A/N: Thank you so much for your reviews! I really appreciate them!
Chapter Five
As Fox Theresa and Fox stared at each other, nervousness crept through their bodies causing them both to become incapable of holding still. While Fox stood in front of the closed door twiddling his thumbs, Theresa leaned against the headboard of her bed and played with a strand of her long silky hair. Staring in opposite directions, the growing silence between the pair allowed a feeling of awkwardness to envelop them temporarily.
Desiring to break the unbearable wince-inducing silence between them, Theresa spoke first. "Fox, you don't have to keep standing." She remarked as she patted the vacant spot beside her. "Sit down, you're making me nervous."
"Okay," Fox said as he cautiously walked to Theresa and stared warily at her bed. Glancing at Theresa briefly, Fox gulped in an effort to swallow his apprehension and sat stiffly beside Theresa as though being careful as not to bump into her inadvertently.
Observing Fox and his ever-so cautious demeanor trigged giggles from Theresa. Bemused, Fox regarded Theresa with a look of utter mystification. "I totally missed something here." Fox said scratching the back of his head. "What'd I do?"
The look of bemusement upon Fox's face became the catalyst for a bout of uncontrollable giggling that made her sides ache. Gasping for air, Theresa covered her mouth to muffle her laughter. Frowning, Fox raised his eyebrows still confused with Theresa's reaction. "Theresa, what in God's name are you laughing about?"
"I'm sorry," Theresa croaked as her eyes still sparkled with hilarity. "It's just that," She gasped as her laughter subsided. "You're acting like a boy who's afraid that I have cooties or something. If you saw the way you walked over here and sat downyou looked like you were afraid of me" Theresa's voice trailed off as she began giggling again.
Rolling his eyes, Fox shook his head and folded his arms as if offended. However, unable to resist Theresa's infectious laughter for long, Fox joined her and chuckled at his seemingly adolescent behavior. "Okay, okay," Fox admitted with a wave of his hand. "So maybe I acted like a school boy, but it wasn't easy to just sit down Theresa. I mean consider the situation"
"I know, I know," Theresa said sighing. "You, me, and a bed in the mix is a dangerous combination. Yada, yada, yada"
"Am I the only one worried that something might happen between us?" Fox asked defensively.
"Yes," Theresa said nodding firmly and folding her arms. "Nothing is going to happen between us." She said insistently even though a part of her screamed a contrary response.
"And why is that?" Fox asked with his brow furrowed in interest. "Are you trying to say that you're not attracted to me?"
"I didn't say that" Theresa objected as she sought words to explain. "You see Fox" Theresa paused briefly as she held Fox's gaze.
Waiting for her to continue Fox prodded her with the wave of his hand. "Go on," He insisted as he eagerly waited to hear what she had to say.
"You see Fox," Theresa repeated, "You and I wouldn't be engaging in any physical activities because"
Fox interrupted Theresa with a laugh. "Physical activities? Oh please!" He said grinning. "Just go ahead and say it." He teased as mischief danced in his eyes.
"Say what?" Theresa asked frowning as she wondered where Fox was guiding the conversation.
"Sex!" Fox exclaimed laughing. "The fact that you referred to 'sex' as 'physical' activities," Fox said emphasizing his point with air quotations, "It's so obvious Theresa, and frankly says quite a lot."
"Oh really" Theresa said lifting her chin defiantly and raising an eyebrow. "Tell me, Mr. Oh-so-insightful. What does it say?"
"Deep down in that pretty little head of yours is the same worry that I had- that something would happen between us and we would sleep together." Fox said with a smug expression settling upon his face.
"Oh Fox you're so incredibly intelligent," Theresa exclaimed with dramatic sarcasm. "I hate to burst your bubble, but no, I did not have any worries of the sort. Besides, I don't think about sex as much as you do." She insisted with a quick toss of her head.
"And how would you know how often I think about sex?" Fox asked amused with Theresa's feisty nature.
"You know what," Theresa said abruptly instead of answering Fox's question. "Why don't we just stop talking about it, and just do it?"
"Ex-excuse me?" Fox said almost falling off the bed at Theresa's suggestion.
"Shh, enough talking," Theresa said as she pressed her index finger upon Fox's lips. "Make love to me." She whispered into Fox's ear as he tingled at the sensation.
"Theresa," Fox said breathlessly. "What"
"No talking remember?" Theresa said gently as she placed her arms around Fox's neck. Leaning in closely, Fox closed his eyes and puckered his lips, waiting eagerly to feel Theresa's lips upon his. After a few moments, Fox opened one eye to find a smug Theresa with her arms no longer around his neck and instead crossed across her chest. "All men are the same," She scoffed shaking her head. "One-tracked minds."
