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I flushed. “Um, no, not… not, like, amorous amorous. Just… talking.”

“Talking about what?” he asked straight away.

I sighed, rolling my eyes. “Corey, come on.”

With a sniff, he eyed himself in the mirror again and draped his long braid over his shoulder to zhuzh it. “Alright, fine. But I want to be the first to know about any other romantic milestones.”

I snuffled a laugh, lifting Cora to kiss the top of her head. “Sure, okay.”

“Anyway, I suppose you already know the other interesting piece of news around here,” he said demurely, eyeing me with a sly glint in the mirror.

I looked up quickly. I’d been pretty distracted the last few days, and I wasn’t the best at listening to Holt when he talked anyway—sometimes he just talked so freaking much—so I hadn’t heard anything. “No. What?”

Corey smirked and swept more eyeshadow over his lid, then leaned closer to the mirror to inspect his work. “New performers.”

I blinked in surprise. “Seriously?”

He nodded, sitting back and reaching for his lip gloss. “I heard Holt and Taylor talking about it. Just the glimmer of an idea at the moment, but Holt seemed serious about expanding the roster. Bringing in a couple of new wrestlers.”

“Oooh.” That sounded kind of exciting, honestly. “Does he have any in mind?”

I knew I could’ve just asked Holt this directly, but it seemed to be perking Corey up to tell me himself.

“A couple.” Corey shrugged. He wasn’t at all threatened by the thought of new wrestlers coming in and taking a share of the spotlight. He knew he was the ultimate crowd favourite here, plus he and Holt were super loyal to each other.

“Well, that’ll be cool.” I held Cora up to my face. She frantically tried to lick my nose. “You’ll have even more people fussing over you, babycakes. Bet you’ll like that.”

Corey huffed and picked up his perfume—it was actually in one of those old-fashioned glass bottles with a tasselled pink puffer thing—to spritz his neck. “I’m not letting my girl go anywhere near new meat until I’ve assessed their personalities. What if one of them snubs her?”

“I’m sure no one would do that.” I kissed the top of her head and let her lick my chin a few times. “Anyways, you ready for me to take her?”

“Yes. Thanks, Lark.” He turned and held out his hands for me to pass her over so he could say goodbye. “She’s had her dinner, so she’ll need a quick walk in about forty minutes.”

“No prob.”

“I love you,” Corey was saying, staring intently into Cora’s beady little eyes. “You’re my precious baby. Be good for Larkin.”

She yipped, curly tail wagging jerkily, and tried to lick his face.

“No, darling, daddy’s got his make-up on now.” He pressed a quick kiss to the top of her head and passed her back to me.

I tucked her under my arm and stood up from the couch. “Who’re you fighting tonight?”

“Dan,” he said airily. “But Chris will be getting in the ring with him for a surprise tag team.”

I snorted. Dullahan Dan’s entrance was always made on the back of a unicorn, who was actually his shifter buddy Chris. Dan was known for his illegal moves during his matches, and Chris would often scramble under the ropes to join him in the ring.

“Noice. Well, break a leg.” I knew Corey held strong beliefs in all those old theatre superstitions.

“Thanks, sweetie.” He waved a hand absently as I opened the door and left.

I didn’t return to the backstage area, instead heading straight for the office, where Seb was waiting. When I got there, he looked up from the couch and grinned at me.

“I’m back,” I needlessly announced, dropping down beside him and holding up Cora so she could lick his face. He chuckled, smoothing his big fingers down her back.

I glanced at Holt’s office door. “Where’s boss man?”

“In Taylor’s office.”