CH 17- Secret Crush
Theresa woke up the next morning feeling completely miserable. After getting home from the hospital, she couldn't stop thinking about her promise to Ethan. Being there for him meant that it would probably help his healing process a great deal, but it also meant that she would have to deceive Fox. She hated herself for lying to him, but she knew that he would never understand.
Theresa glanced back at her unmade bed and closed her eyes, remember what had happened the night before.
"Why did we have to make love?" She whispered. "Why did I have to hurt Fox the way that I did?"
Although he technically did not know of her mistake yet, she knew that the time would come when he would eventually find out. It would destroy him and he would absolutely hate her. Fox would be out of her life, and she'd have no one to blame but herself.
"But you can't let that happen Theresa." She told herself, looking out the window. "No one but Gwen must know what happened. It would be a complete disaster and you will lose everything. Fox will never know. He just can't."
Suddenly there was a knock at her door.
Theresa turned around as Paloma poked her head in.
"Hey sis, are you awake yet?" She smiled, closing the door behind her.
"Yeah, I'm awake. I couldn't really sleep much after what happened at the hospital." Theresa sighed throwing a blanket over her bed.
"I know, that's why I came over. I wanted to make sure that you were ok." Paloma gave her sister a comforting hug. "I know how much Ethan means to you. Finding out that he has cancer must be absolutely heart breaking. I can't imagine what it feels like to know that the man that you love might die."
Paloma suddenly saw Theresa tense up, and she wished she could have taken back her words.
"Oh, I'm sorry Theresa. I didn't mean to be so blunt." She apologized, sitting next to her on the floor.
"That's ok." She weakly smiled. "I've been thinking about that lately myself. I've known and loved Ethan since I was a little girl. Never in my wildest dreams did I ever think that he would somehow be gone from my life. It's almost unbearable to think about."
"Well, mama says that prayer is very important. So we just have to pray that a miracle happens and Ethan comes out of this alright."
She gave Theresa's hand a comforting squeeze and almost immediately widely grinned.
"What's that face for?" Theresa laughed.
"Well I was just thinking. I know right now you and Ethan are having some problems, but once he comes out of this, you and him can start to rekindle your relationship!" She happily squealed.
"Um, I don't think so." Theresa awkwardly looked at her.
"Well why not? There's no doubt in my mind that you still have feelings for him and it's obvious that he still loves you! So there's no reason for you to not try again. C'mon sis, you two were destined to be together! It's fate, I just know it!"
Theresa laughed at Paloma's sudden burst of energy.
"Now where have I heard that before?" She giggled, comparing their similarities. "You are definitely my sister!"
"Well it's true," she said making a face.
"Right now things are a bit complicated Paloma. Besides, what do you know about fate and love? You don't even have a boyfriend yet." Theresa playfully punched her.
"Well maybe not right now, but soon I will!" She giggled, a smile creeping up on her lips.
"What do you mean soon?" Theresa suspiciously asked her.
"Well, let's just say there may be someone that I'm interested it." She calmly said, looking in the air.
"What?" Theresa shrieked. "Who? Did you just meet him? Is he cute?"
"As a matter of fact, yes, he's gorgeous!" Paloma happily squealed. "And even though I just met him, I know that we are meant to be!"
"Oh my gosh! My baby sister has a crush on a boy!" Theresa excitedly giggled. "So tell me, what's he like?"
"Well, he's really nice. He's polite, he's handsome, he's funny, and he's everything that a girl could want!" She gleefully grabbed a pillow and fell backwards. "He's your regular prince charming!"
"Wow, I can't believe this! I can't wait to meet him! So, does he like you too?" Theresa grinned.
"Well, see that's kind of the problem." Paloma frowned. "He's a little older than me and I don't think he knows that I like him. So I was thinking that maybe you could help me. You know, give me some pointers."
"Oh, absolutely!" Theresa squealed, already playing with her sister's hair. "Trust me Paloma, when I'm done with you, this boy won't be able to resist you!"
