As the music ended, an awkwardness befell the two. Todd could hear his own heart beat, strong and fast. He could feel Tea’s heart beating in a strong and methodical rhythm, mimicking his own. Tea on the other hand, could hear nothing. She was so caught up in the emotion of the moment, that all she could do was enjoy it. She found herself, by the end of the song, wrapped in his arms, her head, nestled deeply in his chest. It was a position she so longed to be in. All she could feel was Todd’s hair softly draped on the side of her face. She stood in total awe of the moment, only soaring as she felt his hair moving farther down her face. This could only mean that he had ever so slightly tilted his head, and was now staring down at her. She slowly peeked through her hair, through his hair and saw his eyes piercing down upon her. How fetching they were! How incredibly desirable they were! How incredible she found herself able to take her eyes off his for even a second to glare at his lips. Those luscious lips. How overwhelmingly desirable they became in that moment. Without hesitation, she forced herself on tippy toe and went after what she wanted. To taste his mouth. To totally and completely devour him in that moment! How wonderful he tasted as their lips met. How wet and wonderful and powerful he was. And noticeably reciprocal he was...her soulmate! Within seconds, he had not only forced her feet back flat on the floor, but her back was arched backwards at his power…his need. She could feel his desire and craving for her. However, she soon found herself making a fatal mistake. Fatal, to their moment, that is. She took a step backwards, which sent them both hurtling backwards. The momentum of the step broke their union. Todd was able to stop, dead in his tracks. Tea, however, was still in a backward momentum. Todd, in that second, mustered the courage to take the brave step toward her. Misinterpreting her backward momentum, he coward and froze. Tea, realizing the misinterpretation, tried desperately to correct her unintentional error.
Tea: Todd, I….
Todd: (interrupting nervously) Thank God that music is over. Didn’t like Mozart much anyway. Just another dead guy who stuck us listening to his music years later…
And just as quickly as the moment had begun, it had ended. And so too did the closeness. Todd walked away and headed back for the comfort of the fire and the alcohol. He sat in front of the fire and shot down two huge shots of whiskey in no time flat. Tea watching and absorbing his reactions, went into the kitchen and got out a glass for herself. She approached Todd and asked him to fill her glass.
Todd: You want whiskey? Since when do you drink whiskey?
Tea: Since it seems to be the only drink available at the moment. Besides, I’m cold. Maybe it will warm me up.
Todd: I can get you some diet soda from the fridge. Or I can make some coffee, my bachelor style way. You used to like that.
Tea: No, I never liked your bachelor style coffee. Besides, I prefer to drink what you’re drinking.
Todd: Any particular reason?
Tea: I just feel like having a drink? Do we have a problem?
Todd: No. If you want whiskey, you shall have whiskey.
Tea nervously held out her hand with her glass awaiting his service. Todd nervously began to pour the whiskey, but missed her glass and poured some on her hand instead. She moved the glass from her left hand to her right hand and asked him again to pour as she slowly licked every drop of whiskey off her hand. Todd became unnerved at this sensuality, even if she hadn’t meant to be so overtly sexual with her choice of methods of cleaning the whiskey from her hand. He forcefully placed his hand around her own and tightly held on to it and the glass. He carefully poured it to the top. Pushing it back to her he said:
Todd: Bottoms up.
Tea: Cheers.
Tea sat down, leaning against Todd’s left side. Todd’s right side was parallel with the fire. Todd stayed put in his location by the fire. Neither spoke. Todd sipped his drink. Tea, on the other hand, began gulping, literally, shooting her drink down. She wasn’t sure why she was drinking so much, so quickly, but she just knew she had to find out how he dealt with all his pain and torment. Possibly drowning all his sorrows in a bottle of whiskey was how he did it and she wanted to find out if it worked. Since she hadn’t really eaten since lunch, the alcohol was affecting her mind quickly.
Tea: Is it hot in here to you?
Todd: That’s funny. Not ten minutes ago you were cold. What’s up with you Delgado?
Tea: Nothing. I’m just feeling a little dizzy.
Todd: That’s because you’re chugging your whiskey. You’re supposed to sip it, like me.
Tea: That’s a joke. You shot two shots down in a flash, not two minutes ago.
Todd: I’m a man, Tea. That’s how we’re supposed to do it.
Tea: (tilting her head toward the fire, toward Todd) I know what you are Todd. Believe me, I know.
Todd: Drink your drink, Delgado.
Tea: (sarcastically responding) Okay, Manning.
Tea again drank a few more sips of her whiskey. Todd watched out of the corner of his eye as her eyes became heavier and heavier. He could sense that she was nearing sleep and could feel her body weight leaning harder on him. He could also feel her sliding down him, little by little. He didn’t want her to awaken to a wet blouse, full of whiskey from the night before, so he cautiously reached around her, stealth like, in fact, not to awaken her. He didn’t want her to be startled, but he didn’t want her soaked either. He carefully removed her drink from her hand and watched her slide down him. Her head rested in his lap and she curled up in a ball beside him. He moved a few out of place hairs from her face. “My God, she can still sleep. I will never understand how you do that Delgado,” he thought.
He grabbed a nearby blanket and placed it on top of her. He then slowly tilted his head upward and looked up at the ceiling. “Thank you Lord, for bringing her back to me. I’m not all right, but I’m much better,” he uttered out loud. He looked down at his Delgado, his Tea, and smiled. She didn’t see it, but he knew she could feel it. She was still there, after all.
Todd: Good night Tea. Sweet dreams. I’ll watch over you tonight. Like I always have, since the first day I met you.
Todd went back to his thoughts and staring at the fire. He had been apprehensive about the sleeping arrangements for the evening. He had waited for Delgado to bring it up, and had decided that he would do whatever she had requested as far as that would go. But now, with her comfortably out for the night, he didn’t have to bother himself with those peddly details. He could wait to fight that battle tomorrow, when he was even more comfortable with the fact that she was there. He again stared into the fire, knowing the night would soon surrender to the morning light. He equated his battle with Tea in a similar manner. She was the light and he was the darkness. Somehow, someday, he would enter her world. He knew he’d have to, if she was going to remain. And her remaining was priority number one for him now.
