Post by Melinda Rhodes on Jun 24, 2017 0:40:17 GMT -6
My thoughts were a blur as I stepped down the stairs and out of Cessna aircraft and made my way into the Cortez Municipal Airport. My dark match debut lingered like a shadow on my mind. Was it good enough? I wish I had more than five minutes. I should have done better. Fuck, what a calm looking bundle of nerves I am. I shifted the travel bag on my shoulder as I made my way through the lobby.
With the sun still bright in the noon sky overhead, I stepped through the double door exit and immediately found myself greeted by the love of my life, James Spade. The heat forced him to dress appropriately, sandals, black shorts, and one of his old Wildkard tank tops, showing off those lean tattooed arms. We embrace, lips pressed hard and arms freely roaming one another, though my fingers always wound up in his dark brown hair. I pulled away from him to catch my breath. Damn did he know how to kiss a woman. I then looked over his shoulder to see our child sleeping peacefully in her little stroller.
James smiled at me and spoke softly, “Lil' Lana finally conked out while we waited in the shade for you.”
I walked past him and knelt down, giving her a looking over. She was wearing her favorite bright red shirt, whisps of black hair growing on her round head. She was barely over a month old and already growing faster than I could believe. I wasn't going to tempt fate by fidgeting with her while she slept. James walked up behind me as I rose to a stand, putting his arm around my shoulders.
I took the stroller by the handle and the three of us made our way towards a black forty-three Chevy pickup truck, emblazoned with a classic 50's style flame job. I wouldn't have called it a family vehicle, but it suited our needs just fine for now. At least the ZZ five-seventy-two crate motor under the hood would give it more than enough get up and go with the hill-covered countryside of Cortez, Colorado.
“How'd the tryout go?” He asked me softly.
I'm instantly brought back to the dark match that happened just days ago. Anyone walking by wouldn't have noticed, but he could've felt the brief tension in my shoulders.
“I won the match and was told they'd call me back,” I answered with a small smile.
“It's a big opportunity, I hope you get it,” He gave me a little squeeze as he opened the driver's side door. I knew it was hard for James, giving up professional wrestling to be a stay at home father. A hint of guilt crept into my heart as I watched him detach the car seat from the stroller base and buckle our snoozing baby in.
For a brief moment, I was taken back over six months in time. I had gone in for a routine physical when I was delivered the news by the doctor. Funny thing, I thought I had been packing on a couple pounds because of junk food. Nope, I was three months pregnant. This was despite being on the pill and James using a condom. So you can imagine my shock and surprise.
There was no way I could run the promotion I owned, compete in the ring, and deal with all the bullshit that would have come from the media circus at the time as well as prepare for the birth of a child. So I elected to just disappear with little to no notice. I made sure the talent in my company was paid for their time, then consolidated my remaining assets, and moved to a quiet spot in Colorado.
At first the idea was that we would retire together, open up a little garage, and do car modding. During the pregnancy, however, I found myself missing the ring. If you ask me, I felt pretty fucking selfish, but James supported me the entire time. Even bought rings with the intention of marriage. I kept the ring, but we had our own private vows. Love doesn't need paperwork and bullshit afterall.
Six more months passed and eventually I gave birth to little Lana Rhodes. You'd think the fact that in my wrestling career that I've been beaten, burned, stabbed, thrown through everything from tables and ladders to plate glass windows, and ripped up many times by barbwire that I'd have been prepared for that level of pain. I've faced down muscle bound bitches that could snap most men in half and yet I was almost taken down by a twelve pound bundle of adorable coming out of my own body.
“Hey you gonna' get in the truck or just keep staring at the sidewalk,” said James. I snapped back to reality looked up at him in the driver's seat.
“Still wrapping my head around being a Mom,” I said with a chuckle.
A moment or two later, I was in the passenger seat and buckled up. The truck rumbled to life and the baby murmured, almost waking up. James quirked his brow at me and I smirked back at him.
“I wasn't the one who installed glass packs in the mufflers,” I quickly pointed out.
“...and I didn't hear you complain about it when I did,” He replied with a smirk. James shifted the truck into gear and we rolled out of the parking lot together, heading to our quiet little home.
