Part VIII

"So how about it gorgeous Teresa? You and I, tonight for dinner."

Teresa looked at Dylan and smiled at him. They had bumped into each other at a small coffee shop that was around the corner from the Courtyard and they decided to sit together while enjoying some iced cappuccinos on a very how and humid Los Angeles day.

"Where is that beautiful son of yours?"

"He is at the apartment with Chad and Whitney."

"I see, and where is Mr. Crane?"

Teresa looked at Dylan and scratched her head.

"That's the weirdest thing, he left before I woke up this morning and it was almost 8 when I did. So I have no clue where he is, why he left or what he is up to."

"Did he even come home last night?"

Teresa nodded.

"Yes, he did. He came back pretty early and we turned in at the same time.

"Maybe he left when you fell asleep."

"No, because he is the one who got up when my son started crying. And he is the one who put him back to sleep."

Dylan was puzzled, not only was Fox sleeping in the same bed as Teresa, and wasn't taking full advantage of it, but he was also waking up in the middle of the night to take care of her son. He thought it was off behaviour even for Fox.

"So what about dinner tonight? What's the harm in it?"

Teresa looked up from her iced cappuccino into Dylan's eyes.

"What's the harm in going out for dinner with you, tonight? I would love to."

She shot a wide smile at him and Dylan felt his heart warm up. Teresa was definitely something else and Dylan understood better why Fox was so hesitant and confused about his feelings for her. Women like Teresa came along once in a lifetime and Dylan wasn't about to blow his chances with her.

"Dress ultra chic!"

He got up, and left but not before taking Teresa's hand in his and kissing it. Teresa felt surprised by his gesture.

*****

Teresa arrived at the apartment to find Fox sitting there in his sweat pants and a t-shirt. He looked up from the magazine he was leafing through and gave her a smile.

"Well you certainly seem to be in good spirits today."

"I am! Where have you been?"

"Oh, went jogging by the beach and then went for a quick workout downstairs. And I have to take a shower."

He got up and she stared at his back as he walked to the bathroom. She heard the door close behind him and the water running. She got up and went into the bedroom she shared with Fox. She started looking though her clothes. She took out some pieces and stood in front of the mirror, staring at her reflection.

"I knew this was bound to happen sometime."

Teresa turned and looked at Fox who was standing under the doorway wearing nothing but a smile and a towel around his waist. She stared back at her reflection.

"What was bound to happen sometime?"

"You going through your clothes like that, having them spread out on our bed and about to start staring at yourself in the mirror for the next few hours."

Teresa stared at Fox's reflection in the mirror. He was going through his drawers looking for something to wear.

"I was wondering if you would like to go out with me tonight for dinner. I would take you to the fanciest restaurant in this town."

Teresa turned around and faced Fox. She saw his smiling face and felt bad that she was about to that smile away.

"I saw Dylan this morning."

She turned back to him and sat on the bed. He came and sat beside her, looking at her face while she diverted her eyes from him.

"He asked me to go out with him for dinner tonight and I accepted. I'm sorry, if I had known that you would ask, I wouldn't have accepted to go with him tonight."

And Fox felt disappointed that Teresa was going out with Dylan, and he felt mad that his best friend had asked her out when he had told specifically told him to stay away and felt upset that Teresa had accepted and he hated to think that she was going to be left alone with Dylan.

"It's alright, Teresa. We can do it some other time."

"I can call it a night early and then you and I can go for a walk down at the beach. We haven't done this in a while I missed it."

He smiled at the idea.

"Yes, I would love to go for a walk on the beach with you when you get back from the restaurant."

"Great! I'll be looking forward to it. Now tell me, which outfit should I wear?"