“…Why? What have I done for her to be proud of?” Elle muttered as her hand dropped to rub her stomach.

  “Hey…” I placed a hand on her shoulder. “I think your mom would be proud that you’re living life on your terms. You’re carving out your own path. In life, in your career, as a parent. You’ve done so much, Elle. You don’t see it, but I see it every day. Your aunts see it, or they wouldn’t have helped me with all this.”

  “He’s totally right. She’s proud of you. We all are. You’re doing a great job, and you’re going to be a great, Mom.” Trisha said.

  Elle sniffled. Tears wet her cheeks. I pulled her into my arms. Elle buried her face in my chest. I caressed her back.

  “You are wonderful Elle. Everyone sees it but you. I don’t care if I must remind you every day. I’ll kept telling you until I’m blue in the face or you finally start believing it.”

  I mean it.

  “We’ll hold you to that one, Logan!” Renee shouted from the doorway.

  “Hey! We’re trying to have a moment here!” Elle’s head sprung up.

  Elle

  “Why don’t you want a baby shower?!?!” Amber screeched like a howler monkey as she turned into the Ember Stadium parking lot.

  As I got closer and closer to my due date, I had to make the decision on when my last live show would be. As exciting as the live crowd was, all the back-and-forth travel had become a chore. Amber insisted that she would come visit and help with baby girl whenever I needed. Still feeling a little gun shy about friendship, I just nodded along as she talked. Which seemed to work except for this one sticking point.

  I shrugged. “I don’t really need anything. Logan has enough money. It just seems unnecessary.”

  “Girl…” Amber sighed as she pulled into her usual spot.

  “Girl what?” I asked.

  “I just think you’re being difficult.”

  I narrowed my eyes at Amber for her totally tone-deaf comment.

  She continued, “I just mean you’ve gone through 9 entire months of carrying a human inside of you. You give birth and they hand you an actual person without an instruction manual. If I were you, I’d want a get together to celebrate that! The only thing that would make it better is if they created alcohol for pregnant women!”

  I laughed, “I can picture it. Getting plastered, then going right into the delivery room. Nothing could go wrong!”

  “I’d make a killing! Maybe I should have Joe invest.”

  I rolled my eyes and climbed out of the car. I waved at Larry, who waited for us in his golf cart in front of the bay doors. Amber’s unnecessary heels clapped on the ground as she ran to catch up with me. We reached the golf cart at the same time. Amber looked flawless, not a hair out of place. I huffed as sweat beaded on my forehead.

  Yep, can’t do this much longer!

  Larry drove us backstage and wished me luck. I still had a whole show to sit through, but I already felt a ghost of sadness at taking a break from seeing the colorful cast of characters I’d met through the crazy world of wrestling. With a smile, I settled into my ringside seat. Thankfully, this night my seat neighbors weren’t too rowdy, just the normally overly excited wrestling fans. Amber rolled her eyes and scrolled through her phone. She claimed to hate wrestling, but the excitement bug always came around to bite her in the ass.

  As usual, Logan wouldn’t tell me any hints about his part tonight. Amber insisted she didn’t know anything, but Joe would let her know when Logan would be on. It was frustrating that even being in a relationship with a wrestler and friends with several others I still couldn’t get the inside scoop on storylines and matches.

  The show started with a tag team match between The Jesters and Dark & Proud.

  God, both of those names are stupid.

  The match ended in a middle of the ring brawl between all four guys. After a couple of singles matches from several midcard guys, it was time for women’s wrestling. Jessa Haze looked stunning in a metallic blue singlet that hugged all her curves. She walked to the ring with her head held high for a match against Lakia. The women had a good showing with their match going over 15 minutes. I couldn’t help the loud gasp I let out when Jessa landed a round house kick to Lakia’s head so hard that her trademark cat ears flew out of the ring. After Jessa won, she grabbed the cat ears off the ramp and wore them backstage. The crowd rightly booed her and cheered for the fallen Lakia. I was excited about this new feud. The girls were going to kill it! I tapped Amber on the shoulder and finally got her to glance up from her phone for the first time since we sat down.

  “Gotta pee!” I whined.

