“What a show!” Jodie collapsed into her office chair, while Mitch fully sprawled out onto the old couch. Pay envelopes had been dispensed, the building had been cleaned up, and aside a few roster members that were still deciding where they wanted to go drinking, everyone else had cleared out.

“That it was.” Mitch distantly responded while he mulled over Rod’s parting words. The gist of it was that his transitional moves still needed some work, and that he often came across as more frantic than intended. If he could somehow tap into that energy with purpose, it’d give him more control over both himself and his opponents, making him a much more dominant competitor in the long run.

‘Don’t ever let them know that you actually know what you’re doing,’ was Rod’s final comment before taking off.

“By the way,” said Jodie, “Sandy did a fantastic job. I know that you were apprehensive about having her going one on one with Goon, but…”

“She’s improved a lot,” Mitch acknowledged. “I’m really proud of her. In retrospect, Arin’s probably the best person to go against if you’re newer. But that size discrepancy, y’know? It’s a total mismatch on paper.”

“Baby bird’s gotta fly some day,” Jodie replied with nonchalance. “She wanted it real bad. I wouldn’t have booked it if I thought she couldn’t handle it, but she did. It’s gonna make her a better wrestler.”

“Yeah, I know,” Mitch softly exhaled. “Thanks for like, ignoring my anxiety on that one.”

“You’ve had an extremely shitty two weeks, my dude. Figured that might have something to do with it.”

“God, don’t remind me,” Mitch scoffed, and was about to comment on how grateful he was for it to be over, then remembered that he’d put off informing Jodie about the upcoming trip. Last thing he needed was her involvement, since she already had too much going on and he didn’t want her commentary going into it. “By the way, did I tell you that I’m getting my stuff tomorrow?”

“Wait, no? What? How?!” Jodie sat up straight and leaned on her elbows. “Is he bringing it up here? Am I going to get to cut him?” Out of nowhere, she produced a box cutter and slid the blade out in a fluid motion.

“No, I…where the hell did that come from?!” Mitch lurched forward in surprise.

“Oh, I found it earlier and was already playing with it under the desk.” She set the box cutter down on the desk. “Anyway, you were saying?”

“ANYWAY,” Mitch rolled his eyes and laid back again, staring at the ceiling. “Avi offered me a ride, actually? He walked in on me freaking out about a text that Calv sent, and like.” Eyes darted back over to Jodie and he tried to gauge her reaction. “Offered?”

“Was he just trying to get you to shut up?” She folded her hands under her chin and grinned.

“Oh god.” He smacked the side of his head. “Probably, huh? Should I tell him not to?”

“Dude, I’m kidding!” Her face dropped. “I think he actually might be a super nice guy. Dad’s known him for well over a decade, and so far has only ever said good things. Sometimes people are just cool, and I get that’s a very scary concept to you-“

“A little, yes! The past few years haven’t been ideal on that front!” Mitch glared at her, already drained by this exchange.

“But Avi seems OK! He wouldn’t be living with us if he wasn’t!” Jodie rubbed her temples. “Can I ask you something?”

“I hate this game,” grumbled Mitch. “Sure, fine. What?”

“This might just be you being, well, you.” There was a sharp inhale, then a pause. “But why did you lie about the cupcake?”

“Huh?” Mitch scratched his facial hair, then let out an audible, “Aw, fuck.”

“It’s weird, even for you.” She shrugged. “I didn’t blow your cover or anything when he thanked me.”

“You were the one that wanted to do it for him! So, I dunno, I figured you deserved the credit.”

“You went and got it, and paid for it. You can accept gratitude for once, Mitch,” she countered.

“I just said that he was giving me a ride! I was talking about how wonderful he is or whatever. Why am I being interrogated?” He slapped a hand over his face and dragged it down, smearing the paint he’d yet to clean off. This conversation was inevitable, he’d already seen it coming from over a mile away.

“Because you’re still so abrasive. I know shit’s presently a waking nightmare for you, and I don’t need you to get buddy-buddy with him or suck his dick. I need you to try, Mitch!”

“I am!” Mitch shouted, then shrank back and rolled onto his side to face away from her. “I’m sorry.” His voice softened. “I am trying, I promise.”

The office chair creaked, and wheels rumbled across the concrete floor. “Move your feet,” her voice came from above him, and he complied. She took a seat on the couch, grabbed his legs, and resettled them on top of her knees. “I know, I’m sorry, too. Shit’s fucked, and I’m gonna help you best that I can.”

“Thank you,” Mitch mumbled into his shirt sleeve.

“But I need you to help me as well.” There was a light sting at his ankle as she played with some of the leg hair there, but he didn’t mind. “And that means not making the very renowned guy that I just hired think he’s gotta tiptoe around your grumpy ass. Especially not while I’m opening another business in a few months. I can’t have that, dude. I’m just about at the end of my rope here.”

“Did he say that?” He barely lifted his head from off of the cushion it rested on, but was still able to meet her gaze.

“Not in so many words, but that’s the vibe that I’m starting to get?”

“I didn’t mean to make him feel like that.” Mitch frowned.

“I told him that you’re super awkward at first, which you are. He seemed to get it. But the cupcake is such a thing fits into your weird sad boy cycle, and maybe let’s stop that before it gets bad?” She pat his calf a few times. “So do me a solid, and be a doll on your car ride. Get him to talk about himself. Make him feel at home. Can you do that for me?”

“Yes,” resigned Mitch. “Yes, I can do that for you.”

“Like, if you gotta LARP it out, pretend that he’s a well paying client and you’re a high end escort-“

“I’M NOT SUCKING HIS DICK FOR YOU!” Mitch lifted his leg and started to kick her. “What is wrong with you?!”

“No, but hear me out!” Jodie cackled, barely shielding herself from the blows. “Escorts don’t necessarily have sex with the client! It could be like Pretty Woman! You might even fall in love!”

“I’m gonna make him quit, and then I’m gonna burn this entire building down to the ground. With you inside of it.”

“Aw, but you’d look so good in that little spandex outfit that Julia wears! With the thigh highs and everything!”

“No duh,” Mitch grumbled.

“Anyway, wanna watch Pretty Woman tonight?” Jodie asked, and Mitch sighed.

“A little, yes,” he begrudgingly admitted.