Chapter 7- Ghost and Goddesses

Johnny Castile

Minerva. Like the goddess.

She never liked anyone using her full name—always went by Minnie. But he never forgot it. The way the syllables curled off her tongue when she introduced herself in their freshman year wrestling meeting. Not many girls joined wrestling. Even fewer could hang. But she didn’t just hang—she dominated. And she looked damn good doing it.

He leaned back in the leather seat of his town car, the skyline blurring past the tinted windows. His hand was still tingling from their handshake.

That was her. It had to be.

The cocoa butter gave it away. That smell—it hit him like a sucker punch to the ribs the moment she opened the office door. She always used it before practice. Said it made her skin soft and kept the mats from scraping her elbows raw. He remembered her rubbing it into her arms with that same slow, methodical focus she had today.

And those curves?

Yeah, Johnny remembered.

The way she moved back then—powerful, fluid. He couldn’t take his eyes off her. She didn’t know it, but she was the reason he trained harder, fought smarter. Back in high school, she was a force, and he… he was just some punk with a full ride and a chip on his shoulder.

But damn, she was hot.

Hot like the goddess she was named after.

And now, she looked through him like he was a stranger.

The car pulled up to the hotel, and he barely registered it. He needed to clear his head, but that was impossible now. Not after seeing her. Not after realizing she was the director of that place—the one his company was about to fund.

Of all the homes in the city, it had to be hers.

He stepped into the suite, dropped his coat on the chair, and loosened his tie.

The buzz of his phone broke the silence. He checked the screen: Dane.

Johnny answered with a smirk. “Tell me the servers didn’t go down again.”

“Nah,” Dane’s voice was casual, amused. “Everything’s good on my end. Just figured I’d check in before the presentation tomorrow. And, you know, maybe ask how your mysterious meeting went.”

Johnny exhaled through his nose and poured himself a glass of water. “It was her.”

A beat. Then: “Wait. Her? Her who?”

“Minerva.”

Dane made a choking sound. “As in Minnie Minerva? That Minerva?”

“The one and only.”

“You’re kidding.”

“I wish I was.”

Dane’s voice shifted, caught between disbelief and nostalgia. “So… what happened? Did she remember you?”

Johnny stared at the ceiling. “She acted like I was just another rich sponsor coming to flash a check and make a speech.”

“Oof.”

“Yeah.”

Silence.

Then Dane added, “She looked good?”

“She looked amazing. Same fire, same confidence. Curvier. Stronger. I could barely think straight.”

“Damn. So… she really didn’t remember?”

“I don’t know. Maybe she did and just didn’t want to acknowledge it. Or maybe… maybe that night messed her up more than I thought.”

“Lake house night?”

Johnny nodded slowly, even though Dane couldn’t see. “Yeah.”

They’d almost hooked up. He remembered everything—the way she smiled during that dance, the feel of her hand in his. How she made him laugh. The way his whole body buzzed when she let him pull her onto the balcony. Then the kiss, it was magical.

He’d wanted to tell her then. That he liked her. That she wasn’t just some girl on the team. That he thought about her more than he should’ve.

And then Lauren happened.

She and her friends had planned some stupid prank—the camera, recording them kissing l

All that humiliating crap. Johnny had nothing to do with it, but it didn’t matter. Minnie saw them laughing, assumed he was part of it, and disappeared before he could explain.

He searched the party for her, but she was gone.

And the next week? She quit the team. Stopped talking to him. They graduated she didn’t go to grad night.

Then came nationals, college, the Olympics… WWE… the injury. His whole life changed.

He changed for her. Even when he never saw her again.

Dane interrupted his thoughts. “You think she still talks to Kevin?”

Johnny grinned. “You still thinking about that night?”

“You know I am. I didn’t even know I was gay until Kevin kissed me by the fire pit.”

“He changed your whole trajectory.”

“Damn right. That boy had a way of doing that.” Dane chuckled, then sobered. “I hope they’re still friends. Kevin was good people.”

Johnny rubbed a hand over his face. “I’m gonna find out.”

“What’s the plan?”

“I help her. Fund the home. Expand the programs. And in the process…” Johnny’s eyes narrowed, his voice dropping low. “I get her to remember. I make up for what I couldn’t do back then.”

Dane paused. “You sure you’re not just trying to rewrite history?”

“Maybe,” Johnny said. “Or maybe I’m trying to finally do right by the girl I should’ve chased a long time ago.”

Another pause.

“Minerva,” Dane said quietly. “Damn. I forgot how epic that name was.”

Johnny smiled, soft and a little sad. “I never did.”