Xavier Cold (Hard Knocks #2)

by Michelle A. Valentine

  Chapter 17

  Anna

  Xavier behind the wheel of Quinn’s compact Honda would be almost comical if he didn’t appear to be so tired this morning. He’s so tall and broad that he barely fits in the seat, but it was necessary to borrow her car to drive me to the airport. Suitcases don’t exactly fit on the back of a motorcycle.

  He’s wearing the same clothes he had on last night, and judging by the bags under his eyes, he hasn’t slept a wink.

  I know the feeling because I tossed and turned all night, wondering if refusing to go home with Xavier last night was the right thing to do even though I needed to make it clear that I demand honesty from him.

  After we go to the house on Sycamore to pick up my suitcase, we head to the airport. We haven’t said much to each other. Some tension from the things we said last night is clearly lingering between us, and it seems neither of us is going to budge to compromise.

  Xavier parks the car next to the curb in the passenger drop-off area. “Guess this is it.”

  “I don’t want to leave you, but this is the best thing for us right now. I want to be by your side when this is over.”

  The sadness in his eyes is unmistakable, but surprisingly, he hasn’t asked me to quit my job with Tension in order to stay with him. It’s like it’s finally clicked with him that I need to keep this job, so we can be together when his suspension is lifted.

  He reaches over and touches my cheek. He opens his mouth, like he wants to say something else, but he quickly closes it. Instead, he sighs and then flips open the door handle of the car. “Better get your bag. Planes don’t wait.”

  I swallow hard when Xavier leaves me alone in the car. It’s hitting me that I won’t see him until Wednesday. Four days apart doesn’t sound like a long time, but we haven’t spent one day away from each other since we’ve met. I don’t know if I’ll be able to do this without breaking down into a complete puddle of tears.

  I haven’t even left yet, and I’m missing him like crazy.

  Xavier can’t see me like this. If he sees me hurting, he’ll ask me to stay, and I won’t say no.

  I take a deep breath and lift my chin before opening the door. Xavier’s standing there with his hands shoved into his pockets with my suitcase by his side.

  He sucks in his bottom lip before slowly pulling it through his teeth. “You got everything?”

  Everything but you, I want to say, but instead, I run through the mental checklist I made when I was packing. “I think so.”

  He nods. “Just remember, stick with Brian and Liv. They’ll help you out if you need anything.”

  “Got it.”

  There’s a weird uncertainty between us, and I can’t think of a way to make it any better because leaving is something I have to do. There’s no time for a long heart-to-heart talk about what happened between us.

  Xavier stretches his tattooed arms out toward me and then wraps them around me. He buries his face into my hair, and he inhales deeply, like he’s trying to commit my scent to his memory. “I’ll miss you every damn day. If you have any problems, call me.”

  I cling to him, feeling the heat of his skin against me. “I will.”

  He pulls back first. “Head in there before I make a huge mistake and throw you back in this car.”

  I run my fingers along his jaw, scratching his stubble from his day-old beard. “I love you. This won’t last forever. The only thing that’s permanent is you and me.”

  He nods and then leans in and presses his lips to mine. “Love you, too. Now, go.” He takes a step back as I grab the handle of my suitcase. “Later, beautiful.”

  I head into the building, and when I turn to get a final glimpse of Xavier, he’s already gone.

  The flight from Detroit to Seattle takes forever. Last time I flew cross-country like this, I was thoroughly distracted by the sexy wrestler sitting next to me while he was busy attempting to get into my pants.

  When I finally get off the plane, I make my way through the airport to the exit. Seattle is a little cooler than Detroit, but it’s still a comfortable summer evening.

  I search for a sign to point me in the direction of a taxi, but my eyes widen when they land on a familiar face.

  Liv waves to me. “Anna!”

  I head in her direction, rolling my suitcase behind me, and notice that she’s completely alone. “What are you doing here?”

  “Waiting for you. X texted Brian and asked if we could look out for you, so I took the liberty of picking you up once X gave us your flight information. Hope you don’t mind.”

