XVI



"Who's that?" Chad asked as he nudged Whitney.

"That's Theresa's professor." Whitney tried to say quietly so that Fox could not hear her. However, Fox heard every word. "Her professor? That's him."
"Now he's driving her home?" Fox grumbled. "What's next?" Fox crossed his arms and glared in Justin's direction. Fox wasn't happy at all. He already felt animosity stirring within him. It was only a matter of time before it was unleashed. Justin returned the stare, but instead of anger, his gaze held one of bafflement. "Why is he looking at me like that? What the hell did I do?" Justin wondered. He was prepared for Fox to act irrationally.

"Fox," Whitney said quietly. "He's just her teacher all right?" Whitney touched Fox's arm, but Fox shoved her away.

"Sure, whatever" Fox replied.

"Fox," Whitney said as she saw him walking towards Theresa and Justin. "Don't do anything irrational."

Fox turned around. "I'm not going to do anything irrational. I'm just merely giving Theresa's professor a nice welcome."

Whitney paled. "Chad?"

"What, baby?" Chad asked as he pulled her towards him.

"I'm afraid Fox is going to do something," She said as she worriedly looked over at Fox. Whitney already knew that Fox was angry and jealous. It had been written all over his face.

"Let's just hope nothing bad happens." Chad said as he wrapped one arm around his fiancé's shoulders.

~*~



"Does your husband have a staring problem?" Justin asked Theresa. Fox's gaze hadn't faltered. He continued to glare at Justin.

"He's just probably wondering who you are." Theresa replied. "I hope he hasn't jumped to conclusions." She thought worriedly. Theresa kept a great distance between herself and Justin. Justin frowned as Theresa paled. "Fox looks angry." She thought. "Oh no, please don't do anything stupid."

"Handsome is headed this way." Justin mumbled.

"What?" Theresa said in confusion.

"Handsome? Your husband? That's what you called him. Remember when he called your cell?" Justin replied.

"I know that. It only happened a few minutes ago." Theresa retorted. Theresa hoped her irritation masked the fear that was growing steadily. She was worried that her husband was jumping to the wrong conclusions. She was more worried that Fox might do something that he would regret later. She walked towards him just before he reached the car.

"Fox," Theresa said quietly as she reached out to touch him.

Fox avoided her touch. She looked at him with a pained expression. "Fox, he just gave me a ride home." Theresa said.

"Why?" Fox asked. "You have your own car." He snapped.

"My car didn't start." She said quietly.

Fox crossed his arms and looked at his wife. Theresa stared back in disbelief. "You don't believe me, do you?" Her gaze implored Fox's for answers. "Fox?" She asked. "Honey, talk to me."

Fox looked away. Theresa looked at him sadly. "You don't believe me."

"I'd hate to break up this tender moment," Justin said sarcastically. "But I suggest, Mr. Crane, that you don't jump to any assumptions."

"Excuse me?" Fox said angrily as he advanced towards Justin.

"Don't assume anything." Justin said. "It just makes an ass out of you and me." Theresa paled. "Wrong thing to say," She said shaking her head.

It was the wrong thing to say, for Fox hit Justin with a force that knocked them both to the ground. "Fox!" Theresa cried. "Stop!"

Fox didn't listen. Both he and Justin continued to scuffle on the ground. Chad and Whitney ran towards them. Both Theresa and Whitney screamed for them to stop fighting while Chad tried to break them apart. Once Chad got a hold of Fox, Justin stood up and wiped his bleeding lip.

"What the hell was that for?" Justin asked.

Fox struggled to free himself from Chad's hold. "You have a thing for my wife, don't you?" Fox accused.

"No," Justin said. "I don't' have thing for your wife."

"I don't believe you." Fox said angrily.

"Fine, be a stubborn ass." Justin said. "But I don't want your wife. I want to be her friend, not her lover."

Fox shrugged off Chad's arms and stalked off.

"Fox," Theresa called. Fox walked inside the house and slammed the front door. "Damn!" She said. "Why did you have to say that to Fox?" She asked Justin.

Justin looked at Theresa in disbelief. "You're blaming me for this whole fiasco? He was already crazed with jealously. Isn't it obvious?"

Theresa sighed. "You're bleeding. We should get you cleaned up."

"I'm not going in that house." Justin said. "Fox might kill me if I step foot in your house."

"He's not going to kill you." Theresa replied.

"Easy for you to say." Justin retorted.

"Look, Theresa, I'll go in and get the first aid kit." Whitney said. "Be right back." Chad went along leaving Theresa and Justin alone to talk.

Theresa sighed and leaned against Justin's car. "Another fight." She said. "Ever since we've gotten married, we always seem to get into these fights."

"It's all part of marriage." Justin said quietly. "Ever couple has their share of arguments. You just can't expect everything to be perfect all the time."

Theresa sighed. "He's so mad. I saw the hurt in his eyes."

"He was also jealous." Justin pointed out.

"I don't why he would be jealous." Theresa mumbled.

"Well, thanks a lot." Justin said appearing to be offended.

"I didn't mean to~" Theresa began.

"I know," Justin said interrupting. "You don't have to apologize. I'm just messing with you." Justin sat beside Theresa. He glanced at her briefly and saw her staring at one of the windows. Fox had been looking down at them. Justin saw the curtain rustle as Fox disappeared from the window. Theresa sighed sadly again.

"You really love him," Justin observed.

"With all my heart." Theresa said.

"You and your husband remind me a lot of my own relationship with my wife." Justin said quietly.

Theresa looked up surprise. "Tell me more about your wife." She said. Justin took a deep breath. He glanced into Theresa's doe eyes that beseeched him for an answer. Justin felt compelled to tell Theresa something.

~*~



Fox paced around his bedroom. He was full of anger and jealousy. He glanced out of the window and saw Theresa alone with Justin. They were engaged in a conversation. Theresa looked up at Fox. He stared at her for a few moments before closing the curtain. He walked by the dresser and picked up a picture of him and Theresa. He lovingly traced Theresa's face with his finger. She smiled up at him. Fox couldn't help but let go of the anger.

Fox hadn't remembered feeling so jealous in his life. He hated it. However, Fox couldn't help himself. Theresa was a beautiful woman. Naturally there would be a great deal of men who would want try to get her attention.

Fox found himself recalling the conversation he and Theresa had the day before.

"Fox," She had said. "I may have admitted that Professor Hammond was handsome. But who did I say was even more handsome?"

"Dylan?" Fox had said smirking.

"Fox!" Theresa had said playfully nudging him. "Seriously, who did I say?"

"Me," Fox hadsaid quietly.

Theresa nodded. "Exactly."
.

Fox got up and went into little Ethan's room. Little Ethan was standing. He smiled when Fox entered the room. "Da!" He cried as he held his arms in a request to be picked up.

"Hey, buddy," Fox said. "Awake already?"

Little Ethan touched Fox's lip. There was still a trace of dried blood upon it.

"Ouch." Fox winced. "Looks like your daddy has been an ass." Little Ethan giggled in response.

"That's not funny." Fox said as he began to tickle Little Ethan. Little Ethan laughed aloud. His laughter made Fox smile.

Fox sighed. "What do you say we go outside? You can ol' man suck up to your mommy."

Little Ethan smiled. " 'Course," Fox said. "I'm not exactly old, but you know what I mean. I'm still your daddy. You know, that feels good to say." Fox admitted smiling.

"Da!" Little Ethan cried happily.

"Let's go." Fox said. "I better go apologize to mommy before this gets out of hand any further."

~*~