The Cruiserweight (37 page)

Karen gave him a look. “You’re not going out
for a beer with the guys afterward?”

Brett shook his head. “I have family
responsibilities, remember? We also have a wedding to put
together.”

“I’m glad you mentioned that. Your mother
called and said she’s flying down this weekend to help you shop for
a suit.”

“Oh, God. Does she not remember that I’m
thirty-one years old and not twelve?”

“Look at it this way, at least I won’t have to
worry about you showing up at the courthouse wearing something in
either hot pink or lime green.”

“Wait
…
courthouse?
No fancy stuff with a singer, twenty
bridesmaids, two thousand guests, the paparazzi, a six-tiered cake,
and all that shit?”

“Do I look like a Bridezilla? A simple wedding
ties the knot just as tight, not to mention will be more intimate.
I was thinking just family and close friends.”

Brett nodded in approval. “I like the way you
think.”

“As for that ‘six-tiered cake,’ I was
considering more along the lines of three. Speaking of which, do
you have house shows next week?”

“No, why?”

“We have an appointment for something I think
you’ll enjoy. Cake tasting.”

Brett raised his eyebrows. “Cake tasting, huh?
Sounds right up my alley.”

“I knew you’d approve. Clear your schedule for
next Thursday afternoon.”

“Consider it done.” He kissed her cheek. “I
have to go. Meeting with the creative team at eleven, and then we
have run-through before the first taping. I’ll give you a call on
break.”

“Have fun. Don’t run off with any of those
gorgeous Cover Girls.”

“Why settle for hamburger when I have filet
mignon at home? See you tonight. Give Little Bit a kiss for
Daddy.”

CHAPTER 71

“You mean I have to wrestle your ugly mug
tonight?” Brett asked Park Perry, laughing. “I thought I was done
with you when I became TV Champion.”

“Oh, you’re just getting started, small fry,”
Perry replied. “Didn’t you read the script? We’re now
feuding.”

“Not easy killing each other week in and week
out without either one or both of us breaking out
laughing.”

“Yeah, you aren’t kidding.”

“Got to admit that promo you cut a couple of
weeks ago was sharp. Then again, I’m not surprised, since you‘re
great with those anyway.”

“Thanks, dude. I’m heading over to warm up
before the match. I’d ask you to join me, but, you know
…
”

Brett nodded. “The whole kayfabe bullshit.
Can’t be seen together if we’re supposed to hate each other’s guts,
right?”

“Ha, ha. You got it.”

“See you in the ring, and prepare to once again
have your ass kicked”

“In your dreams, short stuff. In your
dreams.”

Brett laughed, dropped to the floor, and
prepared for his ubiquitous set of push-ups.

Whether he was jobbing or in his current state
as a champion, he couldn’t help but reflect on how good it felt to
enjoy wrestling for the first time in as long as he could
remember.

*****

Perry and Brett’s non-title match followed the
break. The bout began with Brett catching Perry off-guard with a
punch as the referee was talking to him. He followed up with an
enzuigiri.

Brett knocked Perry off the ring apron, and
then both went over the ringside barrier. He caught Brett from
behind for a moment. “You little shit,“ Perry hissed in his ear
while trying not to laugh. “I’m going to fuck you up for
that.”

“Got to catch me first, ass wipe.” Brett broke
loose from Perry’s grip and took off, running back toward the ring
before both were counted out by the referee.

Perry made a comeback at the eight-minute mark
with a flying forearm, clothesline, and dropkick. Brett responded
with a running bulldog and then a lionsault attempt. Perry moved,
but Brett, like a cat, landed on his feet.

When Perry went for a dropkick, Brett caught
his legs and pinned him into a schoolboy. Perry powered his way to
the bottom rope to force a break. The arena filled with a mix of
cheers and boos. They exchanged leverage near falls. It was Perry‘s
turn in an attempt to pin Brett, but Brett managed to escape before
giving Perry the Slice of Kerrigan and then pinned him to capture
the win.

When Brett returned to the locker room, he’d
noticed his wrist was swollen.
Oh shit, when did that
happen?

The injury also didn’t go unnoticed by Perry.
“Better get your arm checked, little buddy,” he said. “Might be
broken.”

“No, I can move my hand and fingers okay. I
don’t know how it happened, though.”

“Probably during the schoolboy. Remember when
my one hip was on your wrist?”

“Ah, should’ve known your fat ass was
involved.”

Perry slapped his ass. “Go get an
X-ray.”

CHAPTER 72

"What on this green earth happened?” Karen
asked when Brett came home, his left arm wrapped in an Ace bandage
from his thumb to the middle of his forearm, accompanied by Park
Perry.

"There I was," Brett said, “in a dark place,
near the park. There was a girl in trouble. Five big dudes had her
cornered. I think one of them had a gun, but I tackled all of them
and saved the girl. Right, Park?”

Perry rolled his eyes and laughed. "Your
boyfriend’s full of shit. He sprained his wrist during our match
tonight.”

"I liked my story much better than saying you
were a klutz and landed on me wrong.”

“How bad is the sprain?” Karen
asked.

“I can still work through it,” Brett answered.
“By the way, don’t tell anyone since the show didn’t air yet, but I
beat Park’s ass again.”

“Next time, you’re walking home, Kerrigan,”
Park said, joking.

“Sore loser,” Brett replied. “Thanks for the
ride, man. See you in a couple of weeks.”

“My pleasure. Always fun watching you pinch the
male nurses’ asses in the emergency room.” Perry darted out the
door, howling with laughter, before Brett could catch
him.

“What?”
Karen
asked.

“He was jacking my chain,” Brett said. “You
should know by now my only other love is Patrick.”

