Fuck.

She’s in a nice dress and has heels on, and he’s in a suit. Were they on a fucking date?

I curl my fingers around the phone and fight the urge to chuck it across the room and shatter it into a million pieces.

It’s one thing to believe in the idea of letting her go, but it’s another when the face I’m no longer the man in her life is shoved in my face.

My nostrils flare as rage overtakes me.

I turn toward an empty punching bag and ram a hard right hook into it and then roar, “Goddamn it!”

I’ve fucked up.

I take back every thought I’ve ever had about letting her go because I can’t do it. She’s mine. I will do whatever it takes to get her back.

For the next two weeks, I try to call Anna every day, but my calls go unanswered. I guess this is payback to me for treating her the same way. She hasn’t been back to Detroit since she first left, and the only thing I know for sure is she’s been staying at Brian and Liv’s house on her down time while Tension tours the Northwest section of the country. The only way I have to check on her now is through Brian or the times I’ve seen her on television.

As much as I hate seeing Anna with Rex in this fucking stupid anti-Phenomenal X campaign the writers have come up with to amp the drama between Rex and me, I appreciate Tension putting her in the show. It’s the only way I can gaze at her face other than in my dreams.

One thing is clear—if I’m going to get Anna back, I need to get Tension to allow me back around her.

Chapter 25

Anna

Brian and Liv are amazing people. They’ve taken me in the past couple of weeks during Tension’s downtime to help me save money. I confided in Liv that Xavier and I aren’t exactly on the best terms right now.

Liv sets a cup of coffee in front of me and slides into the seat next to me. “Are you sure you and Xavier won’t make up? He’s been ringing Brian’s phone off the hook trying to reach you.”

I frown, knowing there’s close to a hundred missed calls from Xavier on my phone. “He should’ve answered when I tried to reach him before—back when he blew me off.”

“Don’t get me wrong when I say this, Anna, because, believe me, I would’ve been pissed if Brian ignored my calls too, but is it possible to forgive him? He knows he’s screwed up.”

I sigh. “I don’t know. Right now, I need distance from him. He hurt me really bad. I’m not sure I can trust him not to do it again, which is why I know I won’t be able to keep this job for much longer. I can’t work in a place where I’ll see him often and not be with him.”

“Leaving Tension is a pretty big deal. Many people would kill to work there.”

I take a sip of the warm liquid and then set my cup down. “I’m sure there are, but being a professional wrestler isn’t something I see myself becoming. I would quit now, but I want to save some money up and get my own apartment when I move back to Detroit.”

The one thing I’ve decided is the first step in making it on my own is figuring out a place of my own—a place I can bring my baby home to and he or she will have their own room. Working for Tension until they lift Xavier’s suspension will allow me to build up enough money to get a modest two-bedroom place and then furnish it.

“What will you do for money?” There’s concern in Liv’s voice, so I do my best to make her aware that I do have a plan to take care of myself.

“My cousin told me the other night I could get my old waitressing job back in Detroit.”

Liv sighs. “Sounds like you have it all planned out. It makes me sad that things didn’t work out between you and Xavier. The two of you seemed so in love.”

“I thought the same thing. I was too naïve to believe we’d ever split up.”

“Do you still love him?”

“Of course, I do,” I answer. “But I don’t believe he loves me, or at least I don’t believe he loves me enough. You don’t abandon the people you love.”

She gives me a sad smile and then reaches over to pat my hand. “Sometimes people get things wrong. No one’s perfect, and perhaps he’s realized his mistake. Speaking to him, hearing what he has to say, may be therapeutic for you even if you decide not to take him back. Closure is always a good thing.”

I nod, thinking of how I finally felt better about the whole Jorge situation after we spoke. Liv could be on to something about giving Xavier a chance to explain himself.

After our show in Portland, I’m going to fly back to Detroit. It will be good to hear what he has to say and inform him that he’s about to become a father whether he’s with me or not.

Chapter 26

Xavier

I take a deep breath as I dial the number to the talent manager of Tension and say a little prayer this plan of mine works.

It’s been over two weeks since I’ve talked to Anna. I don’t blame her for not answering any of my calls. I would’ve given up on me too, and as hard as I’ve tried to get her out of my head, I can’t. Even if I’m not with her, I need to be around her to make sure she’s okay. I need to get back on the road in order to do that because being here in Detroit and not being able to see her is driving me even fucking more nuts.

A voice answers on the other end of the line on the second ring. “Seaborne.”

I clear my throat, and for the first time in a long time, I’m nervous. “Hey, Chip. It’s X.”

“X, my man, what can I do for you?”

Next to Mr. Silverman, Chip Seaborne is the highest in the chain of command when it comes to what goes down at Tension as far as the talent is concerned. If I can get him on board to take Corey on and allow me off my suspension to train him, I’ll be able to be with Anna again—away from Bishop and the danger he poses to her.

“I wanted to talk to you about lifting my suspension.”

Chip sighs into the phone. “The boss was pretty clear about you being off the show for a while. Besides, the storyline for your rivalry with Rex has already been set into motion.”

“I realize that, but I’m not asking to come back to get into the ring just yet.”

“Now you’ve piqued my interest. Continue.”

“Well, since I’ve been off, I’ve been training back at my old gym in Detroit, and I think I found a kid who has some talent. He’s still pretty green, but with the right training, I think he’s got the stuff,” I explain.