Chronicle 29
Vince McGeady stood on the training floor of the WFE
Academy.
Around him, recruits ran drills under the watchful eyes of
coaches.
Ordinarily, Vince would've been studying them.
Instead...
He was studying his phone.
"...Look at these guys."
Cathy glanced over.
On the screen was Joanna's newest post.
There's nothing hotter than hot sexy mountain men in
suits.
Beneath it...
Seven smiling faces.
Joanna.
Arel-Sin.
Rahim.
Ravi.
Semin.
Azamat.
…and...
Zas.
Vince slowly zoomed in.
"...Look at them."
Nobody answered.
"They're enormous."
Still silence.
"They're broad."
"They're athletic."
"They've got shoulders."
"They look like they could carry a tree without
noticing."
Triple X smiled knowingly.
"Here we go."
Vince barely heard him.
"They're built exactly the way heroes are supposed to
look."
He pointed at the photograph.
"Big."
"Beefy."
"Imposing."
"Strong."
"No weird proportions."
"No pear shapes."
"They look like they could steal the nerd's
lunch..."
He grinned.
"...and steal the babe's heart."
Joey Ace folded his arms.
"You've put a lot of thought into this."
"I've put forty years into this."
Vince looked back at the photograph.
"…and now..."
"...you put them in suits."
He shook his head in amazement.
"The wild men clean up."
"They can look civilized when they have to."
He looked genuinely delighted.
"They're marketable."
Cathy couldn't help smiling.
"You know..."
"...I've always found it funny."
Vince looked up.
"What?"
"You."
"What about me?"
"You're probably the most stereotypically masculine man
I've ever met."
"I'll take that as a compliment."
"…and yet..."
She pointed at the phone.
"...you gush over handsome men more than anyone I
know."
The room laughed.
Vince shrugged.
"I'm not admiring them."
"I'm evaluating them."
"There's a difference."
"Is there?"
"There absolutely is."
He zoomed in again.
Cathy leaned closer.
"Hm."
She pointed at one face.
"I don't know who the stocky bald guy is..."
"Neither do I," Vince admitted.
"...but he looks like he'd have the best
personality."
"The beard helps."
"He looks like somebody audiences would enjoy."
Triple X nodded.
"Wouldn’t surprise me. I agree, he absolutely looks
like he has personality."
Triple X looked at the photograph for another moment.
"You know..."
"I've actually met one of them."
Vince looked up immediately.
"Which one?"
"The tall one."
"Holding Joanna's hand."
"The one smiling..."
He paused.
"...kind of strangely."
Vince laughed.
"Yeah."
"That smile needs work."
"That's Zas."
Vince looked more closely.
"Him?"
Triple X nodded.
"When Joanna first met him..."
"...she brought him backstage in Mingora."
"He wasn't supposed to do anything."
"He just..."
Triple X shrugged.
"...started helping people."
"What do you mean?"
"He corrected footwork."
"Timing."
"Body positioning."
"Ring awareness."
"Without ever stepping into the ring."
Joey looked surprised.
"I don't remember hearing this."
"Because everybody assumed he worked for us."
"They thought he was one of the coaches."
Cathy blinked.
"Seriously?"
Triple X nodded.
"The Academy call-ups improved overnight."
"He made Joanna better."
"He made everyone around Joanna better."
He smiled.
"If it were my decision..."
"...I'd hire him as a coach tomorrow."
Vince stared at the photograph.
For several long seconds...
He said nothing.
Finally...
"...He'd be perfect."
The office door opened.
Joey Ace stepped inside carrying several folders.
"You wanted an update?"
"I do."
"Roman tour."
Joey placed the folders on the desk.
"We're getting there."
"We can open in Ercolanum."
"A few weeks from now."
"There are still pieces moving."
"Television."
"Freight."
"Arena contracts."
"…but..."
He nodded confidently.
"...most of what you asked for is now in place."
Vince's grin returned.
"I knew you'd figure it out."
"I hate that you were right."
"I know."
Vince stood.
Picked up his phone.
Looked once more at Joanna's picture.
Then slipped it into his pocket.
"I've made another decision."
Triple X closed his eyes.
"...Of course you have."
"I'm flying to Ercolanum."
Joey sighed.
"...Why?"
Vince looked genuinely puzzled.
"To meet them."
"The..."
He gestured toward the phone.
"...big beefy mountain men."
Triple X laughed.
"I thought so."
"I'm going to shake their hands."
"Buy them dinner."
"…and convince them to join Combat Arts."
Cathy smiled.
"You think they're all going to become wrestlers?"
"No."
Vince shrugged.
"I think one of them might."
He smiled.
"…and if I can convince even one..."
"...the trip pays for itself."
Triple X laughed as he headed for the door.
"Poor Joanna."
"What?"
"She's about to discover that introducing her boyfriend
to you..."
"...was one of the most expensive decisions she's ever
made."
Vince simply smiled.
"I certainly hope so."
The taxi pulled into the driveway.
Lars climbed out.
He stretched after the long flight.
The front door opened before he reached it.
Sarah stood there.
"Hey."
"Hey."
He smiled warmly.
She smiled back.
Barely.
They kissed.
It was quick.
Routine.
More habit than reunion.
Lars didn't seem to notice.
He stepped inside.
Before he could even put his suitcase down-
Fido came charging across the floor.
His tail wagged furiously.
"Lars!"
Well...
As close as a dog could come.
Lars laughed.
"Hey, buddy!"
He knelt to scratch behind Fido's ears.
The dog nearly climbed into his lap.
Sarah watched quietly.
At least someone is excited to see him.
She closed the door.
"I made dinner."
Lars looked up.
"You did?"
"It's in the fridge."
"You'll just need to microwave it."
"Thanks."
He smiled.
"I appreciate it."
He finally looked at her properly.
"...Are you okay?"
Sarah stopped.
