’d even seen the three little dots appear as he started typing back, before they vanished and no response ever came through.

I’d known there was a good chance he wouldn’t want to talk about what had happened between us, but I’d expected something back. It had been the perfect opportunity for him to apologise for what he’d done in our match, or at the very least acknowledge that I’d saved his ass when I hadn’t had to.

But no. Nothing. Crossbody was too fucking good for that, apparently.

Arrogant, insufferable prick.

I regretted ever sending him that message now, even if it did make me the bigger person. I couldn’t believe I’d actually apologised to that asshole.

I’d just been feeling off since that night. Guilty about the things I’d said to him in the heat of the moment. Again. Calling him desperate. Pathetic. A slut.

He’d responded to it all at the time like he loved it, but that didn’t make it okay. Degradation wasn’t just something you pulled out on a whim during sex. Not without talking about it beforehand and making sure the other person was even into it.

I mean, I knew he was. I’d seen it for myself. Twice now. But still. It wasn’t appropriate.

Well, I told myself as I got to work on Wednesday morning, I’ve apologised for it, and if he won’t speak to me, there’s nothing else I can do. It’s not like it’ll ever happen again.

I knew we were rehearsing today, and I refused to let myself get nervous about it. Corey would be overseeing our practices again, so it wasn’t like either of us could bring up anything. Clearly, Crossbody wanted to just pretend that it had never happened. Which was fine with me. I wanted that too, and now my conscience was clear.

Kind of.

—

We didn’t end up rehearsing until late afternoon, because Hogbody spent the morning training the wrestlers who’d be performing on Saturday.

I wished Holt had scheduled our match for an earlier show so we could just get it over and done with. I was going to be tense all fucking weekend, just waiting for Sunday night to be over.

Even though the rehearsal went fine—uneventful once again, thanks to Corey’s keen eyes on us—I was still apprehensive. A part of me couldn’t stop wondering if Crossbody was going to pull the same stunt again, consequences be damned, because Holt had been extremely clear about me actually winning this time.

Evidently, Hogbody had similar concerns, because when we finally wrapped up our rehearsal just before six, he shot us both a threatening look as we wiped the sweat off our brows and gulped down water, standing as far apart as possible in the ring.

“If you two pull the same fucking stunt as last week, changing up the outcome without consulting anyone, I will get in that goddamn ring and beat both your asses myself. For real. At the same time.” He puffed out his barrel chest. “I’ve still got it in me.”

“I don’t doubt it, coach,” Corey said, raising his brow at us as he stood beside the ring with his arms crossed. “You’re both on thin ice. I’ve never seen Holt this… vexed. And he really doesn’t need this stress, you two. Not with the new talent arriving soon.”

I clenched my jaw, staying silent. This was Crossbody’s fucking fault. I’d done nothing wrong, but because I’d opened my stupid mouth and for some unknown fucking reason decided to help him out, I was getting blamed for the bullshit he’d pulled last week.

And he hadn’t even thanked me.

Prick.

“We need harmony,” Corey continued, spreading his arms wide and exhaling a slow breath. “A united front, and a welcoming atmosphere for our new wrestlers. I refuse to let their first impression of us be this…” He gestured at us vaguely. “Tension. This animosity.”