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| ANOTHER JOURNEY BY TIMA |
CHAPTERS 41 - 45 |
PREVIOUSLY...
Tea: Do you always need to have the last word?
Todd: Of course not.
Tea: Okay.
Todd: Good.
[Todd continues driving. Tea sits quietly, looking out the window, watching the rural landscape.]
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chapter 41:
[Hours of uncomfortable silence later...]
Tea: Todd?
[Todd ignores her.]
Tea: Todd?
[Todd continues to ignore her.]
Tea: You act like such a child sometimes.
Todd: And, you screw around behind my back impregnating yourself. Which is worse?
Tea: Why are you so angry at me?
Todd: I just told you.
Tea: Ignoring whether I'm pregnant or not...
Todd: That's a little hard to do.
Tea: Well, try. Why are you angry with me right now? And, I don't believe it has anything to do with anything I did after you left me.
Todd: You're the one who left me. Let's finally get that part straight.
Tea: Do you really believe that?
Todd: Of course. That's what happened.
Tea: I am not responsible for our two hour marriage falling apart.
Todd: You turned on me.
Tea: You faked a personality disorder.
Todd: You could have given me a chance to explain.
Tea: Don't you mean, given you a chance to lie to me some more?
Todd: But, you wouldn't even try to listen to me when I was telling you...
Tea (interrupting him): You humiliated me publicly while I was lying in our honeymoon bed.
Todd: Is that the real reason you were so ticked? If it hadn't interrupted your nightly sexual...
Tea (quickly stopping him): Shut up, right now!
Todd: What? We both know you can't go very long without...satisfaction.
Tea: Then, tell me, Todd, why did I come on this trip with you?
[They both are silent again. Tea regrets her last comment. She knows Todd has issues and she's willing to be patient but every time he makes a crass sexual comment about her she has a hard time controlling her temper. They both are angry and in bad moods and clearly unable to talk calmly at the moment.
A few miles down the road, they approach a large lake with a parking area just off the road they're on.]
Tea: Todd, turn in over there in front of that lake.
Todd: No.
Tea: We need to talk.
Todd: I thought we were doing that.
Tea: No, we were fighting. We need to talk.
Todd: Forget it.
Tea: Todd, please, we can't continue on like this.
Todd: I don't want to have some deep chat by a lake. That's such a girl thing.
Tea: Fine. The next sports bar or ball field parking lot we see we're pulling in and having a deep chat there. I don't care where but we have to talk about this.
Todd: I don't know why you want that anyway. It never changes anything. You're still you and I'm still me and you still hate it when I act like me instead of this fake guy you want me to be.
Tea: You really have to hurt me to be you? Because I have to tell you, I hate it when I lose my temper and say things that I know will hurt you.
Todd: I accept your apology.
Tea: I wasn't apologizing.
Todd: Well, then I don't accept your apology.
Tea: I do feel bad for what I said.
Todd: Are you hoping that if you confuse me enough you'll get what you want out of me?
Tea: I'm not trying to confuse you. I just want us to talk calmly about how we feel instead of each of us using words, or even silence, to hurt the other.
[As they've continued driving, they've entered into a town with numerous restaurants and hotels.]
Tea: Todd, let's get a place to stay for the night. We can get something to eat. We both can calm down. I don't want to go to bed angry tonight.
Todd: That's no problem. We just won't go to bed.
Tea: I know that we won't be sharing a bed anymore but...
Todd: You're tossing me out of bed already? You want separate rooms, too?
Tea: I thought...
Todd: How about separate towns? We could even do separate countries. Canada isn't really that far from here.
Tea: You're not leaving the country without your lawyer. Knowing you, you'll need one.
Todd: Why do you always think the worst of me?
Tea: Why do you always act like I should think the worst of you?
Todd: We're not staying here tonight.
Tea: Why not?
Todd: Look, I saw the sign back there and we're practically to North Dakota. We'll stop there for the night. I'll drop you off at whatever hotel you want and I'll pick you up in the morning. You can spend the whole night not having to put up with me.
Tea: That's not what I want.
Todd: Well, tell me what the hell you do want because obviously I have no clue.
