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Once Amy was composed enough to go back out into the hallway, she let Adam know. The tall blond man opened the door and then followed her out.
The coast seemed to be clear. No one seemed to be watching them, or even taking notice of them at all.
In silence, they made their way back to the locker rooms, and the redhead suddenly heard her daughter's voice.
Adam's gaze was directed toward the excited squeal of little Amanda. Further on down the hall, he spotted Matt Hardy. As he continued to watch, Mandy jumped up into the dark-haired man's arms.
"Daddy! Daddy!"
The blond man felt a twinge of jealousy at the display. Was it really so wrong of him to be so envious of Matt? Was it really so bad for him to wish he were in the other man's shoes? That is, provided Amy would be *happy* with him and *want* to be with him. It seemed, at least for the moment, that Matt had it all - the sweetest and most beautiful woman in the world, and the adorable little girl who thought of him as 'Daddy.'
All of a sudden, he felt the overwhelming urge to get away. The display just hurt him to watch. Things between Amy and Matt may have been strained, but Matt and Mandy seemed fine - intact. Irrational as it was, Adam was jealous as hell for that. Already he was realizing he was starting to look at Amanda like his very own daughter.
"I... gotta get back to my locker room," he stammered. He failed to notice Amy looking after him as he strode down the hall.
"Uncle Adam!" Mandy called, her little right arm outstretched in the direction he'd just disappeared. From Matt's arms, the girl turned toward her mother. "Mommy, why did Uncle Adam go?"
The redhead looked at her daughter, her gaze shifting to the hallway down which the Canadian had just strode.
"He has things to do, honey." She reached for her, taking the child from her boyfriend's arms and sighed. The truth was, she would have preferred Adam's company right now over Matt's. And was it really so terrible that she wished the three of them - Adam, Mandy and herself - could be a *real* family?
"I just came from a meeting with Mr. McMahon," Matt announced.
Amy's attention returned to the dark-haired man. She'd forgotten that the chairman of the company had requested Matt's presence earlier.
"And?"
"I'm going to make several appearances over the next couple of weeks," he said. "Some signings and promotional stuff. So I won't be around for the shows for awhile."
"Oh..." The redhead arched a brow, surprised. She had to acknowledge that she wasn't disappointed by this news. With Matt away from her for two weeks, she would have a bit of time to think things over for herself, for the situation.
"But don't worry," Matt said with a small smile. "I'll be back before you turn around."
Amy gave him a tiny, albeit forced, smile of her own. The man came forth to give her a quick hug before releasing her and gesturing.
"I gotta get ready for my match."
The redhead nodded, then departed down the hallway with Mandy clutching her hand. As she was nearly at the women's locker room, she realized Adam was just exiting his own. He was already dressed in his tights and boots, and her gaze swept over his chisled, finely-muscled back and then chest as he turned. The blond man caught her gaze, their eyes locking for what felt like an eternity.
That silent communication sent the most incredible chills rippling up Amy's spine.