Gym, Phone Calls And Experts, Doing Business In Unlikely Locations
Day 212 of The Andie Chronicles
I took the train from the city straight to Burnley.
It wasn’t really on my way home. It was an entirely different train line from the one I usually took. But I knew Cooper was training there, at the specialty wrestling gym he had an invested stake in.
I hadn’t been there yet; I had only seen photos of it on Instagram. Those pictures reminded me of the one in Surfers Paradise owned by Chris. Real, raw, for the dedicated muscle addicts who didn’t care about the gym's appearance. Only their appearances.
And if it was Cooper’s gym and business, I harboured zero doubts it would be brilliant.
Pushing through the squeaky glass doors, I scanned the space and immediately spotted Cooper in the weights warehouse.
The roof's ceiling was four stories high, with the shed-like roofing exposed between the steel beams. A few fans rotated, doing little to disguise the warmth this building held despite it not being summer yet.
The wrestling rings filled the back half of the gym, behind the weights area. There were six of them lined up in two rows. As expected, a collective of young wrestlers waited by the side of the rings in anticipation for Cooper to finish his set and begin their training.
I had to laugh at them; from the state of their kneepads, helmets, and glorified crash dummy uniforms, it was their first day. Soon, Cooper would have them sans protection, which would filter the weak from the strong, according to every wrestler I spoke to backstage.
What would the dating equivalent be? Once you drop the prophylactics and rely solely on oral contraceptives?
I heard the whispers as I moved through the machines and weights benches to where Cooper was performing a chest press.
My name.
Cooper’s name.
My slap to end all slaps. I didn’t mean these people knowing who I was; I went out to entertain them, after all.
I waited for Cooper to replace the bar onto the rack before straddling his body. He sat upright and immediately seized my body, pulling me into him.
I didn’t care about the sweat. I didn’t care that we were in public. I wanted him to know that I was here, and I wanted him.
“I’ve been thinking,” I began whilst he held me. “There are few things I want to know about the wrestling business and making money, and I was hoping you would show me some of the ropes.” He pointed to the rings, and I jokingly slapped his hand. “Not those ropes,” I laughed.
“I want to know how you guys find the money to start the promotions. I know you need equipment, uniforms, rings and costumes before you sell tickets. How do you find the money for that?”
“Come with me,” taking my hand, leading through the weight machines, past the waiting trainees and into the back office. In the middle of the room decorated in wrestling memorabilia, a single desk with a phone and laptop sat amongst the stacks of boxes labelled merchandise.
He sat me down at the desk, picked up the landline phone and started dialling.
“Chris, is that you? Good, look, Andie is here with me, and she has some questions. Do you have a moment?” He paused, nodding his head in approval. “You’re a legend. Thanks, mate.”
As Cooper passed me the headset, I kissed his lips.
“I’ll be in the ring if you need me.”
You’re reading The Andie Chronicles, the 2023 romance-fiction series from the 1 Lovelock Drive (1LD) universe.
By the way, this all started when Andie turned thirty-five, and her then-boyfriend didn’t call her.
Or the day after that.
Or the day after that, too.
Everything started to unravel when her BFFs got into bed with her ex, too… ⬇️ ⬇️ ⬇️
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A little lost on what’s happening at 1 Lovelock Drive?
Well, you see, Andie’s break-up started back in February and so much has happened since then. These stories will help you catch right up! xx
