It was about time to close. As a winter norm, the sun was already far gone, and the clouds arrived to let slight snowfall on the citizens of Hulwater. The pandemic didn’t stop the people from having a festive mood, with Christmas lights littering the houses next to the school. I was outside, leaning against the wall, waiting for Carter to walk outside with me. She doesn’t have a car, and the buses are closed for the night, so I’m usually her ride home. I had a cigarette in my mouth, a bad habit I picked up after my back injury a few years ago, but that’s another story.

I stared at the Christmas lights at a one-story home across the street flashing green and red. The cold ate at my cheeks, and the snow slowly wafted down, barely enough to stick, but enough to make the roads wet. My mind wandered back home. While I was hardly cold in Oakland, I remember those nights when I was excited to see my own breath. I would stare at my big tree, looking at the grand ornaments as my mom and dad chatted casually over watching a special on TV. At the age of 26, I was homesick. I wanted to call them. I knew they’d wanted to help with taking me back home, but I was much too prideful for that. They’re already financially stable, but I had to swallow my pride and call them. And I planned to when I got home.

Jim walked out, wearing a fur coat as he sighed out some cold air. “Damn fine training today, son.”

I nodded, not bothering to look at him, still staring at the lights. “Thanks.”

“I ain’t a fan of you and Carter fightin’, but I can’t argue with results.” He cackles, referring to the money we make the bastard.

I faked a smile as Carter walked out. Jim looked at her and flashed his dirty teeth at me. “Well, I’ll be gone now. I’ll see y’all tomorrow!”

We waved him off, letting him drive off in his truck. I got up, blowing smoke. “Bout time. Looking good for me?”

Carter scoffed. “As if. I could wear a trash bag and you’ll still be all over me, you dog.”

I put on a sleazy smirk and flicked the cancer stick from my mouth. “That just makes it easy to take things off.”

She couldn’t help to smile at my remark. She playfully shoved me as we walked to my car. I drove off, soaking in the decorations the town set up. Carter turned on the radio to an R&B station, where they played Boyz II Men’s “Let It Snow” at the time. I chuckled, memories of the soulful singing flowed through my head as I heard this on the radio all the time in my dad’s car on the way to school every winter without fail. “My dad loved this song.”

“Oh?” She asked, curious. “Ya know, you never tell me much about your family.”

“I only met ya this year.”

“You got time to fuck me but no time to talk about your personal life.”

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I nervously laughed. “It wasn’t brought up! How could I?”

She was skeptical but accepted my bullshit excuse. “Uh-huh. Tell me now, then.”

With a sigh, I answered the question as we reached a red light. “My dad was…The Artist.”

She nodded, impressed. “No shit? The Artist? That’s crazy.”

“Yeah, yeah. I don’t think about it too much. I just saw him as Dad. He helped me train, I watched a few of his matches live, but that’s about it.”

“So you were in Japan for some time?”

“Uh-huh,” The light turned green. I drove on as I continued. “I was there until I was a teenager. Japanese was my first language, fun fact.”

“Ooh. And your mom?”

“She was a doctor. Worked all over Japan, and did the same when we moved to Oakland.”

Carter tapped my shoulder. “See, why can’t I have a more interesting story?”

I shook my head, denying her claim. “Come on, everyone has an interesting thing about themselves. What’s yours?”

Carter thought for a while as we parked at the front of the house. I lived in a half house, I rented it out since I got there in February. We got out into the crisp night, where the snow picked up. As I got my keys in the door, she finally got an answer. “Oh! I never went to a wrestling school.”

I looked back, slightly confused. “Like, somebody taught you outside of school?”

“Nope. I was my own teacher.”

I was dumbfounded, I closed the door, humming. “What? Like…How did you get booked?”

“I lied,” Carter said with a smile. “It’s pretty easy to lie around here. Then you build a resume from there.”

I removed my coat and hat, throwing it on the table in the living room. “You’re like a savant or something.”

She snickered at my comment. “I guess? I mean my folks are dipshits. They own the produce market around here.”

“Morning Farms?”

“Nah,” Carter shook her head as she removed her coat and boots, placing them near the front door. “Hulwater Market.”

I sat down, removed my wet boots, and placed them near my couch. “Ahh. I assume something bad happened?”

“Just hate the profession. Too manly or something. I was too broke for school over here, so I just lied.”

“Damn, heavy.”

She brushed the comment aside and sat on my lap, straddling me. “I don’t wanna think about that now.”

I huffed out a laugh, my hands riding up her thigh. “Really?”

She nodded, leaning to kiss me. Her hands held my stubble and her hair fell on both of us. My hands moved all over her legs, gripping her firm ass while she made a small noise of pleasure. After a bit, she pulled away. She frowned a bit as she looked down at me, grinding against me.

“What’s wrong?” I asked as she continued to grind.

“N-Nothing…” She mumbled, but I knew better.

“Doesn’t look like nothing…”

Carter leaned in, her face a mix of lust and concern. “I’m sorry.”

“I…” I looked away, my hands couldn’t stop feeling her up. “Huh?”

After planting another kiss, she admitted what gripped her. “I feel like I’m using you sometimes.”

I was so confused. Why was she telling me this now? I stopped her for a moment, letting us both calm down. “I…I see what you mean, but it’s fine. That’s what friends are for.”

“I guess but…We’ve been doing it for months, Kris.”

I nodded, agreeing. “I really do like you, Tracy.”

“But…” She started. “...It’s complicated?”

“Uh-huh…”

Silence gripped the room, only the wind outside accompanying us. I broke the awkward moment, clearing my throat. “Let’s just…See how we feel. For now, I can tell you need the stress relief.”

Carter laughed as she got her hands on my chest. “Fuck. I hate this town, Kris. It’s driving me up the wall. I feel trapped and…” Her eyes tear up. “Fuck.”

I put her hand on her cheek, giving her a warm smile. At that moment, she pushed herself onto me more, making out with me again passionately. I let her take control, using me to her heart's content.