Finding Solace (21 page)

 
We all stood
there and watched as Mike ran around the Octagon screaming in triumph. Jason
ran and jumped on Mike and then picked him up. Mike's arms were in the air
straight over his head. What a fantastic moment to be a part of. Tony ran down
and jumped on the fence screaming his congrats. We all turned and hugged each
other. I don’t think I have ever felt so proud.

 
Things
started to settle down after a while. Mike was still talking to all the TV
crews and reporters. Colt looked over at me and said, "I just won five
grand!"

 
"Are
you kidding me? You bet on the fight?"

 
"Hey,
it’s not like I bet against him or anything."

 
I just
laughed. It didn't even occur to me or I probably would have too. We all
decided it was time to go and started walking up those God forsaken steps. When
we reached the top, Heather told me she was going to stay behind with the
Harrison family and she would see me back at the hotel. Outside the center was
insane. We were never going to catch a cab. If we wanted to wait for another
couple hours I am sure we might find one, but we decided to walk a couple
blocks and better our luck. We were all still floating on a high from Mike’s
win. When we finally flagged a cab down, all six of us piled in. A bar was
calling our name. There was no way we were ready to end the night. Shawn
suggested we just go to the hotel bar so we wouldn't have to mess with cabs
again. We all agreed easily.

 
Back at the
hotel bar, Dave texted Mike, Jason and Tony to tell them where we were in case
they wanted to join us. Shots were brought out first. Shawn wanted shots of
honey wild turkey. Nothing was bringing us down that night. Bryan wanted
Alabama Slammers so we did a round of those too. Colt decided on
Rumplemintz
. Dave was a classic Tequila guy. Geoff picked
Tuaca
. It was my turn and I decided to have some fun with
it. Blow jobs were ordered. All the guys bitched and complained but if I took
theirs, they were doing mine. They all managed to drink it but the looks on
their faces were priceless. The bar had hired a karaoke company so it was a
riot listening to the people trying to sound professional. When all of the
shots started to set in, I snuck over to the table and signed myself up. Never
did I think I would have the guts to sing in front of a large crowd of people
again, but after Mike's fight anything was feeling possible. I was walking back
over to the table when I noticed a couple of girls standing there talking to
the guys. I didn’t want to hurt any of their chances tonight so I just stopped
to observe. It looked like Geoff had one for sure. That only left two. The
longer they all talked it seemed Shawn brought in the second. With only one
left it didn’t surprise me that she was the prettiest, that fact gave her the right
to take her time to choose. Everything in me wanted to walk over and stake my
claim. I am positive you would’ve liked me to also. I hadn’t felt this torn in
a long time. Especially when it was Colt she went to. That’s when I started
walking over. Just as I was a couple of tables away, the karaoke guy called my
name. I turned and walked back to the stage where people had been performing
all night.
The guy working the machine already had it printed
on the screen that I was to be singing "Bobby McGee" by Janis Joplin.
It was the most daring thing I feel like I have ever done in my life, but I
needed to do this at this moment. I didn’t take the stage like I was supposed
to. Instead I walked back over to the guy and whispered "Can I please
change my song or is it too late?"

 
"It's
never too late for you,
darlin
’. What did you decide
you want to sing instead?"

 
I answered
him, so scared to death by my choice. It wasn’t because of my voice. I had been
taking lessons ever since I was five years old. I didn’t like singing in front
of people as much as I used to, so nobody has really heard me since high
school. I picked up the microphone and walked up on the stage.

 
When the
music started, I just closed my eyes. Rihanna's song "Stay" started
to play through the speakers. Those of you that may not know this song, I ask
that you look it up because every word in this song is what I needed Colt to
hear at this moment. I began to sing but I remained standing there with my eyes
closed. When I came to the lyrics,