  I squeezed my thighs together and cursed pregnancy bladder. I had curtailed my fluid intake but still found myself in desperate need of the toilet.

  “A little birdy told me you might wanna see what’s going on next.” She winked at me.

  I shook her shoulder. “Yeah, yeah, yeah. Logan’s great and everything, but I’ve gotta PEE!”

  Amber’s eyes widened. “Okay! Come on, there’s a private bathroom near gorilla position.”

  She grabbed my wrist and dragged me towards backstage. A security guard stopped us in our tracks and loudly informed us that only staff was allowed backstage. Amber narrowed her eyes, and I unhelpfully danced the pee dance beside her. Her nostrils flared but Amber didn’t say anything she just whipped out her phone and continued her stare down with the tall and unimpressed guard. Her fingers moved in a blurred frenzy. I leaned forward and gripped the barricade with both hands as I was slowly losing the fight against pissing myself. The guard turned his glare towards me, but I was in too much pain to care.

  “Baby!”

  Amber’s lips instantly flicked up into a deadly smirk. The guard turned around to Joe, rushing towards us. His typical tech bro look was topped off with a navy-blue bomber jacket covered in gold dragons, like an upgrade of the silk printed anime shirts of the early 2000s. I cringed thinking of how much something so damn ugly must have cost. The security guard certainly wasn’t unimpressed now. His wide eyes seemed impressed, very impressed. I would have laughed if I wasn’t trying to keep my bladder from exploding all over everyone’s shoes.

  “Straight ahead, second door on the left!” Joe shouted as he pushed the barricade open himself.

  I acknowledged his directions with a nod of my head and made the dash/seal walk to the bathroom. I said a silent thank you to all the gods I could list in my head for letting me make it to the toilet in time. When I came out, Joe had gone but the security guard stared down at his shoes sheepishly.

  “He’s not gonna lose his job, is he?” I asked as we headed back to our seats.

  Amber shook her head, “No. I’m an asshole, but not a total monster. No one should lose their livelihood for a mistake. New guy, no big deal, he just needs to check the attitude next time.”

  I nodded in agreement with Amber’s level headiness. She could be kind to other people, just as long as they weren’t her friends.

  “Hurry up! Joe is stalling on commercial break so you can see your man!”

  My grin grew three sizes as we sat down. Logan, in his wrestling persona, sent my body into a tizzy. I was already very attracted to him, but in character there was an added unanticipated thrill. The lighting softened, and the crowd started to cheer. In the ring, an interviewer stood in front of a table and chairs. Tables always looked funny in the middle of a wrestling ring because they usually signaled that someone was going through it at some point.

  “Hello, my name is Jon Michael and I’ve been called here at the request of a wrestler who says he had something to show everyone. Will everyone help me welcome to the ring TY Blue!”

  His theme song started, and TY marched to the ring with a determined look in his eyes. He didn’t stop for any of the bluster and posing his typical entrance called for. His straightforward demeanor let me know this segment was going to be good. TY stepped into the ring and shook hands with Alex before taking a seat at the table.

  “So, TY may I ask why you’ve called this meeting?” Jon asked.

  TY picked up a mic off the table and twirled it around in his hand for a dramatic pause before replying, “In due time, in due time. Jon, my good man, could you invite Logan Cole down to the ring? I really think he should be here for this.”

  Jon raised an eyebrow, “Okay… Here is the MWA world heavyweight champion, Logan Cole!”

  My heart launched into my throat as Logan’s theme song started. The crowd roared with applause and much to Amber’s annoyance, I joined in. Logan strutted onstage with cocky irritation. Dressed in a velour forest green suit, ray-ban sunglasses, and his title belt hanging off his shoulder, he looked like king of the assholes as he stood at the top of the ramp and pyro exploded around him.

  King dorkass but still stupid sexy!

  I grabbed the barricade in front of me as he stepped into the ring. He was playing his part amazingly, annoyed at the spectacle of being called to the ring by someone he had already beaten twice.

  “Please have a seat.” TY smiled.

