Logan James
“What did you expect to happen?” she said to him over the phone. Her lack of anything resembling sympathy told him everything. She was having as much of a nightmare on the home front as he was on the road. “Maybe I should just come home…” was his initial response, though she could sense his hesitation. This wasn’t how either of them planned to live.
Kayla is a hard-nosed woman. Someone who isn’t going to take “no” for an answer. She’s a grab-the-bull-by-the-horns type of person. Logan’s father-in-law is a former boxer, and she absolutely inherited his genes. It was her assertiveness and willingness to help others that drew him to her, though. She’s a kind and gentle individual, behind that tough exterior.
He felt like he owed it to her to come home. It wasn’t just about him anymore. They built a life together. With marriage and children comes responsibility. Running off to compete for PRIME is the most reckless thing he’s done in over a decade. It isn’t easy traveling, but it makes it harder when you have three children at home: two boys and a girl. The reason he is who he is, outside of the ring.
“We want you to come home, Logan… but I know that isn’t what you need to do right now. As much as I hate this, all of this, you know that coming home will be something you regret. I never want you to regret anything. Go and do this, for you… for us… whatever it is” she said as he could hear her voice cracking.
She didn’t want him to leave in the first place, but she supported him. He knows she wants him home and she’s still trying to support him. He doesn’t know what he did to deserve her.
“It’s getting late, dear” he said, knowing he has to get off the phone before either of them lost their composure.
“You’ve always hated talking on the phone, rushing me off, as always” she replied.
“I just know you’ll have a busy morning with the kiddos and I still haven’t eaten anything yet. But you know I’ll FaceTime in the morning” – and she did know that. As much of a good husband Logan was, he was an even better father and he’d always call the kids.
“I love you, LJ – get something to eat and get some sleep. I’ll talk to you in the morning, good night.” Kayla put the phone on the kitchen counter and went back to cleaning the living room.
“I love you, too, good night.” he said as he put the phone down on the hotel bed and headed for the bathroom. He started the shower and set the water to steaming hot. He looked at the bruises and marks all over his body from the week prior. He couldn’t believe he was even standing after the beating he took.
“What did you expect to happen?” was all he could think about as he hopped into the shower. Her words ringing in his head as the water poured all over his broken body. She had no idea just how bad it was or else she wouldn’t have said it and he knew that. She wasn’t the type to kick him when he was already down. But he knew if she did know how bad it was, so quickly, she would’ve told him to come home.
“I wasn’t expecting a massive f***ing giant” he shouted in the shower, laughing to himself in the process.
Food was on the brain, and he still needed to eat. The hotels he stays in aren’t the 5-star or room-service type of places. So, he had to go out to get something, but he could barely move. The shower helped a little. Getting dressed was a major chore for the first time in a long time. How was he expected to do this next weekend?
Traveling from Cleveland, Ohio to Detroit, Michigan isn’t a big drive. He could’ve gone back home to Maine after Revival 34, but he knew he needed to get into the full swing of things again. City to city, state to state – trying to find work along the way and making enough to go at it again the following week. It wasn’t like he was a kid again, he has more to start with this time and can be a bit pickier this time around.
He doesn’t have to drive from Presque Isle, ME to Boston, MA and work a show in both places in one day anymore. The $25-dollar one-night deals are a thing of the past. He isn’t desperate or broke enough to even contemplate those offers. And after the fight he had with “Mr. Bubbles”, he isn’t quite sure he’s ready for anything else.
Regardless of if he’s ready, the cards have been dealt and Daytona Diamonds is next on his agenda. Well, after he finds something to eat, of course. Normally, he’d just look for something to get for delivery and stay in the hotel room. He needed to get up and moving though. He headed for the door, turned the knob and opened it inward, only to be greeted instantly by the one and only, Steve “The Virgin Slayer” Fritz.
The two of them instantly embraced with a hug. It had been well over a decade since he saw his old tag-team partner and best friend. LJ couldn’t reach him two weeks ago, when he needed his help but now, he’s suddenly here.
“I missed you, dude—” Logan says, as Steve cuts him off, “you won’t last one more fight without me” as he pushes his way into the hotel room.
“You looked tired in the end, really tired… you kept up for the most part but still had no chance for most of it, regardless of what anyone else says” Steve says bluntly.
Stunned, LJ looks at him with a somewhat amused look on his face— “You know he was—” Steve cut him off instantly, “a giant?” – “A possessed giant, basically, yeah” Logan replied.
Logan knew what Steve would say. He fought a “machine” once, “The Machine”, in a steel cage match. It was a bloody and barbaric fight. Logan ultimately lost but earned massive amounts of respect. The opposite of David versus Goliath; Logan didn’t topple The Machine.
“You could’ve beat him, and some say you did because it wasn’t even supposed to be close, The Machine was a different beast, not an easily slayable beast” Steve said from across the room, as he sat down in the chair by the window.
As Logan pondered why Steve would suddenly show up, he realized he didn’t care the reason. He was just glad to see his friend, a familiar face, so far from home.
“You know it was never about beating him. It’s never been about beating anyone or winning anything. I do this to feel free and alive. The atmosphere is what I crave” Logan replies, as he starts flipping through different delivery food menus near the hotel room TV.
“I need to eat something; do you want to split a pizza?” – Steve nodded in agreement. They spent the rest of the night exchanging old stories. In the end, they made plans for a workout and lunch the next day. LJ has his training partner and ol’ pal back. He was ready to show PRIME what he was made of.