The Cruiserweight

by L. Anne Carrington

  “If you have plans, we can get together this evening.”

  “Brett, I’m open the rest of the day. I just finished a breakfast meeting.”

  “Great, say your hotel, two o’clock?”

  “Works for me.”

  “All right, dear, looking forward to seeing you!”

  They exchanged “I love you’s” before hanging up. Brett began to sing off-key as he headed to the shower, looking forward to the afternoon ahead. The PPV run-through wasn‘t until the following afternoon, and he planned to make the most of the free time he had the rest of the day—with Karen.

  He glanced at the paper with dismay after his shower. Did the reporter need to mention my and Pat’s names? Worse, did the story have to be on the front page? Even if Karen didn’t read it, one of her colleagues would have told her about it nevertheless. It no longer mattered. He still had an hour before they were supposed to meet, he spent the spare time making business calls, grabbing some breakfast, and scanning the major wrestling sites.

  Brett’s heart sank. The robbery story made it onto a few websites. Great. Not only will I risk being mobbed by fans when I leave the house, I’ll also get a bunch of shit from people tomorrow at the run-through. What’s the big deal? Pat and I didn’t do anything different than a like-minded person.

  He finished getting dressed and slipped out of the house before Patrick woke up. There was no better time to run some errands before meeting Karen.

  CHAPTER 35

  Karen had everything in place when Brett arrived. He took note she appeared a little curvier than the last time they were together, and he wasn’t complaining. He apologized for the slight delay.

  “You’re a little late? I didn’t notice.” She noticed the large manila envelope in his hand. “What’s that?”

  “Oh, this is for you.”

  “Brett, you didn’t have to bring me anything.”

  “This is the rest of my Men in the Raw feature. I didn’t have time to get a frame, but I signed it as promised.”

  Karen pulled out the magazine. “A cover shot !”

  “You like it?”

  She kissed him and offered him a soda from the honor bar. “Fabulous. Where’s the rest?”

  “Page twelve. I think you’ll be pleased with the stuff you didn‘t get on the scans.”

  She flipped through several pages before poring over Brett’s photo spread. “These are incredible. By the way, are you able to finish the rest of your independent dates now that you’re with OW?”

  He nodded. “Stephanie gave the okay to worked the dates I’ve already booked, but if I want to do anything else, I have to clear it with the creative goons.”

  “Things have really been happening to you the last few months.”

  “I don’t remember being as happy as I have been the entire time since my release from the last company.”

  “You new boss wouldn’t happen to have seen these ‘racy’ photos?”

  “If she did, nothing was said.” He smiled. “I didn’t come here to discuss work.”

  “Of course not.” She took their empty cans and disposed them in a nearby wastebasket. Turning back around, she saw the look in his eyes and walked back over to him. They kissed long and passionately. Brett’s hands traveled up and down her back while he felt her hands in his back pockets. The sensation aroused him. She then had her hands in his hair and her tongue was thrusting into his mouth. He let his hands slide up under the sweater to get a nice feel of her warm skin.

  “Missed me, didn’t you, baby?” he asked in a low moan.

  “Mmm hmm, and unless you left something in your pocket, I think you missed me too.”

  He leaned over to kiss her again, and pulled her toward the bed. She wasn’t sure about the concept of making love while being pregnant, but followed him without protest. He slipped off her clothes, one piece at a time, and lay her on the bed. He kicked off his shoes and then wasted little time stripping his own clothes, smirking at her as he did.

  She ran her hands over his body. “Looks like you put on a few pounds too. I like that.”

  Karen loved how his skin felt under her hands, how he tasted, the sound of his voice, the feel of his lips on hers, the little noises he made when they were intimate, the feel of his hands as they moved all over her, and the way she always responded to him.

  Brett moved on top of Karen and kissed her again. She began to shiver with pure pleasure and wrapped her legs around his waist, drawing him closer to her, locking him there. His fervent kiss drove her wild as she reached up to run her fingers through his hair. He relished being inside her, the woman he adored so much. His fingertips moved down her neck and over her breasts in light strokes. He pulled her closer, exploring every inch of her. with his mouth, her sensitive nipples giving him the reaction he sought.

