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Chapter Forty-Eight

THEODORE

Uprising PPV

Detroit, Michigan

“ D oes it make you feel better to know that Hext has been bitching about this all week?” Juliette asks as she leans in the doorway. “He doesn’t want to win the title, feels like it should be Micah.”

“Everyone feels like it should be Micah. I won’t be surprised if the bastard walks when his contract is up,” I say, sitting on the couch and wrapping my wrists with tape. Doing a couple of layers to hide the razor blade and make sure it stays hidden. “It is what it is. Nathan thinks it should go to Hex.”

It’s not like I get a say in who I drop my title to. The gold-plated belt sits next to me on the couch. This is bittersweet. I haven’t experienced a lot of heartbreak in my life. There’s not much I let my heart get involved in. This stings though.

Championships come and go. I did what I had to do. Actions have consequences. Sometimes the consequences hurt, but I can still confidently say that it was worth it .

She pushes off the door. “I’m gonna go check up on him. I’ll see you two later.” She nods to me and Aurora before she disappears down the hallway.

Reaching over, I wrap my arm around Aurora’s waist and pull her into my lap. She looks stunning in a black lace jumpsuit. It hugs those curves that I love so much. “Think we could get it on real quick?” I ask, kissing the sensitive spot behind her ear and making her giggle. “It’s our last time in our own locker room. Might as well use it to our advantage.”

She leans back against me, her body melting underneath my touch. She so wants to give in. “You’ll rip my outfit.”

I run my fingers over the jumpsuit, callused fingers snagging on the lace. “Probably,” I agree. “But we could run out and buy you something else after.”

“Mm, don’t think we have time. How about I make it up to you tonight?”

I grumble, not liking being told no. Sex would be a great distraction from how I’m feeling. Maybe I don’t need a distraction. I should probably feel my feelings or whatever. That’s what Aurora would say if I told her about the tightness in my chest. “Fine,” I relent, burying my face into her neck. Inhaling her sweet vanilla scent calms me a bit.

Reaching back, her fingers thread through my curls and I relax some more. “You okay?” she asks.

Lying to Aurora isn’t something I want to do. I’ve tried hard to avoid doing that since she became mine. No one understands how hard being honest is for someone like me who isn’t used to it. So far though, I haven’t fucked up. No rats, no PR scandals. I think Nathan is happy with me for the first time ever.

“Not really,” I admit. “Feels like shit. But…I guess there’s more stories for me when I don’t have the championship.”

“You’re young. You’re a damn good wrestler. You’ll win it again. ”

“I know.”

But knowing that doesn’t make the bitterness sting any less.

As I lay on the mat, staring up at the lights, blood dripping from the hidden cut on my forehead blurs my vision.

“And new GRW World Champion… Weston Hext!” The ring announcer’s voice booms through the arena and cheers ring out through the crowd.

It feels like a shotgun blast to my ego, to my heart.

When I roll out of the ring, giving Hext the spotlight to celebrate, Aurora is right there. She wraps an arm around my waist as I drape one around her shoulders, using her for support. She helps me hobble backstage. With one last glance over my shoulder, I see Hext holding my title above his head as the crowd goes wild.

The villain has been defeated.

Their chosen one wins.

When we’re through the curtain, Nathan slaps his palm against my sweaty shoulder. “You looked good out there, Theo. I’m proud of you.”

Words I thought that I’d never hear don’t sink in like they would’ve in a different situation. All I feel now is my loss. It washes over me. Walking a few more feet with Aurora, I stop against the far wall, sliding down it.

I think I’m crying. Tears mix with my sweat and the blood that’s dripping from the gash on my forehead.

As the adrenaline settles, I’m crashing down. Aurora quickly kneels in front of me, forehead wrinkled in concern. “Theo, hey. Are you okay?” she asks. “Baby, look at me.”

“I’m okay, I’m okay,” I assure her, wiping at my eyes. I don’t want her to worry. I don’t want her to blame herself.

She presses her forehead to mine, my blood coating her pretty skin and getting in her hair. “It’s going to be okay,” Aurora whispers.

“I know.” It is okay. I know it is. This is not the end of my career or the end of the world. But the sting hurts. “Feels weird coming back here without my title.” I held it for almost a year. Every day, I protected it with my life. Airport security, hotel rooms, hiding it in the trunk of my car whenever I went to a club after a show. The title was the most important thing in my life.

Until her.

Aurora Bennet means more to me than that gold ever did.