Chapter 22

"What in the hell was that?" Bret grumbled as Amber stepped back to give Lexi room to stand.

"It was a hip toss," Amber replied.

"It was sloppy," Bret corrected. "Who taught you that maneuver?"

"I learned it at the training center." Feeling slightly defensive, she pushed the hair from her face. Didn't he realize she was giving him her best? "I learned all my moves at the training center."

"Figures," Bret mumbled as he shook his head. "It's nothing against you, hon," he added. "I know you're trying." He motioned to Seth. "Into the ring." Then he turned his attention to Lexi. "I want you to work with Seth and show Amber a good hip toss."

Lexi nodded and moved into position.

"Now," Bret said with instruction in his tone. "A good hip toss should be quick. It's needs to snap and you need to be in control the entire time." He pointed to Lexi. "Watch her feet the first time." He nodded. "Do it."

Seth took a run at Lexi who promptly flipped him over her hip and slammed him to the mat. "See how she shifted her feet and her body with purpose?" Bret asked. "There wasn't any hesitation in her footwork or her movements. That confidence allowed her to make the quick slam to the mat?"

Amber nodded.

"Lexi." He pointed to Amber. "Five minutes showing her proper footing and positioning. Then I want to see a good hip toss."

Amber looked from Bret to Lexi and felt as if she was going to cry. She'd spent the last two hours having Bret criticize everything she did and her confidence was now at an all time low. Apparently, when it came to The Hitman she couldn't do anything right.

"It's okay," Lexi patted her on the shoulder. "Try not to take what he says too much to heart. Dad's rough and freaking demanding as hell, but he means well and in the end he will make you better."

Amber nodded. "I know, but right now I really feel like a piece of crap."

"Believe me when I say been there, done that." Lexi replied. "Look, I know it sucks now, but I promise you'll be better for it. Now let me show you this."

Five minutes later Amber positioned herself as Lexi instructed. Lexi came at her and remembering everything she was taught, Amber flipped Lexi to the mat. "Good," Bret praised "Again. This time with Seth."

Seth moved into position and went for her and Amber flipped him just as she had Lexi. "Excellent." Bret lauded. "I'm glad to see you're a quick study. Now let's do it a few more times and then we'll move on."

An hour later Amber found herself standing outside the ring looking in at where Lexi and Roman stood taking instruction from Bret.

He moved back to stand next to Amber. "Okay." Bret began. "You need a signature move, a submission move, and a finisher. Your signature move could be either one of the others or something entirely different. What's your signature move right now?"

Amber shrugged. "I don't really have one. You know, after thinking about it, I'm really starting to believe they never meant for me to be more than a jobber, because I'm realizing that I really only know the basics."

"Well, we're going to change that," Bret said.

"We'll start with your finisher." Lexi grinned. "You're gonna love this. I got permission from Chris to show you his codebreaker."

Amber's eyes widened. "You talked Chris Jericho into letting me use one of his signature moves?"

Lexi's grin widened. "Technically, I didn't really need to get his permission since it's a regular wrestling move, but since I want to use the name, and that is his, I asked him." She moved into the middle of the ring with Roman. "Now watch." Roman positioned himself near the far ropes."This move is easier to do for women if you get a running leap," Lexi instructed as she backed up. "When you're about a foot away from your opponent you're going to leap and plant your shins against your opponents upper chest." She took off at a run, leaped, and Roman caught her, holding her in place.

"Note how my knees are high enough up that it looks like his head is between my knees."

Amber nodded as she studied the move..

"Good, Then you placed your hands on his shoulders at the base of the neck, so it appears that you have your opponent by the neck." Lexi placed her hands on Roman's back. "This is important. You don't really want to grab the neck because the jerking motion could injure your opponent if you do. So, at this point you pull toward you as you fall backward and bring your opponent down with you."

Only instead of Lexi pulling him back, Roman slowly eased her down the front of his body and took a kiss from her.

"Focus, you two," Bret ordered.

Lexi grinned up at Roman then stepped away. "Sorry, dad," she murmured. "Okay, so let me do a run through." She moved back and took a running leap at Roman. This time, she landed on him mid-chest, grabbed his shoulders and pulled as she fell backwards to the mat. Roman played his part, followed her down then fell away.

Lexi rolled onto her knees, glanced at Roman then over to Amber. "It's that simple. Though you do need your opponent to sell it." She angled a thumb at Roman. "Better than he just did."

Roman growled as he bear hugged Lexi and took her back down to the mat. He was on top of her in an instant. "You mocking my acting skills, woman?"

She grinned up at him and snagged a handful of his hair. "Now why would I do that?"

"You know how I feel about the hair. Let go before I beat your ass right here in front of your father."

Her look was wry as she grinned up at him. "I dare you."

"This is why we never let them spar together," Seth said to Bret. "Nothing ever gets done."

Bret shook his head. "You'd think that after two years together they'd have cooled off a bit."

Sika laughed low and deep. "That's my boy, always the romeo."

"And apparently, he's still able to enchant my daughter," Bret said even as a slight grin tipped his lips. He slapped a hand on the mat. "Hey. You two can make me another grandchild later. Right now we have work to do. Focus before I douse you both with a bucket of cold water."

Roman pulled back, and broke into a grin as Lexi busted into a laugh. "Yeah...um...sorry about that," she replied as Roman helped her to her feet.

"Right," Bret mumbled. "Now if you two are done with the foreplay can we please work with Amber? She is the reason we're here, remember?"

Amber collapsed onto the bed and groaned. "I haven't worked like that since I was back in developmental."

Seth eased down next to her. "Yeah, but you learned learned a lot of great stuff today."

"True." she rested her chin on the back of her hands as she stared absently at the wall. "You know, he warned me that I wasn't going to like him much, and he was right." She sighed. "I knew he was trying to help, but I really hated him for tearing me down earlier."

Seth rubbed a hand along her back. "I know how hard that was for you. I wish I could have done something to make it easier."

She rolled onto her back and looked up at him. "You did." She reached up and cupped his bearded cheek. "You were there, by my side. You encouraged me and supported me and I love you for it."

"I love you too, baby." He leaned down and brushed a soft kiss across her lips. "So are you going to keep training with the Hitman?"

She appeared to consider his question, her brow knit in concentration. "I'd be crazy not to, but I'm not sure if I can deal with him cutting down everything I do."

"Just remember he's doing it because he wants to make you better and I'll be there right by your side."

Her brow smoothed over with his statement. "That automatically makes it easier to deal with."

"You know what will also make right now better?"

"What?" she asked, though she had an idea of what he was thinking.

"Why don't we grab a shower?" He pressed a kiss to her forehead. "Then I'll give you a back rub." He kissed her nose. "Then I'll make you forget all about this afternoon for awhile." His lips hovered above hers. "What do ya think?"

She gave him a wry grin. "I think I like your idea...a lot."