  “Of course not,” I say as I lean in to hug her. “That’s so sweet of you. Thank you.”

  She releases me. “You’re welcome. Now, come on. Let’s get you over to the hotel. I parked just over here.”

  Once everything is loaded into the back of Liv’s SUV, we hop into the cab.

  She weaves in and out of traffic until we’re coursing down the highway.

  She adjusts her butt in her seat. “So, how’s X holding up with everything? Brian’s worried about him.”

  “He’s handling it better than I expected actually. When Mr. Silverman dropped the suspension on him, Xavier freaked out a bit, threatening to quit if they made me go on the road without him.”

  She raises her eyebrows. “I’m assuming he’s gotten over that since you’re here?”

  I nod. “We fought about it a lot at first, but me being here is for the best, and he realizes that. It’s just hard for us to be apart.”

  “Young love, the kind where you can’t seem to get enough of one another”—Liv sighs with a dreamy expression on her face—“it’s a beautiful thing. I used to worry that those butterflies I felt when I first started dating Brian would fizzle away one day.”

  I smile as I observe in the sappy look on her face. “I take it that you’re still madly in love?”

  Her lips twist into a smile. “That obvious?”

  I hold my fingers up, putting my thumb and forefinger nearly together, allowing less than an inch of space between them. “Only a little.”

  We both laugh. It feels good because I haven’t laughed much since the whole suspension thing went down.

  Xavier is always intense, so I’ve come to expect that from him, but with everything going on, it’s been hard to get him out of his own head. He worries so much, and looking back, we’ve been having a lot of heated discussions lately. I hope that when all of this is settled and he’s able to get back into the ring, playful Xavier will return. I miss that side of him.

  We pull up to the hotel, and Liv drives under the awning of the building, but I don’t see a sign for valet parking.

  “You didn’t have to pull up here. I can walk in with you after you park the car.”

  “Brian and I aren’t staying at the hotel. We live not too far from here, so we prefer to stay home when Tension travels close. Kami sleeps better in her own bed, which means Brian and I actually get to sleep, too.”

  “Speaking of Kami, is she with Brian?”

  She nods. “Yes. They rarely get quality time together. Kami keeps him on his toes.”

  I chuckle, picturing such a large man like Brian at the mercy of a little blonde two-year-old girl.

  Liv pushes the button to pop the hatch on the trunk, and a bellhop in a burgundy suit makes his way to the back of the SUV.

  “Call me if you need anything. I’m only about fifteen minutes away.”

  I smile, thankful for her kindness. “Thank you so much, Liv.”

  “Of course. What are friends for?”

  My grin widens. It’s nice to finally have some friends after so many years of being cooped up with my father’s rules.

  I hop out of the SUV and turn toward Liv. “I’ll see you tomorrow at the show?”

  “You can count on it. I’ll be out there, front and center, to watch what they do with you, Anna Sweets.” She winks at me after calling me out on my stage name.

  I roll my eyes. “I doubt they’ll use me
tomorrow. Xavier isn’t here, so there’s no point in putting me in the show.”

  “I don’t know, Anna. If they’re paying you, they’ll find a way to work you into the ring.”

  My stomach flips, and I suddenly feel uneasy at the thought of heading out into that arena without Xavier. I’m not sure if I can do it alone.

  Liv tilts her head, and by the expression on her face, I can tell that I’m not hiding my worry very well. “Aw, Anna, don’t be nervous. You’ll be great.”

  “You think so?”

  “I do. Don’t give it another thought.” Her cell phone rings from the console next to her. She glances down at the screen and shakes her head. “It’s Brian. I’m sure there’s an emergency, like a dirty diaper, and he’s freaking out. I’ll see you tomorrow.”

  I tell her good-bye, close the door, and then watch her pull away, laughing to myself as I think about Brian unable to handle Kami on his own.

  “Checking in, miss?” the bellhop asks as he holds the handle of my bag.

  “Yes. Thank you.”

  I follow the short, pudgy man into the hotel lobby. “Would you like me to bring your bag up?”

