The Grass Isn't Greener- Chapter 8

 

Eamon Archer after he woke up

November 20, 2022,
06:46 local time,
Boreal Hotel,
Yellowknife District, Borealis Bay, Republic of Sǫ̀mbak’è

“Did I just f*** my favourite pop star last night?”

Eamon Archer woke up, but it still felt like a dream. He was still glowing from last night, with the memories and the senses of night before coming back and giving him a euphoric high.

Sure, Eamon dreamed many times about spending the night with Tulip Errons, fantasizing about how it would go and even drawing fanart of him and Tulip together.

…but none of that could compare to the real thing…and the real thing happened.

…and it was better than he could ever dream of.

He laid there in his bed, going through every sequence and replaying them in his mind, sometimes acting out because he could feel Tulip there with him. Reliving the event seemed to be the only way Eamon could rectify that it was real, and even then, he still didn’t believe he wasn’t actually dreaming.

He still in his haze when Tulip returned to the room with breakfast.

“Hey,” said Tulip, putting down the breakfast and kissing Eamon on the lips, the two of them holding in the kiss to take it in better. Tulip herself was flushed with joy, as she, too, got wrapped up in how great last night was for her as well.

“Hey,” said Eamon following the kiss, euphoria still painted all over his face. “Pinch me, I still can’t believe last night was real.”

Tulip didn’t need a second invitation…so she pinched his arm.

“OW!” said Eamon wincing in pain, jerking himself upward for a moment.

“You told me to pinch you,” said Tulip with a playful grin. “So I did.”

“I…I,” said Eamon, “I mean…I didn’t think you’d actually do it…but I’m glad you did.”

“So now do you believe last night was real,” said Tulip, kissing Eamon again. “Or do I need to pinch you again?”

“No, no,” said Eamon. “I’m good with the pinching. It still doesn’t mean that last night didn’t feel like a dream. I told you, I’d been fantasizing about that moment forever and you…and you…”

Eamon smiled wide with a satisfied breath.

“You were better than I could have ever expected,” said Eamon.

The two kissed again momentarily, kissing a little deeper this time.

“…and you were incredible too,” said Tulip. “It wasn’t just you living the dream…I was living the dream too.”

Eamon looked up, wearing a confused expression on his face.

“Wait, really?” he said. “For real? You mean you’ve been fantasizing about me your whole life? I’m sure I’m not the only one who fantasizes about you, but me…no one fantasizes about me.”

Tulip laughed before sitting down to eat her breakfast.

“Honestly,” said Tulip, “no…I didn’t fantasize about you growing up. I told you…I’m a Cory Reed girl…but, I think I always fantasized about meeting a guy just like you…caring, sweet, sensitive, delightfully awkward.

“…and very f***ing hot.”

Eamon blushed.

“Oh no,” he demurred. “Me? Hot? Nah. You the hot one.”

Tulip flashed a warm smile.

“You sell yourself short Eamon,” said Tulip. “You’re hotter and better than you think…but don’t ever change. I like your humility…I meet too many arrogant types in my line of work.”

Eamon let out a huff and started eating his own breakfast.

“Me too,” said Eamon. “The WFL is full of them. “I could never be like those guys…I see what it does.”

Eamon took another bite of his food before continuing.

“Honestly,” said Eamon, “I thought you’d be arrogant. I know you’re so down to earth in interviews, but I always worried that was just an act…I see that too many times too.”

Tulip smiled, exhaling with a soft release.

“I get that,” said Tulip, “but I could never be arrogant in real life. The way my career has gone, and how quickly it has gone and all the people who have come together- out of their own goodwill- to make it as strong as it has makes me feel truly grateful and blessed. My success is a team effort…I lived it. So I know I can’t be ‘above’ anyone, because without them, I wouldn’t be here.

“It’s one of those things Cory taught me when I watched him as a little girl…never take anything for granted. Success is earned, and every step of the way someone helps you get there. You never do it all alone.”

Tulip’s eyes began to glaze over.

“Besides,” she said, shedding a tear. “When you get all these messages from people who say ‘your album helped me get through a breakup’ or ‘you give me the confidence to take my exam tomorrow’…you can’t help but have your heart melt reading all that. When I say I want to hug all of my fans, I really mean it.”

Eamon reached for Tulip’s hand. Tulip took it and squeezed it.

“You deserve all the success in the world,” said Eamon, “and all the hugs. You really are the greatest person in the world. I learned that last night.”

They kissed again briefly.

