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The man had just about raged back at his hotel room until he couldn't take it anymore.
People had sometimes accused him of throwing childish temper tantrums, but this time, he had a right to be so pissed...
He'd decided to go out for a brisk walk, if for nothing else than to clear his head. And while he'd been out, he'd seen them...
...Lita, Trish and Edge...
The two divas had looked upset, but he knew that was the result of the Battle of the Sexes match. They'd both been upset anyway, after discovering about the bet between he and his friend.
Shortly after spotting them in that small park across from the hotel, the trio had gotten up to leave. He'd been near enough, though hidden from his sight, to overhear the redhead declare that she was heading back to the hotel... Trish and Edge were joining her.
And that was where he was going, too...
*
Chris stood just in the doorway of the hotel bar, his nerves clenched as he spotted her inside.
Damn it, she was sitting at the bar - alone. There was a shot glass in her hand, she he could only guess what she was drinking.
Jericho frowned, worry coursing through him. He ran a hand through his long blond hair as he steeled himself, then made his decision.
He entered the bar and made a beeline for the young woman. Amazingly, there weren't any sleazy guys trying to pick her up, as beautiful as she was.
He sat down beside her and realized she hadn't even noticed him. How focused and concentrated she must be on her sorroes, and on drowning them in booze...
"Trish..."
She whirled around at the sound of his voice issuing her name, seemingly shocked, and definitely angry.
"What the hell do you want, Jericho?" she demanded, her brown eyes flashing dangerously.
Chris flinched. God, she was pissed... And to be perfectly honest, he couldn't blame her.
"Take it easy," he said softly, his hands up in a placating gesture. "I'm not here to cause any trouble..."
"Right! You know what? All you've done is cause me trouble - you've given me nothing but pain and heartache!"
The blond man swallowed hard against the hurt he felt at her words but shook it off.
"Why are you doing this?" he asked, his crystal-blue gaze traveling to the shot glass as he pointed to it as well.
"Yeah..." the blonde diva said bitterly. "So I'm drinking my problems away. Whoopee! Well, let me tell you something, Jericho - I'm a big girl and I can drink all I want - so fuck off!" Trish's lovely face was marred by anger.
Chris glanced around, noting that the bartender was eyeing the two of them. Likewise, a guy who could pass for a bouncer was watching them as well. He supposed if they were to do anything, they'd probably throw him out, claiming he was upsetting a patron. Well, screw that...
"Trish, please listen to me," he said in a softer, gentle voice. "I am truly sorry - for everything."
The little blonde turned her head slowly to stare at him, suspicion clearly written on her face. At least this time, she didn't try to talk over him. Maybe he did still have a chance - if at nothing else, then to explain how he truly felt...
"No, I take that back," the blond man said, noticing the way the woman's expression changed again to one of fury. "I don't regret getting close to you, getting to know you. And damn it, I don't even regret that bet - because if Christian and I hadn't made it, I never would have gotten to know you in the first place..." He swallowed back the lump in his throat, inwardly praying his words had made some sense to the diva.
"Damn you, Chris..." Trish said, her chin quivering, eyes filling rapidly with unshed tears.
Jericho's heart nearly broke at the extent of sadness on her face. At the same time, the fact that she'd actually called him by his first name was promising.
"Come on, let's get you out of here..." he said, stepping off the barstool. "We can talk in your room or mine."
The little blonde hopped off her own barstool and looked up at him, the tragedy in her eyes giving way for suspicion.
"You are not going to make good on that bet!"
"It never even crossed my mind," he said, though that was somewhat of a lie. While he wanted no part of any sickening bet, he would love to hold Trish and make passionate love to her.
She continued to eye him warily, but, surprisingly, her guard dropped a notch.
"Fine... Let's go and talk..."