  “I can manage.”

  He smiles and releases the handle. “Here you go. The front desk is straight ahead. Enjoy your stay.”

  Tons of people are milling about with cameras and cell phones in hand. Over the past few weeks, I have learned these people are wrestling fanatics. They follow the superstars on social media so that they can figure out exactly where the guys will be. Autographs and pictures with their favorite wrestlers are a hot commodity among fans.

  I’m sure a lot of them are looking for Xavier. It’s sad that he can’t be here because he loves his fans, and I know he probably misses giving back to them, like he usually does.

  I weave around the crowd, and then I hear the name that Tension dubbed me with being shouted.

  “Anna Sweets! Is X with you?”

  I shake my head, a little dazed that they know who I am. “Sorry, guys. He’s not.”

  The collective sound of disappointed fans echoes around the lobby as I continue to walk around them.

  A rather skinny man wearing a T-shirt with Tension’s logo on it steps in front of me while holding a silver Sharpie. “Will you sign my shirt?”

  The corner of my mouth turns up. “I’m flattered. Of course I will.” I scribble my name on his shirt, trying to be as neat as I can while giving my very first autograph. I re-cap the marker and hand it back to the guy. “There you go.”

  He smiles. “Thank you so much.”

  “You’re welcome.”

  I walk away from the mob of people, completely overwhelmed and humbled and totally smiling like an idiot.

  Steps away from the front desk, I’m in line, waiting to check in, when a familiar voice sounds, reminding me of nails on a chalkboard.

  “Who would’ve ever thought that the fans would ask for your autograph? They’re almost as pathetic as X with the way they’re fawning all over you.”

  I turn to find Deena in a skintight blue dress, staring down her nose at me.

  I fight the urge to roll my eyes at her and stick my tongue out like a five-year-old. “What do you want?”

  She smirks and then throws her blonde hair over her shoulder. “Am I not allowed to make small talk with you?”

  I shake my head. “I’d prefer if you didn’t.”

  She lifts an eyebrow. “Well, we don’t always get what we want in life, do we?”

  It’s not hard to tell that she’s still hung up on Xavier blowing her off, but I refuse to argue with her.

  When she sees that I’m ignoring her, she folds her arms over her chest and continues to talk without invitation, “What does X think about your upcoming storyline with Rex? I bet he’s dying to watch you make out with another man on television.”

  “That’s not going to happen.”

  “Of course it is,” she says as she pretends to be occupied with her perfectly manicured nails.

  “You heard Mr. Silverman the other night. It’s going to be weeks before Rex is back in the ring.”

  “To wrestle,” she corrects. “He said it would be weeks before Rex returns in the ring for a match. It doesn’t mean that they can’t put the two of you into the show. Rex has excellent mic skills, and that pumps the crowd up nearly as much as the high-flying maneuvers he does.”

  My brow furrows. “Are you telling me that Rex is here this weekend?”

  Deena nods. “Of course he is, and I believe he requested a room right next to yours.”

  If I could see my own face, I’m sure I’d see that all the color has completely drained from my face. My plan was to ignore Rex as best as I could when he returned from his injuries. I thought that would be a few weeks from now. I never dreamed he would be around so soon.

  Xavier and I aren’t on the best of terms right now. Things are still so rocky between us. How is he going to handle knowing that Rex is back so soon and staying in the room right next to mine?

  My panic must greatly amuse Deena. A catty witchlike laugh bubbles up from her throat as she turns and walks away, no doubt feeling like she accomplished her mission at getting me frazzled.

  “Next? I can take the next person in line, please.”

  My attention snaps to the lady at the front desk, wearing a required smile.

  “Hi. Sorry. Anna Cortez.” I hand over my debit card and driver’s license.

  The dark-haired lady types my information into the computer. “Okay, found you. Seems you were added on to the reservation originally in Mr. Cold’s name.”

  “Yes. Is there any way you can confirm if my room is next to someone else’s?”

  “Yes, ma’am. Name?”

