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"What?" Jay squinted as he peered into her beautiful, troubled face. He knew he'd heard her correctly, but he couldn't comply with her request - no matter how pleading a tone her voice had taken.
"You heard me, Jay... Don't go." Trish eyed him with the purest form of anguish written on her lovely face and in those chocolate-brown orbs.
"I have to, Trish," he said sadly, and sighed as he pointed out the obvious. "My contract is not going to be renewed, and I'm going to TNA."
The little blonde stared at him blankly.
"You what?"
Jay swallowed hard, the fact that she had suddenly pulled her small hand free of his gentle grip not lost on him. He knew she would react negatively to this bit of news, as she was fiercely loyal to the WWE. Prior to signing with the company, she had also been offered a contract to work with WCW, but she'd turned that down in favor of the McMahon empire.
"I'm going to TNA," he repeated, his gaze staying on her.
The blonde woman was quiet for the longest time, to the point that it was almost awkward. She cast her gaze down as her head bowed, and she seemed to be studying the coffee in the cup set aside in front of her, as though admiring it.
Jay nearly held his breath as he watched her. He had somewhat of an inkling as to what she might be thinking... Yet, at the same time, he thought he really didn't have a clue.
"Trish?"
Finally, the Canadian diva raised her head, and her eyes didn't seem to be very telling. She was oddly, maybe even eerily calm as she spoke next.
"Oh, I see." She honestly had nothing negative to say in response to his TNA admission. She knew a few wrestlers there. Some were former WWE stars, and a few were friends of hers. Fellow Canadian Gail Kim was only one person in that category who sprang to mind.
"I'll be on the expected three-month hiatus after tonight," the short-haired blond man said. "And then, after that, I'm going to sign with them. I've actually already talked with Jeff and Jerry Jarrett about it."
"Oh." Trish had definite trouble focusing, and she suddenly realized that it felt as though the entire room - or maybe it was just her head - was spinning. Jay was just going on and on, and it was as though he was already out of her life. After all, he'd already made plans in a new world, a world that did not and would not include her. She felt tears flooding her eyes.
The man seated across from her was silent as he studied her, but he felt the knife twist deep inside his heart at her suddenly burst of emotion. God, she was about to cry... He'd never expected this kind of reaction out of her, and he felt like utter shit for it.
"Don't cry... Please don't." He blinked his own emotion as he again reached for her hand. Giving it a small squeeze, he peered into her beautiful, albeit sad face. He never could stand to see Trish Stratus in tears.
The tiny blonde shook her head.
"Easier said than done," she moaned.
Pushing back his espresso with his free hand, the Canadian had another idea.
"Let's get out of here."
She merely sniffled and wiped away her tears as he reached for his wallet to pay for their beverages. Blindly, he pulled out some bills and placed them on the part of the table nearest the wall. Afterward, he rose and offered Trish a hand to help her up. She took it, and they left the cafe.
They walked back to his rental, and she was grateful to be out of the quaint little coffee house. However, nothing could assuage the sick feeling gnawing at the pit of her stomach. After all, Jay was leaving. He would most likely adopt a whole new life after tonight, probably forget all about her.
"So... What do we do now?" He eyed her helplessly as they were both buckled into their respective seats in the car. He felt helpless at the moment, but one thing he knew with absolute certainty was that he didn't want to call it a night yet. If anything, he wanted to savor this night with Trish, spend as many minutes, hours, seconds, whatever, with her as possible.
"Can we just go back to the hotel?" the blonde asked, her voice tinged with misery. She sniffled before speaking again. "I really just want to talk."
Jay nodded, his heart nearly breaking at the look on her face, although it was half-hidden by shadows.
"If Trish Stratus wants to talk back at the hotel, that's what we'll do." He started the engine, and they drove.