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“Court is in session,” he declared, setting his sparkly pink binder on his lap. “Welcome, everyone. Is there anyone who isn’t present?”
“Everyone’s present, Judge,” Seb told him.
“Do they really have to call him ‘Judge’?” I whispered to Larkin.
“Huh? Oh, yeah. Corey insists.” He sat up straight when he heard his name being called.
“Where’s Larkin?” Corey was looking around, then spotted him. “Ah. You’re taking notes on the proceedings, yes? You asked if you could the other day.”
Larkin cringed and muttered, “Shit, forgot about that,” before adding in a louder voice, “Um, yeah, totally. No problem. I’ll just… um, take them on my pho—”
“Here.” Taylor handed over his notepad and pen. Larkin shot him a grateful look and bent his head over the pad to write ‘WRESTLERS’ COURT BIZ’ at the top of the page. Then he drew a little daisy in the corner.
“Everyone received the itinerary, yes?” Corey said, then he continued without waiting for an answer. “Item three has, obviously, been removed since it was issued, seeing as Frank and Beans are no longer members of the Goliaths family due to their despicable actions.” He sighed and shook his head. “Such talent. What a waste.”
“Wait, so is this supposed to be like court or a board meeting?” I whispered to Taylor with a confused frown.
He shrugged, whispering back, “I guess a little of both. It’s riveting stuff, huh?”
My brow quirked as I sat back. It wasn’t all that riveting yet. Who knew what would happen when they got to Vince and Crossbody though?
“Seb, darling,” Corey was saying. “My beverage, if you don’t mind.”
Seb obediently picked up a martini glass filled with baby pink liquid and handed it to Corey, who took a tiny sip before setting it on the little table beside his throne.
My brows shot up. I leaned over to Larkin. “He’s drinking a martini while presiding?”
Larkin shrugged, scribbling, F&B fucked off so item 3 #CANCELLED, in the notebook. “He says it’s a ‘judge’s perk.’ He only has a couple.”
Twenty minutes later, as the wrestlers discussed item one—a review of how the pay-per-view had been going and anything they hoped to achieve in their careers as a result of the impact of Goliaths’ new, wider audience—Seb was standing at the counter mixing Corey a fresh martini in a cocktail shaker.
“Does he mind doing that?” I whispered to Larkin, nodding at the stoic-faced werewolf.
“Huh?” Larkin glanced up, looking a little flustered. “No, he doesn’t mind. He likes Corey. Stop distracting me, dude! I’m already so behind.”
“Sorry, sorry.” I sat back and drummed my fingers on my laptop, glancing at Taylor. He was listening avidly, legs crossed and his hands clasped together over his knee.
I bent my head over my laptop and tuned out to do some work. It wasn’t that the conversation was boring, but I already knew all the details about the pay-per-view stuff, and other than Dan, I wasn’t all that interested in the wrestlers’ career aspirations.
However, I immediately lifted my head when I heard Corey say in a solemn voice, “Now, on to item two. This is a delicate matter, so I trust that you will all remain respectful. Including the two litigants,” he added sternly with a delicately arched brow.
“Yes, Judge,” everyone murmured. Vince and Crossbody scowled at each other, both of them stiff and tense at opposite ends of the couch.
“Item two involves the matter of the growing tension between the Rolling Rimmer and High Lord Crossbody,” Corey declared, looking between them. “Will you both please rise for the proceedings.”
I saw Dan give Vince’s shoulder a reassuring squeeze as the ghoul let out a sharp breath and rose from the couch. Crossbody stood gracefully and lifted his chin, tucking his wings in tight so he could clasp his hands together behind his back. His face was tense, but he looked poised and regal—which made sense, if he was a prince—whereas Vince appeared stiff and uncomfortable, his hands flexing repeatedly into fists by his sides.
The room seemed to have grown even quieter, everyone a little on edge. I saw Vince flick Crossbody a quick look before focusing on Corey, who was making a note in his binder and sipping his martini.
He set down the glass and looked up. “Today we’re going to try and resolve whatever issues are between you two before they become even more of a detriment to us as a team. This tension has begun to affect us all. Screaming matches during rehearsals.” He raised an extremely unimpressed brow as Vince flushed and Crossbody clenched his jaw. “Constant bickering over the smallest things. Mud-slinging and name-calling and mind games before our performances. I won’t have it any longer.”
He paused for a few seconds to let his words sink in before continuing.
“I’m not angry. I’m disappointed,” he told them, and I saw several of the wrestlers wince. Even Vince cringed. Crossbody’s nostrils flared. Then Corey sighed dramatically. “Frankly, I blame myself for allowing it to reach this point.”
“If I may speak, Judge?” Crossbody asked in a clipped, polite voice.
There was silence as Corey picked up his martini glass and took a sip, then set it back down before finally dipping his chin in the tiniest of nods. “You may.”