"Thank you so much! I can't wait!" She grinned. "I really want him to be my boyfriend."
"Oh don't worry, he will be." Theresa happily sighed, lying down next to her. "So tell me, who is this handsome prince?"
"It's Fox!" She happily squealed.
Theresa immediately shot up, looking at her sister in disbelief.
"What? Did you just say Fox?"
"Yup!" She grinned. "You told me he was sweet and caring, and you were right! He's absolutely amazing!
Theresa placed a hand to her head and silently cried.
"I did say that didn't I?" She closed her eyes.
"I'm so glad that you made us go on that walk together. If it weren't for you, I wouldn't have realized what a great guy he was!" She smiled.
"Oh yeah, he is a great guy." She frowned, feeling like punching herself.
"I'm so glad that you're going to help me! Soon when you get Ethan back, the four of us can go on double dates! It'll be so much fun!" Paloma excitedly looked at her.
"Oh ya," Theresa mumbled, throwing herself back down on the floor. "It'll be a blast!!
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Fox finished up his last sit-up, as he smiled approvingly.
"Ahhhh," he stretched. "Nothing like some exercise to start off a good morning."
But it actually wasn't that good of a morning with Ethan fighting for his life in the hospital. Even though they weren't exactly close, it pained Fox to know that his half-brother's life was at such a crucial stage. He prayed to God that he would be alright, and he meant it from the bottom of his heart.
Suddenly he heard the doorbell ring.
He threw his shirt behind his shoulder as he ran to see who it was. When he turned the doorknob and saw who stood there, an immediate smile appeared on his lips.
"Well! That's a nice sight to see so early in the morning!" Theresa winked at him, smiling at his well-sculpted body.
"It's all for you honey, it's all for you!" He grinned, kissing her on the cheek. "So, what do I owe this fine visit?"
"Can't I just visit my sexy boyfriend?" She made a face at him.
"Well of course you can, but I actually wasn't expecting to see you. I thought you would have slept in, considering the drama that occurred last night."
"Yeah well I couldn't really sleep." She awkwardly looked away from him.
"I bet. The news about Ethan's cancer really shook everyone up." He slipped his arms around her waist to give her a hug.
"Yeah, it was pretty terrible." She mumbled, turning around to face him. "Um, do you mind if we talk about something else? I don't really feel like talking about what happened last night."
"Yeah, sure." Fox smiled, sensing her uneasiness.
Theresa walked over to the couch and took a seat.
"So, I guess you had a lot of fun on your afternoon with Paloma." She looked up at him.
"Um, ya! We had a great time. She's a sweet girl, and almost as cute as her sister." He winked at her, gently kissing her lips.
"Well I know she had a great time. In fact, she's actually very fond of you." She looked into his eyes.
"Well can you blame her? I can be pretty charming with the young ladies!" He jokingly smirked, but saw the seriousness in her face. "Is something wrong?"
"Yeah, you could say that." She frowned.
"What is it?" He concernedly looked at her.
"Well I was just talking to Paloma this morning and we had the most interesting talk about her new crush!"
"Oh really? That's great! So who's the lucky guy?" He smiled.
"You." She smiled back, waiting for his reaction.
"Oh boy," he giggled, placing his head in his hands.
"I'm glad you find this so amusing!" She made a face at him. "I could lose you to my baby sister and you think it's hilarious!"
"Honey, you're not actually jealous of your little sister are you?" He humorously looked over at her.
"Well ya! Fox, she's absolutely in love with you!" Theresa stared at him.
"So?" He grinned, pulling her to stand up in front of him. "Baby, I love you. Just because Paloma has a crush on me, doesn't mean I'm going to go jumping into her arms! You and I are always going to be together, and nothing is ever going to change that." He smiled, pulling her in for a hug.
She happily wrapped her arms around him, but slowly frowned.
That's right Fox, nothing is ever going to tear us apart. She thought to herself. Nothing, except for the fact that I slept with your brother.
She sadly closed her eyes and enjoyed his warm embrace, hoping that it wasn't going to be their last.
