Favoring Fortuna

Chapter 2

Her apartment was barely bigger than a closet, but she still found herself rushing around trying to make sure she didn't miss a stray bra or anything embarrassing. His text that he was on his way had come a bit earlier than expected, and she was glad she hadn't lingered in bed this morning like she'd taken to doing ever since she'd started riding with Emma and Dana more. She was normally the one dragging them on the road at the last minute.

She felt shy when she opened the door for him, but just like last night (and she was beginning to think maybe with everything he did) he seemed to take charge.

"My apartment in Tokyo was bigger than this," he said as he stepped past her into the room.

"Yeah, I know. Everyone gives me hell about it. I don't usually spend a lot of time here though, and it's cheap."

"I'm not asking how much they pay you, but I know you have to make enough to afford something better than this."

"They do now, but that wasn't the case back in the beginning, and like I said I don't spend a lot of time here. I keep meaning to look for something a little better, but it just hasn't been a top priority. I'm on a short term lease though, so once I have the time, it won't be hard to get out of it, and it really isn't that bad considering it's just a place to sleep and store my stuff. I literally spend more hours at the PC then I do here."

"Still. You should have a space to chill and relax, not just a bed to sleep in."

"Yeah, well, that used to be his place, you know? For a while he hinted at and I thought we were getting to the point where I would just move in there, which is part of why I stayed here so long. Then I caught him there with her and I was grateful I had this."

"Yeah, I guess you were. You caught them together?"

"Yeah, in the same bed we'd slept in the night before, and he even had the nerve to try and apologize like that would magically make it all better."

"Fucking dickhead."

"You got that right in one, but now you see why I just want him out of my life."

"Yeah, well, I said I'd help with that, and I will, I promise. Are you ready to head out?"

"Yeah, just let me grab my gear."

...

In the car she was quiet, not sure what to say. He glanced at her a few times, but let the soft background noise of the radio fill the silence for a little while. Eventually he said,

"Do you have anywhere in particular you want to stop for lunch?"

"I'm not picky, but if you want to there's a place that Sasha and I stopped at the last time we were headed this way that isn't bad. We might run into some of the roster though, a lot of people like it."

"That's fine, I know where you're talking about I think, Sami mentioned it."

"Did you know Sami before you came here?"

"No. I primarily wrestled in Europe and Japan before. I'd heard of him and Kevin, but we'd never crossed paths."

"Granted I don't know you that well, but you just seem so different than Sami."

"You've met Sami right? I'm pretty sure there is no one quite like him."

"Yeah, you're right, I guess I was just surprised after everything I'd heard about you before that happy, over enthusiastic Sami would be the guy that you became friends with."

"What exactly did you hear about me?"

"Oh I don't know, maybe that you used to call the fans 'motherfuckers' or pretend to shoot people in the head," to her surprise he laughed. He gave her a look that she wasn't sure how to interpret, it wasn't quite embarrassment, but he did seem to understand the mixture of awe and disgust she felt about it.