Nerdy Girl Nation (Nerdy Girl #1) (3 page)

After the long day, Al and Ben settled into the nearby Marblehead Bed and Breakfast.

Alone at last.

Emma snuggled under the covers of her old bed in her childhood bedroom and tried to get some sleep.

With no luck after an hour, she decided to do a little reading to ease her mind. On her bookshelf, between Shel Silverstein and Kurt Vonnegut sat her favorite novel,
The Hobbit
.

Emma removed the book and flipped through the worn pages. She remembered the day her mother took her beloved geometry book away and placed the Tolkien novel in her hands instead. A little girl with a head for numbers needed a release, according to her wise mother. Thus, her love for fantasy bloomed. Her mother opened a Pandora's Box that would never close with one simple gift. The book expanded Emma's world and helped her create new ones in the recesses of her mind.

Two chapters in, her eyes began to water, and exhaustion took hold. A memory of her mother's voice whispering to sleep tight and dream of sweet tomorrows hung in the air. The picture of her mother's smile comforted her while she drifted off.

What seemed like only moments later, Emma’s phone beeped with a text message. Her first thought, Terrance. Perhaps something about the meeting scheduled for the next week, then the notion struck her: she wasn’t sure if she worked for him anymore. She put on her glasses, picked up the phone, and checked the text. An unknown number informed her to check the
Gossip Greeting
website.

She clicked the Internet browser on her phone and found the top story.

AMERICA’S FAVORITE HUNTRESS GETS FIRED!

The news spread faster than she thought. The network tried to keep the big dramas out of the press until the specific episode aired. Since the episodes they were filming at the moment wouldn’t air for at least six months, the last few days wouldn’t be a surprise to their viewers..

One more click and she started the video under the headline.

The familiar face of Garrett Green came on the screen.

“Can it be true? Our hearts are breaking with the news of our favorite nerdy girl being fired. Rumors are flying fast and furious about a blow up between Emma MacLean and Irene Hunt. These are two of the women featured on the reality show
Hunt for Life
, following the escapades of billionaire Terrance Hunt.

“Mr. Hunt is said to be vacationing and unavailable for an official comment, but an inside source from the show reports Irene burst into Emma’s office and fired her. Miss MacLean was later escorted out by security with cameras still following her. We’re keeping our fingers crossed Emma stays on the show.

“Further investigation led us to a network-owned jet flying Emma and a small crew to Logan International. Viewers might remember Emma’s hometown of Marblehead is right outside of Boston. After we had figured out she returned home, we discovered some rather sad news. Emma’s mother and Marblehead’s mayor, Elaine MacLean, died in a tragic car accident yesterday morning. Our thoughts are with Emma and her family at this difficult time.

“While we haven’t reached out to Emma, we hope she will come to us when the time is right. If you’re watching this Emma, we love you and hope to see you soon.”

Emma couldn’t read the article or any of the comments. She discerned Garrett probably sent her the text. They formed a friendship when his Internet gossip show became her personal cheerleader during season one. The sudden fame overwhelmed her at first, and Garrett rallied the Nerdy Girl Nation to support her.

She pulled up Garrett’s contact information and sent him a text telling him she would call him after the funeral, not to worry.

“Terrance, you idiot!” Aaron Russell laughed when he finished watching Garrett Green’s report. “The girl is gold.” He flipped his laptop shut and reached for his tumbler of scotch. Out of his chair and over to his office window, Aaron admired the Boston skyline.

After he had drained the glass dry, the fog of an idea settled over his mind.

While Terrance amassed billions, Aaron’s accounts totaled over eleven figures. He turned a failed wrestling circuit into an international sensation, garnered himself millions of dollars and household recognition. He would admit Terrance’s seed money helped, but Aaron paid him back ten times over. The time for Aaron to take a little from his old pal arrived. The International Wrestling Association needed Emma MacLean to take them to the next level.

Aaron had been fortunate to form an amazing relationship with Emma since they met through Terrance four years earlier. Few people knew of their friendship since most of their time together took place off camera. If not for the twenty-year age difference, he might have considered a more intimate relationship with her. For now, he would put out the proverbial olive branch and offer Emma the chance of a lifetime, a career with the IWA.

The pulsating jets of his tiny shower worked wonders on Rob's sore muscles. After another day at the IWA training facility, where he mentored some of the newer wrestlers, he became mindful of his age.

Should I be feeling like this at only thirty?

Rob shook his head at the thought and splashed more water on the shower wall. In one sense, he hit his peak at thirty. In the best shape of his life, Rob “Bobby” Breyer weighed two hundred and twenty pounds with less than ten percent body fat. Stretched over his six foot four frame with messy dark brown hair and clear blue eyes, women wanted him and men strived to be him.

