Chapter 32: Help From Dylan

Teresa had escaped from "Fox's" close watch. She met up at the Book Café with Fox's best friend, Dylan Banning.

"What do you mean he's been acting weird?" asked Dylan as he sipped his latte.

"He's been keeping an extra close watch on me and the kids. Oh, and speaking about the kids. You know how Fox could hardly stand to be separated from his kids?"

"Yeah."

"He can't stand them now. It's weird."

"Yeah, that is kind of odd."

"You bet. Not to mention that he's trying to force me to sleep with him. You know . . . be intimate."

"You don't need to paint a picture. I got it."

"Sorry."

"Nah. Don't worry about it. Anyway, do you want me to talk to him?"

"No."

"Why not?"

"He'll know I was talking to you."

"So?"

"He's becoming overly protective lately."

"Well, I'm his best friend. I'm sure he wouldn't mind."

"His best friend that once tried to get with me."

"Me? When?"

"That night at Salem Heights."

"Oh yeah. Then. Well, that was then and this is now."

"Okay, so what would you say to him?"

"Something like; hey man, what's your problem lately with Teresa?"

"NO! He'll kill me!"

Dylan was silent. Teresa looked so serious when she that he'd kill her. Dylan leaned closer to Teresa and whispered, "Teresa is there something you want to tell me?"

"Like what?"

"Has Fox threatened to you? Like, to kill you or harm you or the kids?"

"Why would you ask that?"

"Teresa, I swear to the heavens if he did I would swoop right in and I'd get you away from the situation."

"No. He hasn't."

"You're lying."

"No I'm not."

"Are you sure?"

"Yes, Dylan. I'm sure."

"Listen to me. You know my cell phone number and my house number and here's my work number," he jotted it down onto a napkin and handed it to her as he said it aloud, "555-0993. You call me anytime. I don't care . . . day or night. And I don't care what I'm doing, I'll come and get you or talk to you anytime you need me."

"Why are doing this for me?"

"Because you're the only girl I know who hung out with me not for my name, but for being me. When Fox and you broke up and we went to Salem Heights, I was ecstatic because your one of the few women I know who's REAL."

"Real?"

"True to her man. Love's her man. Stands by her man."

"I see."

"Yeah. Anyway, back to Fox. Tell me everything."

*~*~*~*

"I'm sorry."

"Does it look like I care?"

"No."

"Good observation."

"Fox" had been drilling Teresa over and over again about her day's activities and why she was with Dylan. He said, "Get ready for bed." Then left the room.

Teresa did as he asked and laid her head down to rest. She was terrified to do otherwise. She decided that in the morning she'd call Dylan and take her two kids and leave Fox.

*~*~*~*

Fox (the real one) sat drunk in his chair observing Mark and Teresa. He noticed that she was going to sleep now and didn't want to move until he knew that Mark was asleep so he knew she was safe. Fox was so happy that Dylan met with Teresa and told her that he'd be there for her always if she needed him. He was a bit upset at how much he knew that Dylan wanted to be with Teresa.

*~*~*~*

"Dyl?"

"Teresa. Hey girl! What's up? Everything okay?"

"No."

"What's wrong?"

"Can you come get me and the kids?"

"Now?"

"Yeah or as soon as possible."

"You bet. I'll be there in twenty minutes okay?"

"Yeah."

"Teresa?"

"Yeah."

"He didn't hurt you did he?"

"No."

"Are you lying to me?"

"No. Just get here okay?"

"Okay."

*~*~*~*

Teresa put Ariel and Lucia to sleep in one of Dylan's spare bedrooms and headed downstairs. Dylan was the heir to the Banning Empire so you know his house and estate, as he called it, was huge. Teresa walked down the main hall and down the main banister into the parlor. She crossed the lobby and walked down three other hallways to the kitchen where Dylan was making lunch.

"You cook?" She asked while staring at him at the stove.

"Sort of."

"Sort of? What do you mean?" Teresa sat down at the counter that was in the center of the kitchen.

"I mean that you're very lucky."

"How so?"

"I never cook for chicks."

"Chicks?"

"Sorry, um, beautiful women."

They laughed.

"And why is that?"

"They like the fancy expensive dinners and stuff."

"What makes you think I don't like that?"

"Because you're real."

Dylan leaned on the counter and leaned his head closer to Teresa's. She replied, "Real huh?"

"That's what I said."

"Well guess what?" She said seductively.

"What?" He asked as he looked deeply into her eyes.

"Your lunch on the stove is burning."

"What?" Dylan jumped around and quickly took the stuff off the stove.

Teresa couldn't stop laughing as Dylan rushed around the kitchen trying to stop the alarms and cool the food off.

"You think that's funny huh?"

As she gasped for breath she said, "Yeah, totally funny."

"Oh really?" He threw down his cooking mittens and picked her up off the chair. He stared to tickle her as he placed her on the couch in the living room.

"Dylan stop!"

"Why?"

They fell onto the floor from fighting each other from tickling each other. Teresa landed on top of Dylan and she stared into his eyes and quickly jumped up from him.

"Sorry about that."

Dylan hopped up off the floor and replied, "Don't say you're sorry. Nothing happened to be sorry about. We were just playing around."

He ruffled her hair as Fox would and said, "I'm going to finish up lunch okay?"

"Okay."

He walked back into the kitchen as Teresa whispered to herself, "Thank goodness Dylan came to save me from Fox, but what have I gotten myself into now?"

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