For one brief moment...
Everything she'd been holding in surged forward.
No.
I'm not okay.
I raise the twins.
I keep the house running.
I cook.
I clean.
I schedule everything.
You disappear because Sven has his fifteenth breakup this
year.
When you finally come home, I feel like I've got another
kid to look after.
You're always sore.
Or tired.
Or you've got some reason why you can't help.
Men still ask me out.
I tell them no because I have a husband.
Sometimes I wonder if I'd have more fun saying yes.
The speech burned behind her lips.
Then...
It disappeared.
She was simply...
Too tired.
"I'm fine."
Lars studied her for a second.
"You sure?"
She nodded once.
"...Just tired."
He accepted the answer.
"Long week?"
"Mhm."
"You should get some sleep."
"I think I will."
She walked upstairs.
Lars called after her.
"I'll see you in the morning."
"...Yeah."
Her bedroom was dark.
Quiet.
She changed into pajamas almost automatically.
Then sat on the edge of the bed.
Her phone rested on the nightstand.
She picked it up.
Without thinking...
She opened her photo gallery.
The first picture she stopped on made her smile.
Her first date with Lars.
An axe-throwing range.
She still remembered laughing because he'd completely missed
the target with his first throw.
He'd insisted the axe was defective.
She'd beaten him.
He'd demanded a rematch.
They'd gone for burgers afterward.
She remembered thinking...
He's different.
Back then...
There were no twins.
No sleepless nights.
No touring schedules.
No endless responsibilities.
Just two people...
Having fun.
She stared at the picture for a long time.
"...Where did we go?"
She wasn't even sure whether she meant herself...
...or him.
Eventually she locked the screen.
Set the phone back on the nightstand.
Turned off the lamp.
Downstairs...
She could faintly hear Lars laughing at something on
television.
Upstairs...
Sarah closed her eyes.
Sleep came quickly.
Not because she was at peace.
…but because she had nothing left to give.
The afternoon had settled quietly over the house.
Lars hadn't moved very far from the couch since lunch.
An ice pack rested across one shoulder.
Another lay on his knee.
Every so often he reached for the coffee table to take
another painkiller.
Sarah watched him from the kitchen doorway.
"You still sore?"
Lars nodded.
"Yesterday caught up with me."
Sophia had apparently decided this meant her father was
climbing equipment.
She carefully scrambled onto the couch.
Then...
Onto Lars.
Then...
Onto his shoulder.
She happily reached for his ear.
Lars immediately winced.
"...Ow."
Sophia giggled.
Sarah smiled despite herself.
"Okay."
She gently lifted Sophia away.
"I think Daddy likes his ears."
She settled the little girl beside Lars instead.
"There."
Sophia immediately leaned against him.
Lars wrapped one arm loosely around her without taking his
eyes off the television.
Every now and then...
He turned his head.
Crossed his eyes.
Made an exaggerated funny face.
Sophia squealed with laughter.
He smiled.
Then returned to watching television.
Sarah quietly slipped upstairs.
The bedroom looked inviting.
A nap sounded wonderful.
She sat on the edge of the bed.
"...Five minutes."
She picked up her phone.
A notification waited.
Someone had replied to her comment.
She tapped it absent-mindedly.
Her own comment appeared first.
That suit is... certainly a choice. 😄
It had been directed at the stocky bald man in Joanna's
photograph.
His reply sat immediately underneath.
Fashion is temporary. Confidence is forever. 😎
Sarah laughed.
"...Fair enough."
She assumed it was another fan.
That happened all the time.
She commented on Joanna's posts...
…and anonymous people inevitably responded.
Curious...
She tapped the profile.
It was private.
…but the profile picture immediately caught her attention.
The same bald man.
No sunglasses this time.
Just a huge, infectious grin.
"...Oh."
"So it really is him."
She smiled to herself.
"He looks different without the aviators."
Without thinking...
She tapped...
Request Follow.
The screen refreshed.
She blinked.
"...Already?"
Request Accepted.
"...That was fast."
She stared at the screen for a moment.
Then noticed the little message icon.
Her thumb hovered over it.
"...No."
She lowered the phone.
Then picked it up again.
"...Maybe?"
She laughed quietly at herself.
"What would I even say?"
"Hi. I'm Joanna's bestie."
"Sorry I called your suit tacky."
"Nice beard?"
None of them sounded particularly inspired.
She locked the phone.
Unlocked it again almost immediately.
The message icon was still there.
Waiting.
Sarah rested the phone on her knee.
"...This is ridiculous."
It probably was.
…but somehow...
She found herself smiling.
…and for the first time that day...
The nap no longer seemed quite so important.
Sarah stared at the message icon.
"...No."
She locked her phone.
The screen immediately lit back up.
New Message
She frowned.
"...Already?"
She opened it.
It was a picture.
Robin.
Batman and Robin.
Nothing else.
Sarah blinked.
A second message appeared almost immediately.
Azamat: There. I had to get the dick pic out of
the way.
Hope you're having a good day. 🙂
Sarah looked at the screen.
Then at the picture again.
She frowned.
She typed.
Sarah: That's Robin, not a dick.
The typing indicator appeared instantly.
Azamat: Robin's real name is Dick Grayson.
Sarah stared.
Then...
She burst out laughing.
Not a polite laugh.
Not the little smile she'd been forcing lately.
A real laugh.
The kind that made her lean forward and wipe a tear from the
corner of her eye.
"...Oh..."
She shook her head.
"...That's awful."
She laughed again.
"It's actually awful."
Still smiling, she began typing.
Sarah: How many kids do you have?
Because your dad joke game is top notch.
She hit send.
Then waited.
Nothing.
The little "Seen" indicator appeared.
…but no reply.
Sarah's smile gradually faded.
"...Maybe that was too personal."
Another minute passed.
Still nothing.
She bit her lip.
Then typed again.
