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Trish was no longer crying when they got back to the hotel. However, she still felt on the verge of doing so again and found herself unable to stop sniffling.
"We're here," she heard Jay tell her. She raised her head and gazed out the window to see that they had indeed arrived. Slowly, she unfastened her seatbelt and unlocked her door - only to realize that the blond man had gotten out first. He had already opened the passenger's side door for her and had a hand extended to help her out. She gratefully accepted it.
Jay got their belongings out of the trunk, and they toted their bags toward the hotel's entrance.
In no time, they were at Trish's hotel room, and it was then that the little blonde felt more than ever that she was going to once again lose the battle against her tears. She sniffled more fiercely, willing them not to return to her. On one hand, she wanted to be strong, not to mention coherent, when she talked to the man. On the other, she'd already broken down in front of him, which obviously showed emotion... and she was planning on expressing her feelings toward him.
Tossing her bag aside, Trish allowed herself to sink onto the mattress of her hotel bed. She took a deep sigh and ran her hands through her long blonde hair, her eyes closing. In truth, she was absolutely exhausted, both physically and mentally.
Jay pulled up the desk chair so that it was facing the bed from her side and sat down. He was silent for a moment as he folded his hand, thinking. Then, he raised his gaze to her face and was blown away, certainly not for the first time, by her beauty.
"Well," he said, "we're here... alone, just the two of us."
Trish eyed him somberly. Now was her chance, and lord knew, she had to take that chance.
"We can talk privately now."
The tiny blonde nodded almost imperceptively. She pushed some stray strands of hair away from her face and sighed.
"You're right... Okay," she said. She gazed directly into his blue eyes and felt as though she could lose herself in those deep cerulean pools.
Jay cocked his head as he sensed the woman was having difficulty getting out the words he knew she needed to say. Slowly, he reached out and grasped her hand.
Trish held her breath as it caught at the gentle, affectionate contact. Her gaze traveled from his eyes to their hands, and she clasped his, enjoying the feel of it. Then, she exhaled, trying to steel herself, and spoke.
"I don't want you to go, Jay... and it's not for any selfish motive like not liking TNA or anything like that."
He studied her with kind, compassionate orbs as she continued.
"I've wanted to talk to you for days," she confessed, "ever since Amy told me you were leaving. And when she told me, I... I felt as though all the breath had left my body." Trish cast her gaze low, as though afraid to see his reaction in his facial expression. "I know it sounds corny, but it was as though my heart literally stopped. All I could think of was, 'no more Jay.'"
The short-haired blond man caressed her hand with the pad of his thumb. All along, he kept his gaze on her lovely but sad face.
"And when I think about that," Trish continued, "it really stings. I mean, it really, really pains me that you won't be there anymore." A single tear slipped down her cheek. "Because," she went on, "to be perfectly honest, I... I never really got over you, Jay." Her last sentence came out along with a choked half-sob.
I never really got over you, Jay.
The confession rang loud and clear in the Canadian's head, nearly bowling him over. Was Trish actually saying she was still in love with him? Many a time since their breakup, he had wondered if she still had any feelings for him. He'd wondered because he knew he still held a torch for her. Her admission almost seemed too good to be true.
"Trish," he murmured, placing the fingertips of his free hand up against her cheek. Her smooth, flawless skin was moistened by tears. "I feel the same way," he admitted. "I never got over you, either."
The little blonde's breath caught, and she stared wonderingly up into his eyes. His hand on her cheek was so
soft and tender, she nearly melted at the feel of it. She felt her lips being drawn to his as he gently cupped her
face. She craned her neck as their lips finally met in a passionate kiss, and she grabbed hold of his head, deepening it.