Chapter 16

Over the next few weeks Trish and Randy barely spoke two words to each other. Randy still had Gail by his side every waking moment and Trish wasn't sure how much more she could take. She was thankful that she had Dave to keep her mind off of them but as great as Dave was, it just wasn't enough. Trish knew that if she could get Randy into a room where he couldn't escape, she would be able to at least explain what had happened. Through the entire ordeal, he never once allowed her to explain herself.

Unbeknownst to Trish, Dave was working up his own scheme to get the two of them together. He loved Randy like a brother and he and Trish were becoming as close as any man and woman could be without being romantically involved. Dave had gotten to know Trish even more over the past couple of weeks and he couldn't even fathom why any man wouldn't want to hold onto her for the rest of their life. The girl had so much to offer. Beside the obvious fact that she was drop-dead gorgeous, she was kind and extremely intelligent. He had no clue that she was as close as she was to becoming a doctor. She truly had it all. If his best friend wasn't so in love with her, he would pursue her himself. However, he was quite content just being her friend and a friend was exactly what he was going to be.

Earlier on in the day, Dave had found out from Ric where Randy would be taking Gail later on in the evening. He knew that Randy had the wrong idea about him and Trish and he figured that if Randy saw the two of them in action so to speak, then his jealousy would win over and he would come clean over the way he feels. It was a sneaky thing to do and it very easily could blow up in his face but if he knew Randy as well as he thought he did, then he would be putty in Trish's hands before the end of the night.

Dave went up behind Trish and wrapped his arms around her waist, startling Trish a bit. "Hey darling," he whispered, tickling her ear a bit.

Trish jumped at the sudden contact as she was in a deep trance watching Randy from across the room. Randy knew that she was watching him too because he was laying the Gail loving on pretty thick. They would call each other these disgustingly goofy names like Muffin and Stud, which made Trish want to vomit. Yet, the power Randy had over her made it impossible for her to turn away. He was like a drug that she couldn't get enough of and at that very moment she needed a quick fix.

"Geesh Dave, you scared the heck out of me," she joked, swatting at him playfully. "Do you always sneak up on people like that?"

Dave held his arm where she had just hit him, pretending to be hurt and giving his best puppy dog eyes. "Well you didn't have to hit me," he pouted before giving her the biggest grin she had ever seen.

Trish had to laugh at the goofy look on his face. He certainly knew how to put a smile on her face and she loved him for it. "Dave, you really are the best. You always know just what to do or say."

"Like I said before Trish, I love seeing you smile and if I am the reason behind it, then that makes me a happy man." Dave gave her one of his famous winks that he seemed to only reserve just for her. He paused for a moment figuring now was as good a time as any to put his plan into action. "So Trish, seeing as you are in such a good mood, would you like to go out with me tonight?"

Trish was a bit taken aback. What did he mean go out? Was he asking her out on a date? Trish looked at him quizzically. "Go out where? Like on a date?"

Dave hated the way she seemed almost disappointed in him for asking her out. He had secretly hoped that she would show a bit more enthusiasm. "Well yeah, a date between two friends that is."

Trish exhaled the breath she didn't know she was holding. She loved Dave but she certainly didn't want to get romantically involved with him. It wasn't that he wasn't an attractive man because he was. He had muscles bulging where she never knew muscles existed and he was as kind as any man could be. However, her heart belonged to only one man and she was going to do everything within her power to get him back. "Oh of course I will go out with you Dave. Sounds like a lot of fun."

Trish accepted Dave's invitation a lot louder than she intended causing one Mr. Orton to get an earful. He eyed his former best friend and ex with a look of contempt. He knew that something was going on between them and he wanted to get up and beat the hell out of Dave. Yet at the same time he knew that he couldn't because if he did that, than it would prove to everyone that Trish still got to him and that was the last thing he wanted. He did everything he possibly could to hide the fact that he still loved her. The truth was he was dying inside without her but he was just too damn stubborn to admit it. He could lie to everyone around him but he couldn't lie to himself. He wanted nothing more than to hold the sexy, blonde Canadian in his arms and never let go. However, that was not possible. She was not his anymore.