  Logan took off his sunglasses and tucked them into his shirt collar. Gripping his title belt hard, Logan reluctantly sat in the seat opposite TY. He snatched up a microphone and asked,

  “What is all this TY? I’ve already kicked your ass and won your title. What else do you want me to do to you?”

  “Thank you for joining us tonight!” Jon smiled at Logan.

  Logan acknowledged Jon with a nod of his head.

  “So, TY are you ready to explain why you’ve called this meeting?” Jon asked.

  “First, I want to point out you got lucky!” TY asserted.

  “No luck about it! I’m better than you in every way. Me having this title proves that!” Logan leaned back in his chair and smiled.

  The crowd cheered wildly.

  “You’re delusional if you think that Logan-”

  “Not delusional. I’m just a winner and you’re… what is it called? Oh yeah! You’re a loser!”

  TY clutched his mic tighter and sighed. “Whatever you’re saying doesn’t matter-”

  Logan cut in again to shout, “Championship equals winner! No championship equals loser!”

  The crowd applauded Logan’s elementary level logic.

  TY shook his head as the crowd quieted. “I didn’t want to do this, Logan, but I know you’ve been lying to the MWA audience. You come out here every week and pretend to be this irresistible cocky asshole. But we know that’s not true, don’t we?”

  Logan snorted, “TY what the fuck are you talking about?”

  TY laughed and propped his legs up on the table. “I mean we can continue to play coy if you want. That’s fine. I’m going to reveal your true nature to the MWA audience, because as fans, they encourage your shit behavior and I’m sick of it. Let’s see it, let’s show the world the real Logan, shall we?”

  TY directed everyone’s attention to the massive screens above the stage. My jaw dropped. The picture Logan had taken of us before the Frank Gotch awards was up on the screen. Logan, in his cool confidence, grinning beside me with half-opened eyes and my bloated, pregnant body. My skin tingled with burning awareness.

  What is happening?!

  “Looks innocent, right? Let’s see some more, shall we?” TY cackled like a cartoon villain.

  The photo changed to one we’d taken on the beach during our babymoon. Me laying stretched out in my maternity two piece across Logan’s lap. His hands rested casually over my bump. The picture changed again to a selfie I had taken of me kissing Logan on the cheek. His eyebrows were raised and his cheeks were pink. The photo changed again to a picture of me wearing one of his shirts eating crackers on his old couch. These were private moments between the two of us. Moments we had agreed to keep away from the public. The edges of my vision clouded. I tried to swallow, but my throat was raw and dry. My heart pounded against my ribs.

  “The real Logan Cole is a fraud! What happened to the bisexual disaster that made a name for himself in Japan? The debonair bastard who had girls and guys falling at his feet?! A family man with a pregnant partner!” TY jumped out his seat and pointed at Logan. “Lucky for us, you invited her here today!”

  Time and space slowed as the sky opened and a spotlight shined on me. My eyes widened and suddenly a ringside camera was in my face. My body went ridged. The blinding warmth from the directed lights made my stomach violent. The audience broke out into a swell of boos. I couldn’t move. All I could do was sit there and hear the hatred from the surrounding mob. Something smacked into the back of my head and covered me in cool, sticky wetness.

  “SHIT!” Amber shouted.

  The smell of overpriced, watered-down stadium beer filled my nose. Someone had tossed their drink at me.

  “I bet that bump is fake!” Someone next to me laughed.

  A hand reached towards me, but I couldn’t move. I was glued in place.

  “Don’t fucking touch her!” Amber yelled.

  She grabbed my wrist and yanked me out of my seat. My legs wobbled as she dragged me past screeching fans. I protected my baby with my free hand as screaming vitriol burned in my ears. An extra agitated fan lunged forward and bumped into me. I stumbled but managed to stay upright as Amber pulled me along. I stole a glance over my shoulder at the ring where Logan and TY were tangled up in a mass of swinging limbs. Wrestlers ran from backstage to break up the pair.

  “LET US THROUGH!!” Amber screamed at security.

  This time, they ushered us through the barricade without argument. Gorilla position was filled with wrestlers who stood motionless against the wall and stared at me. Covered in beer, I surely looked a mess. Although I was thrust into another position where all eyes were on me, my sense of dread started to recede. I snatched my arm away from Amber.