Sarah: Everything okay?
The typing indicator finally returned.
It stopped.
Started again.
Stopped.
Then a message appeared.
🙂
That was all.
Sarah smiled faintly.
Another message followed.
Azamat: Everything's okay.
I never told you what happened to my family.
You couldn't have known.
Sarah read it twice.
Her smile disappeared.
"...Family?"
She remembered Joanna mentioning...
Very vaguely...
That the men from Daral Lake had all lost people over the
years.
She hadn't thought any more about it.
Now she wondered.
She typed carefully.
Sarah: I'm sorry.
I really didn't mean to upset you.
The reply came a little more slowly this time.
Azamat: You didn't.
If I'd wanted you to know, I'd have told you.
You can't be blamed for not knowing something I never
said.
Sarah relaxed slightly.
She looked at his smiling profile picture again.
That enormous grin somehow made the message feel sincere.
She smiled.
Then typed.
Sarah: For what it's worth...
You sound like you'd have made a great dad.
Several seconds passed.
Then...
Azamat: I can't even get the triceratopses to
listen to me.
Children would've walked all over me.
Sarah laughed softly.
Another message immediately followed.
Azamat: Besides...
Arel-Sin gets away with far more than Zas realizes.
Sarah raised an eyebrow.
Another message.
Azamat: Don't tell him I said that.
She couldn't help smiling.
Sarah: Your secret is safe with me.
Almost immediately...
A thumbs-up emoji.
Sarah hesitated.
She reread the conversation.
Then, almost before she realized she'd decided to do it, she
typed another message.
Sarah: Hypothetical question- would you ever date
a woman who already had kids?
This time...
The typing indicator appeared immediately.
Then disappeared.
Then returned again.
Sarah found herself watching the three little dots far more
intently than she probably should have.
The typing indicator appeared almost immediately.
It disappeared.
Returned.
Then...
Azamat: I'd never say no to the right woman.
I'd love to have a family again.
For what that's worth.
Sarah read it twice.
There was something quietly sad about that last sentence.
Another message arrived.
Azamat: Sometimes I get jealous of Zas.
Sarah blinked.
She hadn't expected that.
Azamat: I actually try to date.
As much as someone can in Daral Lake.
Nothing ever happens.
Zas barely does anything.
Suddenly he's got a hot wife and this amazing family.
Makes no sense.
Sarah laughed softly.
Before she could reply...
Another message.
Azamat: I should say...
I don't resent either of them.
Zas is like a brother to me.
Joanna's wonderful.
I'm just frustrated the luck never seems to come my way
too.
Sarah rested the phone against her knee for a moment.
Then began typing.
Sarah: I actually understand exactly what you
mean.
Joanna's my best friend.
She smiled as memories surfaced.
Sarah: Before she went to Mingora she used to
complain all the time.
She never had trouble finding men who wanted to date her.
The problem was...
They were never men she wanted to date.
She continued.
Sarah: Then that little WFE sub-tour came up.
Mostly house shows.
The company was just testing the market.
Joanna almost didn't go.
Someone got hurt.
She wasn't getting much television time anyway.
So she said yes.
Another message.
Sarah: Then she decided to go hiking in the
mountains.
Everybody told her it wasn't safe.
She ignored them.
She wanted to get away from the grind.
Experience nature for a while.
Sarah smiled.
Sarah: She told me she never expected to meet
anyone.
Even when Zas sat beside her on the bus...
She didn't think he was interested.
She had to chase him.
This time the reply came quickly.
Azamat: That sounds like Zas.
Another followed.
Azamat: He was in a really bad place.
Sarah's smile faded.
She read on.
Azamat: Losing Phoebe's and Arel-Sin's mother
nearly destroyed him.
Then everything happened with Armintie.
He honestly believed he'd failed at life.
I think...
For the first time...
He genuinely had no idea what he was supposed to do next.
Sarah had never heard this story.
Not like this.
Another message arrived.
Azamat: Then Joanna appeared.
She looked at him...
…and saw a good man who'd made one terrible mistake.
Sarah stared quietly at the screen.
Azamat: Everybody else wanted to fix him.
Or tell him to move on.
Joanna didn't.
She listened.
She let him figure things out himself.
She just...
Stayed beside him.
Sarah swallowed.
She remembered countless conversations with Joanna after she
returned home.
Joanna talking about a mountain guide who had somehow made
her feel...
Safe.
Understood.
Seen.
She typed slowly.
Sarah: She used to tell me something similar.
She couldn't stop talking about how Zas really saw her.
Like...
He actually noticed who she was instead of who everyone
expected her to be.
Several seconds passed.
Sarah looked toward the bedroom door.
Downstairs she could faintly hear Sophia laughing.
Lars was probably making another silly face.
She looked back at her phone.
Then she typed one more message.
Sarah: Maybe that's what we all want.
To be seen.
The three little dots appeared almost immediately.
Then...
Azamat: Don't we all.
Sarah smiled.
Not because the conversation had solved anything.
It hadn't.
…but somehow...
For the first time in a long while...
She didn't feel quite so alone.
The typing indicator appeared again.
Azamat wasn't finished.
Sarah smiled at the screen.
The conversation had become surprisingly easy.
Another message appeared.
Azamat: This is usually the point where girls
start ghosting me.
Sarah laughed quietly.
Before she could answer...
Another bubble appeared.
Azamat: I guess this is where you tell me you're
happily married with ten kids.
She stared at the screen.
The smile lingered...
...then slowly faded.
Married?
Yes.
Happily?
...
She looked toward the bedroom window.
No.
Not really.
…but that wasn't something you unloaded onto someone you'd
been talking to for barely half an hour.
She typed carefully.
Sarah: Not ten.
Just two.
Three if you count my husband.
She hesitated.
Then hit Send.
The reply came much more slowly this time.
Azamat: Oh.
You're married?