Tea: I want to spend the night with you. I want to share a room with you. I want to share a bed with you.
Todd: And, why would you want that if you hate me so much?
Tea: I don't hate you, Todd. I just hate your attitude towards me sometimes. The way you treat me, I truly don't even understand why you wanted me with you since you seem to have no respect for me or my feelings. Sometimes, the way you act, I wonder if you have, or ever did have, any affection for me at all.
Todd: I did that thing with you this morning.
Tea: What thing?
Todd: You know...that thing.
Tea: Are you referring to our embrace?
Todd: Whatever you want to call it, I did that thing with you this morning. That should be enough for you.
Tea: It isn't.
Todd: Of course it isn't. That's part of who you are. You have to understand, though, that part of me being me is that I'm not into that touching stuff or this talking stuff, either.
Tea: You certainly seemed into it this morning. You held onto me pretty tight and for quite a long time.
Todd: It was only a few minutes.
Tea: I think it was closer to an hour.
Todd: Not possible.
[Tea's positive that she's right but decides to let it drop. Todd's glad since he also knows that she's right.
They continue driving on until they enter Moorhead, Minnesota.]
Todd (as they pass numerous shopping complexes): Look away.
Tea: We had fun yesterday, didn't we?
Todd: Yeah, until you ditched me.
Tea: Let's not discuss that now, Todd.
Todd: You brought it up.
Tea: I was referring to the part earlier in the day when we were having fun in the amusement park and dining together.
Todd: Yeah, the food was pretty good. Let's just find a place to spend the night, okay? We can even go out tonight, if you want.
Tea (excited): Really?
Todd: You said earlier that you wanted to go to a sports bar.
Tea: I did not.
Todd: You want to start another fight by lying to me?
Tea: You know I didn't mean that I wanted to spend the night in a bar.
Todd: Well, that's where I'll be. You can go wherever you want to go.
Tea: Fine, we'll go to a bar but not a sports bar, not unless it's hard-core. I don't want to waste my evening with a bunch of drunk preppies.
Todd: You're so judgmental...I like that.
Tea: You like me, Todd? That's so sweet.
[Tea smiles as Todd groans with displeasure.]
chapter 42:
[Minutes later, they cross a bridge and enter North Dakota.]
Todd: You want a hotel by the river? We could go further into town if you want.
Tea: By the river is fine. Maybe we could go for a walk in the morning.
Todd: Why would we want to do that?
Tea: To get some exercise and enjoy the view.
Todd: Well, you have a different idea about what's enjoyable than I do.
Tea: I'm sure we could agree on a few activities that we both would enjoy...together.
[Todd ignores what he's certain was an attempt by Tea to flirt with him.
Minutes later, they enter their hotel room. They both are shocked at the opulent surroundings.]
Tea: Todd, this is beautiful.
Todd: Uh, yeah. Maybe we should get a different room.
Tea: Why? This is incredible.
Todd: If you say so. Why is everything so bright?
[Tea looks at him and smiles at the grimace on his face.]
Tea: You hate it, don't you?
Todd: I thought hotels were supposed to try to make you feel comfortable not make you want to throw up.
[Tea begins to walk through their suite. There is a separate living room and dining area, along with a small kitchen. There are bouquets of fresh flowers placed throughout the suite.]
Tea: Todd, I can't believe you did this.
Todd: Yeah, neither can I. How the hell did this happen? I don't remember asking for the Hades suite.
Tea: What did you ask for?
Todd: The best they had.
Tea: Really?
Todd: Well, I said the same thing at a few of the other places we've stayed and it wasn't as horrible as this. You don't think...they wouldn't have...
Tea: What?
Todd: This isn't the...(dread evident in his voice)...honeymoon suite...is it?
Tea: Not unless they expect honeymooners to have separate bedrooms.
Todd: Huh?
[Todd moves further into the suite and sees that there are two bedrooms.]
Todd: Don't start yelling at me in Spanish, Delgado. I didn't do this.
[Todd enters the main bedroom and finds Tea looking at a Jacuzzi.]
Todd: You're doing this to me on purpose, aren't you?
Tea: Hey, I'm not the one who ordered this, remember?