  “D-d-did y-y-you know about this?” I stammered.

  “I had no idea sweetheart. I would never take part in something like that. You have to believe me. I’m sorry. I’m so sorry.” Her voice was tiny, a shell of the brash, confident woman that had become my friend.

  The sound of Logan’s laughter filled my ears. I turned around to him and a group of wrestlers shooting the shit as they walked backstage. Their laughter died at the sight of me standing there in the middle of gorilla looking like a Black pregnant version of the girl from the Ring in leggings.

  “Oh, my god Elle! What happened? Are you okay?!” Logan pushed past his coworkers and ran over to me.

  My jaw clenched at the misplaced concern. He reached out to place a hand on my shoulder when rage overwhelmed me. It blinded me with heat and fury. I pushed aside his hand and yelled,

  “What the hell is wrong with you?!”

  “What?”

  “You don’t get to do that then feign concern! Why would anyone in their right mind think that would be okay?!” my vision blurred as tears filled my eyes.

  “You’re a fan Elle. We thought you would like being a part of the show! I would have told you, but we needed your genuine reaction on camera!” Logan scoffed, as if him needing to explain this to me was stupid.

  My body shook with a cocktail of anger and sadness. The slack jawed expression on Logan’s face distorted as tears streaked down my face.

  “You said I could trust you! That you wouldn’t do anything to hurt me! You lied! You fucking liar!” I pushed against the solid wall of muscle known as his chest with all my might.

  Logan didn’t move, but title belt fell off his shoulder and hit the ground with a thud.

  He looked at me with softened eyes. “Elle, I think you’re overreacting. Maybe should find a quiet place to talk?”

  I shook my head, “No! You don’t get to tell me how to react to your shitty behavior!

  “…So, I’m just supposed to you let you overreact and embarrass yourself?”

  “What?”

  “This is what you always do! You overreact to the smallest stuff and drag everyone down with you! You did it with Dani and she was your best friend. God knows you do it to me! The moment anyone does anything out of whatever box Elle has created, then it’s the end of the fucking world! Do you ever think about anyone else? No wonder you’ve never been in a relationship before!” He sneered.

  My hands clenched at my sides. “My feelings are valid! I’m allowed to feel however I want! You say I never think about anyone else, but I’m 33 weeks pregnant, Logan! When you and whoever thought this out, did any of you put any fucking thought into how any of this would affect me?! How it would affect the baby?!”

  “I…” his mouth snapped shut.

  He didn’t give us a single thought…

  I squeezed my eyes closed as that realization consumed me. It was clear that through all his words and bluster, Logan didn’t give a damn about me and baby girl. His silly pseudo sport was more important than us. My heart shattered. My chest locked tight. I gasped. Tightness pulled through my body like a strained rubber band. This wasn’t good for baby girl. With trembling hands, I touched my belly. I needed to go. I needed to get away from him.

  “Logan…” My lips trembled as if my body was trying to talk me out of my decision. I powered through, “I never want to talk to you again. Fuck wrestling and fuck you.”

  I turned around towards Amber and pleaded, “Please get me out of here.”

  She nodded and wrapped an arm around my shoulders, leading me away. My whole body shook with anguish as snot joined my tears and streamed down my face. Somehow, I don’t really know how I ended up in the passenger seat of Amber’s car. Like the classy bitch I am, I wiped my face on my hands, then wiped my hands on my leggings.

  “Where do you want to go?” She asked.

  I hiccupped and sniffled in a vain effort to stop crying.

  “I-I need t-t-to get my stuff,” I managed to choke out.

  “Back to the hotel?”

  “Yeah… Then could you take me home?” I asked as if I didn’t live nearly two hours away.

  “Uh… sure.” She agreed before pulling out of the parking lot.

  Amber insisted on running up to the room to grab my stuff. While I waited, I let out a shaky sigh, and I pulled my phone out of my purse. My eyes bulged at the onslaught of notifications on the screen. All my social media was blowing up. I glanced at a few of the notifications and saw things like ‘Fat bitch!!’ and ‘He would never be with that ugly Black slut’. I winced and returned my phone back to the dark depths of my bag.