Page 30 of Between the Ropes

"I’m driving down to Tampa."

Excitement surges through me, flipping my stomach inside out. My fingers tremble as I hit the call button, pulse racing with each ring. When his deep voice finally spills through the line, I swear I forget how to breathe.

“Good morning,” he drawls, voice rough with sleep and something else—something thick and molten that makes my skin heat.

“Are you really on your way here?” I ask, trying not to sound too eager and failing miserably.

A low, knowing chuckle rumbles through the phone. “I was already in the car before I sent the text.”

My breath catches. “Ryan—”

“I can’t stay away from you, Natalie.” His voice drops, rich and smooth, like he knows exactly what he’s doing to me. “I tried. I told myself to wait, to give you space. But after last night? Afteryou? Fuck that. We can’t have a night like that and then just go our separate ways like nothing happened.” He exhales sharply, like just the thought of it frustrates him. “I want my days off with you. I need my days off with you. Unless I’m ruining your plans?”

His words steal the air straight from my lungs. I press my fingers to my lips, trying to contain the ridiculous smile stretching across my face.

“No,” I breathe. “You’re my plans now.”

He lets out a low, satisfied hum. “Good. Be ready for me, baby. I’m not letting you out of my sight for the next two days.”

I hang up, my entire body buzzing, and then it hits me.

This is real.

Ryan Pierce is driving across the state just to seeme.

"Annika!" I scream, darting out of bed and down the hall, my mind racing. "Ryan’s coming here! Ryan Pierce is coming to our apartment!"

Annika, still in her pajamas, pokes her head out of her room, rubbing her eyes. “Wait, wait. Your Ryan Pierce? As in... giant, professional-wrestling superstar Ryan Pierce?”

"Yes!" I practically shout, pacing back and forth. “He’s driving down from Orlando. Right now. We don’t have time for questions!”

Her eyes widen, and she slaps her hands to her face in disbelief. “Oh my god! I can’t believe this! You’ve landed a freaking wrestler! Natalie, do you realize what this means?”

I laugh, still too frazzled to fully process her excitement. “What does it mean, Annika?”

“It means you’re dating a hot giant! You’ve leveled up, girl! We need to clean this place up. And you—” she points to me, “—need to pick out something cute. You can’t just greet Ryan Pierce in sweats.”

"I know, I know!" I dash back to my room, rummaging through my closet while Annika takes charge of tidying up the apartment. “I don’t think we’re dating though, right now it’s just, fuck I don’t know, hooking up? We haven’t discussed anything; we haven’t even been on a date.”

“You’ve basically hit the jackpot, you know that?” Annika calls out from the living room. “He’s freaking gorgeous—chiseled muscles, tattoos, that whole broody thing going on... and a wrestler! This is like something out of one of your cheesy romance books!”

I roll my eyes, trying to focus on what outfit to wear. “It’s not like that.”

“Please,” Annika scoffs, laughing. “It is exactly like that. I bet you’d have him body slam you in the bedroom, no hesitation.”

“Annika!” I yell, embarrassed but laughing anyway. “Stop!”

By the time I settle on a cute sundress and heels, Annika has cleaned the living room and kitchen, leaving the apartment looking somewhat presentable. Then the moment comes—there’s a knock on the door.

“Oh my god,” I whisper, frozen in place.

“Don’t freak out. I’ll answer it.” Annika smirks, rushing to the door. She swings it open, and I hear a low voice—his voice.

“Hi,” Annika greets him confidently, her eyes widening as she takes him in. “You must be Ryan. I’m Annika, Natalie’s roommate. Nice to finally meet you!”

Ryan, towering in the doorway, smiles and reaches out to shake her hand. “Nice to meet you, Annika.”

Annika looks like she’s doing her best to hold it together, but I can see her sneaking glances at him, clearly impressed by his size. “Wow, you’re... uh, huge,” she blurts out, and I stifle a laugh from where I’m standing.

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