New beginnings

16

Barry looked at Caitlin in shock. How had she found out?

"Well come on then, I'm waiting"

"For what?"

"For you to tell me I'm crazy, and I must have misheard because you would never do this sort of thing. Not to me especially"

Barry looked at the floor in silence. 

"Oh my god, it's true. You really make a bet on me" said Caitlin, rushing to the sink to be sick

"Don't touch me" she said as Barry tried to help

"Why Barry why? Why would you make a bet on me? Why would you play with my feelings and emotions like that?"

"Caitlin, it's not what you think"

"Really? Even after everything, you're still going to try and justify yourself? So I'm making it all up and I didn't hear your friend telling you he was amazed that you had actually got me to go on a date with you, and handing you some money. Tell me I'm crazy Barry, and this didn't happen"

"I can't"

"You can't because it's all true. And there I was thinking you liked me for me, when all along, you were just pretending to show interest in order to win a bet. How stupid was I to think you were genuine and might actually like me? I should have known better after everything, you men are all the same and none of you can be trusted"

Caitlin went and opened her door, "I'd like you to leave"

"Caitlin, please let me explain"

"Explain what? How I was just a bet to you? How you thought it was alright to play with my feelings and emotions. I bet you had a right laugh behind my back at poor stupid Caitlin, thinking she can trust Barry"

"It wasn't like that"

"Then what was it like? Please tell me. I'm dying to know"

"Ok, listen. You need the whole truth. It will be uncomfortable to listen to at times, but I can't lie to you anymore. I care about you to much"

Caitlin scoffed, "sure you do"

"Stop with the jokes. I'm trying to be honest here"

"First of all, I'm sorry. I was wrong to even make that bet"

"No kidding"

"I only made it as a joke with my friend....."

"So I'm a joke to you now?"

"Will you let me finish? As I was saying I made that bet with him when he saw how cold you were to me. He said there was no chance you'd go out with me. He bet me. And I never back down from a bet, so of course I said yes"

"Wow. Just for your own pride and ego, you decided to play with me"

"I'm trying to tell you the truth. I told you it wouldn't be easy listening"

"So I made the bet to prove him wrong. But I didn't realise how much work it would involve. I'm Barry. My dad is the head of the biggest hospital here. We're loaded. I usually have girls falling at my feet and eating out of the palm of my hands. So you refusing me was a first"

"Was I a dent to your ego? You say you're loaded. Is that supposed to impress me? Do you really think I'm so shallow that I would pick my other half depending on how much he earned? If that's the case, Ronnie was a billionaire. Why did I leave him? All those girls you mentioned, have you ever thought and I know this is a dent to your ego, but what if you're money was all they were after? Ever thought about that?"

"Like I said, you were different, a challenge. One that I had to win"

"And you won your bet. Now goodnight Barry"

"Let me finish. True I only started pursuing you because of a bet. But that was before I got to know you. Before I saw the real you"

"How nice Barry. Next thing I know you're going to say you have fallen in love with me"

Duff duff duff. If I continue this chapter will be too long. I'll carry on next chapter. As always feedback appreciated