Chapter 16

"Kane vs. The Brian Kendrick with Ezekiel Jackson in a Draft Pick on the Line Match," it was announced.

"Oh my God!" Briana gasped. "Are these people crazy? Are they trying to get him killed? NO NO NO DON'T DO THIS!!!!"

She then spied Brian coming toward her direction, grabbing him. "Bri, don't do this," she begged.

"It's part of the job, Bree," he shrugged. "I'm not thrilled about it either, but I have to go out there."

"Just be careful," she said. "I cannot believe they're putting you in a match against KANE tonight!"

"All in a day's work, sweetheart. I got to go."

Briana sighed, shaking her head in bemusement as she watched him and Zeke make their entrance toward the ring.

The match began with Brian taking a cheap shot at Kane, who went after him as Brian ran around the ring.

Kane then encountered Zeke, putting him out with a big boot before putting Brian back in the ring and walking into another cheap shot. Brian managed to come off the ropes but Kane countered with a huge choke slam, ending the match in a squash.

Briana had sat in the back the entire time, not able to bear looking at the monitor. As the new draft pick was being announced, Brian was being brought backstage. She spied Zeke a few minutes later.

"Where's Brian?" she asked.

Zeke jerked a thumb toward a doorway. "In there," he said. "Briana–"

She didn't give him a chance to finish, pushing her way past him and into the room.

"Brian! Freaking hell, I still can't believe they did this to you! Are you okay?"

He gave her a lopsided, goofy grin. "I'm okay. Got a headache, but I think I'll live," he slurred a little.

"More like he got his bell rung too," a trainer added. "Should be fine later, though."

Brian patted her. "You're so beautiful when you're all worried, you know that?"

"We need to get you back to the room to rest up. We have a flight to Knoxville in the morning and you can't do anything in your present condition."

"Don't worry about it, I'm more embarrassed my underwear was hanging out. Last time I don't wear that Speedo commando!"

"Better your underwear than something else, with high definition television and all."

"Bet a lot of people would have liked that option. Maybe I would get a push again," he slurred with a laugh. "You want a peek too?"

Briana looked at him, shocked. "No. Are you sure you're all right?"

"I'm good, and you're beautiful," Brian said with the lopsided grin again. "Thanks for worrying, but a man's got to get dressed."

He's really hit his head hard, Briana thought with a small sigh. "I'll be right outside when you're ready."

The next morning:

Briana had already been awake and packed everything by the time Brian had woken up with a groan.

She presented him with a glass of water and aspirin, having a feeling he may need it. "How are you?"

"Like I got hit by a fucking freight train. Where's my cigarettes?"

"Right on the nightstand. If they were a snake, they would have bitten you."

"Very funny, Bree." He lit a cigarette. "You're just a bit of sunshine in the morning, aren't you? What time is it anyway?"

"Four fifteen," she replied. "You better get a shower and shift ass if we're going to make the airport."

"Christ, not even daylight yet," Brian groaned, heading for the bathroom. "Ahh well. Maybe this smoke and a shower will clear out the cobwebs from last night."

"The way you were acting, I thought you had a concussion. You went down pretty hard."

"I thought you couldn't bear to watch it on the monitor."

"I couldn't. Zeke filled me in."

"Shit, that reminds me; I owe him ten bucks. He made a bet the match last night would last less than five minutes. Turns out he was right."

"He also mentioned that blue underwear doesn't exactly go with a black and red Speedo." Briana tried to hide her grin, but failed.

"Very fucking funny, Bree." He shook his head, stubbing out the cigarette.

"His words, not mine." She gave him a strange look.

"Yeah, nothing like them hanging out for the world to see. Jesus. Anyway, think you can find me some hair gel and some coffee while I'm in the shower?"

"I think I can manage," she nodded, digging into one of her supply bags.

Finding what she wanted, Briana set the tube of gel out on the stand by his bed before going out to a 24-hour Dunkin Donuts, grateful to get away from Brian's off-key shower singing of whatever raunchy song happened to tickle his fancy that morning.

Briana returned about twenty minutes later with the coffee and a sack of donuts, sitting them down beside the tube of hair gel before turning her back to set down her purse.

When she had turned back around, there was Brian, stark naked and oblivious to her presence in the room.

"Oh my God!" she cried, turning her back to him. "Brian!"

"Jesus, Bree! I didn't see you over there!" He quickly put the towel back on.

"For Pete's sake, put some clothes on," Briana said, still not turning around. "I know you have an exhibitionist side, but this is ridiculous."

He got some clothes from a bag. "I'll be back out in a minute."

Briana shook her head, taking a sip of coffee. What was this man's fascination with the lack of clothes? First walking in on her in the bathroom not long ago, and now this. And what about that whole thing about her being 'beautiful' when she worried statement last night? Perhaps it was from him going down on the mat so hard, but still…..

"Better?" Brian asked, coming out of the bathroom fully dressed. "You can turn around now."

She breathed a sigh of relief. "Much. There's your coffee. We'll have to be going soon."

"Ah yes," he laughed. "Good old Knoxville. The next city for me to job before we head overseas. Just another day at the office."