  For that moment, being in the early stages of pregnancy slipped away from her mind. The communication between the two of them from that point was the sensations of each other’s bodies, the moans and sighs that were muttered from their lips during their erotic moment. They moved in unison, never taking their eyes off the other.

  When they climaxed together, Karen’s shuddering was uncontrollable. They fused together in such spiritual release that he thought he would lose consciousness. He whispered in Karen’s ear and nibbled the lobe below it. She heard soft tones how much he missed her, needed her, loved her. She was his. He was hers. They were one.

  CHAPTER 36

  It was the next morning when Karen woke up, shocked that she’d slept the rest of the previous day and entire night. Turning around, she noticed Brett was still asleep beside her. He hadn’t gone home. She gave him a playful poke. “Hi, Sleeping Beauty.”

  Brett groaned through the tangled mess of hair which covered his face. “Huh?”

  “I love you too.”

  His eyes widened. “Was I here all night? Jesus, I have to be somewhere at one! What time is it?”

  “Nine-thirty. You have a few hours to spare. Want some coffee?”

  He heaved a sigh of relief, grateful he hadn‘t slept in after all. “Sounds great. Mind if I use the bathroom?”

  “It’s all yours.”

  While she ordered coffee and breakfast, Karen could hear Brett in the shower singing in his silly, off-key voice. She wondered how anyone could be so happy first thing in the morning. She struggled to get out of bed most mornings, even more so since she’d been pregnant.

  When he emerged from the bathroom, she was sipping tea and nibbling on graham crackers. “Wow, you mean I even get breakfast? Here I thought you wouldn’t respect me in the morning,” Brett joked.

  “I respect you all the time.”

  “I know you do.” He glanced at what she was having. “Is that all you’re eating?”

  Karen came close to telling him about the baby, then changed her mind. “I’m not a big fan of breakfast,” she said. “I’ve gotten fat enough.”

  “Women and their weight issues. You look better now than the last couple of times I saw you.”

  “Thanks, but tell that to the jeans in my closet which no longer zip.”

  “Get new ones. You’re beautiful, sweetheart. I wouldn’t have you any other way. I‘m no stick figure either.”

  “Yeah, I saw a comment on one of the wrestling boards about you ‘getting fat’, meaning out of shape. I swear if I hear one more ‘weed munchies’ joke about you, I’m going into kill mode.”

  “Too bad all of those assholes don’t know I haven’t had a joint in months. No one important is complaining about me packing on a few anyway.”

  Karen smiled. “Especially in your ass, but I’m not going to criticize that. Your back pocket’s ringing.”

  “Shit.” He pulled out his phone out and looked at the screen. “I better take this.”

  He left the room for several minutes, leaving her alone with her thoughts. Karen wondered when she should tell him about her pregnancy. Things were going so well in his career, and Karen abhorred the
idea of spoiling everything by bringing up the subject of a child she’d presumed Brett didn’t want.

  “That was Stephanie. She wants to see me in about an hour.” He bent down and kissed her. “Thanks for breakfast. I have to get back home before Patrick starts telling the papers I’ve been kidnapped by aliens.”

  “Good luck with your meeting, though I doubt you’ll need it.”

  “Thanks. Karen?”

  “Yes?”

  “I appreciate how you’ve stuck by me the past several months. I ceased to exist in a lot of people’s minds once I lost my last job. You being in my life means so much to me. I guess it’s times like those one finds out who are the most loyal. Thanks again.”

  She nodded, reassuring he could wrestle on a worn mattress in someone’s back yard and she’d still be his number one fan. Karen had faith that Brett was once again going places in wrestling, and that better opportunities would open up for him sooner than anyone expected.

  CHAPTER 37

  “98…99…100!” Brett grunted each time he raised off the concrete floor while doing push-ups in preparation for his official debut with Orlando Wrestling. He was eager the entire week about debuting on a pay-per-view, and the anticipated night had arrived.

