Perfect Match (9 page)

“Alex, thanks,, but I don’t think so.”

He kissed her hand as he got, and said, “I’ll
make you change your mind.”

Alex went over to stand beside Jackson and
said to anyone that was listening, “My new goal in life is to get
Noelle to break her father’s rule. I will have her screaming my
name before long.”

Jackson dropped the drinks and grabbed Alex
by the shirt. “I am going to give you one warning, you piece of
shit. If I ever hear you talk that way about Noelle, I will kick
your ass. I will personally see to it that your career is over,
before it even begins.” He griped the shirt even tighter, “Stay the
fuck away from her! Do you hear me? Stay the hell away from her.”
Jackson pushed him away and let go of Alex’s shirt.

Alex just glared at him, but the rest of the
party goers had gone quiet and were watching him carefully. He spit
on the ground, before leaving the party. Jackson picked up the cups
that he dropped.

Noelle went over to help Jackson. “I’m so
sorry. I can’t believe that you did that for me!”

“Noelle, no one will hurt you when I am
around. I promise,” he said and hugged her. “I guess I’m going to
have to go get another drink. I’ll be back.”

Noelle sat back down by Chelsey and Darin.
“That was so romantic,” Chelsey gushed.

Noelle had to admit that it felt that way.
The ironic thing was, she hated pushy and demanding men, but what
Jackson did was different. He was defending her. She was beginning
to feel safe with Jackson around. The only other man she feels safe
around was Pop.

Kayla saw the whole scene and she couldn’t
believe it! She knew Jackson pretty well. She knew a lot of what
his facial expressions meant. They were together for a little over
a year, but never in that time did he ever come to her defense like
he just did for Noelle Reid. She knew that was huge! What she
couldn’t figure out it was - why Noelle? She was pretty, but not
like herself. That felt like someone punched her in the stomach.
She watched him getting a drink and he kept looking over his
shoulder back to Noelle. Kayla also noticed Noelle kept looking
over at him. It didn’t take a genius to see the sparks flying
between those two. Suddenly, Kayla smiled. She finally had
something to get back at Jackson with.

“Hey, what was all that about, man?” Kayla
heard Kris ask Jackson.

“Alex was being disrespectful to Noelle. I
was telling him like it is.”

“Wow. I thought you were going to rip his
head off! So, what’s going on between you and mini-Reid?”

“Nothing. She’s like a sister to me,” Jackson
said and excused himself.

Right, Kayla thought. Like a sister to him
her ass. She knew he was trying to downplay things, because of
Noelle’s father’s rule. She knew better and had to figure out how
to use this information to her advantage.

The rest of the evening went without anymore
drama, but, for Noelle, the things that went on had her emotions
going crazy! She noticed that Jackson stayed by her side the rest
of the evening. He and Darin really hit it off, and they realized
that they had some common friends and both had a mutual love for
the Pittsburgh Pirates, regardless of their losing record. They
decided that they were going to hit some of the home games together
next spring. This made Noelle happy, because never had any guy she
ever dated before had any desire to hang out her friends. If they
were actually dating, this would be one of the top things that her
boyfriend must do.

When he and Darin were finished with their
conversation, Jackson gave Noelle his full attention just in time
for Kris’s firework display. “Wow, he really goes all out for his
parties, doesn’t he?”

“They are famous, that’s for sure.” Jackson
looked directly into her eyes, and it affected her right to her
core. He had something about him that made her want to throw her
arms around his neck, and wrap her legs around him, and not let go.
She was in deep trouble.

Jackson loved to run at the gym, especially
when it was in the middle of the night and no one else was around.
Reason number one to love the twenty-four hour gym. He told the

biggest lie today to Kris Kruse. He reacted
purely out of instinct when he saw that Alex guy hitting on Noelle
and then bad mouthing her. He felt so angry, he just went off
without thinking of the scene he was making. BRAWL was a lot like
high school, in the sense that gossip ran rampant, and anyone that
saw what took place between him and Alex would get the impression
that Noelle meant a lot to him. And that was exactly what happened.
That was the reason Jackson told Kris that Noelle was like a sister
to him. He didn’t need any more trouble for her, so the sister
comment was the right thing to say to quickly squash any rumors
about them. The truth was, she was beginning to mean more to him
than a sister…way more.