Theresa woke up the next morning feeling completely miserable. After getting home from the hospital, she couldn't stop thinking about her promise to Ethan. Being there for him meant that it would probably help his healing process a great deal, but it also meant that she would have to deceive Fox. She hated herself for lying to him, but she knew that he would never understand.
Theresa glanced back at her unmade bed and closed her eyes, remember what had happened the night before.
"Why did we have to make love?" She whispered. "Why did I have to hurt Fox the way that I did?"
Although he technically did not know of her mistake yet, she knew that the time would come when he would eventually find out. It would destroy him and he would absolutely hate her. Fox would be out of her life, and she'd have no one to blame but herself.
"But you can't let that happen Theresa." She told herself, looking out the window. "No one but Gwen must know what happened. It would be a complete disaster and you will lose everything. Fox will never know. He just can't."
Suddenly there was a knock at her door.
Theresa turned around as Paloma poked her head in.
"Hey sis, are you awake yet?" She smiled, closing the door behind her.
"Yeah, I'm awake. I couldn't really sleep much after what happened at the hospital." Theresa sighed throwing a blanket over her bed.
"I know, that's why I came over. I wanted to make sure that you were ok." Paloma gave her sister a comforting hug. "I know how much Ethan means to you. Finding out that he has cancer must be absolutely heart breaking. I can't imagine what it feels like to know that the man that you love might die."
Paloma suddenly saw Theresa tense up, and she wished she could have taken back her words.
"Oh, I'm sorry Theresa. I didn't mean to be so blunt." She apologized, sitting next to her on the floor.
"That's ok." She weakly smiled. "I've been thinking about that lately myself. I've known and loved Ethan since I was a little girl. Never in my wildest dreams did I ever think that he would somehow be gone from my life. It's almost unbearable to think about."
"Well, mama says that prayer is very important. So we just have to pray that a miracle happens and Ethan comes out of this alright."
She gave Theresa's hand a comforting squeeze and almost immediately widely grinned.
"What's that face for?" Theresa laughed.
"Well I was just thinking. I know right now you and Ethan are having some problems, but once he comes out of this, you and him can start to rekindle your relationship!" She happily squealed.
"Um, I don't think so." Theresa awkwardly looked at her.
"Well why not? There's no doubt in my mind that you still have feelings for him and it's obvious that he still loves you! So there's no reason for you to not try again. C'mon sis, you two were destined to be together! It's fate, I just know it!"
Theresa laughed at Paloma's sudden burst of energy.
"Now where have I heard that before?" She giggled, comparing their similarities. "You are definitely my sister!"
"Well it's true," she said making a face.
"Right now things are a bit complicated Paloma. Besides, what do you know about fate and love? You don't even have a boyfriend yet." Theresa playfully punched her.
"Well maybe not right now, but soon I will!" She giggled, a smile creeping up on her lips.
"What do you mean soon?" Theresa suspiciously asked her.
"Well, let's just say there may be someone that I'm interested it." She calmly said, looking in the air.
"What?" Theresa shrieked. "Who? Did you just meet him? Is he cute?"
"As a matter of fact, yes, he's gorgeous!" Paloma happily squealed. "And even though I just met him, I know that we are meant to be!"
"Oh my gosh! My baby sister has a crush on a boy!" Theresa excitedly giggled. "So tell me, what's he like?"
"Well, he's really nice. He's polite, he's handsome, he's funny, and he's everything that a girl could want!" She gleefully grabbed a pillow and fell backwards. "He's your regular prince charming!"
"Wow, I can't believe this! I can't wait to meet him! So, does he like you too?" Theresa grinned.
"Well, see that's kind of the problem." Paloma frowned. "He's a little older than me and I don't think he knows that I like him. So I was thinking that maybe you could help me. You know, give me some pointers."
"Oh, absolutely!" Theresa squealed, already playing with her sister's hair. "Trust me Paloma, when I'm done with you, this boy won't be able to resist you!"
"Thank you so much! I can't wait!" She grinned. "I really want him to be my boyfriend."