Later on that evening, Trish and Dave arrived at the Chinese Restaurant that Dave had chosen. She had to admit she had been craving Chinese food for weeks. She silently hoped that they had a Sushi Bar as well. Randy had introduced her to Sushi and ever since that moment, she couldn't stop eating it. It was one of her guilty pleasures among other things.

As much as she wanted to forget about Randy and Gail for the night, being in the restaurant only stirred up memories of the two of them. Randy had practically forced her into trying Sushi. He had tricked her into opening up her mouth by tickling her and shoving a huge piece inside. He knew that once she tried it that she would love it and he was so right. He knew her better than she knew herself. They had so much fun that night. They had a few drinks and ended up back in Randy's hotel room. The rest of the night they had spent making love over and over again.

A lonely tear rolled down Trish's cheek as she remembered the love that they had once shared. She hoped that someday soon they would be able to get it back. She knew that there was no way that she could ever live without him. Randy had changed so much in the past couple of months but Trish silently prayed that deep down inside, some of her Randy still existed.

When they entered the restaurant, Trish glanced around the room in hopes that Randy would be there. The only problem would be that he would obviously show up with the biggest whore in the diva locker room. Trish couldn't remember hating anyone as much as she hated Gail. As a matter of fact, Trish didn't really hate anyone other than Gail and maybe Molly but even Molly didn't get under her skin like Gail did. Molly just seemed to be along for the ride. She knew that if Molly had never gotten involved with Gail that the two of them could have been friends. She had a good heart. Gail on the other hand was like the Grinch that stole Christmas. Her heart was the size of a pea.

After they were seated and given menus, Trish decided to find out once and for all from Dave exactly what his intentions were. She remembered back to their conversation earlier in the day and the hurt expression on his face when she had questioned his motives about asking her out. She just had a funny feeling that deep down inside, Dave had more than just friendly feelings towards her. It wasn't that she wasn't attracted to him because any woman in their right mind would be crazy not to be attracted to such a beautiful specimen. She just didn't want to feel uncomfortable around him. The last thing she needed was to have romantic feelings for another man. Randy and Paul was enough to last a lifetime. Trish just didn't want any misconceptions between the two of them. She decided that now was as good a time as any to just come right out and ask him. "Dave can I ask you a question?"

Dave removed his eyes from the menu in front of him to give the diva his undivided attention. "Sure thing darling, what's on your mind?"

Now normally Trish wasn't so straightforward with her questions and she certainly wasn't fooled into thinking that every man was secretly in love with her, it was just a vibe that she got from him and she needed the truth. "Dave, I am just curious as to what you feel for me. I mean honestly, do you look at me as anything other than a friend? Please be totally honest with me. I really need to know."

Dave was a bit thrown by her question to say the least. However, the one thing about their relationship was that they were always completely honest with each other and he wasn't about to start lying now. "So basically you want to know if I am in love with you? Is that what your question is?"

Trish wouldn't have put it so bluntly but that was exactly what she was asking. She only nodded her head in response, motioning for him to continue on.

"Trish, you are my friend first and foremost and I know how you feel about Randy. I would never fool myself into thinking that I ever had a shot at you. Any man would be a fool not to be totally in love with you. I know that if it wasn't for Randy that I could easily fall head over heels in love with you but trust me when I say that I would never cross that line with you hon. I am your friend and that's it."

Trish wasn't sure if it was the ambiance or just the fact that Dave was being so sincere. She wanted him to know how she felt as well. "Dave, you really are an amazing guy and I can honestly say that if I was not so in love with Randy, I would do anything within my power to make you mine. Any girl would be crazy not to fall in love with you as well. I hope you are able to find that special someone to complete you because you deserve all of that and more."

Trish was so moved by their moment that she got up from the table to place a small kiss on Dave's cheek before wrapping her arms around him in a tight embrace. It just so happened that Randy and Gail were being seated in the booth directly across from them. Randy caught the embrace, completely getting the wrong idea like always.

Randy didn't care if he was in a public place. He was going to give them a piece of his mind. Without a word spoken to Gail, Randy stomped on over to Trish and Dave's table extremely perturbed. "So, just as I suspected. I should have known that a slut like you wouldn't wait too long before moving on to the next man with a pulse."