Jackson had finished his run and was ready to
head home when he checked his phone. He groaned when he saw a text
message from Kayla…

Hey, going to throw a baby shower for Kevin
this Friday. Can you be there at 6?

CHAPTER FIVE

What was it about having Jackson back in her
life that made her think about him every day? Chelsey was her
closest friend and she didn’t think of her nearly as often as she
thought of Jackson. Really, she knew that she was just trying to
convince herself that Jackson was just a friend. However, she knew
that she couldn’t stop thinking about those amazing kisses from all
those weeks ago. She couldn’t stop thinking about how he made her
feel when he got into Alex’s face last night. He made her heartbeat
quicken. He made her feel anxious. He made her feel….alive. Damn
it, he could possibly be perfect for her if he wasn’t a wrestler.
She vowed to never let herself forget that fact. She hit play on
her iPod and took off running. The gym was relatively quiet, and
that is how she preferred it. She knew that now that she was an
employee of BRAWL, she could go to The Ruckus Room, but she liked
this one. No one here to bother her so much. No Pop and no
Jackson.

Running gave her time to think. She had a
good life growing up. Her Pop loved all of his girls so much, her
mother especially. He never quite gotten over the fact that she
died. He never dated anyone after her mother’s death. In a way,
that was so romantic, but she knew it was lonely for her Pop. Her
mother was a beautiful, happy woman. There was no denying the hole
that Noelle was left with when she died. If her mother had been
alive, maybe Noelle would have never have made such bad choices
when it came to love. Derek Kincaid being the worst of those
choices. She hated that he would pop into her mind every so often.
He was a mistake in her past that she made by not following the
rules, and she got hurt in the process, both mentally and
physically. She needed to remember the advice she was given by both
parents, especially when it came to Jackson. He broke both of her
parents’ rules. She was not willing to let herself get hurt
again.

Even after her mother died, Pop always tried
to make sure that she and Jennifer were never lacking a thing. They
always had the best of things and had whatever they wanted. They
wanted a swimming pool. Just like that Larry was putting a pool in
for them. They wanted a puppy. Larry was out making sure they got
whatever puppy they wanted. Noelle believes that is what made
Jennifer so difficult. She was used to getting what she wanted and
wouldn’t settle for anything else. She was grateful that Paul came
into Jennifer’s life. He somehow got Jennifer to stop that way of
thinking, and now with Jennifer was finally growing up.

Even with all of the things Pop always made
sure they had, Noelle never felt spoiled or entitled to anything.
If her Pop had ever taught her anything, it would be hard work pays
off. That is what she has done all her life. She worked hard at
school, got good grades, and got into the college of her choice.
She worked hard to get the job she always wanted. Pop had been a
great father and Noelle always worked hard to make him proud. His
opinion meant so much to her and she figured that it was because of
her lack of a mother. However, she also got a sense that Pop was at
times disappointed that he never had a boy to share his love of
wrestling with. When she and Jennifer were younger, they tried
watching it but girls are girls and princesses won out over bulky
wrestlers. Pop never said any of this, but it was always a feeling
that Noelle got. She thought that may be one reason why she wanted
the job at BRAWL. She wanted to be involved somehow in the
profession her Pop loved like a third child. She wanted that job as
well, and felt it was the best career move she could have ever made
and it started off as just an idea to make her Pop happy, but ended
up being where she belonged.

It also explains why Pop has such a fondness
for Jackson. Honestly, who isn’t fond of Jackson? He is the guy
everyone likes. Noelle feels that is what makes him a bit
dangerous. She will not let him be anything more to her than just a
friend. No matter how good kissing felt and no matter how often she
thinks of him, and thinking of him is what she has been doing
constantly. Her mind always comes back to him! That would
disappoint Pop, especially if he knew how she kissed him and how
often she thinks of him. The wrestler that her Pop forbids her to
date. She couldn’t do it again. The wrestler that she chooses not
to date and the man that she has learned not to trust. Jackson! He
lost the game even before he was able to play it. She was getting
frustrated. She began to run faster. She was in such deep thought
that she didn’t notice almost smacking into someone on the
track.

