It's Time To Go Home, Says The Enlightened Wrestler Of Love (And Break-Ups)
Day 167 of The Andie Chronicles
“Did you want to use some of the equipment?”
I nodded at Chris, who was standing toward the back of the gym. “If that’s ok by you.” I began to chuckle to myself. “I mean, I am a wrestler now. Gotta work on the gun show.”
We both laughed. Chris put up his hand and we high-fived like old friends.
This would never happen in Douglas’ office or with any of my friends, for that matter. We kissed each other on the cheek, shook hands, not high-fived and flexed our muscles.
“Go for your life. And if you want to hit the ring with your man, you know where to find him.”
I didn’t know what rattled me more; my attempt to take a bump or the fact Chris called Cooper my man.
I thought of him like that, no doubts on my end, but it was all so soon. So fast. Without discussion. I wasn’t going to pretend he was my boyfriend without having the conversation. I knew better than to assume with the men in my life.
Yet, this wasn’t the time or place to correct Chris’ assumptions.
“Thank you, Chris. I appreciate it.”
Of all the cardio machines, I found one row of bikes that faced the wrestling ring. I didn’t even care to use the machine, but the view of Cooper sans any clothing on his torso, running the ropes, practising dives, how could I look away?
I set myself up, placed my Airpods in my ears and scrolled Spotify for my workout playlist. It was the one my spin teacher put me onto when I used to meet GG each week to motivate ourselves.
I loved how we pushed ourselves, but more so, I loved we had a moment to ourselves, just for her and me.
There it was; the first pang of missing my friends since I arrived in Surfers Paradise. Yet, I knew the version I missed wouldn’t be there when I got home.
As I went to set the distance on the book, I thought about Cooper. The champion. Sure, he had told me about having been on TV and working in the States, but it was all I knew about him.
And clutching my phone, beginning to ride, I typed his name into Wikipedia and there, on my little screen, was his entire life story. Where he grew up, which was not far from me in Melbourne. Where he went to school. When he was champion and when he lost.
As I kept reading, I felt like I was going behind his back. I thought I wanted to know about the man in my bed, but in reality, I didn’t want to discover his life according to the internet.
I wanted to know his life in his own words.
Despite what I read, I confirmed to myself how successful Cooper was. He had a dream, he worked for it, and he was living his dream. His suit was a wrestling costume, his swanky office was a dirty gym, and his accolades were champion belts around his waist.
And if he wanted the swanky offices, the suits, he could have them. But having them didn’t make him any more of a success.
Suddenly, I felt a need to introduce him to my friends.
It probably meant it was time to go home.
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