“…and so are you,” said Tulip. “I’m as grateful for you as you are for me.”

The two then continued on with their breakfast before switching topics.

“Speaking of Cory Reed,” said Eamon, “are you looking forward to Erin Campbell’s documentary series on the ‘Harmless Fun’ Era?”

“Oh,” said Tulip, “absolutely. I’ve read so much about it. Especially what happened to the poor Sheik, forced to watch as Vince f***ed his wife on live TV. I can’t believe anyone would think about going that far.”

“Not just Vince f***ing his wife,” said Eamon. “Salman al-Shehhi had to bow to Vince like a god and go through the pilgrimage…that’s…that’s…”

Eamon couldn’t finish his sentence, as there were no words he felt could articulate the shock and disgust his thoughts gave him. Fortunately for Eamon, Tulip shared the same feelings about the incident, known as The Forced Subjugation Ritual. It’s the only broadcast of the World Fighting Empire’s Combat Arts division that the WFE never aired again, though clips exist online if you dig hard enough.

“Sometimes I wonder why I still support McGreedy,” said Tulip, referring to the WFE’s boss, Vincent “Vince” McGeady, who is often nicknamed “McGreedy”. “It’s not like the product has really gotten better since ‘Harmless Fun’…they just don’t do the outrageous stuff anymore. It’s still sleaze, but different sleaze.”

“It’s why I watch the IWC,” said Eamon, referring to the WFE’s sole main competitor, the International Wrestling Council. “Paul Carney knows how to run his s***.”

“How is that?” said Tulip, as the two continued enjoying their breakfast. “I’ve always been meaning to give it a watch but I never get around to it.”

“Well,” said Eamon, “if you like stories, and you like good storytelling and you like good long stories…Paul’s got you covered. It can be a bit difficult to get into if you’re joining in halfway into a major arc, but you can at least trust Paul’s going to tell a good story and he’s not going to hijack it with stupid stuff like Vince does. I mean, really, the IWC restored my faith in wrestling.”

“Hmmnnn,” said Tulip, nodding her head and acknowledging the point as she finished her breakfast. “I guess I’ll give it a go one of these days. Thanks Eamon.”

Eamon smiled. “Did I convince you?” he said with a grin.

“We’ll see,” said Tulip with a smirk of her own. “The WFE is hyping the debut of Astaroth. Said they plucked him from the fight clubs of the Carnelian Blade. Could just be hype, but, if that’s true, he’s a legit fighter.”

“I kind of hope it’s just hype,” said Eamon. “The Blade is serious business…if he’s from there, I can’t imagine the horrors he went through.”

Tulip then got up from her chair, sighing with her shoulders slumping.

“I gotta go get ready for my day,” said Tulip. “I don’t want to…I’d rather spend more time with you.”

Tulip then flashed another smile.

“…and maybe reenact more of that fanart you showed me,” said Tulip as Eamon laughed.

“I gotta get ready for the game too,” said Eamon, sighing in resignation. “So I feel the same way, but hey…you want a Night #2, right?”

“…and 3, and 4, and 5, and 6,” said Tulip, “and hopefully more than that.”

“Me too,” said Eamon, getting up from his chair. “So let’s focus on that.”

Tulip then took off her bathrobe.

“One more naked hug at least?” she asked with a hopeful smile and sparkles in her eyes. Sparkles that were also in Eamon’s eyes.

“You don’t need to ask,” said Eamon, taking off his clothes too. “You know I’ll always say yes.”

The two then wrapped each other in a tight, full-bodied embrace, melting into each other and feeling like there was nothing else in the world. They took in each other’s scents, breaths and the feeling of their skin on theirs, relaxing, contended in each other’s arms. For both Eamon and Tulip, this was more than just a sensual embrace- it was am embrace of unity, of solace. An embrace that soothed them both. An embrace that said, “you will be protected in my arms.”

An embrace that confirmed that these two really did become one.

For Eamon, it was a night he dreamed of for so many other nights, and it went far beyond what he could have ever expected. Tulip became more than just his favourite artist. She was now his favourite person.

That was better than any dream.

For Tulip, she might not have fantasized every day about Eamon, but Eamon was exactly the kind of person she knew she wanted in her life. She always fantasized for this moment, the moment where she could finally say, “I have found the one”. Yes, it was still early, but for Tulip- and Eamon too- this felt different.

Sometimes you start a relationship and you just get the feeling there is no future.

Then you start another relationship and this time…you just know.

For Tulip and Eamon…they knew.