Change Your Mind

As Kyle O’Reilly prepared for his big match against Jay Lethal later in the night, he tried to stamp down his nervousness and fear. This match was not just an ordinary one—it was a title match, meaning that if he could finally beat Jay, he would win the company’s most coveted prize, the World Heavyweight Championship. Kyle had no doubt that he could beat Jay—he was more than confident that he was the better wrestler—but Truth Martini would be ringside, and Kyle knew that Jay would employ every tactic he could to ensure that the title did not leave his side.

Though Kyle wanted the title more than anything, his heart just wasn’t in wrestling tonight. He’d worked out with Bobby, his fellow Redragon partner, earlier in the day, but even then his mind had drifted off to thoughts of a certain someone. His ex-fiancée and high school sweetheart, Mari, as a matter of fact. And then Kyle’s jaw tightened and his body stiffened in response. Now was not the time to be thinking about the woman that had left him at the altar.

Maribelle Johnson, or simply Mari, as she was known to everyone else, had been the love of Kyle’s life. He had never seriously dated before Mari, so she was his first serious girlfriend and fiancée. The possibility of marriage had never crossed Kyle’s mind before, though his super strict Catholic parents had pushed him for ages to find a good girl to marry and have kids with. But they’d gotten the shock of their lives when Kyle brought home Maribelle, a tall (taller than Kyle without heels), leggy, chocolate skinned African-American from Chicago, Illinois. Race meant absolutely nothing to Kyle, and he told his parents outright one night that they would have to accept Mari and allow her and Kyle to be happy, or risk losing their son. Eventually, his parents came around, and Kyle’s mother even bonded with Mari. They spent days that turned into weeks and eventually months planning Kyle and Mari’s wedding.

With a shake of his head, Kyle snapped himself back into the present. He needed to keep his mind focused solely on his match and nothing else. Going down memory lane and feeling sorry for himself wasn’t going to change the past. He was already pissed at himself for even thinking about Mari, because he was pretty sure that she never thought about him. Bobby was right; if they had meant to be together, they would still be together. So what if Mari broke his heart? It couldn’t be helped now.

The feeling of slim fingers on his wrist caused Kyle to bristle, and he turned to see the girl that was probably closest to him than anyone else, even Bobby, standing beside of him. Avery Parker smiled warmly and leaned in to give Kyle a hug.

“Ready for your big match, champ?”

“Hey, Aves.” Kyle smiled. “Champ? You’re going to jinx me.”

“Please. You’ve got this in the bag.”

Kyle exhaled slowly and cracked the knuckles on his right hand, then repeated the action on the left.

“Hope so.”

“I know so.” Avery stepped back. “So. I just wanted to wish you good luck in your match tonight, and to ask you if you wanted to go out after? If you don’t have plans.”

Kyle knew that Bobby and Roddy wanted to hang out after the show, but they’d understand him canceling to spend time with Avery. They hardly got to see each other anymore, as Avery had moved back to Chicago and took a full-time job working as a receptionist in her uncle’s law firm. As a result, Avery barely had the time to attend wrestling shows like she used to. They used to text and talk frequently, but once Avery hooked up with Colt, Kyle cut off all contact. He just could not go through the pain that betrayal brought yet again.

The decision had been a stupid one. Avery and Colt were like brother and sister, and Kyle had overreacted based on an unfounded rumor. He’d never properly apologized to Avery for the way he had reacted, but luckily he hadn’t needed to, Avery had forgiven him without even approaching the subject.

Now, Kyle stood in front of the tiny brunette, who was waiting expectantly for an answer. He smiled and touched her forearm.

“No. I don’t have any plans.”

“So Guinness and burgers, then?”

A smile washed over Kyle’s face. To many people, that wasn’t much of a celebratory dinner, but for him, it was exactly what he needed.