The Cruiserweight
up from her
monitor, Karen gave her editor a warm smile before spotting the
bouquet Sullivan placed on her desk.
    “Oh, Mr. Sullivan, you shouldn’t have. What’s
the occasion?”
    “They aren’t from me, Karen. They came for you
earlier.”
    A puzzled look crossed her face. “Who sent
them?”
    “I have no idea. There is a card, though,”
Sullivan replied, handing it to her. “Is there any chance you have
a secret admirer?”
    Karen gave him an odd look before opening the
small envelope and reading the inscription on the card. “What’s
this?”
    “Something wrong?”
    “These came from a wrestler I met last night.
We talked for several hours and I gave him a copy of the story from
last year. They’re very nice flowers, but a thank you card would
have sufficed.”
    “Hold it. Are you saying the roses are
from…”
    “Brett Kerrigan.”
    “I’m guessing you made quite an
impression.”
    “I suppose. He even enclosed his phone number
and instant message account information.”
    “Sounds like one Mr. Kerrigan wants to
establish something beyond a one-night chat session over drinks.
You’re going to go through with contacting the man, aren’t
you?”
    “I have nothing to lose. For Brett to send
flowers, it’s only considerate of me to get in touch. I’ll make a
note to contact him when I get home.”
     
     
    *****
     
    “I don’t get the whole thing, Eddie,” Karen
said when they had dinner that evening. “Think about it. Brett
Kerrigan is around gorgeous divas at least three hundred days a
year. He has girls and young women crushing on and lusting after
him, some of them far prettier than I am. But he sent me flowers
along with his phone number and instant message
information.”
    “Did the thought ever occur there’s something
about you which made him feel comfortable?”
    “So do eighty thousand other women around the
world.”
    “I’m serious, K. You’re a good-looking lady,
intelligent, and your sense of humor is amazing. You just met the
man last night and had to have some outstanding quality to have him
remember you other than your gift to send flowers. I’m sure he
doesn’t do that for everyone. Enjoy the attention.”
    “He and I discussed a few things in passing
when we met last night. I know you and I can talk about the
situation and it won’t go further.”
    “I’m good at keeping mum.”
    “I know, that’s why I’m telling you about last
night.”
    “You wanted some new material to inspire you
for a feature story. I think your meeting Brett Kerrigan would be
perfect.”
    “I wouldn’t feel comfortable violating his
privacy. If anything, I’d reveal only career-related
material.”
    “That’s what I always liked about you. You’re a
writer with some real, down to earth ethics. Whatever you do, don’t
ever lose those qualities. They’re what makes you special. If Brett
was here right now, I have plenty of reason to believe he would
agree with me.”
    “That’s what I always liked about you. You’re a
writer with some real, down to earth ethics. Whatever you do, don’t
ever lose those qualities. They’re what makes you special. If Brett
was here right now, I have plenty of reason to believe he would
agree with me.”
     
     
     
     

CHAPTER 5
     
    Karen logged on her computer and discovered a
surprise in her email—a message that stood out among the inbox’s
other correspondence.
    “Hey, it’s Brett. Do you want to chat on
instant messenger around eight o‘clock your time?”
    “Sure, looking forward to talking again. Thanks
for writing me!”
    At eight, she signed in and saw him online, but
didn’t contact him right away. Karen presumed he was deluged with
messages from friends and fans, and didn’t want to bother him if he
was busy.
    He messaged her within minutes. “Hi! I‘ve been
waiting for you!”
    “Hi, Brett. How was the show?”
    “Great. I won a match against Big Mac. I‘ve
been trying to whip his ass forever.”
    “Congratulations.
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