Wild Side (Rose Hill, #3)(99)

CHAPTER 43


Rhys





“I CAN’T EVEN LOOK AT YOU,” ANTHONY SCOFFS AS HE STORMS past me on my way out of the stadium. Elle was pissed too. She’d muttered something about respect for the business before walking in the opposite direction.

But I’ve spent over a decade respecting this business. Tonight, I respected my marriage instead.

The door slams behind Anthony, and I smirk because I know he can’t afford to get rid of me. No one has the crowd the way I do. No one sells the merch I do.

With my bag hiked over my shoulder, I head straight to Tabitha’s hotel.

After a single knock, she swings the door open, wearing only a pair of skimpy fucking underwear, and then she’s on me—arms around my neck, legs around my waist, lips on mine. She told me once that she’d climb me like a tree, and she does. I walk into the room and kick the door closed behind me, drop my bag, and carry her back toward the bed.

“I’m so fucking proud of you,” she murmurs between kisses. “I could burst.” Again, she kisses me. My lips. My cheeks. My neck. “How are you?”

I lay us down, pulling back to look her in the eye. “Beyond exhausted but also horny as hell because my hot-as-fuck wife answered the door wearing strings for underwear.”

“Nothing less for a universal champion,” she teases, combing her fingers through my freshly washed hair.

“Thank you, Tabitha.”

“For what?”

I search her face, hoping to memorize every detail. The slope of her nose, the angle of her eyebrows, the swoop of the bow shape on her top lip. How can I encompass all the things she’s done for me in a thank-you? Especially when there’s still a tiny voice in my head that tells me I don’t deserve her. Or this happiness.

The troubled little boy in me rears his head now and then, wanting me to question everything I’ve earned. He reminds me that good things don’t usually last. But with Tabitha, it’s just a little bit easier to move past that voice.

“Turning my life from black and white to full color.”

She blinks back at me, lips tipping up into a sad smile. “You did the same for me. I help you find your color, and you help me find mine.”

I swallow, letting her words seep into me. I don’t know what to say back to that, so I just drop my head and kiss her.

Then I spend the entire night making love to my wife.



Tabby: Tell Will he’s charming, but I still hate him. See you tomorrow. I love you.

Rhys: Love you too.



I chuckle as I toss my phone into the dressing room locker. We’re in Anaheim tonight, a new market, but an easy trip from LA, since Saturday to Monday doesn’t give us much time to recover.

“Hey, Little Willy, my wife says you’re charming, but she still hates you.”

He just laughs. Will has his back to me, and I see the bruises from our match have slightly yellowed. “I’ll win her over yet.”

I cross my arms and quirk a brow at him, somehow doubting that’s the case. I know better than anyone that if Tabitha dislikes you, she isn’t easy to win over. “What did you say to her on Saturday?”

He turns to grin at me, tossing out a little wink. “Why? You worried?”

I just continue glaring. I know I can look imposing whenever I try, and I fall back on it often.

He throws a towel at me. “Dude. You are terrifying when you do that. All I said was it was nice to meet her, even though she hates me.”

I sigh and roll my eyes at him. This fucking kid. “Only you would think that was the moment for that conversation.”

A roadie pops their head into the dressing room. “Wild Side, you’re up. Show starts in two. Will, wouldn’t hurt for you to follow.”

“Thanks.” I tip my chin at Will. “You ready?”

“To ambush you and get my ass beat publicly again? Yeah, I love it so much.”

I clap his shoulder on the way past. “You’ll get it back. Or another belt. You’re not a flash in the pan, kid. Up and down, we ride it out. Just keep working hard, and I know you’ll have a hell of a career.”

He blinks at me, face blank. “My god, marriage has made you so soft.”

This time, I punch him in the shoulder, and he laughs as I depart and make my way down to the ring.

My entrance is sweeter than usual with a shiny new belt slung over my shoulder. I’ve got my mask on because I still feel more confident with it. More like Wild Side and less like Rhys Dupris. The reveal was exciting in some ways, but I still feel my best in the ring with it on.

I usually take my time entering, but tonight I really soak it up. I’ve got my freshly branded tee on, and all I have to do is chat a bit and then fend off a bitter ex-champion who just can’t let go of the spotlight.

Overall, an easy night.

Mic in hand, I press the middle rope down to step into the ring.

When the crowd finally quiets, I hold the mic up to my mouth. “Anaheim! Welcome! To the Wild Siiide!”

A few chants of take it off start up, but I wave them away, the gold on my left ring finger glinting under the arena lights.

“It feels good to be back here, especially with what has always been and will always be…mine.” I point to the belt. “That’s right. I know it. You know it. Santa Claus knows it. Hell, even Little Willy’s mom knows it.”