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Edge got changed quickly in the locker room he and Christian were sharing, knowing that Stephanie McMahon was probably going to show up pretty soon. She and his tag partner were sometimes known to have a little quickie or two in the locker room - which, of course, meant Edge had to make himself scarce.
He ran his hand through his long blond hair as he thought about his morning. He'd actually been serious when he'd asked Lita to give them a shot - but damn it, the redhead had just blown him off - and it actually stung. He never would have guessed it would feel this way.
The truth was, he was feeling kind of rotten about the whole thing. He should have known better. Of course the female member of Team Xtreme would think herself too good for him. But then he thought, What am I thinking? I'm one-half of the E&C Dynasty!
Nonetheless, Edge knew he should have just ignored her in the bar the night before. Too bad she hadn't left when Chyna and Eddy had. Too bad he'd gotten so many beers in him. Too bad-
"Hey, man...all ready for our match tonight?" Christian's voice penetrated his bitter thoughts.
The shorter blond noticed how his friend seemed to be a little down. "What's wrong?"
"Nothing."
Christian eyed Edge suspiciously. He knew the taller man was lying, as he knew him like a book, but he wasn't going to press the issue. He decided to change the subject completely.
"So, where'd you stay last night?"
Edge had to cast around in his mind quickly to come up with an answer. "Err...with Test and Albert again."
"Oh..." Christian gave him a strange look, but he didn't mention that he'd spoken to Test earlier and that the big man had mentioned having not seen Edge all last night. He wondered where his tag team partner had really been, if he'd had to spend the night somewhere embarrassing - like in the hotel lobby. Unless... He wondered - really wondered if what he was thinking had happened... Maybe Edge had hooked up with a girl last night - and got lucky.
Nah... Christian doubted that had happened - because if it had, the other man would be in a good mood, not acting and looking as though he'd gotten up on the wrong side of the bed.
"Hey," he said, "speaking of T&A, Trish has a shot at the Women's title against Lita later on..."
Edge looked up sharply. "She does?"
"Yeah. Oh, I hope she really gives it to that hosebeast! I'll be rooting Trish on for sure - when she sticks it to that ho-"
"Hey, knock it off, will you, Christian?" the taller man snapped, interrupting him.
His tag team partner cocked his head as he again regarded him strangely. "Hey, are you all right, Edge?"
"Fine...I'm just..." He raked a hand through his long, golden mass of hair. "...totally not in the mood, that's all."
Christian arched an eyebrow. Odd... Edge was always up for insulting Lita. Well, he thought, I guess there's a first time for everything. Whatever was going on, whatever was bothering Edge, Christian knew it had to be something big.
*
"You okay, Li?"
The redhead looked up from the TV monitor to meet the kind green eyes of her friend.
"Sure, Jeff...my head just hurts a little." She then explained that she'd been hanging out and drinking with Chyna and Eddy Guerrero the previous night. She didn't omit that she'd gone overboard with the drinks, but deliberately left out the rest of her evening.
"That wasn't a very smart thing to do," Matt Hardy said from across the room. Unlike his younger brother, he tended to be a bit judgmental. God, if Lita were to reveal to him everything she'd done last night - and that included a certain tall, handsome Canadian man named Edge, whom he and Jeff despised...
The rainbow-headed Hardy Boy looked her over sympathetically. "Can I get you some aspirin?"
"No, thank you, Jeff. Chyna gave me some Tylenol not too long ago," she said with a small smile for the young man.
"I just hope you'll be ready for your match against Trish Stratus later..."
Lita looked over at Matt, rolling her eyes. "Oh, come on," she said irritably. "It's only Trish...that little brat can't hurt me!"
"I know, Lita," the dark-haired man said. "But you still want to go in there sharp, focused. Even though Trish sucks - and I mean in the ring," he added, his meaning very obvious, "you still don't want to underestimate any opponent."
"No kidding, Dad..."
"Oh, leave her alone, Matt," Jeff said, and the Women's champion was grateful toward him for coming to her defense. "She never underestimates anyone in the ring, and you know it. I think we should concentrate on our upcoming match. C'mon, man - we've got Edge, Christian and X-Pac to worry about."
Lita looked up sharply upon the mention of Edge's name. She moved her hand from her forehead as her heart began to thump so hard in her chest, she was afraid it might actually explode. Fortunately, neither Matt nor Jeff seemed to notice her reaction.
"Well, we'll be up pretty soon," the elder Hardy said. "We'd better go meet Jericho."
The redhead stood up at her friend's words. "I guess I'd better return to the divas' locker room then."
Once she slipped out the door, she was almost trembling. What was wrong with her? It was only one drunken night that never should have happened to begin with! she told herself. Let it go. Damn it, she didn't even like Edge... But then, why was she suddenly finding it so hard to stop thinking about him? Not just tonight, but all day as well. Come on, Red, she told herself. Get a grip, will you?