 
"
Round and around and around and
around we go
"
I opened my eyes. All eyes in the
place were on me. I continued to pour my heart out into the words of the song
but there was one direction I couldn't look. I found myself closing my eyes
again. It wasn't until I reached the words, "
The
reason I hold on is because I need this hole gone
"
that is when I opened my eyes again. Searching for the one person I was singing
to, but he wasn't there. My heart fell into my stomach. I only had a small part
of the song left so I just intended to close my eyes again until I finished.
What I found when my eyes were almost closed shot them right back open again.
Colt was standing right in front of me at the edge of the stage. When the point
came for me to sing the last lyrics which were,
"
I
want you to stay
"
I looked right into his eyes. The
music ended and I lowered the microphone. The entire then bar erupted in
applause. My friends in the back of the bar were now joined by Heather, Jason
and Tony. They were screaming the loudest. I was shaking from the adrenaline
running through my system. I handed the microphone back to the guy working and
he said, "Do you need a job, sweetheart? You've definitely found your
calling." I just smiled and said thank you. I stepped off the stage and found
Colt waiting for me there. He didn’t say a word to me at first. He just stood
there staring at me. Then as if something snapped inside of him, he grabbed me
and kissed me in front of the whole bar. He finally broke away from the kiss,
but only
long
enough to get out the words, "You are
unbelievably amazing! Your perfection is endless" and then he was kissing
me again. I think I heard more cheers in response to the kiss than my singing,
but I didn't care. This moment is the one I had been waiting for, and it’s
finally here.

 
We
eventually stopped kissing and then walked back to our table. Hoots and hollers
were still being made. Colt held my hand the whole way back to the table. The
girls from before were still there but the really pretty one must have picked
Dave instead. Maybe she wasn't left with much choice when Colt came for me.
Heather and the Harrison brothers joined in on the fun and ordered another
round of shots. It was two o'clock in the morning and we were all having the
time of our lives. Tony kept asking me if I was available just to get under
Colt’s skin. You bet your ass I told him it would depend who was asking. Colt
stayed pretty tightly glued to me for the rest of the night. I think he
believed that Tony wanted to date me. Wouldn’t that be kind of funny? I planned
on sleeping with the third Harrison when I got Colt by accident. It could have
been Tony all along. They announced last call from the bar a little while
later. I was trashed. Colt had to help me walk over to the elevator so that I
wouldn't fall. We all fit in one elevator, believe it or not. Bryan and Tony
were the only ones without girls, so they turned around and went back
downstairs once we reached our floor. I guess they were going on the prowl some
more. The rest of us all said good night and went our separate ways. It truly
was a good night. Even after you thought I went to sleep, Ha-ha.

CHAPTER
21

 
Summer
was fast approaching. I knew the time would come, but it sucked just the same.
Colt decided he was going to stay back and help Shawn with the bar all summer.
Bryan, Dave and Geoff were going to be going home. We still had two more weeks
left but it felt like it was going to be here before we knew it. Work seemed to
be slowing down and my boss said it was due to the economic decline. Whatever
caused it, needed to be fixed
soon.
I like my money
too much. Wrestling season came to a close and Colt got the surprise of a lifetime.
He still had one more year of eligibility, but with his age, they asked if he
would be interested in helping coach instead. What shocked us all is he
accepted the proposal. Since I brought up Colt, I wanted to tell you he is
acting weird again lately. After the trip we all took to Chicago, I thought
things were going to be perfect with us. It wasn’t that we didn't still spend
time together. It was more like he was closing himself off. I can’t for the
life of me figure out why he has multiple locks on his doors at his house now.
It is just plain weird. It’s as if he is in trouble or scared of someone. I
have been inviting him to my apartment more often so I don’t feel the tension
that consumes his place now. As for the other women, they are still happening.
I hear the guys talk about them from time to time. How lucky Colt is to score
with this one or that one. Why I can't bring myself to accept even a date is
beyond me. It’s not like I don't get offers. I just seem to be writing more and
more letters to Colt that he will never see. Tonight is Monday night so you all
know where we will be. Yep, you guessed it. The alley is calling our name. We
all headed up there around 9:00. The whole gang from ‘51’ was coming. Now that
I am twenty one, it’s kind of funny how this place lost its luster. I was
getting away with something before that now was a legal task.

