The Heart Always Wants More (Completed)

Chapter 3

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Chapter 3

***

Somehow, Matt managed to slip past Joe, unnoticed, in catering. He took the opportunity to search for Val and have a few words with her before the start of the show in just under a half-hour. When Val spotted him, she internally groaned.

What the fuck does he want?

"Matt," she greeted with a head nod, folding her arms over her chest.

"Val. You look good ... happy."

"I am happy."

"Good. Um, I know things with us were kinda awkward last time and it was all my fault."

"What's this about, Matt?" Val said, glancing past him when she saw Joe intently watching them.

Oh God.

"Well, I wanted to apologize to you if I made you feel uncomfortable or offended you in any way when you were training me. I don't want things to be awkward between us, now that we're working together again."

"I appreciate that."

"Alright," he said, smiling at her, "well, I'll see you ringside."

Val nodded and quickly dismissed herself to prepare for the show. As she neared Joe, the expression on his countenance gradually hardened.

"Don't look at me like that, Joe."

"What the hell was that about?" he asked, knitting his brow in disapproval.

"Calm down, baby. He was just apologizing about everything that happened during training. No big deal," she said with a shoulder shrug.

"Oh, really?" Joe sarcastically countered and continued. "What he should've done was minded his own fucking business, then it wouldn't have been an issue in the first place."

"I know, baby," she said, placing a hand on his bicep just as his phone rang.

He pulled the phone from his pocket and looked at the caller ID.

"Shit. It's Carrano. I gotta take this," he said, sliding the "Talk" button on the phone. "Carrano, how goes it, man?"

Val watched as Joe rolled his eyes and sighed in discontent. Whatever Carrano was saying wasn't sitting well with her Samoan husband.

Fuck. Now, what?

"Alright, thanks, man," Joe said, ending the call and slipping the phone back into his pocket.

He focused an apologetic gaze on Val and sighed again.

"Apparently, me being here compromises the integrity of the brand split. Raw Superstars can't be at SmackDown shows and vice versa ... unless it's scripted."

"You're kidding, right?"

"I wish I was. I gotta leave right now."

"How does he even know you're here?" Val asked.

"I'm willing to bet money your boy, Matt, told him."

"I can't do this right now," she said, placing her fingertips to her temples and closing her eyes.

She shook her head as her frustrations with the whole assignment change threatened to boil over at any moment.

"I gotta get ringside. I'll get the twins and Trin to drop me off at the hotel."

"I'm really sorry about this, baby."

"Don't be. It's not your fault," she said, kissing his cheek. "I'll see you later."