  “Rex Risen.”

  She types in a few more things and then nods her head. “Yes, ma’am. He’s right next door.”

  I sigh. “I hate to be a pain, but can I be moved?”

  “Let me check.” Her eyes scan the screen. “Not at the price range you are currently in. Those rooms have all been checked in, but we can upgrade you to a suite for an extra four hundred per night.”

  I grimace, knowing that I need to be careful with what I spend. “That’s okay. I’ll stay where I am.”

  “Very well.” The lady finishes checking me in and then hands me a room key along with my other two cards. “Enjoy your stay.”

  I make my way over to the elevator, and when the door slides open, a familiar face comes into view.

  “Oh, good. Just who I am looking for,” Jimmy says as he steps off the elevator. “I’ve got something for you.” He opens the manila folder in his hands. “Here’s your itinerary.”

  I take the paper, and there’s a list of times and places written on it. “Mine?”

  He nods and adjusts the white plastic sunglasses sitting on top of his mullet. “X texted me and asked that I show you the ropes while he’s not here.”

  “That’s kind of you, Jimmy.”

  He shrugs. “He’s paying me, so don’t think too highly of me.” He glances down at my bag. “Well, I’ll let you get settled in. As usual, dinner in the hotel restaurant is on Tension. Come down when you’re ready.”

  “Okay.”

  Jimmy begins to walk away.

  I throw out another, “Thank you,” which only results in him raising his hand into the air in a weird wave while his back is still to me.

  I sigh as I get on the next open elevator. This experience is so different from when I travel with Xavier. I can’t wait for him to get back on the road with me.

  Chapter 18

  Anna

  After dinner, the next thing on the agenda was a meeting with the wardrobe department. I knock on room 507, and a little black lady with short-cropped hair and glasses answers the door.

  She smiles, making her appear warm and inviting. “Anna Sweets, it’s lovely to finally meet you. I’m Pearl, the entire wardrobe department. Come on in.”

  “A one woman show?”
/>   “Exactly,” she says.

  I laugh as I step into the hotel room and notice that her it’s packed with suitcases full of fabric. A compact sewing machine sits on the desk with a wrestler’s costume.

  “You weren’t kidding. You really are a one-man band. You make everyone’s costumes by hand?”

  She nods. “I do. Every outfit you’ve ever seen on Tension over the last fifteen years has been one of my designs. That brings me to you. I can’t have you out there, on the air, wearing just a plain old T-shirt and jeans.”

  I grimace. “You can’t? I really don’t plan on being in the ring much.”

  She lifts one eyebrow. “That’s not the word that has been passed down from the top of the Tension chain. From what I hear, you’ll be making an appearance on every show for the next three months, maybe longer, on Rex’s arm.”

  I rub my forehead and squeeze my eyes shut. “Oh no.”

  She pats my shoulder. “X is gonna have to get over it, honey. If he wants you to keep this job, he knows better than anyone that you’ll have to play along with whatever the big boss wants. Mr. Silverman has really been pushing the idea of a huge rivalry over you between X and Rex.”

  “Any idea what they want me to do when I’m out in the ring?”

  “You’re asking the wrong person for that. I only make the clothes for the storyline. They don’t divulge more than minor information to me when it comes to the plot so I can make sure the outfits are correct. I’ve been asked to prepare a costume for you that goes along with Rex’s.”

  The idea of matching Rex makes my stomach turn a bit. “This is going to end so badly.”

  “Maybe it won’t. X is a smart guy. He’ll get over it if he wants to keep you.”

  “Thank you.” I sigh. “I guess we’d better get to work then.”

  Pearl takes a few minutes to measure every inch of my body, and then she sits on the side of her bed and begins sketching on a pad. Within a few moments, the vision she sees in her head for the outfit she wants to make for me comes to fruition on paper. It’s basically the same as jeans and a T-shirt I usually wear. This time though, the outfit consists of tight pink leather pants and a white blouse with bright pink sequins that say Anna Sweets on top of a frosted cupcake.