CHAPT36

I was careful to be quiet as I let myself into the room so that I wouldn't wake Jalen. One glance at the bed told me that was not going to happen since Jalen was not in the bed yet. I heard the shower running then and figured out that Jalen had obviously just gotten in herself.

I changed into a pair of boxer shorts and a tank top to sleep in and sat on the bed hoping that Jalen and Jeff had a good time out tonight. Besides thinking about my friends date helped to keep my mind off of Teddy's lips and the way that they fit mine perfectly. They had been so full and soft and just amazing. Shaking her head she saw that Jalen had just walked out of the bathroom towel drying her hair.

Jalen stopped at the foot of the bed and smiled at me. "So how was the movie?"

I shrugged and said, "It was really good, but really we talked more than anything else. Kristen ended up calling while we were eating and it really upset him."

"What happened?"

"She called to let him know that she wouldn't be coming out next week after all. I think that she is seeing someone else behind Teddy's back, but I don't know. They have been having problems and all that for awhile but it's like anything that he does is met with coldness." Taking a deep breath I said, "She told him that she was moving back to her parent's house because she thought that they needed a break. He was so hurt."

Jalen laughed a short, low, condescending laugh. "Wait a damn minute; did she really say that they needed time apart? What the hell does she consider the three to four days a week that he is on the road? Is that not enough for her?"

"That's the thing Jalen, when he's home, she is at work putting in twelve hour shifts at the children's hospital. He said that she has changed so much over the years and he just can't seem to find out what the problem is. I mean he can tell her he loves her and she ignores him and hangs up the phone, and it's so damn sad."

"Wow, she sounds like a total bitch to me. I mean now I feel silly thinking that he would hurt you, even accidently. He is so damn sweet and a really good friend. It does suck that someone would hurt him like that."

I smiled and changed the subject. "Enough of the sad stuff now tell me how it went with Jeff tonight."

Jalen blushed and smiled. "He's sweet, and he is kind, and he is a total gentleman. We ended up getting Italian take out and eating and talking in his room. It was easier than trying to avoid all the fans and looks and stuff. We did talk about a lot though. We even talked about you and Matt."

I cut my eyes at Jalen and said, "Why does that scare me?"

Laughing Jalen said, "It shouldn't really, although after getting Jeff's side of the story about all that happened that night I do see it a little differently. Jeff thinks you are crazy to be giving Matt a second chance, but I know why you are. Jeff said that your face totally broke his heart standing there in Matt's room that night."

I sighed deeply. "It hurt and it still does, but Matt has always been my dream. I have to give him another chance before I just walk away and only invest in the friendship that I hope we can still have."

"Yeah, that was what I told Jeff too. He still thinks you are crazy. We talked a lot about his relationship with Beth too and his family, this storyline, and what we both want for the future."

"Go on," I said.

"Well he asked me to go out again, after this whole storyline is over so that we don't have to sneak around and hide. Then he kissed me senseless and I can back here."

I grinned and thought of my only senseless moments and snuggled down into the sheets. Just as I was dozing off her cell phone alerted me that I had a text. I lipped it open and saw that it was Ted and smiled.

"Hey there, I hope I didn't wake you, but I wanted to thank you again for tonight. I'll see you tomorrow for lunch."

"Who is it?" Jalen asked sleepily.

"It's Teddy. Do you and Jeff want to meet for lunch tomorrow?"

"Sure thing just let us know when and where..."

Before closing my eyes for the night I texted back and said, "That sounds perfect and no you didn't wake me. About tonight, thank you. You opened my eyes and showed me a lot. Sweet dreams..."

I woke the next morning to find that I had three new texts. The first was from Jeff, asking about lunch. I messaged him that we would all meet in the hotel's restaurant at noon, and I would see him then. The next text was from Matt, simply saying good morning and wishing me a good day. I skipped over it without replying. The last message was from Ted.

"Good morning. Do I really want to know why you're thanking me and what it was that I opened your eyes too? So, lunch. What's going on? Let me know."

Smiling I replied, "Lunch will happen at noon and it will be in the restaurant downstairs. As for the reason I'm thanking you, well let's just say that you showed me dreams and realities are two different things."

I had not realized that Jalen was awake until she said, "So who was that text from? It had you blushing like crazy."

I shrugged and tried to focus on not blushing again. "It was no one really. We should probably get ready for lunch though. I told Jeff we would meet him downstairs at noon and it's like eleven fifteen." Climbing out of bed I headed to the bathroom to brush my teeth.

Over the water I heard Jalen call out, "Oh my goodness! It was Ted wasn't it? You are starting to like him!"

I walked out of the bathroom wiping my face with a towel and trying to hide my blush. "He is married!"

"And that is working out so well right? It's really not a big deal if you like him, ya know. I mean she is the one losing out on something so great and I am fairly certain that he would never do what Matt did to you."

I couldn't hide the grin on my face. "You're right he wouldn't do that and yes he is having marriage issues. He is definitely going to be one of the biggest losses she ever experiences; I mean he is a terrific guy. He is also the most amazing kisser in the whole universe." I started shuffling through my suitcase for some jeans and a tank top, pretending to be busy with the task.

