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Trish eyed Chris with contempt, at the moment, no traces of the sorrow she'd been feeling all week present. Her arms were crossed under her breasts in a defensive and protective manner as she glared at the blond man.
"Why should I believe you're really sorry? Oh, that's right," she continued, her brown eyes gazing at a spot somewhere above his head and beyond, "you're not sorry about that fucking bet!"
"Trish, please..." Jericho begged, his blue eyes filled with all the sadness and weariness he felt over the entire sordid mess. "...Let me explain again - the only reason I don't regret the bet is bec-"
"Is because you got to know me, blah, blah, blah..." the diva interrupted him. "Yeah, right. Don't bother trying to sell that bull because no one's gonna buy it!"
"Damn it!" the blond man cried, his heart pounding in triple time at the fear and anxiety that was rapidly filling him. She wasn't even willing to listen to him, even though she'd agreed to go talk privately here. She was finally at the angry stage, and most likely hating his guts now. It tore him up inside - he didn't want to lose her!
"Trish, listen to me... I haven't been able to stop thinking of you all week - and not just all week, but this entire two months! I-"
"Yeah, right!" the petite blonde said, annoyance in her beautiful facial features. "Heard that one already, too - and that was before I found out about the bet!"
"I'm telling the truth..." Chris gazed down into her brown eyes, his own clear blue unwavering and steady as they peered into her depths.
She remained silent for a moment, as though considering his words. Then, "Why should I believe anything you say, Jericho? I trusted you once but got burned for it! I'm not going to make that mistake again! She restrained herself from striking out at him with her small, manicured hands. It wasn't easy.
Trish suddenly stepped past him to leave, as she felt she could take no more. Despite her anger and the booze-induced cloud inside her head, she was feeling very fragile - as though she might break down at any second. And she would be damned if she allowed him to bear witness to her tears...
"What... Where are you going?" Chris asked, his voice sounding uncertain.
"Out - away from you," the blonde woman replied, her chin quivering just slightly. She didn't know how much more of this she could withstand. Damn it... The last relationship she'd had ended four years ago, and she'd been horribly wronged and wounded. Chris Jericho had been the first man she'd trusted with her heart since then, and look at how that had turned out...
"Please don't go... Trish..."
The Canadian diva bit her lip, stopping just as her hand made contact with the door handle. Damn it, what was wrong with her? He didn't give a crap about her, never had - so why couldn't she just keep on walking? Why hesitate at all?
Jericho was nearly on the verge of tears himself, but the blonde couldn't see that because her back was still to him. He ran a hand over his face and then his long hair, his eyes gazing up for a beat at the ceiling before he took a long, hard swallow and spoke again.
"Damn it, I love you...!"
Trish's breath caught in her throat, one of the tears that had been threatening to overwhelm her suddenly slipping down her left cheek. What had he just said? She knew she'd heard it but couldn't quite believe her ears...
Slowly, she turned around to face him, astonished to see that he had tears in his eyes - just like she did...
"Chris... What did you just say?"
The blond man came forward, closing the distance she'd created between them, and gazed down into her eyes, his expression still sad.
"I... In the middle of all the bet business, I realized I'd fallen in love with you..."
A second tear trickled its way down Trish's cheek as she blinked and kept her gaze fastened on him.
"You... you actually sound sincere..."
Chris raised a hand, placing his palm gently against her cheek.
"Beautiful Trish... That's because I am sincere..."
The blonde diva continued to gaze at him with wonder. Something was happening inside of her, in her heart...
And then, she could stand it no longer. She reached up, pulling his head down to hers
for a passionate kiss...