Free The Cruiserweight by L. Anne Carrington

there!”
    Squared Circle Express announced their upcoming
dates during intermission at their sixth anniversary show. “We are
pleased to announce that Brett Kerrigan will appear on August
twenty-eighth and September third.”
    His fans were enthusiastic. Brett
was still in the headlines, quite a feat for a cruiserweight who
wasn’t even treated as a major talent in the big
leagues.
    “ What will you do between now and
your first SCE show?” Karen asked.
    “Relaxing and maybe do some surfing. With
offers coming my way, I’m not going to have too much time to myself
for awhile. I may as well enjoy the free moments while I
can.”
    “Brett, you don’t surf. Remember telling me you
never went past the water’s edge because it’s possible sharks are
farther out in the water?”
    “I was kidding about the surfing. To be honest,
swimming in apartment building’s pool is sufficient. While on the
subject, The Shark Master says hello.”
    “What’s Patrick doing these days?”
    “He just landed a movie part.”
    “That’s fantastic! What’s it about?”
    “One of those dinner theater murder mystery
plots,” Brett told her. “It isn’t going to be a major release, but
as he says, a person has to start somewhere.”
    “I’ll have to keep an eye out.”
    “That makes two of us. I need some new material
to tease Pat since he’s done nothing but heckle me since I lost my
job. It’s no big deal since I was contacted by Squared Circle
Express. I’m pumped up about the upcoming shows.”
    “The fans will love seeing you too. No matter
what you do, they come first.”
    “Right, it’s always about them. Speaking
of one’s career, I never asked about yours. I’m being
selfish!”
    “No you‘re not. This past week has been very
turbulent for you and it’s easy to see why you’re distracted from
other things. As for my work, I did a story about your
release, and the book is coming along great.”
    “I can’t wait to see your name in all of the
bookstores.”
    “That may be awhile. I still have plenty of
editing to do, which is restricted to weekends most of the time.
I’m a little obsessive, but the book means a lot to me.”
    “That’s normal. When you’re zealous about
something you love, more energy goes in. It’s what keeps us going
in life. I have a feeling both of us will have more success than
either even considered.”
    “To think some people said you had an attitude
problem,” Karen said.
    “Yeah, well, that was just about certain
things. Life is going to get better. Free at last from dumb ass
restrictions! Now the world will see who Brett Kerrigan is really is.”
     
     
     
     

CHAPTER 12
     
    In addition to Squared Circle Express, Brett
was announced to wrestle with another wrestling promotion,
Dragonfly USA. In the company’s official press release, founder
Graham Sobeck said he’d searched for a top-name opponent to face
off against him. “Brett Kerrigan is a real superstar, and we plan
to spotlight him as much as possible. “It’s a pleasure to see him
in action again.”
    Karen messaged Brett when she heard the news.
“Congratulations! I’m thrilled for you, and wrestling for Graham
Sobeck’s company, of all places!”
    “He’s an old friend from my early independent
days and I owed him a favor. I dig Dragonfly’s policies of letting
their talent have no limits in the ring as well as the guys they
have on their roster.”
    “I’m sure the Japan office will find you an
outstanding challenger. I don’t recall many other cruiserweights
given such opportunities with independent federations as
you.”
    “The good things wrestling independently are
not only are there no longer any barriers of what I can do in the
ring, but also naming my price. What’s shocking is both Squared
Circle Express and Dragonfly honored my requests.”
    “You should name your salary. You were in the
world’s largest wrestling company.”
    “I know I’m sort of a ‘name’, but I don’t