  Even though there was speculation on various wrestling sites he was going to be Red Rodent’s “mystery opponent” for the Florida Middleweight Title, for the most part, his scheduled appearance had been kept secret. He chuckled at the thought, getting up from the floor. Even Pat still thinks I’m doing a dark match.

  A loud slap on his ass startled Brett, causing him to yell, “What the fuck?”

  “Nice to see you too, Kerrigan,” a voice replied. “Got a little fatter, otherwise, you haven’t changed.”

  He turned around. “Rat Man, Jesus! How the hell are you, old fart?”

  “No complaints. Just wanted to come of out of my rodent hole and welcome you to the roster before I own your ass tonight.”

  “In your dreams. A bony old shit like you will whoop my ass. Ha ha, tell me another joke. How’s your exciting life?”

  “Still married to my old lady. She likes the schedule they have here, says it’s more time for me to have ‘honeydew vacations’.”

  “Huh?”

  “You know, honeydew vacations. ‘Honey do this,’ ‘Honey, do that,’ all that happy shit. No rest for the weary.”

  Brett laughed. “I think that’s a standard thing for a lot of wives. Not that I’d know anything about marriage.”

  “So, you ever find a woman or still screwing the rare bird who comes along?”

  “Found me a prize about a year ago. She’s one of the reporters covering the show tonight. Want to meet her later?”

  “Sounds good. Drinks on me.”

  “Now there’s a first.”

  “It’s the least I can do once I retain my title tonight. See you in the ring, fat boy.”

  *****

  Karen sat in the press area and organized her work space, taking note of the much smaller Orlando venue in contrast to the major arenas where Brett had wrestled. Orlando Wrestling’s studio where their TV tapings took place was more intimate, fans much rowdier, and the more “off color” content edited before each episode aired. With pay-per-views, anything could happen, but just as exciting as the weekly television matches.

  How great is this? My last field assignment for the next several months in Florida, sunny and seventy degrees, instead of freezing back in Pittsburgh like poor Eddie. Brett appearing is a bonus, even though it‘s bad timing to let him know about the baby…

  “Hi.” Another reporter sat down beside her. “Looks like it’s shaping up to be a good night.”

  “Yes.”

  “I don’t think I’ve seen you before. First Orlando Wrestling assignment?”

  It’s also my last until the baby comes. “Yes, my boss had me come down from Pittsburgh to cover this show. I‘m Karen Montgomery.”

  “James Steele, from Toronto.”

  “You’re quite a long way from home.”

  “I’ve covered Orlando Wrestling from the time they had their first show, so I’m used to it. Sure beats the Canadian cold, eh?”

  “I won’t argue. One of my colleagues called earlier and said it’s only eleven degrees in Pittsburgh. Too bad I’m going home tomorrow.”

  “Same. Any predictions?”

  “I’m getting familiar with everything, and looking over the final card. I’d have to watch every match before forming a firm opinion.”

  “Word’s going around that Brett Kerrigan is going to be Red Rodent’s mystery opponent.”

  “Anything’s possible.” Please let the rumor be true. That would be a perfect opportunity for Brett’s debut. Maybe that’s why he hurried home after Stephanie Cross called the other day. Karen checked her watch, seeing it had stopped. “What time is it?”

  “Almost seven-thirty. Show’s getting underway soon.”

  “Thanks. I have a feeling tonight is going to be an experience neither of us will forget.”

  *****

  Fans didn’t have to wait long for the much-anticipated Florida Middleweight Championship bout. Though the current champion received an enthusiastic welcome from the crowd, when Red Rodent’s surprise opponent was announced, deafening cheers rang out for Brett Kerrigan when he made his entrance in a new white Speedo and a different design of his now-famous, trademark jacket, his hair slicked back.

  As if they’d forgotten Brett was the match’s “bad guy,“ the crowd began chanting his name as he took down Rodent from the beginning, followed by several arm bar take downs. In between, when they were out of the crowd sight, the contenders joked with each other.

