Xavier Cold (Hard Knocks #2) (21 page)

This is the last sign I need to give up on Xavier. You don’t treat someone you love like this. I need to find the strength down deep to move on with my life.

Somehow, I manage to make it through dinner without completely breaking down. Jorge knew there was something was bothering me, but in typical Jorge fashion, he didn’t pry into my business for fear of being rude.

We don’t say much on the way back to the hotel, so when the car comes to a stop in front of the door, I fully prepare to end our evening, but Jorge opts to have the attendant park his car.

I give him a curious look as he opens my door. “What are you doing?”

He extends his hand to me and helps me out. “You look like you need a friend.”

That’s so like him, always giving. It’s in his nature. “It’s not necessary. I’ll be okay.”

He gives me a pointed look. “Anna, I know you. You’re hurting and even though we are no longer together, I still consider you one of my best friends. Talk to me if it will make you feel better.”

I bite my lower lip, unwilling to part with what’s truly bothering me. I don’t want my parents to find out I’m pregnant from someone other than me. Talking things out with Jorge is dangerous. I need to keep this to myself a bit longer, no matter how badly I want some advice on what to do in this situation.

My lips pull back into a tight line. “I’m sorry, Jorge. I can’t tell you about this.”

He swallows while his eyes search my face. “I’ve really lost you, haven’t I?”

I nod as a tear rolls down my cheek. Loving Jorge would be so simple—a natural fit in the life I used to lead—but I’m a different person now, and I can no longer settle for lukewarm love. I want full-on passion or nothing at all.

He swipes away my tear with his thumb. “It’s okay, Anna. I always knew I would someday. You have more zest for life than anyone I’ve ever known, and I’m not the right guy for you to find adventure with, but I’ll always be your friend.”

His sweet words cause a sob to rip out of my throat, and I throw my arms around his neck, hugging him as I cry. It’s then I finally realize how much I’ve changed. No matter what happens from this point on, I can no longer go back to the perfect church girl Father always groomed me to be—not with a baby on the way. I have to figure out how to stand in this world on my own two feet.

M
y cell chimes with a new text, and I motion to Corey to continue practicing the drills I gave him while I check my phone.

I swipe the screen and Deena’s name pops up with an attachment symbol next to it. I roll my eyes and click on the button.

This bitch doesn’t fucking give up.

I probably shouldn’t even look at whatever she’s sent because it’s most likely going to piss me off.

Curiosity wins out, and I open the attachment. It’s a photo, and when it loads, my heart nearly stops dead in my chest.

There, plain as day, is Anna hugging another man, and it’s not just a polite hug. She’s clinging to him while her face is buried into his chest. I shake my head as if to clear my vision and then lean in for a closer look.

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.

A
s 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.

B
rian 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.

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.

“And how does this involve you?” he questions.

“I’d like to help train him, but in order to do that, I need to get my formal suspension removed so I can come back into the areas Tension will be.”

Chip’s quiet for a few moments, but then the sound of a rush of air hits the phone. “All right, I’ll make it happen, but, X, I’m sticking my neck out here, so this kid better be worth it.”

“Thanks, Chip. I appreciate it. I’ll have him at the next show in Portland.” I grin as I hit the button to end the call.

I turn to where Corey and Cole sit on the edge of the ring, waiting for me to give them the verdict.

Corey leans forward, every inch of him anxious to hear the news. “Well? What’d he say?”

My mouth pulls up into a one-sided grin, and I can’t hide how fucking happy the news makes me. “Pack your bags, asshole. We’re going to Portland.”

Corey pumps his fist in the air before he runs over and throws his arms around me in a huge bear hug. “Thank you. This would’ve never happened without you. I promise to make you proud.”

It feels good to help him this way. I see a lot of myself in Corey, and if it hadn’t been for people helping me out in this fucked-up world, I would probably be dead by now.

I thump him on the back just before he releases me. “I know you will.”

Everything from the plane ride to being in a taxi is a new experience for Corey. The kid’s never been out of Detroit, so every little fucking thing amazes the kid. I swear to God he would be poking his head out the window like an excited dog if I would allow it.

“W
ow, look at how fucking green it is here,” Corey says as he stares out the window of the cab. “All you see in Detroit is concrete and garbage.”

I’ve traveled the world with Tension, but it was only about ten years ago when everything amazed me too, so I let the kid have his moment.

We pull up to a motel about fifteen blocks away from the place where all the other talent is staying and get out of the cab. Staying in a run-down dive won’t bother Corey in the slightest because he lives much rougher than this, but it’s hard for me to go back to the roach motels after growing accustomed to the finer hotels in the city.

We check in and toss our bags in the room so we can walk down to the other hotel and catch a ride over to the arena where Tuesday Tension will be tonight.

When we walk up to the hotel, I spot the black Escalade that usually drives me around. I nudge Corey’s arm and point at it, pointing out which one we need to get in. “There’s Tension’s shuttle.”

I walk over and tap the glass, and Tim, the heavyset man with a mustache unlocks the vehicle, allowing me to slide into the back.

“Hello, X,” Deena’s voice purrs next to me. “I didn’t know you were back already.”