Betting on the Zebra Chapter 9

For Disclaimer and other details please see Chapter 1.

CHAPTER 9

Returning to the locker room Kevin let his palm slip over his pocket where he had shoved the photograph that he had picked up off the floor just minutes ago. Was it his imagination or did it feel like it was starting to burn him slightly. He rolled his eyes at his own dramatic thoughts. It was not doing anything of the kind. But he supposed that he probably should have followed Lenny as soon as he had noticed that she had dropped something and given it back to her. For all that he knew this picture could mean a hell of a lot to her. It could be something with tons of personal significance. Then he shrugged and felt a slightly smug smirk work its way across his face. If it meant that much to her then she probably would have taken better care of it.

He watched Paul for a few moments as his friend practically stalked around the small room. He was working himself up for his match, he had seen him do it what seemed like a million times but it never failed to make him want to laugh. Of course he would never do that. Hell it was a matter of respect. Every guy had his own way of getting ready to go out there. His was plenty of stretching then wandering around as if he hadn’t a care in the world. Nothing could be further from the truth. He was going over every aspect of his game plan in his head repeatedly. Tonight it was another tag team match and if he didn’t know any better he would swear that Paul was getting a little pissed of with it.

In a way he understood his friend’s feelings. Paul’s character was supposed to be an unfeeling bastard who trusted no one and had no real allies. Then all of a sudden they’re pairing them up repeatedly in these half assed tag matches. Well he didn’t think that tonight would be half-assed at all. Tonight they were fighting the champs, Chris Jericho and Christian to give them their working names. They wouldn’t win the title but it would no doubt be a good match. He had never really known those guys not to work their asses off to make their matches impressive. Hmmm, he supposed that put a ton of extra pressure on him and Paul to make it just as good from their end too. Oh well they could deal with that when they got out there. He wasn’t one to worry unduly.

As he stood there leaning against the wall he knew that Paul hadn’t so much as noticed him yet. Once again he began to have the odd sensation of burning in his pants pocket against his leg. Before he could stop himself he slapped his hand against it. That was just weird. Then he started to wonder if he should perhaps show the picture to Paul. Maybe he should let the guy know that he had competition. And not just from him. But from a real flesh and blood guy ... from the real boyfriend. Then he smirked again. Nah. Somehow he just didn’t see that happening. Let Paul break his back trying every sleazy line under the sun ... then he could just waltz in under the wire as a ‘friend’. Then it was just a matter of time. Once he really turned on the charm there was absolutely no way that Lenny would be able to resist him.

“Are you almost done with the standing and staring thing?” Paul asked gruffly as he shrugged his shoulders several times to make sure that they were loose. He didn’t even bother looking up at the other man. “Because it’s starting to freak me out. I mean, if you find me attractive Kev all you have to do is say so ... but you should know that I just don’t swing that way. Sorry to disappoint you pal.”

Not offended in the slightest Kevin just arched his brow. Now he was doubly glad that he had decided not to show the picture to Levesque. Yeah the guy was one of his oldest friends and he loved him like a brother but even he knew what a jackass Paul could be. “What?” He asked. “I’m not only disappointed ... I’m crushed.” He deadpanned. “I had our china patterns and everything all picked out. Does that mean that I should cancel the church too?” He added before throwing a towel at the younger man’s head. “I wasn’t even sure if you were aware of my presence.”

“Of course I am ... I’m not blind.” Paul said sharply. He didn’t bother adding that he hadn’t had a clue that Kevin was in the room till the other man had done that weird slapping leg thing. What the hell was that all about? Then he frowned. He hoped that he wasn’t working injured. Not only could it mean disaster for their match but also for his friend’s health and career. “So where have you been hiding out all night?” He asked and then grinned widely. “Or do I even have to ask?”

Shrugging slightly Kevin moved further into the room and sat down on one of the wooden benches heavily. “Just hanging out and talking with friends.” He said and it wasn’t a lie. Ok so maybe he hadn’t really been talking to friends plural ... more like friend singular but still that wasn’t exactly a lie more of a sin of omission. “The same thing that I usually do every night.”

“Ok, I’m pretty sure that there was only one other person involved and that it was a female person.” Paul grinned again. “At least if you’re smart you’ll try to get some work done on her. Time is ticking away ... you only have nine days left to persuade the lady in question to part those gorgeous legs of hers and give you some of the good stuff.” He let out a burst of laughter. “Somehow I just don’t see that happening buddy.”

Pulling a slightly disgusted face Kevin rolled his eyes. “Anyone ever tell you that you have an oh so charming turn of phrase there Paul?” He asked and wondered why hearing his friend talk about Lenny that way had started a little sick feeling to churn deep in the pit of his stomach. Oh it was nothing huge but it was definitely there. In a strange way that almost disturbed him as much as what Paul had just said. “And what makes you think that I’m not ahead of you in the Lenny stakes.”

“The Lenny Stakes.” Paul mused. “I kind of like the sound of that. Maybe that’s what we should call this whole bet extravaganza? For your information Lenny sought me out earlier to apologise for that little hissy fit that she threw the other day.”

“I would hardly call it a hissy fit.” Kevin stated flatly as he stretched languidly. “She had every right to go medieval on your ass buddy. She walked out of the shower to find a guy sitting there ... a guy that shouldn’t have been there. How would you feel if someone did that to your girlfriend ... or your daughter?”