Todd: Well, neither am I. I just wanted a room that didn't smell like anything had died in it.
Tea: Well, you got what you wanted...it smells wonderful in here.
Todd: They just met me. I didn't think they'd hate me enough to put me in a place like this.
Tea: We can get a different room, Todd. I won't mind.
Todd: Why are you giving in so easily?
Tea: Because I know that you're uncomfortable.
Todd: No, seriously, why?
Tea: I want to have a pleasant evening with you tonight.
Todd: Do you want to be with me or do you want a pleasant evening?
[Tea notices a slight smile on Todd's lips. She leans slightly towards him and bumps him playfully with her body.]
Tea: We've never been in a Jacuzzi together before. It could be fun.
[The glint in Tea's eyes and the tone of her voice make Todd uncomfortable.]
Todd: Those things are dangerous.
Tea: How?
Todd: Well, they are filled with water.
[Tea turns toward Todd and looks at him with a worried expression, realizing he's had negative experiences with water in the past.]
Tea: Todd let's get a different room.
Todd: Don't do that.
[Todd leaves the bedroom and returns to the living room.]
Tea: What's wrong?
Todd: Nothing.
Tea: I'm offering to change rooms so you'll be more comfortable. Why are you upset with me now?
Todd: I'm not.
Tea: It sounds like you are.
Todd: Just leave all that stuff alone, okay?
Tea: What stuff?
Todd: You know what stuff.
Tea: No, I don't.
Todd: Just back off.
Tea: Back off of what? Tell me what this is about.
Todd: I'm going out for awhile.
Tea: No, you're not.
Todd: You think you can stop me?
Tea (frustrated): Why is this so hard?
Todd: Because it is.
Tea: That doesn't help me at all.
Todd: Well, too bad.
Tea: Don't leave, Todd. We can talk about this or we can ignore it. We can stay here tonight or we can get a different room. We can spend the next few hours in a noisy bar or we can stay here and order in pizza. I don't really care where we are tonight or what we're doing. I just want to be in the same place where you are.
Todd: No, you don't. Not right now.
Tea: Why not?
Todd: Just leave it alone.
Tea: Fine. (looking at her watch) There's probably at least another hour before stores close so I'm going to go shopping, okay?
Todd: Why? What for?
Tea: Well, I could get into that Jacuzzi wearing nothing or I could go and find a store where I can buy a bathing suit. Which would you prefer?
Todd: You need any money?
Tea (smiling): No. I do however need car keys unless you want to come with me.
[Todd reaches into his pocket and pulls out the car keys. He hands them to Tea. There's an awkwardness for a moment, each of them aware, as they always are, that each time they part it could be the last time they see each other.]
Tea: Will you be here when I get back?
Todd: They have a casino here so I'll probably go down there for a while and see if it's any good.
Tea: Okay.
[Tea is tempted to kiss Todd good-bye but chooses not to. She begins walking toward the door.]
Todd: Tea?
[Tea turns around and faces him.]
Todd: You coming back?
[The vulnerability in Todd's voice breaks Tea's heart but also makes her feel better...at least he cares if she'll return.]
Tea (smiling): I'll be back. I'm looking forward to trying out that Jacuzzi.
[Tea walks slowly toward Todd with a seductive glint in her eye.]
Tea: I'll buy you something to wear so you can join me, okay?
Todd: Uh, I don't think...
Tea: I don't care if you're in there with me or if you're just in the room watching me but I do hope that you'll be here when I get back, Todd. I want to spend some time relaxing with you.
Todd: You think that would be relaxing?
Tea: For me it will be. Maybe it could be for you, too...if you'd give it a chance. I hope you will. I'll see you in a little while.
[Tea steps into Todd's personal space. She lightly caresses his cheek for a moment before moving her hand through his hair and pulling him into a kiss. Their kiss lasts for just a moment before Tea pulls away and leaves their suite.]
chapter 43:
[When Tea returns from shopping she hopes to find Todd but instead finds their hotel suite empty. She had stopped at a grocery store on the way back to the hotel and bought some food, wanting to expand their diets to include more than fast food and junk food. She considers making dinner but she realizes that Todd may stay out until late.