All of his friends outside the business married and started families years ago. The guys would complain about feeding and sleep schedules or soccer practice conflicting with a birthday party. Things he wanted to complain about. He needed to stop living vicariously through his friends. Not everybody wanted to be the cool uncle. Rob wanted to be a dad, but so far, no woman made him crave to take the leap with her.

Emptiness continued to hold him in a tight grasp. No woman curbed the loneliness in the morning after moments. Alcohol had been his mistress for a time, but the lady spun his life out of control. Every day of the last nine years was spent fighting off the cravings. Meetings at least once a week and a sponsor on speed dial certainly helped.

One final rinse and he hopped out of the shower. He walked into the bedroom in only a towel and turned on the TV to the opening credits of
Hunt for Life
.

Emma MacLean's face came across his forty-seven-inch screen. Rob’s blood began to pump faster, and his heart rate picked up speed. He threw on some boxers before he sat to focus on the first moments of the episode.

After few minutes, they showed Emma’s inner sanctum, her apartment. During the first season, she attended meetings and business functions. As her fan base started to grow, so did her airtime. By the time the second season aired, Emma socialized with Terrance and his wife on vacations and dinners at the most exclusive restaurants.

Rob cherished a more intimate glimpse into Emma's life. They showed her making a gourmet dinner for a few co-workers to enjoy at her dining room table.

A raw, unyielding pleasure filled him when he heard her laugh before she took a sip of wine. The sight of her licking remnants of wine from her lips turned him into the eighteen-year-old he’d been when he first set eyes on her.

Twelve years.

Hard to believe twelve years passed since he’d knocked her over and ruined her shirt at an IWA event in Boston. Rob apologized numerous times, embarrassed beyond belief. He took her and her brother backstage to get her a new shirt and to meet some of the wrestlers. Emma and her brother posed for pictures with his father, Big Bobby Breyer, who held the heavyweight champion title at the time. The awe on her face throughout the night leveled all his defenses. The moment presented itself and he went in for a kiss when she withdrew. He heard her say “boyfriend” and the smile fell from her lips.

Fate tempted him again only a few months later when he found himself as a participant in the high school wrestling nationals. He won the finalist spot from Maryland and Emma’s boyfriend, Derek McInerney, represented Massachusetts. Rob reconnected with Emma and befriended Derek over the few day span of the tournament. Derek and Rob advanced to the final match to face each other, and Rob pulled out with a hard win. The win meant nothing compared to how Emma hugged and kissed Derek after the loss. Rob would've gladly taken the loss if he had Emma to console him.

He discerned a few facts about Emma’s life over the last few years. Single and living in LA.
Gossip Greeting
boasted how Emma never missed an IWA broadcast.

The idea struck him so quick; the air whooshed from his lungs. Emma and his boss, Aaron Russell, knew each other. Some even called them friends. An invite from Aaron to the event in LA at the end of June wouldn’t be odd. He made a mental note to talk with Aaron during their next meeting.

Rob turned his attention back to the end of the episode with Emma and Terrance celebrating the culmination of a big deal. He turned off the TV, climbed under the blankets, and prepared himself for another dream starring Emma MacLean.

Not long after he fell asleep, Rob's phone beeped with a text message. He rubbed his eyes and read the message. His best friend and fellow wrestler, Chance, texted to tell him to check out the
Gossip Greeting
website.

He scrolled through the article with a lump in his throat and viewed the video.

Emma's mother was gone. He massaged the ache taking over his bare chest.

What can I do? Is there anything I can say?

His mind flipped through the protocols of what to do when an acquaintance experiences this type of loss? Cards and flowers? Yes, but what kind of flowers?

He glanced at the clock. It was late, but he knew she’d be up.

She picked up after the second ring. “Hello, Sweetie. Why are you calling so late?”

“Hi, Mom. I just needed to ask you a few questions.”

“Sure. What’s on your mind?”

“Um.” Where did he start? How could he explain? “Well, I just found out someone I met several years ago lost her mother recently.”

“Oh, how awful.”

“Yeah. I never met her mother, but I wanted to send something to the family. I’m not sure what, though.”

“Tricia Phillips got something last month when her sister passed away.” Rob heard the rustling of papers on his mother’s end of the line. “Here it is. Do you have a pen?”

Rob wrote down the information his mother gave him and thanked her before saying goodnight.

With his laptop booted up, he found the website his mother suggested and placed an order with overnight shipping.

Even though the clock on his phone read after midnight, Rob grabbed a few sheets of paper and a pen to write a letter to Emma and her family.

“What’s for breakfast?” Emma asked her sister-in-law, Annie, while she sat down at the kitchen table with her laptop.

“Take your pick. Mrs. Blakely’s Potato Chip Tuna Casserole or Mrs. Savoy’s Chocolate Lava Bundt Cake?”

Emma smiled and licked her lips at the sight of the cake. “Cake, definitely.”