  “Ow! You little fat fucker, that hurt!” Rodent growled in Brett’s ear. It was difficult for either of them not to laugh.

  Brett continued his assault on Rodent with a camel clutch with forearm shots into a crossface. Rodent came back on him with a big snap hurricanrana before Brett fired back with a big running spear on Rodent.

  “Here, something to make your rat face look better,” Brett said before sending Rodent to the outside with a flying kick to the face. When Rodent made it back into the ring, Brett kicked him off his feet before going to work on his knee, applying pressure against the ropes.

  “Call me fat boy again, and I’ll give you worse.”

  “Whatever you say, fat boy.”

  “Oh, yeah, your bony little ass is going to get it!” Brett escaped to the top before Rodent caught him with a big kick to the head.

  “You asshole!” Brett yelled.

  “What, did that tickle?” Rodent took him out with a huge senton dive off the top turnbuckle, followed by a missile dropkick on Brett in the ring. “I always guessed you were ticklish.” After a missed shot on him by Rodent, Brett came back with a single leg Boston crab on Rodent.

  “Now who’s ticklish?” Brett cackled in a near-whisper.

  “Let go of me, shithead!” He kicked Brett in the head, followed by a rolling armbar. Brett had a with a near fall on him before Rodent pulled off a pin fall on Brett with a springboard Rat Trap to retain his Florida Middleweight Championship.

  “Better luck next time, fat ass,” Rodent laughed when they got backstage.

  “Hold on to that while you can, old man,” Brett replied. “It won’t be long before that prize is mine. Stephanie didn’t sign me because I’m gorgeous, you know.”

  “No shit? I could’ve sworn she told a couple of scouts to get hold of your agent after she saw you almost naked—or naked, I forget which—in some magazine,” Rodent kidded.

  “You’re a barrel of laughs, Rat Man, like it isn’t bad enough Patrick gives me shit about doing that spread. If I didn’t know any better, I’d think you were jealous.”

  “In a way, I am. Takes a lot of balls to do something like that, then again, you never did have any shame. If I took it all off for a chick rag, I’d never hear the end from my old lady.”

  “Karen was quite unde
rstanding about me doing Men in the Raw. Of course, I warned her before it happened.”

  “Must be one hell of a woman not to mind her man getting naked for the world.”

  “Well, it’s not like my dick was hanging out. Even if that were the case, Karen knows I love her and couldn’t give a fuck what any other chick thinks. She digs the whole feature.”

  “Sounds like a keeper. Better hang on to her tight, man.”

  “Believe me, Rat Man, I will.”

  “He better, after I came all the way to Florida,” a female voice said.

  Brett turned around, delighted to find Karen behind them. He grabbed her around the waist, pulling her into a deep kiss. “Hey, sweetheart.”

  “Were you raised by wolves or something? Jesus, Brett, your friend is in front of us.”

  “No need to worry, miss,” Red Rodent said with a grin. “He isn’t doing anything I haven’t seen before.” He turned to Brett. “I’m guessing this is the lady who has the misfortune of putting up with you?”

  “Yeah. Karen Montgomery, meet the current—and soon to be defeated by me—Florida Middleweight Champion and one of my oldest friends, Red Rodent, or a more appropriate name, Rat Face.”

  Rodent shook her hand. “Pleasure to meet you.” He faced Brett. “How’d you manage to get someone so pretty and with a brain, Kerrigan?”

  “I often wondered how you nailed your wife. Poor Chrissy, smart, curvy brunette with a fantastic ass, an awesome personality, and a great cook. Too bad she got stuck with you.”

  “Hey, stop looking at my old lady’s ass, or I’ll mop you up again like I did tonight.”

  “Fat?” Karen asked. “He looks better than he did this time last year.”

  “Thanks, baby. See how much she digs me, Rat Face?”

  “You must really be in love,” Rodent said to her with a chuckle.

  Brett ran both hands down his body. “With all of this sexiness, how could any curvy chick resist me?”