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*That Wednesday*
"I miss you," Adam said into the phone. He was puttering around in his house, preparing an early dinner as they spoke. The house just didn't feel the same without her.
"Two more days, babe," Amy said with a smile. She missed him as well, although she would have company soon enough.
Naturally, the redhead hadn't breathed a word about Matt's visit to her boyfriend. She couldn't help feeling guilty when, moments earlier, Adam asked her what she was up to. She'd lied and told him she was going to spend her evening reading a book. But if she told him the truth, he'd be furious. She was regretting having told Hardy he could stop by today. What the hell had she been thinking?
"I know, Ames," the blond man said with a sigh. "You know, it's hard to fall asleep without you beside me at night."
She smiled, biting her lip. His words were so sweet, and they touched her deeply.
"It's the same way for me, sweetie - especially since the vandalism."
Adam felt a twinge at her last few words. The truth was, he worried her about her something awful now, whenever she was alone at home. Somehow, he didn't think she was truly safe there, even though she insisted the opposite to be the case. He was still convinced his ex-wife had been behind the whole break-in and vandalism of Amy's place, but he also didn't think for one second that she'd done it alone. She'd had an accomplice - he'd stake his life on it. And what was to say that sick woman wouldn't try to sic that person on Amy some night when she was there alone? It churned his gut inside.
"Listen," the tall blond man said, "I'm making dinner right now and am about to eat... But how about I catch a flight to you later tonight? I'll get my neighbor to look after the boys, and...?"
"No," the redhead said quickly, probably *too* quickly. Her heart was thundering as she tried to keep in control. "It's only two more days till we see each other next. Adam, I'm fine, I promise."
He was silent for a beat, and she heard a small sigh on the other end. Damn it, she hoped he wasn't upset or hurt.
"Are you sure you're fine?" he finally asked.
"I'm sure." She was nervous as hell by now, as she knew Matt would have to be coming over very soon. He'd called hours earlier but had never given her an exact time as to when he would be stopping by. But it was close to six already.
"Okay," Adam said.
Amy winced at the inflection in his voice. She could tell he wasn't happy... Damn it, she hated being the cause of his unhappiness.
"I love you," she said.
"I love you, too," the Canadian replied. "Look... I have to finish up here and eat. I'll call you tonight, okay?"
The diva felt her heart sinking at his mood.
"All right."
They said goodbye then, and Amy checked the time on the small clock on the end table there in her living room. Ten of six. Where was Matt? She wished she could go back to the night of the Hall of Fame and take back what she'd said about it being okay for him to come over.
Less than a half-hour later, her doorbell rang. She rose from the couch, where she'd been sitting and watching TV to pass the time and looked out the window. Sure enough, it was Matt. He stood in front of her door, hands in his pockets as he waited.
A thought rushed through her head - should she not answer and pretend she wasn't even home? That wouldn't work - she'd already assured him she *would* be, and besides, she knew that her place didn't look empty from the outside. So, with a sigh, she answered and let him in.
"Amy... Hi," he said, a terse smile coming to his face. Hardy stepped in past her without even waiting for her to step aside to let him in.
Reluctantly, she closed the door behind him. She didn't like the thought of him being here when she was alone. What had she been thinking?
"Hello, Matt. How has life been treating you?"
"Oh, quite well," Hardy answered quickly. He sat down on her couch, already making himself at home. "I'm due for a real big push on SmackDown."
The redhead rose her brows and gave a short nod, as though in recognition. In reality, it was actually a gesture of surprise. She and Adam watched SmackDown every week, and she sure hadn't noticed Matt on the verge of any "push." Well, maybe a push out of the WWE altogether, but that was it. He was getting buried - at least on weeks he was actually on television.
"Oh... Well, that's good," she answered.
"And what about *you*, Amy? Any plans for another Women's championship reign on the horizon?" He asked the question with malice, but made sure to disguise it. He knew no such chance was anywhere in her grasp, thanks to that bastard she'd left him for. Thanks to her pathetic, slutty ways, because she'd opened her legs for that piece of feces Adam Copeland, her career was down the toilet... She would probably never return to the Women's Division, much less see the title.
"That'll happen eventually," she said, her eyes casting down at the floor for a beat. "Right now, they want me there with Adam... And I'm happy where I am right now." That was half true but also half untrue. While she loved being with Adam all the time, accompanying him to all his matches and promos, she missed having matches of her own. She wished the company would allow her to do both, on a fifty-fifty basis. Then, her personal as well as professional lives would be just about perfect.
Matt simply eyed her silently for a moment, a barely noticeable smile - or was it a smirk? - touching his lips. Then, he shook it off and appeared to grow serious as he spoke next.
"Amy, let me ask you something... I know you guys aren't friends, but has Ashley been acting at all differently?"
The redhead perked up at the question. He was definitely wrong in his assessment of them not being friends - over the last little while, they had become so, but Amy wasn't about to tell Matt that if Ashley hadn't done so herself.
"Different? How?"
"Just different," Hardy said. "Okay, let me ask you this - has she been hanging around another man?"
The redhead felt her heartbeat quickening. Damn it, she wasn't a very good liar. Surely, Matt would see right through her, just like he had when he'd confronted her about Adam...
"No. I know she's close with Trish, but I don't ever see her with guys other than in passing." She looked him dead in the eye as she spoke, her voice and features unwavering and calm. "Look, Matt... Regardless of all that, I think you should speak to your girlfriend about this - because you asking me such a question tells me you two don't communicate as much as you *should*."
Hardy nodded and ran a hand through his hair.
"You're right, Amy... You're right." He kept his features placid, but inside, he was full of suspicion and anger. He
knew the woman knew more than she was letting on... And he intended to somehow, someway, find out everything.