Of course the thought that Todd may never come back at all does occur to her...like it always does. She had his car with her while she was shopping but she knows that if he really wanted to get away from her he would have no problem leaving that behind.
She sits on the couch in the living room for several minutes, trying not to stare at the door. After a few minutes she turns on the television, hoping to distract herself. When that doesn't work she walks over to one of the large windows and looks out at the view.
Next, she finds herself in the main bedroom. She looks at the whirlpool, knowing what she would like to have happen in it with Todd but also knowing that it absolutely won't be happening.
She's not even sure if she's actually ready for anything too serious right now. She has enjoyed kissing and embracing Todd, and flirting with him has been fun, but anything beyond that is too scary until she feels more certain about their future together.
A few minutes later...
Tea enters a lounge located off the lobby of their hotel. She has no trouble spotting Todd who is sitting in the corner by himself, staring at a large television, watching a sporting event.
Todd notices her approaching him but pretends not to.
Tea sits next to him and says nothing, waiting for him to acknowledge her presence. After several minutes without a response, Tea picks up the glass in front of Todd and takes a sip of the liquid.]
Todd: You know, that club soda was here when I got here.
Tea: So, you do realize I exist?
Todd: I never said you didn't.
Tea: Then, why have you been pretending for the last few minutes that I wasn't here?
Todd: You're the one who was being rude by barging in, sitting down and not saying anything.
[Todd takes the glass that Tea returned to the table and swallows down the rest of his drink.]
Tea: I thought that wasn't yours?
Todd: Since when does that matter to me?
[A server with another identical drink appears and places the glass in front of Todd while taking the old glass away. Tea notices that no words are spoken and no eye contact is attempted. She wonders how much money Todd paid in advance to ensure the kind of service he wanted.]
Tea: I thought you were planning on doing some gambling tonight.
Todd: I did. I got bored.
Tea: I see.
[Todd continues to stare at the television.]
Tea: You know, we do have several television sets up in our suite that you can watch whatever you want on.
Todd: You're the one who reneged on the sports bar tonight.
Tea: So, that's why you're here?
Todd: Of course.
Tea: Not because you want to avoid me?
Todd: How can I avoid you? You never let me. You followed me down here. I never get a minute to myself.
Tea: You had plenty of time to yourself before you invited me on this trip. Well, I assume you were alone. I guess I don't actually know that, do I? You haven't told me much...or anything, really...about how you filled your time, and with whom, while we were apart.
Todd: Look, maybe you don't get how this works but sports and emotional discussions about feelings and other girl stuff don't go together.
Tea: Right. When you're drinking, belching and scratching yourself you don't have too much time for those other unnecessary things, is that it?
Todd (looking at his watch): That reminds me...I'm scheduled to scratch myself again in about two minutes.
Tea: Just to clarify, you're not coming back to the room for a while, right?
Todd: I haven't finished scratching and belching yet.
Tea: You could do that upstairs.
[For the first time since she entered the room, Todd looks directly at Tea.]
Todd: What do you want, Tea?
Tea: I want you to come upstairs with me right now...barring that, I'd like to have some idea of when you may be returning to our suite.
Todd: Why does it matter? I thought you were planning on taking a bath or something.
Tea: I wouldn't mind using the Jacuzzi tonight. If it bothers you, though, I won't.
Todd: Why would it bother me? I'll be down here anyway.
Tea: Is that why you're avoiding going upstairs? I wasn't planning on seducing you tonight.
Todd: I'm supposed to believe you?
Tea: I was hoping you did by now...at least a little. I did buy you something to wear if you chose to join me in the Jacuzzi but if you don't want to join me you certainly don't have to. Look, Todd, the real reason I came down here was that I was thinking about cooking dinner for us. I stopped at a grocery store and picked up a few things. I didn't want to start cooking, though, until I had an idea of when, or if, I should expect you.
Todd: I already ate.
Tea: Without me?
Todd: Well, I figured you'd get something for yourself while you were out doing whatever wherever.
Tea: Right. Fine. It was a stupid idea anyway. Enjoy your game.
