Let Her Go

Prologue

I sat in a conference room at the Performance Center in Orlando as I looked across the solid oak conference table at the man that could make or break my dreams. What he said next would either change my life forever or break my heart.

"As you know, we had people come from all over the country to try out with us for this audition, and we will only be offering contracts to three women. The women you were competing against were some of the most athletic tryouts we've ever seen come through the door. The competition was stiff, and we've had to make three very tough decisions. After talking it over with the other coaches, we've come to a decision, and I'm afraid I have some bad news."

I let out a sigh as I felt my heart drop to the floor at Hunter's words. I didn't need to hear him actually say the words to know that I hadn't been good enough. I mean I had seen the women competing against me during the tryouts. They were nothing short of amazing in the ring. He said it himself they were some of the most athletic tryouts they had ever seen. What chance did a girl like me, who has little to no experience in the business, stand against women who have been doing this in other companies for years?

Hunter looked down at some papers in front of him. His eyes scanned the words on the page before he looked up and his eyes met mine.

"The bad news is that you're going to have to go back home," he sighed as he looked back down at the papers in front of him.

I pulled my bottom lip between my teeth to hold back my emotions and nodded as I looked down at my hands. I knew my chances of getting signed were slim, but hearing the rejection and the words actually leave Hunter's mouth stung more than I thought it would.

"The bad news is that you're going to have to go back home, and pack your bags because you're moving to Orlando." Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Hunter slide a piece of paper across the table towards me.

I picked my head up and my lips curved into a wide grin as I looked across the table at Hunter. Had I heard him right? Was this some kind of joke? Could this really be happening? I brought my hands up to cover my face as I tried to process that this was really happening.

"Breathe, kid," Hunter said as he smiled at me. "You've got yourself a contract. Welcome to NXT."

He rose from the chair he sat in and reached across the table to extend a hand to me. I reached down and wiped my sweaty palms on the top of my jeans before I stood up and reached out to shake his hand.

We spent the next hour going over the logistics of the contract, pay, etc. After signing my life away on the dotted line no less than six times, I had become an NXT Superstar.

"Why don't you follow me? I'll show you around the Performance Center and introduce you to some of the people you'll be working with." Hunter said as he led me towards the central part of the Performance Center.

It was the end of the tour and Hunter and I were currently standing in the main room of the Performance Center. Several superstars were sparring and training in the various rings around the room.

"Let me introduce you to a couple of the guys," Hunter said as he led me to the ring closest to us.

I turned around, and when I did, I felt the air leave my chest. My eyes met with an all too familiar pair of blue ones that I hadn't seen in more than ten years. I felt my mouth go dry and my chest get tight as I looked at the man that had stolen my heart a long time ago and then ran away with it.

"Brynn, this is Johnny Gargano and-"

"-Champy," I said it in a voice so low it wasn't more than a whisper. It was the nickname I had given him years ago when we were just a couple of kids with stars in our eyes.