Again my thoughts drifted as we drove for those few minutes, analyzing the match in my head over and over. Despite what my opponent thought, it wasn't for a guaranteed contract. It was just to see if one of us was worth EWC's time and money.
In the end, it isn't about the money. It's about the future and what I leave behind when I finally do become the past.
With the sun still bright in the noon sky overhead, I stepped through the double door exit and immediately found myself greeted by the love of my life, James Spade. The heat forced him to dress appropriately, sandals, black shorts, and one of his old Wildkard tank tops, showing off those lean tattooed arms. We embrace, lips pressed hard and arms freely roaming one another, though my fingers always wound up in his dark brown hair. I pulled away from him to catch my breath. Damn did he know how to kiss a woman. I then looked over his shoulder to see our child sleeping peacefully in her little stroller.
James smiled at me and spoke softly, “Lil' Lana finally conked out while we waited in the shade for you.”
I walked past him and knelt down, giving her a looking over. She was wearing her favorite bright red shirt, whisps of black hair growing on her round head. She was barely over a month old and already growing faster than I could believe. I wasn't going to tempt fate by fidgeting with her while she slept. James walked up behind me as I rose to a stand, putting his arm around my shoulders.
I took the stroller by the handle and the three of us made our way towards a black forty-three Chevy pickup truck, emblazoned with a classic 50's style flame job. I wouldn't have called it a family vehicle, but it suited our needs just fine for now. At least the ZZ five-seventy-two crate motor under the hood would give it more than enough get up and go with the hill-covered countryside of Cortez, Colorado.
“How'd the tryout go?” He asked me softly.
I'm instantly brought back to the dark match that happened just days ago. Anyone walking by wouldn't have noticed, but he could've felt the brief tension in my shoulders.
“I won the match and was told they'd call me back,” I answered with a small smile.
“It's a big opportunity, I hope you get it,” He gave me a little squeeze as he opened the driver's side door. I knew it was hard for James, giving up professional wrestling to be a stay at home father. A hint of guilt crept into my heart as I watched him detach the car seat from the stroller base and buckle our snoozing baby in.
For a brief moment, I was taken back over six months in time. I had gone in for a routine physical when I was delivered the news by the doctor. Funny thing, I thought I had been packing on a couple pounds because of junk food. Nope, I was three months pregnant. This was despite being on the pill and James using a condom. So you can imagine my shock and surprise.
There was no way I could run the promotion I owned, compete in the ring, and deal with all the bullshit that would have come from the media circus at the time as well as prepare for the birth of a child. So I elected to just disappear with little to no notice. I made sure the talent in my company was paid for their time, then consolidated my remaining assets, and moved to a quiet spot in Colorado.
At first the idea was that we would retire together, open up a little garage, and do car modding. During the pregnancy, however, I found myself missing the ring. If you ask me, I felt pretty fucking selfish, but James supported me the entire time. Even bought rings with the intention of marriage. I kept the ring, but we had our own private vows. Love doesn't need paperwork and bullshit afterall.
Six more months passed and eventually I gave birth to little Lana Rhodes. You'd think the fact that in my wrestling career that I've been beaten, burned, stabbed, thrown through everything from tables and ladders to plate glass windows, and ripped up many times by barbwire that I'd have been prepared for that level of pain. I've faced down muscle bound bitches that could snap most men in half and yet I was almost taken down by a twelve pound bundle of adorable coming out of my own body.
“Hey you gonna' get in the truck or just keep staring at the sidewalk,” said James. I snapped back to reality looked up at him in the driver's seat.
“Still wrapping my head around being a Mom,” I said with a chuckle.
A moment or two later, I was in the passenger seat and buckled up. The truck rumbled to life and the baby murmured, almost waking up. James quirked his brow at me and I smirked back at him.
“I wasn't the one who installed glass packs in the mufflers,” I quickly pointed out.
“...and I didn't hear you complain about it when I did,” He replied with a smirk. James shifted the truck into gear and we rolled out of the parking lot together, heading to our quiet little home.
Again my thoughts drifted as we drove for those few minutes, analyzing the match in my head over and over. Despite what my opponent thought, it wasn't for a guaranteed contract. It was just to see if one of us was worth EWC's time and money.
In the end, it isn't about the money. It's about the future and what I leave behind when I finally do become the past.
