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“Well, it’s not like we’ll be speaking to each other,” I said flatly. “So they won’t notice.”

“But they will.” Corey nodded emphatically. “Two co-workers in such a small, close-knit group purposefully avoiding each other? It will be very apparent.”

“It’s what you told us to do,” Crossbody said, voice and posture both wooden.

Corey sighed. “I know, but I’ve been thinking about my ruling. I’m big enough to admit when I might be… slightly off-base. I think another solution is needed.”

We both stiffened. I reluctantly asked, “What?”

“I’m just getting my affairs in order before I commit to it,” he said airily, which did not make me feel any better. “I’ll come to you both with my idea soon. After I’ve taken it to Holt.”

Crossbody tensed even more. “Corey…”

“Don’t worry, darling. It’s nothing bad.” He gave us a winsome smile. “I think it’ll be very beneficial, actually. For all of us. You know me—full of ideas on how to make Goliaths an even more wonderful place to work. I just can’t help myself.” He laughed lightly, with faux self-deprecation. “Anyway, well done today. A good rehearsal. I’m performing in drag tonight, so I have to get going. You know how long it takes me to get ready.”

As he swept out of the room, Hogbody snorted irritably and pointed a stubby, threatening finger at us.

“No fucking bullshit this time. And for fuck’s sake, like I’ve already goddamn said, add some fucking spunk to it. You’re even stiffer than you were last week.”

I shifted in discomfort, steadfastly keeping my gaze away from Crossbody.

I really wished Hogbody would stop bringing up spunk.

Now I was picturing Crossbody’s leanly muscled stomach and chest covered in mine. His pale mauve skin streaked in white as he panted beneath me, soft and pliant and sated.

I jerked my head sharply to get rid of the image, which made Hogbody shoot me an odd look as he clamped his teeth around his cigar and shuffled toward the door.

“Are you going to fucking behave this week?” he barked.

I sighed. “Yes, coach.”

“Yes,” Crossbody muttered.

“Good. Because my wife’s made her chicken parm tonight, and if I come home stressed and can’t enjoy my favourite goddamn meal that she spent all afternoon making, she will be the one marching in here to beat both your asses.” He yanked his cigar out of his mouth and pointed it as us as he paused by the door. “Put the fucking work in and make this match a success to make up for the shitshow last week.”

Uncomfortable silence fell as he left, the door swinging shut behind him. No one else was in the room. I was pretty sure most people had already headed home.

I was acutely aware that I was suddenly alone with Crossbody for the first time since his dressing room. I should have been scrambling to leave as fast as possible—so should he—but we were both just… standing there. At opposite ends of the ring. In silence. Not looking at each other.

“Uh, I guess… Do you want to keep practising, then?” I heard myself mutter awkwardly, and I had no idea why. We’d have time to practise during work hours, and we weren’t supposed to interact without Corey around to make sure we didn’t just start arguing again.

It wasn’t like I wanted to spend more time than I had to with Crossbody, but Hogbody was right—we were both stiff and clinical, even more uncomfortable than we had been rehearsing for our previous match. If we didn’t practise until we were flawless, it would be an even worse mess.

And we were on thin ice, Corey had said. Holt was vexed.

For Holt, that was a pretty big deal.

I fully expected Crossbody to sneer and sweep out of the room at my suggestion, so I was shocked when he muttered, “Fine.”

“Fine,” I repeated after a pause, because I didn’t really know what to say.

And I was suddenly realising what this meant. Getting up close and personal with him, touching him, writhing around on the mat with him while there was no one else around.

Things had gone in a… certain direction the last two times we’d been alone, and we hadn’t even been wrestling then.

“Let’s go to the main ring,” I blurted, already climbing under the ropes and landing on the floor.

Crossbody hesitated, but followed. “Why?”