The Rematch (Wrestling Diaries #2) (6 page)

  I was wrong.

  Mesquite: Jamie, are you ever going to answer me?

  Me: I really don’t see the point.

  I was a liar.

  Mesquite: I called things off with my ex.

  Me: I heard.

  Mesquite: And I heard something that gives me hope

  I didn’t reply. Instead, I turned my phone off and looked at the live events schedule on my laptop. I missed Denver, damn it. And I wanted to see him.

 
Liar. You want to see Mesquite, too.

  Well shit.

January 15

  Lexington, Kentucky looked like a winter wonderland as I landed. Thankfully I also had work in the area, so I’d have something to keep my mind occupied. It would have been hard to ask for more days off since I’d just had a vacation. Ha.
Vacation
- that was a joke. Sure the first part had been nice, but then all hell broke loose.

  As I got my bags I felt a twinge of sadness. There was no one meeting me since no one knew I was there. I hadn’t even told LaTonya because I didn’t want her to slip up and mention it to anyone. Shivering, I made my way outside to the car rental pickup area. I laughed at the tiny car I was given. There was no way a big, beefy wrestler could fit in something that size.

  At first I thought about staying at a different hotel than the one the wrestlers would be at, but I changed my mind. I was there because I needed to see Denver. It’d be dumb to stay somewhere else. I drove on the snow-covered streets, only sliding a few times.

  The hotel was fairly quiet. I wasn’t sure if it was because most of the wrestlers had already left for the arena or if it was because it was a workday for most people. A few dedicated fans sat in the lobby and looked my way as I checked in.

  In my room I showered and changed into my outfit for the night. Should I text Denver or not? That was the big decision to make. Taking the cowardly route, I decided to wait until after the show. If he hadn’t seen me by that point, then I’d text.

  I took a cab to the arena and found my seat inside. I bought a ringside seat and it was the first time in too long that my ticket hadn’t been complimentary. It was strange. I noticed one of the security guards looking at me as he talked into his headset. Shit. This had happened before, but last time was with Mesquite. Who was the guard talking to this time?

  He came up to me and squatted in front of me.

  “I’m supposed to give you a message.”

  “Yes?”

  “Denver doesn’t want you here. He’s asking that you leave.”

  I didn’t doubt this man’s word. Part of his job was making sure the wrestlers were taken care of. And sometimes that meant asking an ex to leave. I stood, feeling my cheeks flame.

  “Ma’am. I
am
sorry.”

  I didn’t respond, but left before I started crying. When I was safely in my room I let a few tears fall before calming myself down. There was still time to see him. I knew Denver – he’d be in the bar after the show.

  I waited until I was sure the wrestlers would be arriving and went to the lobby. Sure enough, I saw familiar faces. I went to the bar and stopped. My eyes went to the one person I didn’t want to see. Mesquite sat at the bar by himself, looking lonely.

  I was taken back to the moment when we’d first met. He had asked me to meet him at the bar and we ended up talking until last call. Tonight wouldn’t have the same outcome, though. I saw Denver sitting on the opposite side of the room and walked to him.

  I could tell right away that he’d been drinking for a while.

  “You really here or am I dreaming?” Alcohol made his accent thick and his words slur.

  I sat. “I’m here. Denver--”

  “You should leave, Jamie. I’ve got no love left in me tonight.”

  “Denver--”

  “No, it’s fine. You made your choice. I don’t agree with it, but it’s your choice to make and I’d never settle for being number two.”

  His words stung, as I’m sure he intended. And maybe I deserved it. He reached for his glass, but I took it from him and finished the contents. The vodka burned my throat and I grimaced. Standing, I held out my hand.

  “What?”

  “Come on Denver. You need to go to bed.”

  He huffed, but stood. I was aware that people watched as we left, but I didn’t care. Denver leaned heavily against me and I was having a hard time guiding us to the elevators.

  “Here, let me help.”

  I glanced over my shoulder and my stomach fluttered. Of course, it was fucking Mesquite.

  He went to the other side and maneuvered Denver, bearing most of his weight.

  “Thanks, asshole,” Denver muttered.

  I held back a laugh and pushed the button for the elevator. We waited in silence because, really, what could the three of us talk about? The thought made me cringe.

  “Are you in the same room?”