Sarah's heart sank a little.
She wasn't sure why.
Sarah: Yeah.
I'm sorry.
Almost immediately...
Azamat: Don't be.
Another message.
Azamat: You don't owe me an apology.
Then another.
Azamat: I've been learning something lately.
Sarah waited.
Azamat: Girl friends can be just as good as a
girlfriend.
She blinked.
A final message followed.
Azamat: I don't want to throw away what I think
could be a really good friendship.
Sarah smiled.
A genuine one.
"...That's..."
She whispered to herself.
"...actually a really nice answer."
She hadn't expected disappointment to be followed by such
acceptance.
She found herself appreciating it more than she could quite
explain.
For one fleeting instant...
A dangerous thought wandered into her mind.
If Lars and I ever...
She stopped herself.
"...No."
She locked the thought away almost as quickly as it had
arrived.
She wasn't going there.
Not now.
Not with someone she'd only just met.
Not while she was still wearing a wedding ring.
A loud crash echoed from downstairs.
"...What now?"
She heard one of the twins squeal.
Fido barked once.
Lars called something she couldn't quite make out.
Sarah quickly typed.
Sarah: I think something just broke downstairs.
I should probably investigate.
I'll be back.
Without really thinking...
She added:
🤗❤️
She stared at the screen for half a second.
"...Did I just..."
Too late.
The message had already been sent.
She winced.
"...Well."
"No taking that back."
Before she could overthink it any further, she hurried out
of the bedroom toward the stairs, leaving the conversation- and Azamat's
eventual reply- waiting on her phone.
The hotel pool was nearly empty.
The day's heat still lingered in the evening air.
Lights beneath the water painted everything a shimmering
blue.
Most of the Blue Shield had finally traded their robes for
swimwear.
Most.
Arel-Sin was still wearing his new suit trousers.
His white shirt.
Even his tie.
Only the blazer had come off.
He stood at the edge of the pool, one hand tucked into a
pocket.
He struck an exaggerated pose.
"...Does this make me look..."
He dramatically turned toward everyone.
"...sexy?"
Armintie looked up from the shallow end.
Without saying a word...
She splashed him.
A wave of water soaked the front of his shirt.
"...Hey!"
She burst into laughter.
"It answered your question."
"It did not."
"It absolutely did."
As Arel-Sin wrung out one sleeve...
An older woman relaxing on a nearby lounger happened to
glance over.
She smiled approvingly.
Arel-Sin blinked.
Then smiled back.
Armintie immediately noticed.
"Ooooh..."
He rolled his eyes.
"Stop."
"I didn't say anything."
"You were about to."
"I was."
A short distance away...
Azamat reclined comfortably in a pool chair.
His dinosaur-patterned speedos left absolutely nothing to
the imagination regarding his complete lack of concern for fashion consistency.
His flip-flops sat neatly beside the chair.
His attention, however...
Was entirely on his phone.
A message appeared.
Sarah: I think something broke downstairs.
I'll be back. 🤗❤️
Azamat smiled.
"Hopefully nothing serious."
He set the phone face down on the table.
A splash interrupted him.
Joanna surfaced beside him.
"So..."
She rested both arms on the edge of the pool.
"...who's got you smiling like that?"
"Hm?"
"You've been glued to that phone."
She grinned mischievously.
"It must be someone hot."
Azamat didn't even hesitate.
"Sarah."
Joanna's eyebrows shot upward.
"...Sarah?"
"My Sarah?"
He nodded casually.
"The one in Cleveland."
Joanna blinked.
Then immediately remembered.
"...She's a married woman."
"I know."
Azamat nodded.
"That's okay."
He grinned.
"Married women are my type."
Joanna stared.
"...Excuse me?"
"They're more of a challenge."
She gave him the sort of look only Joanna could produce.
"...Azamat."
Rahim looked up from his deck chair.
"You joke..."
"...but every woman I manage to have a pleasant
conversation with seems to be married."
Semin frowned.
"So..."
He looked at Azamat.
"...were you serious?"
Azamat laughed so hard he nearly slid out of the chair.
"No."
He waved both hands.
"I was absolutely joking."
"I thought so."
He settled back.
Then his smile became a little more thoughtful.
"I'm actually trying to stop thinking that way."
"What way?" Joanna asked.
He shrugged.
"The way a lot of young men do."
He searched for the right words.
"...Thinking women are only good for..."
He stopped.
Nobody needed him to finish the sentence.
"I've been trying to get past that."
Rahim nodded approvingly.
"A worthwhile goal."
"I think so."
Joanna smiled.
"I like that answer much better."
She pushed away from the pool wall.
"Enough philosophy."
She pointed toward the water.
"Get in."
Azamat looked at his phone one more time.
Still nothing.
"...It's been a while."
Joanna followed his glance.
"Everything okay?"
"I think so."
"She said something broke at home."
Joanna nodded.
"Then there's nothing you can do from here."
He considered that.
"...Fair."
He stood.
Then launched himself into the pool with absolutely no
elegance whatsoever.
A wall of water crashed over everyone nearby.
"Azamat!"
Joanna sputtered.
"What?"
"You soaked us!"
"I entered enthusiastically."
"You entered like a meteor."
Everyone laughed.
A few minutes later...
Joanna floated beside him.
"Come here."
"What for?"
"You'll see."
She wrapped one arm around his shoulders.
Pressed her head lightly against his.
Held up her phone.
"Smile."
Azamat instinctively flashed his enormous, toothy grin.
Click.
Joanna looked at the picture.
"Perfect."
She opened her messages.
Selected Sarah.
Attached the photo.
Then typed:
Wish you were here. Hope you're doing well. 💖
She hit send.
Azamat watched the message disappear.
"...She'll probably laugh."
"I hope so."
Joanna smiled softly.
"I think she could use a laugh today."
The phone remained quiet.
For now.