Letting out an exasperated sound from the back of his throat Paul shook his head. “Just in case it had escaped your notice Kevin I have neither of those things.” He pointed out.

“I wouldn’t let Steph hear you say that.” Kevin said with a sly smile. This was a subject that he really didn’t want to get into with his friend but anything was better than listening to Paul boast for the millionth time of how he was going to be the one to win this bet.

Jerking his head up Paul looked at the other man with eyes that were narrowed almost to slits. “Shut the fuck up about that Nash!” He practically spat out. “Steph just doesn’t know that when your dead you lie down. We had a good time ... it was great while it lasted. The key words in that sentence being ‘while it lasted’. We’re over and the sooner she comes to terms with that then the better.”

“You really are an asshole aren’t you Paul?” Kevin asked quietly as he shook his head once more. “You really didn’t know what you had there. I’m coming to the realisation that you are definitely a grass is always greener on the other side type of guy. What you and Steph had doesn’t come along all that often and you were happy enough to just blow it off because you started to think that us single guys were having more fun.” He pointed out. “But now that you’re single you’re finding that all of that is just bullshit. We’re all looking for what you just so carelessly threw away.”

“But I am having fun Kev.” Paul said with a wide smile and he was being honest. “If I really loved Steph then would I have started noticing the other women around me who were all offering something that I had started to realise I wanted?” He asked and spread his arms expansively. “Monogamy is not for me pal. Sure, I learned that the hard way but at least now I know. And I’m free to pursue lovely little morsels like our female referee ... I have no intention that anything will come of that either but it doesn’t mean that I’m not going to try and get somewhere. This bet just makes it a little more interesting.”

Staring at the younger man with an odd look on his face Kevin just nodded tightly. “Whatever Paul.” He stated as he pushed himself up off the bench. “Are we ready to do this thing?”

“Yep.” Paul answered in the positive as he too got up and began to head for the door. “Have you seen Irvine or Reso? I haven’t really had a chance to talk to them about this match since this afternoon. I wouldn’t mind going over it all again.” He smirked as he looked at his friend. “And I’m definitely looking forward to seeing Lenny again. In fact I might just ask her if she wants to do something after tonight’s show.”

This time it was Kevin’s turn to smirk as he let Paul fall into step beside him when they stepped out into the hallway. “You can try buddy but I think that you’ll definitely find her booked for the evening.” He said and then shut his mouth.

“No way.” Paul hissed and stopped dead in his tracks. He reached out an arm and jerked the other man around to face him. Despite what he had just heard he found himself smiling. Trust Kevin to slip in there undetected and gain some ground. Well damn, it looked like the stakes had just been raised a little. There was no way that he was going to be the one to parade around in women’s scanty underwear for the others to get their laughs at. It was time to go on an all out charm offensive. He had to get there first ... at all costs. “Oh no fucking way!” He said much louder and was actually laughing now. “I cannot believe that you ... you of all people persuaded Lenny to go out with you! She doesn’t even like you! You guys are always arguing whenever you get within ten feet of each other!”

Smiling Kevin just shrugged his shoulders loosely. “What can I say?” He asked and his smile got even wider. “Either the girl’s a masochist ... which could be fun for all concerned. Or she is hiding a secret longing for me ... which again could be big fun for everyone.”

“Well she definitely doesn’t have as much taste as I thought she had.” Paul said and let out a bellow of laughter as Kevin shoved him not so gently and he bashed into the opposite wall.

-o0o-

Back in the locker room Chris was still sitting stock still on the other side of the row of lockers. He had just been sitting here trying to psyche himself up for their match and then this had happened. Those two ...well he guessed that assclown was too kind a word for them ... well they had started talking about all of that shit. He hadn’t been actively eavesdropping but they hadn’t exactly been quiet about it. Shit anyone could have been in here and they would have heard all of that. Poor Lenny would have been humiliated! “Shit!” He cursed as he threw his towel down on the bench behind him. “That was fucking interesting ... for all the wrong reasons.” Then he realised something and let out a groan of pure pain. “God I so hate having too much information.” He mumbled to himself. He just hoped that he could keep his mouth shut about this to all of the relevant parties.

“Shit my life sucks!” He added petulantly and found himself wishing that he had something else that he could throw around the room.

“CHRIS!”

Not able to help it Chris jerked around when he heard the loud bellow of his name. He had the good grace to look sheepish. “Hi Jay.” He said quietly. “What’s with the yelling?” He asked.

“Yelling? What’s with the yelling?” Jay asked as he looked at the other man like he had just grown another head. “Maybe because that’s like the fifth time that I’ve said your name and it was becoming obvious that you weren’t going to acknowledge me unless I got loud!”

Trying to look contrite Chris shrugged gently. “Um yeah, sorry about that.” He said and he meant it. The last thing that he needed right now was to lose his focus. “Was kind of lost in my own thoughts there.”

“I had noticed.” Jay said and was actually biting at the inside of his lip to stop himself from laughing out loud. If Chris knew how ridiculous he had looked when he walked in here Jay was pretty sure that he would be mortified. “So I guess that it’s pretty useless asking you who you were talking to?” He asked then not able to help it he burst out laughing. He could see the look on Chris’s face but just shook his head. “Oh there is no way that I’m apologising for that one. You should have seen yourself! You looked like an escaped mental case.” He said then began to move away quickly before he caught something from Chris’s locker with his head.