"You kissed him! Holy crap Cass," Jalen said as she finished brushing her teeth and started looking for her own outfit for the day. "How did that end up happening?"

"Well the movie was over and he said that he was sorry and when I asked him for what and he kissed me. It was totally different than anything I have ever experienced before. There was no pressure for anything else and it was full of things that words could never say."

Jalen looked at me and smiled. "In that one kiss you started falling for him. How sweet! Okay so this may sound weird, but when he kissed you, did you feel like you had stuck a fork into an outlet and gotten your socks shocked right off your feet?"

My eyes met Jalen's eyes and I said, "You too huh? Come on we better get downstairs."

When we walked into the hotel's restaurant I saw that Ted and Jeff had beaten us there and were seated at a table in the back. We took their seats beside them and a waiter came over to pull a division wall around them for privacy. At our confused looks Jeff said, "I asked for this table thinking that maybe it would allow us some privacy and allow some time to step out of the story line and just be us."

Jalen smiled and leaned over and kissed Jeff on his cheek. He smiled like I hadn't seen him smile in weeks. It made me happy. Turning to Ted, I said, "How are you this morning?"

He smiled that smile that reminded me of a toddler and said, "Okay I guess, considering everything. I talked to my dad about everything this morning and he really helped. He has that way about him."

The rest of lunch went by quickly and we all sat where we were for an extra hour or so, pleased to be able to just be ourselves with out the fans expecting the people they saw on television. We talked and laughed and I watched as Jalen fell deeper into love with Jeff. It made my heart happy.

After lunch we went our separate ways and spent the day relaxing. The next three days were casual and easy to get through. Come Monday we were back at work and Jalen was starting to regret that she was going to have to home in a week. It was heavy on my mind too that in a week we were having a show in Mississippi and that Ted was going to be seeing Kristen. I knew that it shouldn't bother me but it did, deeply. After Raw Ted and I along with Jalen and Jeff all went out to grab a bite to eat and then back at the hotel went our separate ways to spend time alone together watching movies.

Ted and I watched Pearl Harbor, but I wasn't really paying a lot of attention to the movie. I was thinking that he hadn't kissed me since last week and I really wanted to feel his lips again. I knew that I shouldn't because he was still married and he did love Kristen, but I couldn't help myself. Before the movie was over I looked up at him and saw that he was looking at me, thoughtfully. "Why do we always find ourselves here," I whispered.

"What do you mean find ourselves here?"

"Right here, like this," I said so softly that he barely heard me. I rose up and lightly touched his lips with mine, almost testing the waters, knowing that they would be warm and sweet. I kissed him fully on the mouth then and he returned the kiss with a hunger that was unexplainable.

Pulling away, he looked at me with the clearest blue eyes I had ever seen. "Cassidy, what in the hell is happening with us? I have not felt this way in a long time and it is kind of scary in an absolutely amazing way. I feel important with you, no matter what we're doing." Before I could form a response he was kissing me again, deeper than before and I was slipping further into him.

When they pulled away, breathless and dazed, I smiled. He pressed his lips to my forehead and I sighed smiling still. "Teddy, do you have this affect on all women?"

"What effect is that?"

"Leaving them breathless, making them want the kiss to never end, and having them fall for you when they are trying so hard not to do it." I snuggled closer to him and felt so comfortable in his arms.

"I'm not trying to do it, but I could ask you the same questions ya know." He wrapped both arms around me and pulled me close. "You are comfortable. I like this."

I smiled and looked up at him. "I think I could stay here all night. I don't know what's happening with us but I don't want to fight it anymore. It takes too much energy, and I like you too much." I kissed his chin and snuggled closer to him.

"My dad told me the other day; sometimes we fall for what we think is meant to be even though we haven't experienced our true destiny yet. He also said that he has thought that was what I had done for a while now. Now more than ever I see the truth in his words."

The two of us laid there until we fell asleep. The next thing I knew I was feeling kisses on my face, light and tender. Then I heard his whisper, "Wake up Cass, it's eleven thirty." When I opened my eyes he said, "Good morning beautiful."

I smiled at him and then realized that I obviously had not moved since the night before. I was still wrapped snugly in his arms and I had slept better than I had in weeks. "Did you say that it was eleven thirty? Wow, I cannot believe I slept that late, and I guess I slept right here huh?"

He smiled and kissed my lips again. "You did sleep here yes, and it was the best sleep I have had in a long time. I am thinking that you better let Jalen know that you are okay though."

I didn't want to move from where I was and told him so. "Besides, she knows I'm with you so she knows that I am just fine. I promise." Stretching I sighed." I guess I do need to get up and get going though. I have a lot to get done, well I have to get my hair done and I need to talk to Jalen. It sucks that she is headed home next week."

He sighed now, "I guess I need to go to the gym too. Maybe we could do something soon. I don't want to wait this long to kiss you again."

With a nod and smile I kissed him and climbed out of his arms and bed to head back to my own room.