Joey stretched across the bed of the hotel absent mindedly watching the random daytime talk show that happened to be playing on the TV. It was mid afternoon and in an hour or so it would be time to head out to the arena and get ready for Monday Night RAW. She had snuck out of her own room in the early morning hours and into the room of her boyfriend, Stu Bennett. They had made love several times and now she was lounging around in the overized Nexus tee shirt that smelled like him as he meticulously ironed his clothes for the day.

"This is really sad," she sighed. "How can you seriously test 17 men to be the father of your baby and still not find him? That means at the very least, you had to have unprotected sex with 18 men in less than a one week period. That is so gross. Who does that? That's why I find it hard to sympathize with these women."

Stu rolled his eyes.

"Stupid Americans and their ridiculous television programming. It's complete rubbish. I can't believe you're even watching this nonsense, Johana."

"There's nothing else on," she whined. "I'll turn in a minute, just let me see if that other guy passes his lie detector test. For the record, I totally think he cheated."

Stu ignored her, continuing his ironing until his cell phone that was lying on one on the tables began to buzz. He walked over to it, picking it up and checking the Caller ID. As he did, he turned to Joey and put his index finger to his lips to shush her. Answering the phone in a hushed tone, he stepped a few feet away into the bathroom to take the call. Just by his mannerisms and the new, softer sound of his voice, Joey knew full well who was on the other end of that phone call. It had to be Stu's wife, Jackie. The conversation lasted several minutes. Joey struggled to hear what was being said but it was easy to tell that the nature of their talk was calm and even light hearted. She sat up on the bed and waited impatiently with bated breath. It wasn't the first time Jackie had called when Joey and Stu were together but the call had shocked Joey nevetheless. For weeks Stu had been boasting about "making moves" to effectively end his marriage so they could be together. If that was the case, why had he even accepted her call in the first place? And why had he insisted that Joey keep quiet.

"…Yes, Jacqueline…I will speak with you soon, my dear…I love you."

He ended the call and went back to his ironing as if nothing had happened. Joey was beside herself.

"What the hell was that?" Joey stood, hands on her hips, staring daggers at him.

"What are you talking about?" he asked in a calm voice, not even bothering to look up at her.

"That," she marched over him, pointing to his phone. "Her."

Stu smirked.

"Have we taken to eavesdropping now? That does not become you, Johana."

"Are you being serious right now? You have the nerve to smirk at me? Stu, none of this is funny. Why did she call here? What did she want? Why were you talking to her?"

"That, my love, is none of your business," he carefully hung up his freshly pressed white collared shirt.

"None of my business?" Joey repeated.

"Jacqueline is my wife."

"Yeah, the wife that you don't have feelings for, remember? You said you were going to leave her," Joey's voice rose. "You told me it was over."

"I told you that was the plan."

"And?"

He shrugged nonchalantly.

"Plans change."

"Stu!" she practically yelled.

"Johana, for crying out loud, lower your voice!"

The last thing either one of them needed was to be outed with a half dressed Joey in his hotel room amisdt rumpled sheets and the lingering smell of early morning sex.

"What is going on?"

"Jacqueline called to discuss something private…"

"Private?"

"Yes private. She is doing some renovations to the house and had a question about the contractors."

"And that's why you told her that you love her?"

"Johana…"

"No, Stu! I'm so tired of this."

"And I am tired of you. You are a complete pain in my arse sometimes."

"What is going on with you?"

"Johana…"

"No, you owe me an explanation. If you don't tell me right now, I'm walking out that door and I'm not coming back!"

He didn't even try to hide his shit eating grin as he looked her in the eye.

"Save the dramatics for the ring, why don't you? I can't believe you and your pathetic ultimatums. You're acting like a complete child right now."

Joey stood and reached for her jeans.

"I'm not kidding around with you. You're laughing this is a big game, like it's a goddamned joke or something. You promised you were going to leave. You said you were done with her this time and that you and I could be together and we could stop sneaking around!"

In a hysterical huff, she slid into her jeans and changed shirts before slipping her bare feet into flip flops. As she tried to go out the door, Stu grabbed her by the arm.

"I know what I said, Johana. I said it and I meant it."

"Then why haven't you follwed up? Why aren't you filing for divorce? If you meant it, you woul keep your promise to me."

"I can't right now. As much as I want to, I can't. It's impossible," he answered quietly.

"What?"

"I went to see my attorney regarding the divorce last week. This also happens to be the same lawyer who is handling my immigration status. As you know, Johana, I am in the country on a work visa but I have been thinking that I want to become a permanent U.S. citizen."

"You do?" she asked puzzled.

Stu loved the UK and often complained about the behavior of Americans.