  I shook my head. “No. But we can go to my room.”

  His eyes lit up, but I chose not to acknowledge it.

  “My room is bigger.”

  I waited for Denver to protest and realized he’d passed out.

  Not in the mood to argue I said, “Fine.”

  We went to the top floor, of course, and Mesquite told me the room number.

  “The key is in my pocket.”

  I refrained from rolling my eyes and reached into his front pocket.
Hello
.

  He coughed. “Um. That’s not a key. And it’s the other pocket.”

 
Kill me now
. I reached into his other pocket and pulled the key out. Mesquite’s lips twitched, as he tried not to laugh. I unlocked the door and held it open. He was right. His room was much bigger than mine. He got Denver on the bed and tossed a blanket over him.

  I hoped Denver would awaken, but he didn’t. Mesquite nodded his head toward the door and I found myself walking from the room. We got into the elevator and stood on opposite sides as if we were afraid to get too close to each other. The electricity that always surrounded us still seemed to buzz, but I ignored it.

  “Jamie, why won’t you look at me?”

  His question took me by surprise and I met his gaze.

  “What do you mean?”

  “You’ve barely looked at me.”

  “We were busy.”

  “No. Don’t lie to me.”

  I sighed. “Fine. I don’t know why I won’t look at you. Okay? Is that good enough?” 
  We reached my room and I opened the door. Was I crazy for even letting him in? Our history with hotel rooms suggested maybe I was.

  He sat in a chair and I was glad. I didn’t want him to sit on the bed because that meant I’d have to sit next to him and beds definitely weren’t a good idea.

  “I have an idea as to why you won’t look at me.”

  I sat in the chair opposite of his and replied, “Oh, I’m sure this will be good.”

  “Is it because you still have feelings for me?”

  “Mesquite, feelings were never an issue between us. It was everything else.”

  “No, that’s not true. We were fine until I asked you to move in with me. That’s when everything fell apart. I think back to that moment often and wonder what in the hell I could have done to change the outcome.”

  His admission made my heart ache. I thought about that moment, too. When he offered me the world and I ran.

  “You’re right. That
is
when everything changed.”

  “Why?”

  “We were moving too fast-”

  “Bullshit. It was everything we both wanted.”

  “That might be true, but it was still too fast. Did we even really know each other?” I shrugged. “And then you got back with your ex and anything I thought I knew about you went out the window.”

  He had the decency to blush. “I am sorry about that. You might not believe me, but it’s the truth. That was a low point for me and I did things I’m not proud of. Getting back with her was on a list of bad choices I made.”

  “You aren’t the only one. I messed up, too,” I admitted with a sigh.

  “With Denver?”

  “No. He wasn’t a mistake. He was everything I needed.”

  “Then why aren’t you together?”

  The question hung in the air between us. It was time for the truth.

  “Because he thinks you and I have unfinished business.”

  “And do we?”

  I nodded. “I think we do.”

  He watched me for a moment and I wondered what he was thinking.

  “I’ve wanted to hear you say that for a while now.”

  “Why?”

  “Because I think we have unfinished business, too. And… I’ve missed you.”

  Hearing him say those words made my eyes water.

  “But I want to do it right this time. We need to take things slow this time.”

  I laughed before I could stop. “That’s going to be like trying to stop a tornado, Mesquite.”

  He chuckled, too, a sound I’d missed.

  “You’re right. But we owe it to ourselves to at least try.”

  “So… What now?”

  That was the million-dollar question. Denver had been right. Mesquite and I still had a lot of things to figure out. And part of that would eventually involve Denver himself.

  Mesquite smiled. “For now I will bid you goodnight. And tomorrow, if I’m lucky, you’ll let me escort you to brunch.”

  “Brunch? Like a date?”

  He nodded.
I could handle that.

  “It’s a date then.”

  It was a start.

  At the door, Mesquite stopped. “Goodnight, Jamie.”

  “Goodnight, Angel Eyes.”

  I closed the door at his surprised look and smiled. For the first time in months I finally felt free. My phone buzzed and I went to check it.

  Denver: Sorry for being a drunken dick.

  Denver: I just miss you so damn much.

  Denver: And I want you to be mine.

  And just like that the warm feeling vanished and I was left feeling torn. I missed him, too. A lot. 

 
Fuck.

To Be Continued…