Roadmance

Chapter 3

Kevin and Rami are my new best friends. Rebecca didn't know if she would ever see them again after this ill-fated tour, but she certainly hoped so. They were a bright beacon of humour and passion and drive, and she appreciated all three. Kevin's opponent, Robby Minero, was decent enough, but not the most giving of partners. Kevin, on the other hand, was refreshingly willing to lose to a girl and let Rebecca actually get in a solid amount of moves. The match was never going to go down in history, but at least they had all put in a good showing. Since her intended opponent still hadn't shown up—and to the best of Rebecca's knowledge, hadn't even contacted the promoter—she was glad she had in-ring chemistry with Kevin. Otherwise the remaining matches on the tour were doomed to be utter disasters.

There was another type of chemistry that was worrying her, though, and it had nothing to do with the ring at all. Ever since Colby had been helping her practice in their hotel room and they had kissed, her thoughts had been bouncing everywhere. Had it been an accident? Did he actually like her, or was she just conveniently there? If things went any further, would he keep it to himself or blab to all the other guys on the tour, immediately branding her as easy? Rebecca hadn't really had much time to talk to him, at least not alone, and she certainly wasn't going to bring up the kiss in front of anyone else.

Most of the small roster was off drinking, but Kevin, Rami, and Colby had opted to return to the hotel—and stay sober. Part of Rebecca was tempted to go drink with the others, but she didn't want to deal with Colby with an unclear head; that would just make things even more fraught, and she definitely didn't need that. She didn't mind not drinking—training with Fergal had helped her get away from drugs and alcohol, for which she was forever grateful—but without the buffer of a gentle buzz, she wasn't quite sure how to broach the subject of the kiss. Not that I'll be doing it with Kevin and Rami there, she thought as the four of them went to the hotel's small courtyard to enjoy the nice weather.

"So where have you all wrestled?" Colby asked as they settled in with their water and snacks.

His gaze barely lingered on Rebecca, so she thought she might not have too much to worry about. He probably doesn't even remember now, she told herself. Probably hooks up with a different girl after every show. "Ireland, obviously—and England and Scotland. Germany. Japan. Canada." Rebecca ticked a few more off on her fingers. "Sounds like a list, but countries are smaller over here, so it's easier to get from one to the next."

"Yeah. In the time it takes you to travel through two countries here," Kevin agreed, "we can still be in the same province." Waving vaguely at Colby, he added, "State. Whatever."

Colby looked somewhat reassured by that, so Rebecca assumed he wasn't as well travelled. "That's true. I never thought of it like that."

Rebecca made sure she chimed in often enough that no one thought anything was wrong and, when she thought she had spent enough time socializing, she stood and stretched. "I'm heading in. I need to use the bathroom anyway, so... see you all at breakfast."

She had hoped Colby would stay chatting with Kevin and Rami; better yet if the boys barely registered her departure at all. But she wasn't so lucky. Rami looked at his watch and bolted to his feet. "Yeah, we should all get some sleep. I think we've got something at ten again tomorrow? I'll check the itinerary."

"You got an itinerary?" Kevin asked as he gathered up his garbage. "What the hell, man? Thanks for sharing and all that."

Colby shrugged. "Don't look at me. I was last minute, remember? I was lucky I had a passport and work papers from another tour." While the boys were bickering, Rebecca tried to make a stealthy exit, but Colby noticed, of course. "Hey, wait up. Otherwise the elevator is going to have to make three trips to the same floor and I don't think it can handle that."