Chapter 17

Teresa surveyed the room with a sigh. “Looks like I’m taking the bed, and you’re stuck with the floor,” she said, trying to sound light. “One on the hard floor?”

Jonathan’s brow furrowed, clearly not thrilled with the arrangement. “Why do I have to be the one on the floor?”

Teresa shrugged, her tone matter-of-fact. “We’re divorced. Sharing a bed would be weird. I can take the floor if it makes you feel better.”

The moment hung in the air while Jonathan’s gaze swept across her, taking her in from head to toe. Teresa folded her arms, meeting his gaze squarely. “What’s with the look?” she demanded, a tinge of irritation creeping into her tone.

Jonathan’s eyes twinkled with mischief. “You figure I’m really into you? Worried I’ll get too close?” he teased. He muttered something additional, but the room’s silence swallowed his words.

As the night wore on and the clock hands crept towards midnight, both of them were too tired to argue anymore. Teresa let out a long breath, signaling her surrender.

With a single blanket to go around, they had to make do and share. As they settled in, Teresa turned her back to Jonathan and established a clear limit. “Don’t cross this line,” she stated, her tone leaving no room for argument.

With a playful eye roll, Jonathan let out a chuckle. “You’re a piece of work, aren’t you?” He reached over and switched off the light, then settled in next to Teresa.

Their breaths fell into a rhythm, and Jonathan’s throat-clearing cut through the silence now and then. As darkness blanketed the room, the smallest sounds became more pronounced.

Teresa tossed and turned, unable to drift off to sleep. Eventually, she gave in and gazed at Jonathan, bathed in the soft moonlight streaming through the window.

In the dimness, she acknowledged his charm, a key factor in their whirlwind marriage. His closed eyes and relaxed mouth, with his nose standing out, were undeniably appealing. Reflecting on their quick marriage and shared dreams, she mused, ‘With a face like his, who needs money? He’d attract women…’

Jonathan offered a slight frown. “I must be quite the sight, huh?” he joked.

Teresa, who had been conked out, came to with a start and let out a nervous giggle. “Hardly. I’m just too wired to sleep,” she replied, her voice a little too sharp to be convincing.

Jonathan, after a brief pause, opened his eyes slowly, a hint of curiosity in his tone. “Got any other plans for the night?” he questioned.

“Not really, just hoping to get some shut-eye,” Teresa mumbled, turning away and pretending to drift off, though her heart was racing. From time to time, her hormones sparked certain thoughts. It had been more than two years since she’d been intimate with anyone, and Jonathan certainly stood out, leaving a lasting impression on her.

Lost in a whirlwind of thoughts, she finally gave in to sleep without realizing it. She slept deeply, more peacefully than she could remember. It was the gentle touch of the morning sun on her face that eventually stirred her awake.

Waking up abruptly, Teresa found herself nose to nose with Jonathan, her heart skipping a beat. She was nestled against him, a familiar feeling from the past.

Flushing with a sudden burst of energy, she scrambled out of bed. Jonathan, jolted by her push, blinked away sleep. His face showed a flicker of surprise as he noticed their close, entangled positions.

A sharp knock on the door interrupted their moment. “You guys up? It’s getting late,” Hayden’s voice boomed through the door. Teresa grabbed her robe, her eyes widening at the time.