Hearing his voice Trish immediately pulled away from Dave, slightly embarrassed that he caught her in his arms but more devastated by his hurtful words. She knew Randy well enough to know that he was not going to believe her if she told him that it was completely innocent. He was going to think exactly what he wanted to think and to hell with the truth. So Trish figured she would play right along with it. Why not get some satisfaction out of it. He was being a complete asshole and he deserved everything that she dished out to him.

"Yup, looks like you caught us," Trish said nonchalantly. "Dave the cat's out of the bag. We might as well tell him the truth."

Dave caught on rather quickly, knowing exactly what Trish was doing. As a matter of fact, his whole plan was working out better than he had hoped. Trish was playing the part that he had hoped she would play without even knowing it. He wanted to fill her in on his plan but was thrown off with Trish's line of questioning. "Hey man, what can I say? She is a beautiful woman and you didn't want her so I moved on in. Sorry man, you snooze you lose."

Trish agreed. "Yup, you didn't expect a slut like me to wait around too long now did you Randy? I mean after all, I can't keep my hands off Dave. Look at him. He is amazing." Trish ran her hands up and down Dave's chest, causing his muscles to twitch at her touch.

Randy was growing extremely agitated. He couldn't believe the audacity that they had. They were basically throwing their relationship in his face. Well he wasn't going to stand for it. He was going to get back the woman that he loved even if he had to fight for her. No way was he going to allow any man to have her. "I can't believe you would do this to me Dave. You know how much I love that girl. How could you betray me like that?"

Dave just shook his head in a disgusted manner. "Do you even hear yourself man? For weeks I have been trying to get you two back together and you kept telling me that it wasn't going to work, that you couldn't do it. She betrayed you, blah, blah, blah. Now you're going to stand here and tell me that I have the nerve to want to accompany a beautiful lady out to dinner? That I am not allowed to hang out with one of my good friends? Which by the way Randy, is all that we are. What you think you saw a minute ago was completely innocent. This girl loves you with all of her heart and refuses to move on with anyone at all. It's not too fun to get a taste of your own medicine huh? You have done nothing but flaunt that skank in her face every chance you get. It's so much different when the shoe is on the other foot now isn't it. Now you know exactly how she felt all of this time. Only in your case, it lasted all of what, five minutes."

Randy just stared at him in disbelief. Dave was completely right. He put her through hell and even after all of that, she still loved him. At this point Randy locked eyes with her. This was the first time since reading her diary that he actually really looked deeply into her eyes. What he saw in them blew him away. Her love for him was shining through as plain as day. He felt like such an asshole for not seeing it sooner. If he only took the time to look, he could have saved them both all of this heartache. He hated himself for putting her through all of this but at the same time he still was incredibly hurt by what he had read in that diary. His stubbornness always seemed to outweigh everything else that he was feeling. However, he knew that he couldn't live without her. He knew that they had a lot to work through and that they may never get back what they had but he had to at least try. He owed her that much. He gently took her hand in his, loving how it fit perfectly into his. "Trish I know I don't deserve anything from you at all but I am begging you to hear me out."

Dave watched on with a huge smile on his face. His plan had worked out perfectly. He was speaking civil to her and that was a great start. The rest was up to them. He watched Gail out of the corner of his eye. If she even moved from that table he was prepared to cut her off at the pass. No way was he going to allow her or anyone else to ruin this for Trish. She was so close to getting back everything that she lost. He did all that he could do. He just hoped they didn't let this opportunity pass them by.

As hard as Trish tried to fight it, the tears began to pool up in her eyes. Her palms became sweaty and her heart began to race. This was too good to be true. He was actually going to have a real conversation with her. Would he allow her to tell him the truth? Would he let her get a word in edgewise? The only way for her to tell was if she took the risk. She really had nothing to lose anyway. "Randy, you really have no idea how long I have waited for you to even speak to me. Of course I will hear you out but you have to promise to hear me out as well. You cannot pass judgment until I say everything that I need to say. If you agree to that then I agree to talk to you." Randy nodded his head in agreement and the two of them headed out of the restaurant, focusing on nothing but each other.