Chapter 3: The Game

Caleb lay sprawled naked across the bed in silence. The dim glow of the bedside lamp showed the frustration on his face. Tyler had skipped the huddle again, and he had no way to get through to that hardheaded boy.

Elena walked out of the bathroom in her silk robe. She could feel the simmering anger behind her husband’s quiet facade. The events of the day were fresh in her mind. She wanted to pacify Caleb and try to defuse the tension between him and Tyler. She removed her robe and slid beside Caleb. Her green eyes glinted with knowing intensity as she cuddled him from the side.

“What got you so worked up, handsome?” She purred.

“He’s losing his edge, El,” Caleb muttered. His jaw tightened as he recalled Tyler’s defiance. “That kid has no respect for anyone, nor does he have a fire to win.”

Elena propped herself on an elbow. Her full breasts pressed against his ribs. “He feels alone, Caleb. No one’s in his corner to cheer him on. You saw his parents tonight? Oh wait, you didn’t. Because they’re never there.”

He sighed. “Yeah, rich folks. His parent did not even show up when he was arrested. Unbelievable.”

she placed a hand on his chest. “Different methods, honey. Not that I agree, but they did send him the best lawyer. He was out within an hour.”

He rubbed his temple. “That’s the problem, El. Tyler was drifting when I met him. Just another aimless teenager headed nowhere. I channeled his anger into wrestling, thinking it’d give him something to fight for.”

Elena was watching him closely. Tyler was never a lost puppy looking for a direction. He knew what he wanted even before he had met Caleb. But there was no point in correcting Caleb. He believed in his own version of truth. “You did well, honey.” She consoled him in pretend agreement.

Caleb shook his head. “You don’t understand, El. Tyler found his groove in wrestling. Have you seen him getting angry again? He’s got it in him to be great.”

This was another point she did not agree with. Caleb was blind not to see the truth. She’d seen the other trainees give Tyler a wide berth. They kept their distance, except for sweet, oblivious Mark. Everyone could see Tyler’s accumulating anger against Caleb, except him.

She rubbed his chin and looked him in the eye. “What are you not telling me, Cal? I have never seen you so worked up over your trainees.”

He looked at her, but then his eyes grew distant. “I was one match away from the Golden Grappler, El. Then that damn accident...” He trailed off.

Elena smiled at him. She recalled the memories of young Caleb chasing her. Those memories held a different meaning for her. She was wild and ambitious, while Caleb was grounded and focused on his goal. They were dating for more than a year while Caleb was chasing his dream to make his career in wrestling. They even had a bet going on between them. She would marry him if he won the Golden Grappler. That never happened, but Caleb’s genuine feelings had won her over.

“But you still got me.” She cheered him.

Caleb had a nostalgic look in his eyes. “It’s not the same, El. You never called me Champ.”

Elena felt like she was slapped hard. His words had no acknowledgment of her feelings. Her anger flared in an instant. “What’s that supposed to mean? I never cared for the trophy, Cal. Is it not enough that I love you? And what the fuck do you mean by calling you Champ? I’ll do it if you want, but can your ego take it?”

His gaze softened, but he still missed the pain in her eyes. “You know I don’t mean it that way. I could almost feel it in my grasp until that accident shattered my dream. My knee still hurts, El. That dream still haunts me.”

Elena’s anger ebbed as she felt his pain. Her fingers brushed against his knee. The scar reminded her of the day when she was called to the hospital. Caleb had been in a bad car accident. His right leg was in a cast, and bandages all over his body. The blunt trauma had shattered his kneecap. That was the end of his wrestling career. She had held Caleb in her arms as he had cried out his pain. She had been his support system since then.

Caleb’s eyes held a dead look as he was zoned out in the distance. She wanted to pull him out of those depressing thoughts before he could dwell further on his loss.