"Oh don't worry, he will be." Theresa happily sighed, lying down next to her. "So tell me, who is this handsome prince?"
"It's Fox!" She happily squealed.
Theresa immediately shot up, looking at her sister in disbelief.
"What? Did you just say Fox?"
"Yup!" She grinned. "You told me he was sweet and caring, and you were right! He's absolutely amazing!
Theresa placed a hand to her head and silently cried.
"I did say that didn't I?" She closed her eyes.
"I'm so glad that you made us go on that walk together. If it weren't for you, I wouldn't have realized what a great guy he was!" She smiled.
"Oh yeah, he is a great guy." She frowned, feeling like punching herself.
"I'm so glad that you're going to help me! Soon when you get Ethan back, the four of us can go on double dates! It'll be so much fun!" Paloma excitedly looked at her.
"Oh ya," Theresa mumbled, throwing herself back down on the floor. "It'll be a blast!!
-------------------------------------
Fox finished up his last sit-up, as he smiled approvingly.
"Ahhhh," he stretched. "Nothing like some exercise to start off a good morning."
But it actually wasn't that good of a morning with Ethan fighting for his life in the hospital. Even though they weren't exactly close, it pained Fox to know that his half-brother's life was at such a crucial stage. He prayed to God that he would be alright, and he meant it from the bottom of his heart.
Suddenly he heard the doorbell ring.
He threw his shirt behind his shoulder as he ran to see who it was. When he turned the doorknob and saw who stood there, an immediate smile appeared on his lips.
"Well! That's a nice sight to see so early in the morning!" Theresa winked at him, smiling at his well-sculpted body.
"It's all for you honey, it's all for you!" He grinned, kissing her on the cheek. "So, what do I owe this fine visit?"
"Can't I just visit my sexy boyfriend?" She made a face at him.
"Well of course you can, but I actually wasn't expecting to see you. I thought you would have slept in, considering the drama that occurred last night."
"Yeah well I couldn't really sleep." She awkwardly looked away from him.
"I bet. The news about Ethan's cancer really shook everyone up." He slipped his arms around her waist to give her a hug.
"Yeah, it was pretty terrible." She mumbled, turning around to face him. "Um, do you mind if we talk about something else? I don't really feel like talking about what happened last night."
"Yeah, sure." Fox smiled, sensing her uneasiness.
Theresa walked over to the couch and took a seat.
"So, I guess you had a lot of fun on your afternoon with Paloma." She looked up at him.
"Um, ya! We had a great time. She's a sweet girl, and almost as cute as her sister." He winked at her, gently kissing her lips.
"Well I know she had a great time. In fact, she's actually very fond of you." She looked into his eyes.
"Well can you blame her? I can be pretty charming with the young ladies!" He jokingly smirked, but saw the seriousness in her face. "Is something wrong?"
"Yeah, you could say that." She frowned.
"What is it?" He concernedly looked at her.
"Well I was just talking to Paloma this morning and we had the most interesting talk about her new crush!"
"Oh really? That's great! So who's the lucky guy?" He smiled.
"You." She smiled back, waiting for his reaction.
"Oh boy," he giggled, placing his head in his hands.
"I'm glad you find this so amusing!" She made a face at him. "I could lose you to my baby sister and you think it's hilarious!"
"Honey, you're not actually jealous of your little sister are you?" He humorously looked over at her.
"Well ya! Fox, she's absolutely in love with you!" Theresa stared at him.
"So?" He grinned, pulling her to stand up in front of him. "Baby, I love you. Just because Paloma has a crush on me, doesn't mean I'm going to go jumping into her arms! You and I are always going to be together, and nothing is ever going to change that." He smiled, pulling her in for a hug.
She happily wrapped her arms around him, but slowly frowned.
That's right Fox, nothing is ever going to tear us apart. She thought to herself. Nothing, except for the fact that I slept with your brother.
She sadly closed her eyes and enjoyed his warm embrace, hoping that it wasn't going to be their last.