“Oh crap!” she said taking out her ear buds.
“I’m so sorry.”

“It’s fine. You were focused on your run.” It
was Tim. He’s a guy that Noelle would talk to from time to time at
the gym. He was nice and good looking. She could tell that he was a
bit interested in her. She’d be on the elliptical machine, and
she’d look over and he would be looking at her. He’d smile or wink
and she’d go on doing her workout.

“Yeah, focused is the word there. I’m sorry
though. I should have been paying attention.”

“It’s okay. Honest. I was actually hoping I’d
run into you,” Tim said smiling sweetly at her.

“Oh?”

“Well, not literally, but I was hoping to
talk to you.” He paused and smoothed his hand over his hair. “I
have been wanting to ask you this for a long time. I’d love to take
you out sometime. Just a dinner and a couple drinks. Wow, I can’t
believe I said it just like that.” He sighed. “I’m such a
disgrace.

Oh no, she thought. Not the conversation she
wants to be having. She smiled but did not know what to say.

“I really wanted to be a lot smoother, but
hey, it’s out there now.”

“Wow, Tim. I don’t know what to say. I don’t
really have a whole lot of time lately. I started a new job…”

“Noelle, you don’t have to give me an answer
right away.” He handed her a business card with his number on it.
“That is a standing offer. I’d just like to get to know you
better.”

Noelle took the card and smiled. “Thanks. I
better get back to my run.”

Tim smiled and left for the weight room.
Noelle didn’t want to be rude to him, and hoped she didn’t come
across that way, but she was only interested in dating one man; no
matter how off limits he was.

***

“We make the best in-ring couple of all time!
Don’t you think, Kevin? No one will ever even compare to how
amazing we are.” Kayla gushed. Jackson cringed. That girl really
was in her own little world. He was sitting outside of the practice
ring hanging out with a bunch of the guys. Kevin, Kayla and he were
just finishing up practicing their spot for the upcoming show. They
were trying to unwind and relax, and that girl would not stop
talking. The last thing that was on Kevin’s mind was he and Kayla
being BRAWL’s super couple. He was going to be a proud father any
day now. He often wondered when that girl was going to grow up.
Jackson was sure that deep down Kevin was relieved to be taking
some time off - time off from Kayla.

Jackson didn’t hear Kevin’s reply. He tried
his best to block out anything that Kayla was saying. Jackson knew
why he had stayed with her for as long as he did. She was lonely
too. Jackson understood that. He had a great family, unlike Kayla,
but that didn’t mean that he didn’t feel lonely. He felt lonely
quite often. He could never fully explain it. The crazy thing was
even being a wrestler; it was a lonely life at times. He was either
around people who were their characters all the time, like Kayla,
or people who wanted to get to know him because of what he did; not
because of who he was. He thought that Kayla would help him feel
less lonely. The sad part was, he always felt more alone when she
was around. That was how he knew she was never going to be the girl
for him. He also knew that the girl for him would be the one that
did not make him feel lonely. Speaking of that girl, he had not
heard from her yet that day. He decided to go walk next door to see
if she was at work yet.

Noelle was pretty busy that whole morning,
and she was grateful for that. She was able to get her mind off of
the encounter with Tim at the gym last night. She was finally free
to take a quick break. She was starved so she grabbed a salad and a
bottle of water, and happily grabbed a seat in the lunchroom. She
checked her phone and noticed a text from Jackson. He had been
looking for her and had to leave a bit early. He said that he was
sorry he missed her. She was sorry too. She got used to seeing him
every day. He said that he had to leave early, but didn‘t explain
why. She hoped everything was okay.

Noelle poured her balsamic vinaigrette
dressing on her salad and she looked up to see Kayla sit down next
to her.