[Tea gets up and leaves. Todd watches her. He could tell that she was hurt, although, he doesn't completely understand why.
He tries to return his attention to the game playing out on the screen in front of him but thoughts of Tea steal his attention.
Damn women! Why do they always have to mess up a good game?
Todd takes another swallow of the drink in front of him, tosses some money down and leaves the lounge.]
chapter 44:
[Todd stands outside the door of their suite for several minutes. He knows that Tea wants him there and even though he hates himself for it, he wants to be there too. He likes being alone with Tea.
Todd physically cringes at the thought of how much he enjoys Tea's company. He hates that she has so much power over him. She comes downstairs and tells him that she wants him to go upstairs and have dinner with her and here he is a few minutes later...at the door, prepared to eat a second dinner just to make her happy.
Todd shakes his body, trying to shake off the hold she has over him. It doesn't work. He enters the suite.
Tea is in the small kitchen area when Todd quietly opens the door of their suite and peaks his head in. He can't see her from where he is so he enters a little more and quietly closes the door.
He cautiously walks further into the suite until he can see into the kitchen area. There she is, crying while slicing an onion.
Is she crying because of him or because of the onion? Or, could it be the sappy music she's listening to? Does it even matter? She'll use it to make him feel guilty no matter what the reason for her tears, he just knows she will...she's female after all.
In the living room, Todd plops himself down on the sofa and turns on the television. He turns the volume up loud enough so Tea will definitely hear it.
Tea is startled by the sudden noise and steps into the living room to investigate. She finds Todd sprawled out on the couch watching the same game he was watching downstairs.]
Tea: What are you doing here?
Todd: Waiting for my dinner.
Tea: I thought you already ate?
Todd: I did but that was at least an hour ago. I'm hungry again.
Tea: Oh, really.
Todd: Yeah, really.
[Todd finally takes his eyes off of the television set and looks at Tea. She dried her eyes of the tears he had seen earlier and is smiling at him in that way she does when she's teasing him...or flirting with him...or knows that he's lying to her. He hopes she doesn't know that he's lying but even more he hopes that she's not about to start flirting with him again. He doesn't know if he can handle that right now. His strength to resist her feels weakened at the moment and that smile on her face...and in her eyes...isn't helping.]
Tea: How much longer will your game last?
Todd: I don't know. They're in overtime so it could be a few minutes or several hours.
Tea: Well, I'll just start cooking and we'll eat in here if we have to, okay?
Todd: Yeah, sure, whatever. You get any beer?
Tea: No. You'll have to order some from room service.
Todd: You know, we could order the whole meal from room service. That way you wouldn't have to bother.
Tea: Are you trying to tell me you don't like my cooking?
Todd: No.
Tea: So, you do like it?
Todd: I really never had your cooking all that much before to have formed an opinion about it.
Tea: That's right. You were always too busy at work to come home for dinner.
Todd: Not always.
Tea: No, but many nights you would just come home to spend some time with Starr and then go back to work when I suggested that you and I share a meal together...just the two of us.
Todd: Well, I was busy at work.
Tea: Every night?
[Todd looks back at Tea again. The smile that was there earlier is now absent from her face.]
Todd: Are you trying to start a fight?
Tea: No.
Todd: It sounds like it to me. And, this is all old stuff anyway. If we're going to fight I can think of some more recent things we could fight about...fights that I would win.
Tea: I don't want to get into that again tonight, do you?
Todd: No, but I also don't want to fight about ancient history.
Tea: Fine. No fighting tonight. I am cooking. You can eat it if you want to or you can order food when you order your beer from room service, if you don't want to chance my cooking. Either way is fine with me. I'm just glad you chose to join me.
Todd: You're just lucky I didn't miss the end of the game while I was coming up here.
[Tea returns to her cooking. Todd knows that she's lying about it being okay if he orders something else to eat. Besides, he's not really hungry since he already ate and is only considering eating another dinner to make Tea happy.
Damn! Why does he care so much if she's happy? His happiness is what's most important, not hers.
Todd groans slightly at the unpleasant realization that Tea's feelings matter more to him than his own. When the hell did that happen?