"I do. The easiest way for me to gain citizenship at this point is through my marriage. I can get my green card but only if we are married for two years and the marriage looks real. That means living together and giving the image that everything is okay."

"Two years? Seriously? Stu!"

"Believe me, this is the last thing I wanted or expected but it's the only way. It can't be avoided."

"No. There has to be another way. What about dual citizenship. You could get it after the divorce is finalized."

He shook his head.

"Dual citizenship is a tricky situation and you have to have U.S. citizenship first. I have already filed the apporpiate paperwork but filing for divorce at this point would kill any chance I have."

"So what am I supposed to do?"

"A little patience would be appreciated."

Joey shook her head.

"I have been more than patient with you but now you're telling me that I have to wait one more year? That's one more year of sneaking around and just sitting idly by while you go home and fuck your wife, the wife you supposedly don't love?"

"Would you stop? For the love of God, your selfishness amazes me. I just explained what is going on and I knew you would react this way which is precisely why I didn't want to tell you in the first place."

"That's it…"

"Johana…"

"No, Stu," she began to cry. "You are absolutely killing me. You're breaking my heart. This isn't fair and it isn't right. Layla's right. I can't believe I have been so stupid and so blind and naïve. Everybody was right. Everyone can see it but me. You don't care about me. All you want is to have your cake and eat it, too. All you want is to have some side piece of ass available at your beck and call while you're on the road. You never had any itention of leaving Jackie, you just tell me what I want to hear. Well, I'm tired of it. I'm tired of being used and it's going to stop today."

"You don't mean that," he held both arms. "You're just upset. Johana, you know how I feel about you. You know I would never do anything to intentionally hurt you. I am trapped in a most undesirable situation that I am desperately trying to get out of. You are the only woman I want to be with, the one I intend to spend my life with but that unfortunately can't happen right away. I need time to figure this out, to make it work somehow. And I'm going to need your patience and cooperation."

She heard his words, the very words that were ripping out her insides. She was in love with that man. She had loved him the very first time she had laid eyes on him. They were soul mates but only one thing stood in the way. Everybody had warned her about the heartbreak and lies that came with being involved with a married man but she had ignored their warnings. Stu was different. He had made promises to her. And when he had given her his word, she had believed him. He was going to leave Jackie so they could start a life together. Now she'd have to wait a year, a whole other year. Just the thought made her want to scream or vomit or both. His meaningless words and empty promises shattered her to the very core but one look in those gorgeous blue eyes resuscitated and it reminded her of the love they shared.

Joey wanted to leave. The four walls were closing in on her. She couldn't breathe and wanted out but that wasn't possible. It was always like a sick game of cat and mouse that they played. That was the one thing Stu could not stand, her walking out so he never let her. It was during those times, the worst of times that in her heart she knew she was making a mistake. When it was bad, it was horrid. But when it was good, it was like floating on cloud nine. Why did the good always outweigh the bad?

"I'm not strong enough to do this," she sniffled. "I don't know if I can, Stu. I don't know if I can wait another year. How can you even ask me to do this?"

"Do you love me?"

"Stu…"

He cupped her face in his large hands.

"Answer the question. Do you love me?" he repeated.

"I love you," Joey whispered.

She nodded, fresh tears spilling, shivering as he kissed them away. She dried her eyes melting in his strong arms and cursing herself for being so weak. They stayed that way for a long time until there was a knock on the door. Both froze for a few seconds. No one could know she was tucked away in his room. It was against the rules and Joey and Stu had already broken all the rules.

"Who's there?" Stu called out. "Who is it?"

"It's us. Me and Heath."

The voice belonged to fellow Nexus member Windham Rotunda aka Husky Harris. Stu walked towards the door.

"No. What are you doing? Don't let them in," Joey begged in a panicked whisper.

"Just act normal and let me handle it," he quietly instructed before opening the door.

Heath and Windham invited themselves in.

"Oh man, last night I had way too much beer and…oh Joey, I didn't see you standing there," Heath gave a lopsided grin. "What's up?"

"Hi guys," she cleared her throat nervously.

"Johana was just here to talk about the show tonight. I am giving her a ride to the arena. We were actually just about to come and get you guys, right, Johana?"

"Yeah," she spoke meekly.

If the two men had any suspicions, they didn't let on. They went on about normal business making small talk along the way. Joey and Stu pretended to listen but their minds were millions of miles away from that room. Joey was desperately trying to keepit together, Stu was desperate to keep her in is grasp. She knew what she needed to do but it was much different than what she wanted to do. The heart and the mind were after two different things but in the end it was always the same outcome. She loved him too much. She and Stu were meant to be. Joey had left him once before and the pain had been unbearable. Sometimes it was better to hurt than feel nothing at all.