"Betsy, what is wrong?" Jeremy asked as he walked into Betsy's childhood bedroom. Walking into that room felt like the time stand still - there were Betsy's old posters on the walls, an old hoodie still hanging from a hook on the door and the furniture and the coloring of the room just screamed that it was not a room for an adult Betsy, but a Betsy who had not yet experienced New York, a Betsy who had not yet experienced the freedom and independence offered by a new beginning away from home.
Betsy had invited Jeremy to spend the thanksgiving with her family, but was regretting it already. Her family still saw her as a child, even when she had left home and started her adult life in New York City. They insisted on keeping her room as it had been since she was about 12 years old, and throughout their stay, they have insisted calling her with silly nicknames even when she had told them to behave when Dr. Reed was around - he was her boss and she wanted to remain trustworthy and professional in his eyes, not a silly little girl who is still treated like a baby by her parents. She was afraid that now that Jeremy had seen this side of her, it would be difficult for him to take her seriously.
"It's just this place... I should not have brought you here", Betsy said, sitting on her bed and staring at the duvet rather than looking at Jeremy. The balance of the bed changed when Jeremy sat down and took Betsy's hand into his.
"Betsy, what are you talking about?"
"My family still sees me as a little girl, incapable of making decisions and acting like an adult."
"Betsy darling, it is actually interesting to see this side of you and how far you have come on your own."
"Doctor Reed, please don't tease me", Betsy said and lifted her gaze from the Winnie the Pooh duvet cover her mother still insisted her to use while at home. Jeremy was looking at her intensively, in a way he had been looking at her for quite a while now, Betsy just not had been aware of it before.
"Betsy, please call me Jeremy."
"Why?" Betsy asked, almost out of breath.
"Because it is my name. At the office I am Doctor Reed, but right here, in your childhood bedroom, I'm just Jeremy."
"Okay, Dr. Reed... I mean Jeremy" Betsy said and stood up from the bed. She felt like the air in the room was changing and she felt a bit out of breath. She went to her bookshelf and looked at the photo of her and her brother from when they were kids. Suddenly she felt Jeremy standing behind her and saw him slowly moving his hand to take the picture from the shelf. Betsy turned around, and there was only little air between the two.
"You were a cute kid", Jeremy said, pointing at Betsy's brother on the picture.
"Dr Re... Jeremy, that is actually my brother", Betsy said, a bit embarrassed.
"I know darling, I was just teasing you"
"Please don't tease me anymore?"
"Why?"
"Because it makes me feel silly"
"Darling, I never want to make you feel silly. I just love the way you look then, all blushed and rosy cheeked."
Betsy swallow audibly and lifted her gaze to Jeremy's. They were both silent, just looking at each other. This was the closest she had ever been to Jeremy. Of course she had always thought that he was handsome and charming, but now, while staring at his eyes, she also saw a man that could possibly be vulnerable, devoted and loving.
"Betsy", Jeremy whispered.
"Yes Jeremy?"
"I really want to kiss you now, I've wanted for a while" he said, his voice low and hoarse. Betsy's legs were like jelly and she felt like swooning.
"Maybe you should".
