Page 80 of The Stallion
Appliances were replaceable, even this entire home—but her?
Mywoman.
My wife.
My sweet fucking girl.
There wasn’t a single soul on this damn earth that could replace her.
“Starving, actually. I didn’t stop on my entire drive home. I wanted to get back to you as soon as I could.” Breaking away from our moment, Bria’s eyes flicked over to where I had set up our table, the candles flickering in the dark. “Did you do all this? Just for me?”
“Mhm…” I nodded in answer, running a hand through her bright red hair.
“Now this-this was the welcome home I had expected the first time.” Her eyes reconnected with mine before she leaned down and kissed my lips tenderly. “No broken furniture… no raging emotions…This.”
Fuck the answers…
I didn’t need them.
Chapter 32
Bria
Thiswasit,mymoment of truth.
Regionals were rotated through each participating state, and conveniently, this year’s competition was hosted at the Las Vegas Convention Center.
The competitive playing field had increased substantially due to the sudden influx of new teams joining the IASA every season. Most states now had at least two competing teams—a North and South squad.
I was surprised to see that we had over thirty teams in total this year—far more than when I initially started with the Sirens.
Two squads were left to perform their routine before ours, leaving us all huddled in our designated corner at the rear of the main hall, pumping each other up as we always did before a major competition, anxiously awaiting to be called to the mat.
I watched over my team like a hawk as they all stretched, gossiped, and took photos with each other for their various social media platforms.
This was just another event under our belt. Nothing new. And yet, I still couldn’t shake myself from the sudden feeling that something was seriously wrong.
Nothing was out of place; everything was perfect.
My husband was here, somewhere in the stands, just waiting to see me shine, and I was among my friends, whom I loved and cherished with all my heart.
So, where was this feeling coming from?
Why did I feel like this would be my last time on the mat?
“Everyone all set?” Asher chimed over my shoulder, and I jumped, startled by her sudden appearance from out of nowhere.
“I—Yes? Where—How long have you been standing there?” My head felt like scrambled eggs with everything that had been running through it since I’d woken up this morning—skipping breakfast with Dallas, and having little to no appetite.
“Are you alright? You’re not usually this skittish right before a competition…” Asher’s brows furrowed as she pursed her lips in thought. Her eyes scoured over me as if searching for a neon sign that would tell her precisely what was going on—what I could possibly be hiding.
“I’m fine, Ash. Just those pre-comp nerves settling in.”
“Or too much caffeine…” She hummed in approval.The fucking addict.
“Now that’s ayouproblem. I hope you’ve only had one today.”
“You keep your secrets; I shan’t share mine,” She mocked with a cheeky grin before bumping her hip into mine and swaggering over to join the rest of the squad—a sea of crimson, shimmery gold, and midnight blue.