Todd determines that he can't allow her to know about this unfortunate turn of events. Besides, maybe it's temporary...like the flu.
He's had a few other unpleasant bouts of generosity in the past. They always went away quickly, maybe this one will too. It better.
Minutes later...
Todd enters the kitchen area.]
Tea: Is your game over?
Todd (not pleased): Yeah.
Tea: Did it not go the way you wanted it to?
Todd: It was just a stupid game.
Tea: Dinner's not ready yet.
Todd: That's okay...my beer isn't here yet.
Tea: Can't have dinner without beer.
Todd: That's always been my philosophy.
Tea: Just so you know, I'm not making very much so you don't have to worry.
Todd: Worry about what?
Tea: I know you're not hungry. I know you only agreed to eat what I'm making because you wanted to be polite.
Todd: Did you forget who I am? I don't do anything to be polite.
Tea: You do occasionally.
Todd: Only when there's something in it for me.
Tea (with a glint in her eyes): Well, there could be something in it for you tonight.
Todd: Why do you keep saying stuff like that?
Tea: I don't understand.
Todd: You keep flirting with me but we both know nothing will be happening between us.
Tea: We know that, do we?
[Todd shocks Tea by stepping closer to her, pulling her away from her cooking and toward him. As their bodies press together, one of his hands is on her lower back, holding her to him, while his other hand is resting on the side of her face, his own face intimately close to hers.]
Todd: What if I played along with you, huh? What if I took you into that bedroom right now? What if I said screw dinner? What if I said...
Tea: What if you said...what?
[They both are so nervous in this moment that neither recognizes the nervousness or fear the other person is feeling.]
Todd: What if I said we should screw this dinner and...instead...we should...what if I said that dinner wasn't the only thing we should screw tonight? What if I said that we should go into that bedroom and do something about all the flirting?
[They both had known that they were discussing sex. They're still both shocked to hear Todd acknowledge it. Even Todd can't believe what he's saying.
Even though they know that some of the flirting is just teasing and to see what the other person's reaction will be, they each also know that they do want it and suspect that the other person wants it, but they both know that now isn't the right time, that there is too much uncertainty right now. They can't help their feelings, though. They both are enjoying their physical closeness. Even the panic they both are feeling is exhilarating. They both feel more alive than they have in a long time.
Todd considers kissing Tea. Tea hopes that Todd will kiss her. So far she's initiated every kiss they've shared since this trip began, although, he has kissed her back each time she's kissed him. She wants him to kiss her, though...to show her that he wants her, that he's attracted to her. They both are torn between wanting to go into the bedroom and explore their feelings physically and wanting to pull away, to run away as far as they can, to avoid the same feelings that threaten to take them into the bedroom.]
chapter 45:
[Todd and Tea continue to stand in the small kitchen which feels even smaller with the other person pressed so tightly to their individual bodies. Neither speaks. Neither knows what to do.
They know what they want to do. They both want to go into the bedroom and spend the next few weeks making love. They both also want to pull away, leave and spend the rest of their lives avoiding each other...avoiding the feelings that are scaring the hell out of both of them right now.
Their bodies are pressed together in the best, and worst, of erotic ways. Their faces are so close to each other that the slightest movement would mean contact. Neither moves. They barely even breathe as they each hope for, and dread, more contact.
With lousy...or perfect...timing, room service arrives with Todd's order. Todd quickly pulls away from Tea and goes to the door. Tea leans heavily against the counter, trying not to fall down as she realizes how weak her legs feel after being held so close to Todd's body for so long.
After quickly getting rid of the person from room service, Todd returns to the kitchen and finds Tea back in cooking mode, frantically trying to appear busy. He returns to the living room and to the couch. He watches the local news for a while, not really paying attention to any of the stories.
Minutes later, Tea enters the living room. Todd speaks to her without looking directly at her.]
Todd: The grub done?
Tea: Almost. Would you like to eat in here?
Todd: No. We don't have to. We can pretend we're normal and do that eating at the table thing. Unless you want to eat in here.
Tea: No. We can eat at the table.
Todd: You sure? If we eat in here you won't be sitting across from me and you won't have to watch me chew.
