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"Jeff, can I talk to you?"
The rainbow-haired young man eyed his friend.
"Isn't that what we've been doing? Talking?"
Lita ran a hand through her long red locks, feeling slightly uncomfortable. It was strange for her to feel this way about talking to Jeff - he was, after all, her best friend. Never once in all of their years of friendship had she felt ill at ease in talking with him about *anything*.
"You know what I mean," she finally said, raising her gaze back to him. She chanced a quick, nervous glance over toward Edge and Trish. The two Canadians were also having what appeared to be a deep conversation. Lita couldn't help but notice the slight twinge of jealousy as she noted the look of intensity in her new husband's face as he spoke to Trish. And the words in her brain hit her - *new husband*... What could they possibly be discussing, anyway? And why the heck should she feel jealous of the blonde diva when Trish was obviously smitten with Jeff? But more importantly than all of that, what was *wrong* with her? How could she even consider what she was thinking and feeling?
"Okay, Li... Well, shoot, I'm all ears," Jeff said.
The redhead looked him squarely in the eye.
"Please... Whatever you do, just don't laugh at me," she pleaded.
"Oh, c'mon - you know me better than that."
She nodded, knowing her good, dear friend was right.
"Yes... I know. Sorry."
"Sweetheart, there's no need to apologize. You know you can always confide in me," the young man said gently.
Lita nodded again.
"Yes... Well... The truth is, Jeff..." She bit her lip and then proceeded. "The idea of remaining married to Edge doesn't really bother me."
The rainbow-haired daredevil cocked his head, blinking in silence as he studied his redheaded best friend. Then, he spoke, shocking the hell out of her.
"So, what you're saying is - being his wife and having his babies and growing old together - the whole nine yards... You *want* to do that and in fact *love* the idea of it."
The diva's jaw dropped at her friend's words. Jeff Hardy never ceased to amaze her - and now was certainly no exception.
"*How* do you do that?"
The young man shrugged innocently.
"Do what?"
Lita refrained from grabbing his ear and pinching it for him being the imp that he was.
"Read my mind to a T!" she exclaimed. "Seriously, Jeff - sometimes you really scare me!"
The North Carolinian snickered.
"Well, you know what you have to do."
Lita looked almost scared as she squarely met his gaze.
"Wh-what do you mean?"
"Li, you have to tell him how you feel - it's only *fair*."
"Are you crazy?" she asked. And then, she rethought that question. Jeff had *always* been more than a little off his rocker. "Edge doesn't look at me that way." She went on, her voice softer. "And why *would* he? All I am is a tomboy with a huge tattoo on my shoulder, and-"
"And I'm willing to bet he's just as crazy about *you* as you are about *him*. Just *do* it, Lita," Jeff said firmly.
"No," she snapped. "And don't you say a word to him, either!" She pointed an almost accusing finger at him.
*
"So, you're *not* going to tell her how you feel?" Trish asked incredulously. She stared at Edge, wanting to just shake some sense into him.
"No... She'd just laugh in my face," the tall blond man insisted. "She doesn't think of me that way."
"Well, how do you know unless you *talk* to her first?" the little blonde insisted. "For all *you* know, the feelings might be mutual and you guys can end up happily ever after!"
Edge shook his head vehemently, a feeling of sadness coming through him because he knew he diva was completely, totally and absolutely wrong.
"Not bloody likely," he said. "Look, Trish - you have to promise me one thing..."
The little blonde arched a perfectly sculpted eyebrow in question.
"... Promise me you won't say a *word* of what I said to Lita."
"But Edge-"
"*Promise me!"
Trish bit her lip for a moment as she just stared at the tall blond man thoughtfully. Then, she nodded.
"Fine, I promise - not a word to Lita."