The warm evening continued around them, the lights
reflecting across the pool as conversations drifted from teasing to travel
plans to nothing in particular- the easy kind of evening that only happened
when people enjoyed simply being together.
The hotel lounge was considerably quieter than the pool.
A handful of patrons sat scattered around booths, their
attention divided between food, drinks and the televisions mounted around the
room.
Ravi had managed to secure the booth with the best view.
The smaller television above it carried the World
Basketball Championship.
Gotham Ballers.
Roma Invicta.
The larger televisions were showing football highlights and
evening news, but Ravi paid them no attention.
His eyes never left the basketball game.
Zas sat opposite him, nursing a cup of coffee.
"You really enjoy this."
Ravi nodded.
"I do."
"You don't watch the Women's Professional Basketball
Association?"
"I've tried."
He shrugged.
"It's not really for me."
"Why not?"
"They compete."
Zas looked at the television.
"...Isn't that what this is?"
"I mean..."
Ravi searched for the words.
"They compete first."
"The WPBA is spectacle first."
He counted on his fingers.
"Sparkly bikinis."
"Entrance music."
"Storylines."
"Half the audience arguing about whether the games are
secretly fixed."
Zas raised an eyebrow.
"Are they?"
"I don't think so."
"…but enough people do."
He waved dismissively.
"I'd rather watch this."
On the screen...
Roma Invicta called a timeout.
The score wasn't pretty.
Ballers 81
Invicta 62
The lounge groaned.
One man slapped the table.
Another buried his face in his hands.
Ravi simply smiled.
"They're playing beautifully."
Zas watched a replay.
"I don't know much about basketball..."
He pointed at the screen.
"...but why didn't that defender step up?"
Ravi looked surprised.
"He should have."
"It looked soft."
"It was."
Another replay.
A Gotham guard sliced through the lane almost untouched
before kicking the ball to Jalen Robson, who calmly buried another three-point
shot.
The commentator's excitement filled the lounge.
"Robson is absolutely unstoppable tonight!"
Ravi shook his head in admiration.
"He's incredible."
"That's the fellow you like?"
"One of them."
"He just..."
Ravi smiled.
"...works."
"No drama."
"No excuses."
"He just beats people."
Zas nodded.
"I understand that."
He watched another replay.
"I still think Invicta is playing too softly."
Ravi laughed.
"They've got four of the greatest players in the
world."
"They're still playing too softly."
During the timeout...
The conversation drifted.
Ravi took a sip of his drink.
"You know..."
"Hm?"
"I was thinking."
"Usually dangerous."
Ravi ignored him.
"We're on vacation."
"Yes."
"With Joanna."
"Yes."
"Phoebe."
"Yes."
"Four other men."
"Five if Arel-Sin counts."
"I'd say he does."
Ravi smiled.
"A lot of men would be nervous."
"Nervous?"
"About..."
He lowered his voice.
"...their girl being around that many other men."
Zas laughed.
A genuine laugh.
"I've never understood that."
"You haven't?"
He shook his head.
"I trust Joanna."
"…and I trust the people around her."
He leaned back.
"If I spend every day worrying about who she's talking
to..."
"...then the problem isn't who she's talking to."
Ravi considered that.
"The problem is the relationship."
"Exactly."
Silence settled between them for a moment.
Then Ravi remembered.
"...The Armintie situation."
Zas' smile faded slightly.
He nodded.
"I've already learned what happens when fear starts
making decisions for you."
"I don't intend to repeat that mistake."
Ravi nodded quietly.
"I hadn't thought about it like that."
Zas looked back toward the television.
"If Joanna chooses me..."
"...then she chooses me."
"I don't need to guard her."
"I need to deserve her."
Ravi smiled.
"That's probably healthier."
"I hope so."
Then...
Zas' expression became mischievous.
"...Besides."
"What?"
"I can beat every one of you up without breaking a
sweat."
Ravi burst out laughing.
"I..."
He started to protest.
Then looked at Zas.
Then remembered watching him casually spar with the Blue
Shield.
"...Actually..."
He chuckled.
"...none of us really wants to test that theory."
Zas smiled into his coffee.
"I thought not."
The timeout ended.
The teams returned to the floor.
Ravi immediately leaned forward again.
"Watch Robson."
"He'll call for the screen."
As if on cue...
Robson did exactly that.
A moment later...
The Ballers' lead grew by another three points.
The lounge groaned once more.
Ravi applauded.
Zas simply shook his head.
"They're still too soft."
Sarah quietly padded downstairs.
The refrigerator hummed softly in the otherwise silent
house.
She had only meant to grab a bottle of water.
Instead...
She stopped.
Lars was still asleep on the couch.
Sophia had somehow climbed into the crook of his arm and had
fallen asleep there too, one tiny hand resting against his chest.
The television continued playing quietly to itself.
Sarah smiled.
Normally...
She would have taken a picture.
It was exactly the sort of moment she'd usually send to
Joanna.
Look at these two.
Her phone vibrated.
She glanced down.
A new message.
From Joanna.
Sarah opened it.
The first thing she noticed was the pool.
The second...
Was Azamat.
Joanna had one arm wrapped around his shoulders.
Both of them were soaking wet.
Both of them were grinning like children.
Wish you were here. Hope you're doing well. 💖
Sarah couldn't help smiling.
Her eyes lingered on the picture a little longer than they
probably should have.
She wasn't even sure why.
Maybe it was Joanna.
Maybe it was the sunshine.
Maybe...
She stopped herself.
No.
It was him.
Seeing Azamat smiling...
Seeing that ridiculous, impossibly enthusiastic grin...
...made something inside her feel lighter.
She didn't understand it.
She didn't particularly want to understand it.
She only knew...
She hadn't smiled that easily in days.
She quickly typed back.
I'm okay. ❤️
I wish I was in the pool with you guys.
She looked at the message one last time.
Then pressed Send.
