Chapter Four
With his eyes wide and mouth agape, Fox regarded Theresa with a look of astonishment plastered across his face. "Ex-excuse me?" He stammered, wondering if he heard Theresa correctly.
"I asked you which side of the bed you wanted," Theresa answered matter-of-factly. "Why, is something wrong?" She asked watching Fox squirm as a small smile settled upon her lips.
"Nothing's wrong, Theresa." Fox said standing up and scratching his head wondering why Theresa seemed unperturbed by her suggestion. "It's just that I figured I would be sleeping on the couch."
"Well, you can if you want." Theresa said as she stood up and pulled back the covers. "I just thought that you and I were two grown adults, and we could handle sleeping in the same bed- as friends of course." Her eyes wide with innocence, Theresa blinked seeing no harm in her suggestion.
Though simple yet still complicated in its own way, Fox chuckled at Theresa's suggestion. "The last time we were in this predicament and agreed to be just friends, we didn't exactly follow through. Remember? "
Theresa giggled. "I remember. But that was different."
"How so?" Fox asked. "The way I see it, we're setting ourselves up to temptation again. You plus me, plus a bed- C'mon Theresa. That's a dangerous combination."
Theresa rolled her eyes as she crossed her arms. "No offense Fox, but I don't want to have sex with you."
"Mm-hmm, sure," Fox said shrugging. "You say that now"
"Very funny, Fox." Theresa said as she playfully launched a pillow towards him. "But seriously, the last thing I need is to do is engage in sexual activity."
"And the last thing I need to do is share a bed with a woman that I'm still attracted to." Fox mumbled as he rubbed the back of his neck.
"What'd you say?" Theresa asked as she fluffed the remaining pillows on her bed.
"Nothing," Fox said clearing his throat. "Look Theresa, I still don't think it's a good idea for me and you to share a bed- even if we agree to be friends"
"Okay," Theresa interjected softly as Fox's voice trailed off. "I'll get you an extra blanket."
After Theresa left, Fox sat on her bed and breathed a huge sigh of relief. Although Theresa seemed confident that nothing would transpire between them had they shared a bed, something in the back of Fox's mind told him otherwise. When Theresa returned and handed Fox the blanket, their hands slightly brushed against each other. Though it was small gesture and would have ordinarily been disregarded as such, both seemed affected by the small moment of physical interaction. While both holding a small section of the blanket, they stood motionless while their gazes remained fixed upon each other. Theresa immersed herself in Fox's deep-brown gaze into the well of memories they shared together as Fox did the same. After awhile Theresa looked away and cleared her throat.
"A quarter for your thoughts?" Fox asked quietly as a small smile crept upon his lips.
A wave of more memories washed over Theresa's mind as she smiled back at him. "You don't have a quarter on you," she replied as she handed him the blanket. "Besides, I would keep you up all night if I told you about everything I was thinking about."
"I wouldn't mind, but thanks," Fox said as he looked down at the blanket for a few brief seconds before continuing. "Um, I guess this is my cue to leave now." He said slowly as he inched towards the door. "Good night, Theresa,"
"Good night Fox," Theresa replied softly. "Sweet dreams"
"You too," Fox said before retreating into the living room. After shutting the door, Theresa settled under the covers and closed her eyes. Even though she was physically tired, Theresa's mind was still whirling with incessant recollections of the one night she declared her readiness to commit herself to Fox. Meanwhile, Fox lay on the couch listening to the rhythmic ticking of the clock upon the mantel. Wondering if Theresa was having any success in falling asleep, Fox stared at the ceiling while his mind continued to replay the events of the night he and Theresa had taken a new step in their relationship.
"So how do we do this Theresa? I mean do we just say goodnight friend and then shake hands or high-five or" Fox rambled as he nervously sat across from Theresa. He wondered and secretly hoped that she could not hear the rapid cadence of his heart.
"I don't think we have to resort to that," Theresa said softly with a quick nod of her head. Smiling, Theresa stroked Fox's cheek and leaned in to kiss him lightly on the lips. Her mind spun as she fought the urge to keep kissing him.
Theresa hugged her pillow tightly to her chest and closed her eyes as the memory of the kiss lingered on her lips. Though Fox was in an entirely different room, he mirrored Theresa's actions as he hugged his own pillow and relished in the memory of Theresa's lips against his.
"Okay," Fox said softly, his reply trailing off as he reached over to turn off the lamp beside Theresa's bed. As Fox reached over her, Theresa's heart beat wildly in her chest. Gently reaching out to stop him, their noses tenderly nudged each other. "Leave that on please," She said her voice barely above a whisper as her hand gently stoked Fox's forearm. He felt her breath lightly on his skin as he looked down at her lips.
"Okay," Fox replied somewhat surprised and far from combating his nervousness.
Theresa's eyes slowly opened as she continued to reminisce about the same night that still lingered in Fox's memory. She remembered their laughs of nervousness and stealing bashful glances at each other as the prospect of sleeping in the same bed manifested into battle with nervousness and hopeful anticipation.
Nervously chewing at her thumbnail, Theresa closed her eyes and summoned enough courage to turn and ask Fox if he was still awake.
"Yeah, you better believe it." Fox replied hugging his pillow.
"I was wondering," Theresa said nervously. "If I could have another kiss, you know, just a little one to relax me," she asked eagerly waiting for his response.
"Yes, if you insist," Fox answered smiling as he turned to face Theresa. As he leaned in to kiss Theresa, she smiled and savored the touch of Fox's lips. "Sleep tight," Fox said quietly as he readjusted his pillow.
"You too," Theresa answered as she playfully stroked his cheek and added, "Buddy."
Chuckling Fox nodded and closed his eyes only to open them seconds later and become mesmerized by Theresa's deep brown eyes, and her long deep brown hair perfectly splayed across her pillow, framing her delicate face. Theresa, incapable of erasing the smile off her face, tapped her fingers nervously as Fox inched closer. Unable to resist any longer, Fox kissed Theresa again.
"Pal,"Fox whispered as Theresa closed her eyes and brought her hand up to gently caress his cheek.
"Chum," She said lightly they continued to steal kisses from one another.
Pausing slightly, Fox whispered, "Beautiful," upon Theresa's face, making her tingle as she felt the words become traced upon her skin.
Touching her cheek, Theresa closed her eyes and inhaled deeply. Taking a deep breath of his own and a brief break from his vivid recollections of Theresa's touch, Fox remembered something that Theresa had told him- something that had bothered her days after Ethan and Gwen had taken custody of Ethan Martin for the first time.
"I haven't been able to sleep with the lights off," Theresa said painfully as she struggled to keep her voice steady. "I have these horrible nightmares," She said as she wiped her eyes, desperately tried to dam the stream of tears that refused to cease flowing. "And I wake up in a cold sweat"
"I wonder if Theresa sleeps with the lights on still," Fox murmured as he slowly sat up- Theresa's emotional confession still ringing in his ears. Deciding to check on Theresa, Fox stood up and made his way back to her bedroom. Once reaching the door, Fox opened it slightly enough to peek inside. Immediately, Fox noticed that her room was very much still illuminated by the lamp next to her bed.
Hearing the door creak softly, Theresa opened her eyes and turned to see Fox standing in the doorway. Suddenly finding it difficult to breathe, Theresa swallowed and sat up slowly. "Still awake huh?"
"Yeah," Fox said sheepishly as he shut the door behind him. "You better believe it."