"What was that?" He asked confused.
"What?" Theresa asked as she batted her long lashes innocently.
"That stunt you just pulled" Fox retorted. "And all men are not the same." He said defensively.
"Okay Fox," Theresa smiled as she patted Fox's cheek teasingly. "But anyhow, I just thought I'd have a little fun," Fox noticed Theresa's eyes sparkle as she laughed.
"You know," Fox said, "Women, can have one tracked minds as well- you being the prime example." He said nudging Theresa's arm. "If I remember correctly there was always one person" Fox's voice trailed off after suddenly realizing that he was about to utter the name of the man who had of late caused a plague of pain Theresa had endured. The flash of anger and anguish that instantaneously clouded Theresa's gaze pierced through Fox as he regrettably realized his mistake. "I'm sorry" He said lowering his head apologetically. "I didn't mean"
"Whatever, Fox," Theresa mumbled as she looked away. The distressing reminder of Ethan was enough to douse their playful argument with tension that made them both feel exceedingly uncomfortable.
"I'm an idiot" Fox said rubbing his forehead and sighing heavily. "I'm sorry Theresa. Sometimes I don't think before I speak. Heck, sometimes I just don't think period, and look where that got me." He griped as he silently reprimanded himself.
"What do you mean?" Theresa asked softly as she avoided glancing in Fox's direction.
"I mean," Fox said as his eyes darkened. "Look at the mess I got into now, and with Whitney. When it came to Whitney, I was completely fooled because I wasn't thinking straight. I thought I was in love," He laughed bitterly. "Then I stupid enough to believe Miles was my son." Clenching his jaw Fox continued, "And then when I swore revenge against Chad I wasn't thinking. All I knew was that my father was favoring him over me, and I wanted to destroy him- eradicate any chance he would have at Crane Industries. Where did that get me? Nowhere. Instead I screw up my reputation at Crane Industries, and now I'm more than convinced that grandfather would rather have Chad inherit the billion dollar Crane business than me. I am a complete idiot. I'm my own worst enemy."
"Me too." Theresa said gently as she reached out to squeeze Fox's hand supportively. "Look Fox," She said. "I know you're hurting. Back at the club you attempted to mask that pain, but that's no way to deal with it."
"I know," Fox replied softly as he interlaced his fingers with Theresa's. "But I I just felt"
"What?" Theresa prodded gently as Fox found himself struggling with his own escalating emotions.
"I felt every possible negative emotion simultaneously." Fox described as he closed his eyes and leaned his head on the headboard. "Rage, jealously, betrayal it all hit me, and I had no where to turn. I felt completely helpless. Alone. Never in my life had I experienced what I had when I found out what Whitney had done to me" Fox sniffed as he gritted his teeth and wiped the tears that escaped from his eyes. "You had told me about how great true love was, and to be honest I wanted it so badly." He admitted shaking his head. And I thought Whitney was the one. But no," Fox said bitterly. "I was wrong."
Still holding Fox's hand securely, Theresa rested her head on Fox's shoulder. "I'm sorry you went through that Fox," Theresa said.
"Yeah me too," Fox said resting his head upon Theresa's. "But you know what eats me up inside?" He asked as he lifted his head again. "When I found out Whitney was pregnant, and I thought it was my child, I was so elated. At first the thought of being a father was terrifying, but everyday it got easier. And finally I reached a point where I couldn't wait to father a child. I would lay in bed and imagine all of the things I would do for my son- like teach him to catch a ball, or teach him to ride a bike, and even how to impress girls" He smiled briefly "I swore that I would be the best father to that kid and give him all the love and attention that I never got from Julian. But lo and behold, it wasn't my kid after all." He said unsteadily. "Theresa, that crushed me inside. All my hopes and dreams just shattered right before my eyes." He said as he struggled to keep his voice steady.
"I know how that feels," Theresa said tearfully. "But you know what they say," She continued. "What doesn't kill you makes you stronger."
"But it still hurts like hell.'" Fox mumbled quietly.
"I know it does." Theresa replied. "Believe me, I know it does. But no matter what happens, Fox. I will always be here for you."
"The same goes here." Fox replied as he released Theresa's hand and placed his arm around in a firm embrace. Relishing the memorable feeling of Theresa in his arms, Fox lost himself in the moment as he breathed in the familiar floral scent of Theresa's hair.
"I don't know what I would do without you in my life," Theresa replied as she tilted her head upwards to look straight into Fox's eyes.
"Me either," Fox whispered as he leaned his forehead against his. "I love you"
Startled by Fox's words, Theresa managed to bump her head hard upon his before pulling back abruptly. "What did you just say?" She asked hoarsely with a paled and stunned expression mixed upon her face.