A tiny smile remained on her face.
The message chime stirred Lars.
He opened one eye.
"...Hm?"
Sarah slipped the phone into her pocket.
"Sorry."
"I didn't mean to wake you."
Lars stretched gingerly.
Immediately regretted it.
His shoulder reminded him why.
"...Ow."
He rubbed it carefully.
Then looked at Sarah.
"You seem happier."
She blinked.
"...Do I?"
"Yeah."
"You've smiled more in the last minute than..."
He searched for the words.
"...than you have since I got home."
Sarah hesitated.
Then shrugged.
"Joanna sent me a picture."
"Oh?"
"She's at the hotel pool."
Sarah smiled again.
"It just made me feel better."
Lars nodded slowly.
"That makes sense."
It did.
At least...
It mostly did.
For a brief moment, a thought wandered into his mind.
Is she talking to somebody?
He frowned almost imperceptibly.
Then dismissed it.
Don't be ridiculous.
It was Joanna.
Of course Joanna would cheer Sarah up.
He shifted again.
Immediately winced.
"...Still hurts?"
Sarah asked.
"Yeah."
"The flight didn't help."
She nodded sympathetically.
Silence settled between them.
Then Lars looked toward the kitchen.
"...What's for dinner?"
Sarah didn't even think about it.
"Pizza."
"...Works for me."
He smiled sleepily.
"Good."
Within moments...
His eyes had drifted shut again.
Sophia hadn't moved.
Sarah watched them for another few seconds.
It really was a sweet picture.
She still didn't take it.
Instead...
Almost unconsciously...
Her hand brushed against the phone in her pocket before she
turned toward the kitchen to get her water.
Sarah quietly closed the bedroom door behind her.
The house had settled into a comfortable afternoon rhythm.
The twins were content.
Lars was downstairs.
She sat cross-legged on the bed.
Almost immediately, her phone buzzed.
Azamat: Everything survive?
Sarah smiled.
Sarah: Barely.
Nothing exploded.
Azamat: That's a successful day.
She laughed softly.
The conversation drifted naturally.
Not toward anything important.
Just...
Life.
Sarah: So what do you actually do all day?
The reply came with surprising speed.
Azamat: Mostly herd triceratopses.
Sarah blinked.
She read it again.
Sarah: You're serious?
Azamat: Completely.
They're wonderful pack animals.
A pause.
Azamat: Also stubborn.
Another message.
Azamat: One of them once decided it didn't want to
cross a bridge.
It stood there for three hours.
Sarah laughed.
Sarah: Three hours?
Azamat: We eventually bribed it with bread.
She could practically picture the scene.
Sarah: The closest I've gotten to dinosaurs is
visiting the sanctuaries around the Amazon...
...and eating at Stego Burgers.
Azamat: One of those experiences sounds
considerably more educational.
The conversation drifted again.
Almost absent-mindedly, Sarah typed:
Sarah: I used to wrestle.
The typing indicator appeared instantly.
Azamat: Really??
Another message arrived before she could answer.
Azamat: That's amazing!
She found herself smiling.
Nobody had reacted to that part of her life with that kind
of enthusiasm in...
Years.
Sarah: I met Joanna when we were teenagers.
Sarah: We tagged together on the independent
circuit.
Sarah: We were called The Banger Britches.
A laughing emoji appeared.
Azamat: That's an incredible name.
She laughed.
Sarah: Joanna wrestled as Joanna Gold.
I was Morgan Rourke.
She paused.
Then added:
Sarah: Rourke was my maiden name.
Azamat sent a thumbs-up.
She continued.
Sarah: The money wasn't great.
…but I loved performing.
She stared at the next sentence before sending it.
Sarah: Sometimes I still wish I could go back.
This time...
Azamat didn't joke.
Azamat: What happened?
Sarah leaned back against the headboard.
It wasn't a painful story anymore.
Just...
A wistful one.
Sarah: We got signed to the Imperial Academy.
Sarah: It became obvious pretty quickly that Vince
really saw something in Joanna.
Sarah: After about two years...
Joanna got called up.
She swallowed.
Sarah: I got released.
The typing indicator appeared.
Stopped.
Appeared again.
Instead of sympathy...
Azamat simply wrote:
Azamat: That must have hurt.
Sarah appreciated that answer.
It wasn't trying to fix anything.
It simply acknowledged it.
Sarah: It did.
Another message followed.
Sarah: It wasn't all bad.
Sarah: I met Lars there.
Sarah: We got married.
Sarah: We had the twins.
Sarah: Joanna's basically my sister now.
She smiled.
Sarah: So I can't exactly say it was a wasted
experience.
Still...
She looked out the bedroom window.
Sarah: Sometimes I miss who I used to be.
Silence.
Not an uncomfortable silence.
Just...
Enough time to let the words exist.
From downstairs came a familiar voice.
"Saaaarah!"
She closed her eyes.
"...Yes?"
"I'm hungry!"
He sounded playful.
She knew he intended it to be funny.
Today...
It simply landed wrong.
She sighed.
"Pizza."
"What?"
"You wanted pizza."
"Oh."
A pause.
"Awesome."
Sarah stood.
She slipped her phone into her pocket.
"I'll be right down."
As she stepped into the hallway, she pulled the phone out
one more time.
Her thumbs hesitated only briefly.
Then she typed:
Can I call you?
She stared at the message.
Took one slow breath.
…and pressed Send before she could change her mind.
Sarah's car idled quietly in the parking lot outside the
pizza restaurant.
She'd barely thought about what she was wearing.
Sandals.
Pajamas.
A faded bathrobe thrown over top.
She looked down at herself.
"...Good enough."
Her phone buzzed.
Azamat is calling...
She smiled.
Then answered.
The screen split in two.
Azamat appeared almost immediately.
He was back in the hotel room.
Still wearing the dinosaur-print speedo.
