Chapter Nine

Mutual Bad Decisions

Vince

For once, I got dressed after my shower instead of just staying in my towel. I thought I’d feel too exposed if I went out there barely clothed, and I wanted to leave as soon as possible after Holt’s nightly ‘good job’ speech.

I gave my damp hair a quick finger comb after pulling on some sweats and a T-shirt, then headed for the main room, my stomach churning with apprehension.

What if someone had heard us? Seen me go into his dressing room?

When I walked into the main backstage area, I saw that everyone was already back up here. Including Holt and Taylor. They all turned to look at me, which made me stiffen defensively.

“What?” I blurted, not knowing what I’d do if someone said, ‘We just heard you and Crossbody fucking.’

“Where’s Crossbody?” Holt asked with a frown.

My belly tightened with nerves. “I don’t—I have no idea.”

“Seb, would you mind seeing if he’s in his dressing room?”

“Sure thing, boss.” Seb ambled past me and vanished through the doors.

I shuffled further into the room, making my way over to Dan, who had his head tucked under his arm.

“You okay, man?” he muttered, nodding at the big windows that overlooked the arena. “I was watching. Can’t fucking believe he did that.”

“Did what?” I asked, before I remembered with a jolt. Remembered why I’d gone into Crossbody’s dressing room in the first place. He’d gone off-script during our match.

I stiffened when Seb reappeared, politely holding the door open so Crossbody could follow him into the room. He’d showered too, his long damp hair now neatly braided back. He was only half-dressed, wearing a pair of tailored slacks. Crossbody didn’t wear sweats. His skin was flushed from being scrubbed clean. To get my cum off him.

My stomach twisted as he stood there stiffly, his gaze flittering over everyone, something flashing in his eyes when he briefly glanced at me. He didn’t move any further into the room, just stood there alone as Seb returned to Larkin’s side.

“Okay,” Holt said sternly, setting his hands on his hips and looking between me and Crossbody. “Does one of you want to tell me what the fuck happened?”

Corey was leaning against the counter with a protein shake in his hand, brow furrowed with concern. He glanced between us, but he was mostly focused on Crossbody. So was Holt. So was everyone else.

He was the one who’d deviated from what was meant to happen in our match. Not me. I was blameless here. I should’ve felt happy about that. Viciously satisfied that he was the only one in trouble.

But for some reason, I wasn’t.

Crossbody was standing there on his own, a flush crawling up his neck as he lifted his chin and clenched his jaw. I could see that he was struggling to maintain his composure. I’d seen him stripped back and raw now, so for the first time, I didn’t just look at his blank expression and assume he didn’t even care. It was like I could suddenly see what he was hiding.

And I was the only one who knew why he’d done it. Because of me. Because I’d made him feel powerless and out of control, and he’d been desperate to get some of it back. He’d been desperate enough to act so reckless that he’d jeopardised the match, our safety, maybe even his job.

I should’ve still been fucking furious about it, and a part of me hated that I wasn’t anymore.

“Well?” Holt snapped when neither of us spoke. He focused on Crossbody. “I know that wasn’t what you rehearsed. Hogbody knows it, Corey knows it. So what the fuck happened, Crossbody? You could have seriously hurt Vince.”

Crossbody’s throat bobbed as he lifted his chin. He knew he was in big trouble. “I—”

“We decided to change it last minute,” I heard myself say.

I had no fucking idea why.

Holt whipped his head around to stare at me. “What?”

Keeping my gaze averted from Crossbody, I nodded stiffly. “We made the decision to switch it up earlier today. After our last rehearsal.”

Everyone was quiet as their heads swivelled between me, Holt and Crossbody. The latter stayed silent. I could see him out of the corner of my eye, stiff with shock.

“Why?” Holt spluttered.

I was struggling to come up with an answer, still with no fucking idea why I was saying this. Why I was helping him, when I should’ve been glad that he was in trouble.

“I—We thought it would be more entertaining if I almost got my signature move in, but Crossbody dodged it at the last second. Make the crowd even more desperate to see it the next time we fight.” Then, because I wasn’t completely selfless, I added, “Crossbody was supposed to let you and the production guys know.”