“Very funny.”

“Little Bit still sacked out, huh?”

“Yes, she’s now starting to sleep through the
night. You haven’t noticed?”

“Guess I’ve been too tired.”

“Good point. By the way, your lover boy Patrick
called earlier.”

“Oh, cool. It’s still early out in L.A.; I’ll
call him back before Little Bit decides to wake up and expand her
lungs.”

“Don’t forget to tell him the tale about how
you saved a damsel in distress from being attacked by five big men
tonight.” Karen started to giggle.

“Sure, sweetheart. I love you too.”

While Brett was making his phone call, Karen
checked on Autumn, who was still sleeping.
I never thought I’d
see a night when Autumn would sleep through her father coming in
the house sounding like a team of horses.

She returned to the living room, baby monitor
in hand, and Brett was off the phone. “Thought I’d give you a heads
up. Patrick’s going to be in Orlando this weekend signing
autographs and doing a show for anti-bullying awareness,” he said.
“I told him he could stay here.”

“So what’s the problem? You know I enjoy Pat’s
visits. It’s also wonderful he’s part of such a good
cause.”

“Hey, I have an idea,” Brett said. “Since he’s
going to be here the entire weekend, but only doing the show one
day, why don’t you take some time for yourself on Sunday? Pat and I
can watch Little Bit.”

“That’s very nice, but you guys should spend
some time together.”

“I’ll go to his show Saturday night and we’ll
hang out after. You’ve been busy with Autumn since she was born,
and you need a little time to yourself. Go shopping and charge
everything to me if you’d like.”

“My, being Orlando Wrestling TV Champion has
made you even
more
generous. All right, but make sure all of
the blondes are out of here by the time I get home.”

“Oh, you’re a real comedian, Karen.”

She giggled. “I have to mess with you once in
awhile. In all seriousness, I think it’s very sweet of you to spend
time with Autumn.”

“Yeah, it isn’t like I have many opportunities,
you know?”

“Of course, and I also know how much Daddy
enjoys spoiling his Little Bit. Now come on, it’s almost one-thirty
in the morning. We need to get to bed.”

Brett yawned. “Not a bad idea, baby. I think
those pain pills they gave me at the ER are finally starting to
kick in.”

CHAPTER 73

“Guess it’s just you and me the rest of the
day, ladybug,” Karen said to Autumn on Saturday once Brett and
Patrick left to go to Patrick’s appearance. “I’m not as exciting as
Daddy, but I’m sure we can find something to do.”

She took a sniff. “Oh my, smells like you need
a change. How can someone so pretty be such a stinky
girl?”

Karen took Autumn to the changing table,
cleaned up her daughter, and put on a fresh diaper before she
redressed her. “There. Now we can go play.”

Autumn yawned, indicating she had something
else in mind. “Is it already that time?” Karen asked before she
glanced at the clock. “Looks like it’s later than I thought.” She
lay the baby in her crib. “I guess naptime it is. At least you’ll
have a peaceful sleep while Daddy and Papi Pat are
gone.”

*****

“As much as I love making daytime appearances
before wrestling shows, my ass is tired,” Patrick said. “I never
was an early riser.”

“How well I know,” Brett replied with a laugh.
“Lord knows I’ve dealt with you countless times before you’ve had a
cigarette and a few cups of that nasty Mexican coffee.”

“Got to have my morning smoke and spice. On the
other hand, meeting fans is worth getting up early.”

“Yes they do, my man. Fans are the backbone of
our business, and I’m glad to see you haven’t forgotten
that.”

“Shit, how else would we get paid for meeting
such cool people?”

“You know it.” Brett high-fived him. “We going
to lunch?”

“You buying?”

“Why do I always get roped into
buying?”

“Because you’re the one with the Orlando
Wrestling contract and championship bonus. The indies don’t pay
much, remember?”

“Aren’t you getting a percentage of the sales
for your Internet show DVD?”

“Yeah, but I’m not a fucking
millionaire.”

“Neither am I. I also have a kid to support and
a wedding to plan these days to boot.”

“Wait…
wedding?
Why didn’t I hear about
this?”

“Because I was waiting for your ass to get here
before asking you a favor.”

“Oh,
hell no!
Brett, I love Autumn, I
really do, but I’m not spending a whole night cleaning up baby
puke, piss, and shit while you and Karen go off and elope, and then
screw all night. No thank you.”

“That wasn’t what I was going to ask, dumb
ass.”

“Then what?”

“Pat, you’ve been my best friend for almost ten
years. We were tag champs at our last job for almost a year, and I
couldn‘t have had a better guy for a tag partner. We always had
each other’s backs, even at times we’d piss off the other. We know
each other so well, we may as well have been brothers in another
life. With that in mind, I can’t think of anyone better I’d like to
stand for me at my and Karen’s wedding than my top
homeboy.”

A goofy grin crossed Patrick’s face. “You’re
serious?”

“Will you do it?”

“Damn straight I will! I’ll even buy lunch
today.”

Brett patted his shoulder. “I knew I always dug
you for some reason.”

*****

“Phoebe! It’s good to hear from you!” Karen
said when she heard her friend and old co-worker‘s voice on the
phone that evening.

“Is this a good time?”

“Never better. Brett is at Patrick’s show and
Autumn’s napping. Plenty of time to talk. What do I owe the honor
of your call?”

“Eddie and I set a wedding date.”

“That’s wonderful! When?”

“Next July Fourth.”

“Should I ask whose idea that was?”

“Of course, Eddie’s. He thinks it would be
awesome to have fireworks on our anniversary.”

Karen chuckled. “I should’ve known.”

“Have you and Brett decided on a date for your
wedding?”