Tea (smiling slightly): I don't mind dinner, Todd style.
Todd (standing up): Well then, let's do it.
[They both go into the dining area. The table is small...so small that soon after sitting down they both realize that their legs touch under the table. They both wait for the other person to move their legs away but neither does, so they spend the whole meal with their legs touching.
Minutes pass...]
Tea: So, what do you think?
Todd: About what?
Tea: Dinner.
Todd: Oh, uh, it's okay...it's fine...it's good.
Tea: You're just saying that.
Todd: You have to come to your senses and get over this idea that I'm saying things just to make you feel good. I'm not a nice guy like that.
Tea: Sometimes, Todd, you have been very kind and sweet to me. Do you want me to just forget that and pretend you're only capable of being a monster?
Todd: Yes.
[Tea looks down at her plate, slightly frustrated.]
Todd: So, right after this we're going to bed, right?
[Tea looks back up at him and the expression on her face freaks him out, though, he hides it from her.]
Todd: We have to get up early so we should get some sleep.
Tea: Of course. Where are we headed tomorrow?
Todd: South Dakota.
Tea: Where in South Dakota?
Todd: I don't know. You brought that map in, right? I'll look at it and figure out where we're going.
Tea: Good. You can do that while I'm in the whirlpool and we can talk about it.
Todd: You want to yell back and forth from the bedroom to the living room?
Tea: Why would you be in the living room?
Todd: Why would I be in the room with you while you're taking a bath?
Tea: You don't think you'd enjoy watching me take a bath?
[In an odd way, Todd is relieved that Tea is back to flirting with him. He was afraid that what had happened earlier had gone too far and had messed things up. He's hoping that they can get back to where they were before...comfortably uncomfortable with each other.]
Todd: What makes you think that I've never seen you bathe before?
Tea: Well, you couldn't have been peeking in my window. Since our marriage my windows have always been extremely high up.
Todd: Maybe I posed as a window washer.
Tea: Well then, if you've seen me bathe before maybe I won't bother with that bathing suit I was planning on wearing while I was in the whirlpool.
Todd: You really bought one?
Tea: Yes.
Todd: One of those ones that barely cover anything?
Tea: No. I bought a very conservative one.
Todd: Because of me?
Tea: No, because of me.
Todd: I don't get it. Since when are you shy about showing me what you've got?
Tea: Would you like me to show you what I've got?
Todd: Stop flirting and answer the question.
Tea: Was that a serious question? I thought you were just flirting with me.
Todd: I don't flirt.
Tea: I disagree.
Todd: It doesn't matter.
Tea: I'm done here. I hope you will join me in our bedroom. Like I told you earlier, I did buy a suit for you if you'd like to join me in the Jacuzzi but if not I hope you will at least come and keep me company.
[Tea stands up from the table and leaves the kitchen area. Todd sits there for a few minutes continuing to eat, not because he's hungry but because he's uncertain what to do. He wants to spend more time with Tea but she won't be wearing much even if she did say that her bathing suit isn't that bad, he'll still have to handle looking at a lot of her skin.
Todd quickly tosses down his fork and leaves the dining area. He tries to look casual as he enters the bedroom. He finds the room empty. He does spot a pair of swimming trunks on the bed. He picks them up and is staring at them when Tea returns to the room. The sound of her voice startles him.]
Tea: They had some briefs but I didn't think you'd want that so I got the biggest ones I could find in your size. That pair will probably go down to your knees.
Todd: How do you even know my size?
Tea: I've worn your shorts myself, remember?
Todd: Oh, yeah.
Tea: I didn't think you'd forget that.
Todd: I didn't. I just misplaced my memory of it for a minute.
Tea: Go into the bathroom and put those on and join me.
Todd: I don't think so.
Tea: Fine. Change into them in here. I won't mind.
[Most of Tea's body has been hidden by part of a wall as she prepared the whirlpool. As she steps into it, though, Todd gets a clear view.
She's wearing a black one-piece swimsuit. She wasn't lying to him earlier...it is conservative. It still shows off her figure incredibly well, as Todd is extremely aware of, as he watches with interest as she settles herself in the water.]
to be continued...