His hair was still damp from the pool.
Sarah laughed.
"I've got to tell you..."
"You look like a wrestler."
Azamat grinned.
"I've always wanted to be one."
"Really?"
He nodded enthusiastically.
"Ever since Joanna."
"I've been watching everything I can."
"WFE mostly?"
"Mostly."
"…but other companies too."
He shrugged.
"Zas's Family Pass helps."
"I don't always understand everything..."
"...but I like learning."
Sarah smiled quietly.
When was the last time I even used my own Family Pass?
She couldn't remember.
Not without really thinking about it.
She looked out through the windshield.
"I've been wondering something."
"What?"
"Do you think..."
She hesitated.
"...I should wrestle again?"
Azamat tilted his head.
Sarah started talking almost immediately.
"I'd have to find somebody to watch the twins."
"…and meal planning."
"…and travel."
"…and..."
She kept listing practical problems.
Schedules.
Schools.
Babysitters.
Laundry.
Hotels.
Flights.
Azamat listened.
Then quietly interrupted.
"Sarah."
She stopped.
"...Yeah?"
"I don't think this is about wrestling."
Silence.
She looked at the screen.
Then looked away.
"...No."
"It isn't."
Her eyes began to fill.
"I'm sorry."
"For what?"
"I..."
She laughed weakly.
"I'm unloading all of this onto someone I've only just
met."
Azamat smiled gently.
"You don't have to apologize."
"If I could..."
He shrugged.
"...I'd give you a hug."
Sarah smiled through damp eyes.
"I'd like that."
Neither of them spoke for several seconds.
Finally Sarah took a slow breath.
"My marriage..."
She searched for the words.
"...isn't great."
Azamat simply nodded.
"I've talked to Joanna."
"A lot."
"I probably could again."
She smiled faintly.
"…but..."
"...she's already heard all of it."
She looked directly into the camera.
"You haven't."
"…and..."
She laughed awkwardly.
"...you're a guy."
"I thought..."
"...maybe I'd like hearing a man's perspective."
Azamat rubbed the back of his neck.
"I should warn you."
"I'm probably the wrong person."
"Why?"
"I'm not exactly a relationship expert."
He smiled sheepishly.
"If anything..."
"...I'm the opposite."
Sarah shook her head.
"I don't need an expert."
"I don't need somebody to solve it."
"I don't need somebody to tell me what to do."
She took another slow breath.
"I just..."
"...need somebody to listen."
Azamat didn't answer immediately.
He leaned back against the headboard.
Then nodded once.
"I can do that."
Sarah smiled.
A small one.
…but a genuine one.
She looked out at the pizza shop for a moment.
Collected herself.
Then looked back at the screen.
"...Okay."
She exhaled.
"Then..."
"...I'll start at the beginning."
…and Azamat simply listened.
The pizza restaurant bustled around Sarah.
Employees hurried between ovens.
Orders were called out.
Customers came and went.
Inside her car...
There was only silence.
Azamat never interrupted.
Not once.
When Sarah paused to collect herself...
He waited.
When she laughed bitterly at one of her own stories...
He didn't tell her she shouldn't feel that way.
When she cried...
He didn't panic.
He simply stayed there.
Listening.
Occasionally nodding.
Sometimes saying nothing at all.
He wished, selfishly, that a phone screen wasn't between
them.
A hug would've done far more than any sentence he could
think of.
Eventually...
Sarah exhaled.
"...I think that's everything."
Azamat didn't answer immediately.
He rubbed the back of his neck.
"...I'm trying to think of something helpful."
Sarah smiled faintly.
"You don't have to."
"No."
"I'd like to."
He looked away from the camera for a moment.
"My father used to tell me something."
Sarah waited.
"If someone truly loves you..."
"...they'll make time for you."
She nodded slowly.
"I remember you saying that yesterday."
"I still believe it."
He leaned forward slightly.
"I think..."
"...if you can..."
"...you should try to make time for Lars."
Sarah's expression tightened.
"Everyone says that."
"What?"
"'Try to make it work.'"
She sighed.
"As though it's an obligation."
"As though because we're married..."
"...I'm somehow required to make it work no matter
what."
She shook her head.
"I know marriage is important."
"I know it's a commitment."
"…but..."
"...I don't want to stay just because I feel forced
to."
Azamat nodded thoughtfully.
"I don't think that's what I mean."
"No?"
He shook his head.
"What I'm thinking about..."
He searched for the words.
"...is that there had to be a reason."
"A reason?"
"You fell in love."
"You got married."
"You started a family."
He smiled gently.
"Those things don't usually happen by accident."
Sarah looked down at the steering wheel.
"No."
"They don't."
"I don't think you've forgotten how to love."
He paused.
"I think..."
"...maybe you've forgotten how to love each
other."
Sarah looked back up.
He continued.
"I don't know what that looks like."
"I don't know whether it's counseling."
"I don't know whether it's dates."
"I don't know whether it's simply sitting together
without the television on."
He shrugged.
"I honestly don't know."
"…but..."
"...I don't think you've stopped caring."
"I think life got loud."
Sarah let that sit for a while.
"...Maybe."
"I do think..."
He smiled apologetically.
"...that eventually you're going to have to talk to
him."
She nodded.
"I know."
"You don't have to tonight."
"…but..."
"...you probably can't avoid it forever."
She sighed.
"No."
"I can't."
Azamat rested his elbows on his knees.
"For what it's worth..."
"I don't think Lars is a bad man."
Sarah looked at him curiously.
"I don't know him."
"…but..."
"...from what you've told me..."
"I don't hear a man who's cruel."
"I don't hear someone who's cheating."
"I hear..."
He thought for a second.
"...someone who's gotten comfortable."
"Maybe too comfortable."
"…and maybe..."
"...he doesn't realize how much more you need from
him."
Sarah was quiet.
