Page 73 of Big Girl Panties

"Oh my God, Brooke," Davina whispered excitedly, tugging on my shirt, pulling my attention to the right. "That is Star. Oh my God." She pointed across the long, wide hallway to a woman with bright burgundy hair wearing a hot pink and black glittery wrestling costume.

I'd been to dozens of matches now, but this was Davina's first time backstage with me.

The halls were filled with people in suits, wrestlers in costume waiting for their air time, and then there was me and Davina, leaning against the wall waiting for Matt to finish his interviews for the night.

"Wow." I tried to match her enthusiasm, but I had no idea who Star was. "That's so cool."

"Hey," a giant blonde man smiled. "You look familiar." His brows furrowed.

"We're here with The Mountain," Davina practically squealed. "And you're Dallas 'The Dominator' Dodger."

He smiled. "I am. You a fan?"

"Huge."

His gaze shifted back to me. "You're the woman from the bar." His smile widened. "Yeah, I remember now."

My brows raised. "I'm sorry," I forced a smile. "What bar?"

"Oh," he laughed, shaking his head like it just dawned on him that I had no idea what he was talking about. "The night you met. We were all there cheering him on, but I had no idea you two were still hanging out."

"She's his girlfriend," Davina said matter-of-factly. "They've been dating for a few months now."

"No shit," he smiled. "And to think it all started with a bet."

My chest tightened, and my smile faded. "Bet?" The word came out so softly I wasn't sure I'd said it out loud.

"Dallas," someone yelled from the other end of the hall. "Let's go."

"I gotta go," he said. "But I'm sure I'll see you around."

Swallowing hard, I nodded, unable to speak. Davina and I both watched as he disappeared down the hall.

"Did he say bet?" Davina finally asked what we were both thinking.

"It all started with a bet, was his exact words," I repeated. "I was a bet. This was a bet." My hand came up to touch my forehead. "Oh my God. This all makes so much sense now."

"Brooke," Davina said. "Do not jump to conclusions."

"Conclusions?" I huffed out a humorless laugh. "He just said it all started with a bet. They bet him he wouldn’t go talk to the fat girl." I shook my head as I pushed off the wall, storming to the exit. "Or even worse, they bet him to date me."

"Brooke…" Davina ran behind me.

"I knew this was too good to be true." I shoved open the exit into the parking lot. The cool rain hit my face.

"Brooke," Davina snapped, stopping me in my tracks. She was going to be the voice of reason, but I was so angry and so hurt that I didn't want to hear it. I slowly twisted around to her. "I know that you're upset right now, and I get it if you need a minute to collect your thoughts or whatever, but you should talk to him, hear him out. That could have been taken completely out of context."

I was angry and sad, but I was also humiliated. Everyone in that room knew I was nothing more than a bet.

"Right now," I said. "I don't want to talk to him, not here, not now. I'm already embarrassed and heartbroken." Her facial expression softened. "I want to go home."

She nodded. "Okay. Let's go."

The short ride from the arena to my apartment was silent, neither of us knowing what to say. I was honestly scared that if I said anything, I would burst into tears. I'd believed everything he said. I'd let myself fall for him, and it was all a lie.

"You don't have to stay with me." I dropped my purse on the counter with more force than necessary. "I just want to shower and sleep."

"I'm not leaving until I know you are ok."