______________________________________________________
The doorbell rang, startling Amy from her sad thoughts. She was completely cried out now, her tears long since dried.
She rose to answer the door, somewhat glad she had at least made an effort to make herself look presentable. Of course, she knew it was only Matt who was paying her a visit, as he had told her he was in the neighborhood. The truth was, she really hadn't wanted company, instead preferring her misery in solitude, but she had relented when he had insisted. Besides, he sounded so cheerful, comforting. Amy had a feeling that, in spite of everything, he was genuine in that regard.
"Hey." Matt smiled brightly as the door opened, his hands shoved into his jacket pockets.
"Hi," she replied. She barely mustered a smile, but she held the door open wider for him to enter the house.
Matt looked around, taking in the sight of his ex-girlfriend's still relatively new house. He had never been there, so it was of definite interest to him just how she had decorated the place.
"Nice... Very nice," he said as he surveyed the living room they were in. On one hand, he sort of expected a grand tour of the entire place, but on the other, he knew she was hurting right now and didn't quite have all her wits about her.
"Thanks. I know it's nothing too major, but it's comfy. It's... home," the redhead said, chasing her words with a sigh. She couldn't help but think of Adam right at that moment... Not that she hadn't been doing that all along, from the time this whole sordid mess had occurred. He was on her mind non-stop.
Matt eyed Amy for a long moment. Then, he seated himself on the sofa halfway across the room.
She deeply closed her eyes, her hand coming up to her forehead.
"I'm sorry, Matt," she said apologetically. "I know I'm being a shit hostess. Can I get you anything to drink?" Her tone was very half-hearted, not at all full of life like it usually was.
"Beer would be nice, if you have any... Or water, if you don't."
Without a reply, the redhead stepped away to enter her moderately sized kitchen. She returned a moment later with a bottle of Heineken.
"Thank you," he said as he gladly accepted the beer. He took a generous swig and eyed her. "Okay, then... Talk to me, Amy... What happened?"
*
Adam parked the car and stepped out, anxious as he headed up to the door of the spacious townhouse. He double-checked the address, and lo and behold, it was the right number. He rang the doorbell and was greeted moments later.
"Hey... Good to see you, Adam, man," John Cena said. He slapped the blond man on the shoulder in a friendly manner and invited him in.
"Thanks a lot, John," the Canadian said. "I really appreciate this."
"No problem, man."
Just beyond the threshold stood Trish, as though anticipating him. She stepped forth and greeted her friend.
"Hi, Adam... Glad you made it."
John eyed each of them in turn.
"How about I leave you two alone for this? I'll just go for a drive into town. I gotta run a few errands anyway." He pressed a quick kiss to Trish's lips and smiled cordially at Adam as he left.
"Come on in," Trish said, gesturing to him. "Make yourself comfortable, sit down. Can I get you something to drink, Adam?"
He glanced around, as it was the first time he'd ever been to Cena's house. Trish had suggested he travel to Massachusetts so they could devise a plan so she could help him with his situation with Amy.
"Just water," he said. "Thanks, Trish... And damn, tell John I said thanks again, too, if I'm gone before he gets back."
"Oh, don't worry about that." The little blonde disappeared, then returned a moment later with his water.
He was grateful and thanked her. Then, she joined him on the spacious taupe velvet sectional couch, folding her legs beneath her as she eyed him seriously.
"Okay, so here's what I'll do... I'm going to call her and tell her I suspect someone set you up."
"Right," Adam agreed. "Don't let her know I'm here, though. She'll be furious."
"You really think so?" Trish asked, her voice full of skepticism.
The tall blond man eyed her sadly, and his expression nearly broke her heart. He nodded.
"Yeah... Unfortunately, I do."
Trish reached out for his hand and gave it a soft squeeze. It was half reassurance and half for comfort. Afterward, she reached for her cell phone and dialed Amy's number.
Adam studied his friend's face as she sat there with the phone pressed to her ear.
"She's not picking up." The little blonde continued to listen to the other end, then finally spoke into the device. "Hi, Amy, it's Trish. I guess you must be busy. Listen, can you call me back as soon as you get a chance? It's important. Thanks. Bye." She flipped the phone to a close and looked up to meet Adam's green eyes. "I guess she stepped out."
The blond Canadian man shook his head.
"That doesn't make sense... I mean, I know she's been home, sulking all day," he elaborated. "It's not like her to go out when she's that upset."
*
"Damn," Amy said. "I didn't pick up because I didn't want to talk to Adam, but it looks like I missed a call from Trish."
"Oh, never mind," Matt said with a dismissive wave of his hand. "We're talking, catching up. Besides, it couldn't be that big of a deal."
"She said it was important," the redhead pointed out, as she had listened to the voicemail message her friend left.
"You girls think every little thing is so urgent," he teased.
Amy couldn't help but smile. Matt took a swig of his beer.
"So, I take it you're moving on, all things considered?"
She nodded and shifted her gaze down.
"Looks that way," she murmured. She tried everything in her power to prevent her voice from cracking, but it was difficult.
"That's good," Matt said softly.
Amy suddenly realized he had moved even closer to her on the couch. She hadn't noticed until she could smell his beer breath, and then he suddenly placed his hand against her face, softly caressing her cheek and hair. She flinched slightly at the touch.
"Matt..."
He was moving his face closer to hers, seconds away from kissing her. She practically bolted to her feet, pointedly moving away and stopping the action simultaneously.
"Matt, stop!" she cried. Upset, she ran her hands through her long hair.
He stared at her oddly, and she couldn't even decipher the look on his face.
"What? I'm trying to make you feel better."
"Well, it's not working!" she exclaimed. "I just broke up with the love of my life... and I'm sorry, but this ship has sailed!"
Matt grew angry the instant he heard the phrase 'love of my life.' So, he wasn't that to her? Who in hell did she think she was, telling him that, let alone rejecting him? This wasn't supposed to happen!
"You are one ungrateful bitch, you know that?" he muttered as he too jumped to his feet. "How can you say that to me?" He lunged at her, prepared to make her pay.
Seeing his suddenly change of mood made Amy's heart leap up into her throat. Her eyes widening as terror suddenly filled her,
she screamed.