I narrowed my eyes at him, daring him to argue with that. I’d just got him off the hook for the stupid and reckless thing he’d done. The least he could do was take the blame for a small part in it.

He delicately cleared his throat, voice husky when he said, “Yes, that’s right. I… apologise for dropping the ball.”

“So it was a mutual decision?” Corey asked slowly, still frowning as he looked between us. “It was planned? It didn’t look like it in the ring. Vince looked furious.”

Crossbody tensed again and looked at me, letting me answer. He knew he was in the wrong here. He knew I was doing him a huge fucking favour.

“Yeah, it was a mutual decision.” I managed a tiny smile as I shrugged. “I’m just a really good actor.”

Holt spluttered in disbelief and threw his hands up. “You can’t just go changing the outcomes of matches willy-nilly, you dicks! I have reasons for who wins.”

I snorted. “Sorry, boss. Just keeping you on your toes.”

“I’m sorry,” Crossbody said throatily. But when I glanced at him, I saw that he was looking at me. Not Holt.

My gut tightened with something as Holt huffed and said, “I guess it did get the crowd extra pumped before the main event.”

Then he stiffened and pointed a pink-nailed finger at all of us, trying to look threatening.

“That does not mean you all get to start deciding who wins and who loses. I pick the outcomes. Hogbody works hard to make them seamless. It fucks the whole production up if you all just start doing whatever the fuck you want. And if you do , I’ll…” He looked around for inspiration. “I’ll take the TV away.”

Kit gasped, swinging down from their usual perch on a pipe on the ceiling. “But I like to watch the TV!”

“That’s right.” Holt was nodding emphatically, trying to look stern. “I can be a scary, mean boss. Trust me.”

Someone snorted, because none of us believed him.

“I can!” he insisted. “I can take away all your perks. Mads’ tuna tartare. Kit’s disgusting moth dust candy that I have to buy in bulk.”

Kit gasped again, glaring at both me and Crossbody. “I’ll kick you both in the dicks if you get my candy taken away.”

“I’ll stop letting Gabe and Biff fuck like animals at work all the time,” Holt continued, which made Gabe gasp dramatically and clutch Biff’s arm, looking distraught.

“No one is going to do it again, Holt,” Corey said patiently, then cast us all a stern look, focusing specifically on me and Crossbody. “ Are we, team?”

“No,” everyone chorused. Kit was still pointing a threatening finger between me and Crossbody, mouthing, Don’t fuck with my candy supply, assholes.

“God, I need a massage,” Holt muttered, pinching the bridge of his nose as he reached for Taylor’s hand. “Babe, let’s go home and get in the hot tub.”

“Sure.” Taylor still sounded a little nervous over what had just happened. He gave us all a hesitant smile. “Aside from… Uh, great night, everyone.”

“Yes.” Holt cast Crossbody and me one last unimpressed look. “Aside from that little surprise , a fantastic night. Well done, everyone. Except Crossbody and Vince,” he added snarkily, turning and dragging Taylor from the room.

I blew out a terse breath and crossed my arms, wondering if I’d fucked up there. I’d still kind of got in trouble, even though I’d done literally nothing wrong.

Crossbody fucking owed me big time. He better be damn grateful.

I looked over to see him still standing in the same place, stiff and silent. Our eyes met. We stared at each other for a few long seconds before he turned and left the room.

Without saying a word. Without even a nod of acknowledgement or thanks.

Are you fucking kidding me?

I gritted my teeth. Part of me wanted to stride after him and demand he acknowledge that I’d just saved his stupid ass, but there was no fucking way I was going to risk being alone with him again.

I scrubbed my face, my shoulders slumping in resignation.

I mean, what had I expected? It was Crossbody. He was an arrogant asshole. He would never willingly thank me for anything.

Not unless I made him. In the right setting. When he was desperate and submissive and would do anything I wanted.

My cock twitched, so I quickly shut that train of thought down. No. Having to touch him again wasn’t worth it just for a bit of gratitude. Definitely not. Gross.

No way. Never again.