Chapter 21


    Glenn Miller’s “In the Mood” was sting through the speaker, much to Teddy’s annoyance. He made


    the mistake of stating he listened to nothing but ssical music, so I was trying to liven up his house


    with jazz. After all, they were very simr, so surely that would not upset his nerves. The long frown on


    his face informed me that I was wrong, but I danced to the music next to him anyways.


    “Come on,” I taunted with an urgent wave of my hand for him toe over. “Dance with me.”


    “S, I am cooking,” he sighed out with distress. His statement was true, for he was in fact busily


    working over the stove-top to prepare our dinner.


    I childishly lifted up his dish towel and smacked him lightly in the arm. “Dance with me.”


    “Afterwards.”


    “Promise?”


    Teddy grabbed a hold of the towel to tug me towards him. “Promise.” He pecked his lips over mine with


    a sudden urgency. “Now, have a seat.”


    “It’s not ready yet,” Iined. “Why must I sit?”


    “The answer is simple,” he reasoned with a raise of his hands. “You are a distraction.”


    “A good one though?”


    “Please, can I have my normal music back on? I must concentrate.”


    Iid a hand over his solid back and leaned over to kiss him on the side of his neck. “Yes, Teddy,” I


    purred in a naughty way, and then quickly scampered off before he could kiss me back.


    The stereo, of course, was in his music room. I walked down the hallway, and then began to skip as I


    approached the open doorway. My mood had lightened since Teddy and I made up, and now all I


    wanted was to be incredibly affectionate and near him all the time. He was theplete opposite this


    evening, but I knew there had to be a logical reason behind it. The music was switched back to his


    normal radio station, and then I turned the volume down since amercial was currently ying.


    Luna leapt off Teddy’s piano, energized enough from her long nap for her to join me. I lifted her off the


    ground with supreme happiness. Luna purred in my arms, snuggling her head upon my chest with her


    blue eyes wide open to take in the sight of me. I swayed her from side to side as I walked down the


    long hall, humming an unknown song to counteract the droning of a nonsensicalmercial. I paused


    in front of the staircase, and found myself humming with tighter lips. There was an eerie feeling when I


    looked up at the staircase; a chill ran down my spine that was beyond exnation. I looked downwards


    at my bare feet, taking in the coldness of the floor. My mind suddenly recalled the first time I met Teddy,


    and his familiar voice wafting past an open window down to the gardens where I was currently waiting


    for him. Was he not speaking to someone that day?


    I stepped forward quickly and entered the kitchen to ask Teddy about this bewildering scenario that


    happened some time ago. “Teddy,” I called out. He was too focused on stirring around the mashed


    potatoes to pay attention to me. I tapped him lightly on his upper arm, which was enough for him to turn


    to me. “Teddy.”


    A warm smile spread across his face and he leaned forward to peck a kiss over my brow. “Yes, my


    dear.”


    “I have a question.” His wooden spoon continued to stir around the silver pot, mixing in the butter and


    herbs that he had just added to give the mashed potatoes more vour. I leaned against the side of the


    countertop and looked down at Luna for some extra strength. “Does anyone live here with you?”


    “You know I live alone,” he calmly answered me.


    “Always?”


    “Yes, of course.”


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    “There is no other woman here then?” His hand froze for a moment, and then he darted his eyes in my


    direction for half a second. “Is there?”


    “No, I live alone.”


    “Alright,” I submitted, even though I did not fully believe him. I moved away from him to set Luna down


    on the ground. Her white fur was brushed off the front of my dress and then I moved over to the kitchen


    sink to wash my hands. “It’s only…”


    Heid his wooden spoon down on the side of the pot. “What is it?” groaned Teddy with his posh


    ent sharper than ever.


    “When I came here on Monday, I thought I heard you talking to a woman.”


    “But that’s impossible.”


    “Yes, I know that.” I blinked nervously in front of him. “No one lives upstairs with you?”


    “I am all alone.” The spoon was taken up from the pot with a sharp movement of his wrist. “You must


    have heard me talking to myself.”


    “It was just coffee,” I recited slowly to remind him. “Why would you say that to yourself?”


    “Because I liked you from the very beginning.” He turned away from me to retrieve something from the


    fridge. I observed the way his hand tightened over the handle, the tenseness of his jaw. “And I felt guilty


    about entertaining the idea. You were supposed to work here, and that was all.” He came over to me


    with a carton of milk in his hand. “And I wanted more than that.”


    Iid a hand over the side of his arm. “Yes, we both knew that from then.” My hand stroked the side of


    him softly, ruffling up his clean white dress shirt that he was still wearing. “I like the apron you put on.


    The stripes are nice.” He looked down at the sky-blue stripes that were incredibly thin across the white


    fabric. “You look handsome in it.”


    “In an apron?” he asked with disbelief. The container was slowly poured over the piping hot potatoes to


    add to the creamy texture he had already crafted. “And you find me handsome? Good.”


    I giggled beside him while doing my best not to roll my eyes. “Teddy,e here.” He lowered the milk


    carton and followed my lead. I stopped behind the back of a chair and leaned myself against it. “I want


    you to kiss me.”


    “Kiss you?”


    I wrapped my arms around the back of his neck. “Yes.”


    “If I kiss you, I won’t be able to stop.”


    “You know that’s not true.” My fingers dragged along the back of his neck. I could feel my eyes


    darkening before him, pupils dting with desire. “Just one.”


    He physically removed my arms from around the back of his neck. “After,” he whispered. Teddy turned


    back to the stovetop before I had time to respond, and took up the spoon to smash it hard into the pot.


    My right hand rubbed the back of my neck as I tasted defeat, wondering why Teddy did not want to kiss


    me just now. I looked over to my right, catching sight of the open doorway and wondered what could


    possibly be upstairs that he was so desperate to hide. If I was subtle enough I could find a way to


    sneak upstairs, but I did not want to ruin a perfectly good night.


    Another time then, I decided, before I turned my gaze back to him.