 
Mike was
still getting crap from the guys about the final move he used on Reynolds. They
were calling him a show boat. He apparently had him with the triangle choke
hold. Reynolds would have tapped out but Mike wanted to make a point by
finishing him off with the drop that the commentators are still talking about.

 
Jason had
his first fight since the whole mess with Shawn a week ago and he crushed his
opponent also. Jason and Heather were as cute as ever. I am so happy they moved
past all the drama from last year.

 
Dave is
still talking to the girl he met after Mikes fight. Her name is Angie and she
happens to be a student at EIU also. She was just visiting Chicago with some
friends that weekend. I’m not sure what happened to Geoff or Shawn’s girls from
that night, since they were also students at the university. For the most part,
I think all these boys were just truly enjoying being young and single. Tonight
is the last night we are all going to be able to party together being that
finals are just around the corner for all the students.

 
Colt was
high again. It seems lately he was more often that way than not. Geoff hasn’t
made one negative comment to me. In fact, he hasn’t spoken to me at all other
than maybe adding to a conversation I am taking part in since Chicago either.
It seems that trip changed a lot of things.

 
Word
traveled fast around bar ‘51’ about my singing that night and it has been
requested time and time again when we go out. That specific talent of mine I
was choosing to also be left in Chicago. Tony had been coming around ever since
we first met him on the trip. It just seems ironic to me that I never met him
before then. He's just as much fun as his brothers and it makes for a great
night when we have all three Harrison boys out with us. Speaking of which, all
three brothers are here tonight.

 
Tony was at
the bar when I walked up to order a drink. He still hasn’t let up with
flirting. But I won’t lie to you. I loved every minute of it.

 
"Hey,
good
lookin
’! What do I have to do to get your fine
ass to let me buy you a drink?" Leave it to Tony.

 
"Just
keep smiling like you do and I'll let you drop all the money on me that you
want."

 
"Perfect answer, Sadie, because I'm going to spoil you rotten
when you finally give me a chance."
See what I mean about offers.
What is wrong with me?

 
"I
wouldn't want to ruin our friendship, Tony." I brushed his cheek
seductively. "Then who could I openly flirt with?”

 
"Good
point, but I am going to persuade you to reconsider. I am a lawyer after
all."

 
"This
might be the one case you lose." I grabbed my drink and walked away
laughing, back to Colt, Jason and Heather. I was bowling like a champ tonight.
I was beating them by 20 pins. All due to my trusty ball that Colt found for
me. Mike, Tony, Bryan, Shawn were playing next to us. Mike decided we needed to
trade a player next game. Shawn offered to switch with me. I really had no
choice in the matter. I didn't really care because I was on a roll and planned
to kick their asses also. We finished the game with me crushing them by thirty
six. Everyone decided shots were in order before the next game started. Heather
picked slippery nipples for us and all the guys went stupid with their comments
on that one. After all of us were good on drinks, we went back to the lanes. I
was now on Tony’s team considering Bryan and Mike wouldn't ever split up on a
winning streak. I was okay with that since I was on one of my own. The first
ball thrown was Mike’s- strike. Crap! He came back talking so
much smack
on how he was the shit. Then Tony went- spare.
Not perfect, but still good. Bryan bowled third and got a strike just like
Mike. Tony was looking at me like it all came down to me and it was only the
first frame. I, of course, got a strike. This continued for the rest of the
game. When one partner fell behind, the other picked them back up. We were down
to the tenth frame and team wise Tony and I were down by five. Mike bowled and
took out six pins. On his next throw he only got three. He was so mad! Tony
went and
guttered
his first ball. I couldn’t believe
it. Then he got a strike, thank God. His next throw he only got four. Bryan
went and threw an eight and then picked up the spare. His last throw was a
strike. There was no way I could do anything to win. I threw a strike first and
then I threw another one! One more ball was left. I threw another strike making
what they call a turkey! We won! I was so happy I ran and jumped into Tony’s
waiting arms. He spun me around and then kissed me. I am sure you caught that.
If not, I said he kissed me! When he set me down, I looked over at Colt to see
if he saw that and then I watched him walk away and leave. I tried to go after
him but Tony grabbed me around the waist and
said,"Just
let him go."