She'd expected someone to tell her to leave.
Or to stay.
Instead...
Azamat had done neither.
"So what do I do?"
He smiled sheepishly.
"I wish I knew."
"I don't."
"I just..."
He spread his hands.
"...believe the two of you should be able to find the
answer."
"If..."
He emphasized the word carefully.
"...you both decide you're willing to look for
it."
Sarah smiled.
A tired smile.
…but an appreciative one.
"...Thank you."
"For what?"
"For not pretending you knew everything."
Azamat laughed.
"I wouldn't've been very convincing if I tried."
She laughed too.
Then looked at him for a long moment.
"...I really wish I could give you a hug right
now."
Azamat smiled warmly.
He opened his arms toward the camera.
"This is the best technology can do."
Sarah mirrored the gesture, hugging herself while laughing
softly through lingering tears.
"It'll have to do."
"For now."
She wiped at her eyes.
"I should go."
"The pizza's probably ready."
"It probably is."
She reached for the door handle.
Then paused.
"...Thanks for listening."
"Any time."
She smiled one last time.
"I'll talk to you later."
"I'll be here."
The call ended.
Sarah slipped the phone into her robe pocket.
As she stepped out of the car and walked toward the
restaurant, the weight on her shoulders hadn't disappeared.
Her marriage wasn't suddenly fixed.
The difficult conversation with Lars still waited.
…but somehow...
She no longer felt as though she had to carry it by herself.
The evening air had begun to cool.
The pool was quieter now.
Joanna floated lazily on her back, eyes closed, enjoying one
of the rare moments where she didn't have to be anywhere.
A splash nearby broke the silence.
She opened one eye.
Azamat surfaced beside her.
"I thought you were going to watch basketball."
He shook his head.
"I need to talk to you."
The smile disappeared from Joanna's face.
She immediately heard the seriousness in his voice.
"What happened?"
Azamat rested both forearms on the edge of the pool.
"...Sarah called me."
Joanna waited.
"She..."
He searched for the words.
"...started telling me about her marriage."
Joanna nodded slowly.
"I listened."
"I tried to help."
"I tried not to say too much."
"I only really spoke when she asked me."
He sighed.
"I did my best."
Joanna remained quiet.
"So..."
She finally asked.
"...what's bothering you?"
Azamat frowned.
"I don't know."
"I..."
He looked down into the water.
"I've only really known Sarah since today."
"I knew about her because of you."
"…but..."
"...today was really the first time I'd ever talked to
her."
He rubbed the back of his neck.
"I don't think she did anything wrong."
"I don't think I did anything wrong."
"I like talking to her."
"I like her."
He quickly clarified.
"As a friend."
"I really think she'd make a wonderful friend."
He looked back at Joanna.
"…but..."
"...I don't want to become the reason her marriage
falls apart."
"I don't want to be..."
He struggled again.
"...that guy."
"I don't know if I crossed a line."
Joanna didn't answer with words.
Instead...
She simply stepped closer.
Then wrapped both arms around him.
Azamat blinked.
"...Joanna?"
She held him tightly.
"You did exactly what Sarah needed."
He slowly returned the hug.
"I did?"
"You listened."
"You didn't pry."
"You didn't push."
"You didn't tell her to leave Lars."
"You didn't tell her to stay with Lars."
"You didn't make it about yourself."
She pulled back just enough to look him in the eye.
"You even ignored what would've been best for
you."
Azamat looked confused.
"What do you mean?"
She smiled gently.
"You could've selfishly told her to leave."
"You didn't."
"You encouraged her to fight for her marriage."
He looked away.
"It seemed like the right thing."
"It was."
She squeezed his shoulders.
"Azamat..."
"...Sarah needed a friend."
"…and today..."
"...you were one."
That was all it took.
His composure cracked.
He lowered his head.
"I..."
His voice caught.
"I just..."
The tears came before he could stop them.
Joanna didn't try.
She simply held him.
One hand gently rubbed his back.
"It's okay."
He laughed weakly through the tears.
"I don't even know why I'm crying."
"I do."
She smiled.
"You've wanted someone to choose you for a long
time."
He didn't answer.
Because she was right.
She rested her cheek lightly against his shoulder.
"One day..."
"...you're going to make somebody very happy."
Azamat closed his eyes.
"I hope so."
"You will."
After another long moment...
He finally found his voice.
"...Thank you."
"For what?"
"For reminding me that trying to do the right
thing..."
"...is enough."
She smiled.
"It usually is."
He wiped his eyes.
"…and..."
He laughed softly.
"I hope the best for you and Zas."
"You really are..."
He shook his head.
"...special."
Joanna smiled.
"I'll try not to let it go to my head."
At that exact moment...
The hotel doors opened.
Zas and Ravi stepped outside.
Ravi immediately spotted the embrace.
He looked at Zas.
"...Should we be worried for him?"
Zas followed his gaze.
Ravi grinned.
"I mean..."
"...is this the part where you beat Azamat up?"
Joanna looked over without letting go.
She gave Ravi a look that could have frozen lava.
Ravi raised both hands.
"...Worth asking."
Zas simply smiled.
He quietly set his towel down.
Without a word...
He stepped into the pool.
Walked over.
Then wrapped one arm around Joanna...
...and the other around Azamat.
Nobody said anything.
Ravi watched for a few seconds.
"...Well."
"I suppose I'm not being left out."
He kicked off his sandals.
"I was hoping for basketball..."
"...but group hugs are acceptable."
He splashed into the pool.
A moment later...
His arm joined the embrace too.
Azamat laughed through the last of his tears.
He looked around at the three people holding him.
"...I love you guys."
Joanna smiled.
"We know."
Ravi nodded.
"Love you too."
Zas squeezed his shoulder once.
"We're family."
Azamat smiled.
For perhaps the first time in many years...
The word didn't feel like something he had lost.
It felt like something he still had.
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