Everything falls apart. Ricardo's not sure what happens between eager talk about what they'd do at WrestleCon and in May in Chicago, but one minute he's looking for Alberto at the Sugar Mill, and the next he hears that the man's no-showed the Impact vs Lucha Underground event that was being held that night. He frowns at the production people scattered around and shakes his head. "What? Where is he?"

"We don't know, Mr. Rodriguez," one of them pipes up, and after another period of awkward silence, the group of them scurry away, needing to get back to work on backstage stuff for the show.

Ricardo frowns after them, stares blankly ahead, and finally swallows hard and ventures out into the crowd, watching the show to its end. Cringes when the crowd begins chanting insults towards his former employer to Austin Aries' amusement. He exits quietly once the match ends and wanders New Orleans streets, not sure what to think or feel about anything that's happening. He grimaces and tries texting Alberto, growing more frustrated at the continued silence. "Por favor," he mumbles, having a sneaking suspicion about what this might mean for his plans the following day.

Alicia looks sympathetic when he comes back to their room finally, taking his hand and gently guiding him towards the bed. "I think he's going to cancel on me," he mumbles as she sits behind where he sprawls and continues to massage his scalp. "Why did I think this was going to be easy? Of course moving to Texas wasn't going to change things. He's still... Alberto." He sighs. "I just thought maybe just maybe I could have my best friend back... but I suppose third time was not going to be the charm."

She tucks herself close to him and kisses his jaw. "I'm sorry, Ricardo. You deserve better than this."

He shrugs grimly. "I don't want better... I just want good, you know? Everything's always so difficult..." He closes his eyes. "The only easy thing in my life is you. And I can't thank you enough for always being there for me, Alicia."

She sits up and cups his face, smiling down at him. "You never have to thank me for that, Ricardo. It's always been my pleasure. I'm sorry your Wrestlemania weekend isn't happening the way you wanted, but I'm happy you're here." She cuddles back against him and lightly kisses his shoulder. "Let's try to get some sleep. Maybe things will look better in the morning."

Ricardo doubts it, but he tries, staring up into the darkness as she settles against him, falling asleep with the kind of ease that he envies.

His tension only compounds when news comes that Alberto has been released from TNA, after WrestleCon confirms that he won't be there either. Ricardo laughs dryly and shows the tweet to a wide-eyed Alicia. "Great. He'll tell them, but not me, despite the texts I've been sending him." He tosses his phone onto the bed and paces a little. "I'm not sure why I've opened myself up to this again, but..." He looks at her. "I'm sorry for dragging you into it all too."

She shakes her head and walks up to him. "We'll figure it out, ok? We will." She has Axxess responsibilities to deal with soon, and she cringes. "I'm sorry, but I have to go." She kisses him. "Just... try to relax, alright? Things will work themselves out." She hugs him again and then leaves, Ricardo watching the door close behind her with a twisted, sad look on his face.

"Why do I always trust you, Alberto? It never ends well for me," he sighs, burying his face in his hands, fighting just to breathe as the silence and his own messy thoughts threaten to overwhelm him.