Chapter 8
Angry tears spilled down Chelsea's cheeks as she robotically drove back to her place to pack. She was now more resolved than ever to marry Dylan and keep Adam Newman in her rearview mirror.
She couldn't believe she had allowed him to charm her into making love to him. Even though she knew he was using her, she also couldn't deny that she was still in love with Adam, and no amount of hurt would erase that fact.
Still, she felt like such a fool. He preyed upon her vulnerability, and clearly only cared about the baby she was carrying, she concluded bitterly. To make matters even worse, he knew she was lying. He's the only person she was never able to con. Adam wasn't going to ruin her plans though. She would move in with Dylan and marry him, and they would raise the baby together. She would have to convince Adam he was wrong about the baby, and if he tried anything, she would play the card she had hoped she would never have to play.
….
Adam had to clear his head after what began as the most amazing experience of his life, ended up being one of the lowest points of his life as well. To go from ecstasy to the basement in the span of thirty minutes, was enough to knock anyone for a loop. He couldn't understand Chelsea's irrational behavior. He was convinced she still loved him. She wouldn't make love to him like that if her feelings weren't strong, but why did she persist in denying her feelings for him, and continue to lie about their baby? None of it made any sense. There had to be a way to reach her because there was no way in hell he would just bow out and allow that saber rattling fool to become his replacement in Chelsea's or the baby's lives.
God, he loved that woman so much! He winced as he thought of her cruel dismissal, and tossed back the scotch he hastily poured after her departure. She was so stubborn and hell-bent on believing the worst about him. He knew Chloe had poisoned her mind, that corruptible little bitch, he deduced angrily. He had to turn this around, and quickly, because no matter what bullshit lie she told No Neck, their baby was coming soon, and he wanted to be by her side when it happened.
Maybe the best course was to just confront Dylan, and lay all the cards on the table. If he knew the truth he would turn on Chelsea so fast, Adam believed. She was clearly using him as a replacement father. Maybe she had some feelings for Dylan, but they didn't run as deeply as the feelings she had for him. Sure, Chelsea would be furious, but she was furious now. He had nothing to lose at this point. This charade needed to end, and he couldn't wait for Chelsea to do the right thing.
Having decided to confront Dylan, and stop being a spectator, Adam reached for the jacket draped over one of his very expensive wingback chairs, but before he could slip it on, his cell phone started ringing.
"Hello."
"Adam..hi, it's Melanie."
"Hey. What's up?"
"I need to speak to you about 'Beauty of Nature', and it can't wait."
Adam wrinkled his nose at Melanie's insistent plea. He was fairly certain it wasn't the life or death quandary she made it appear.
"I was just heading over to meet with someone. Can it wait until tomorrow?" He asked, impatiently.
"No, it really can't. I wouldn't ask if it wasn't important."
Pinching the bridge of his nose, Adam responded, "Fine, meet me at the office in 20 minutes."
…..
Dylan and Chelsea finished packing most of Chelsea's belongings in record time. She didn't have much aside from her personal belongings and a few household type items.
"You are acting really strange, and I think I know why," Dylan posited. "You're afraid I'm going to turn my back on you and our baby because of my earlier outburst." Dylan studied her anxiously. "Chelsea, you have nothing to worry about. I would never do that."
Chelsea, lost in her thoughts and only half hearing him, suddenly felt him standing next to her as she taped up the last box. Slightly dazed, she mumbled, "I never thought that Dylan."
"I mean…I wouldn't blame you if you did…think that."
The anxious look on his face made her feel guilty about her afternoon tryst. Truth was, she couldn't get Adam out of her mind...or her heart. Images of their lovemaking kept repeating in her mind, tormenting her, and leaving her heart aching. She didn't know how long it would take for the pain to go away, but Adam clearly had other priorities, and she wasn't one of them. Oh fuck Adam Newman, she thought angrily.
Brushing her feelings aside, Chelsea did what she always does- act on impulse and emotion. "I do trust you Dylan, and I know I can count on you to be there for both of us," she stated, as she gently ran her hand over her baby hill. It graduated from bump status long ago. "I don't want to wait to get married!"
Dylan's face became a mask of surprise and confusion. "You want to get married now?"
Chelsea turned away from the box, and taking his hands in hers, leaned forward, placing a tender kiss on his lips. Again, Adam's face appeared behind her closed eyes. Adam, Adam, Adam! Always Adam!
"Let's fly to Vegas tonight!"
"Are you serious?" Dylan chuckled, amused by her sudden shift in mood.
"Yes I'm serious! I don't want to waste one more minute! I want to be Mrs. Dylan McAvoy now…tonight!"
Dylan smiled broadly at her enthusiasm. "Ummm…well, okay then! Who am I to say no to a beautiful woman who just happens to be carrying my baby?!" His excitement waned almost immediately. "Are you sure it's okay to fly in your condition?"
"Of course I'm sure," she lied. "I'm not due for several more weeks. Please. Let's just stop overthinking this, and make this official. You do still want to marry me…"
"Do I still want to marry you?! Let's do this!" He shouted.
….
"So, what's so damned important it couldn't wait until tomorrow?" Adam asked, irritation evident in his tone.
"I thought you might want to know that your father is calling the whole deal off."
"Really. You couldn't have said this in a phone call?" Adam questioned, clearly irritated at being summoned to NE.
"Silly me. I thought this might be important enough for a face to face."
"I'm sorry Melanie." Adam murmured as he leaned back in his chair. "I've had a lot on my mind lately, and Beauty of Nature isn't really something I'm that invested in…one way or the other."
"I see," Melanie sniped. "All this time I thought you were a proactive CEO, and that you cared about all aspects of a company you're supposedly running."
"Watch yourself Melanie," Adam sniped.
"I'm sorry, but I thought this was important to you, and I felt like you should know that your father called it off because of your sister."
A broad grin spread across Adam's face hearing this news. "Like a book."
"I'm sorry…"
"Nothing," Adam rose to leave. "If you have nothing else, I'm gonna cut out of here."
"Wait. I was hoping maybe we could go out for dinner," Melanie stated shyly.
A twinge of guilt hit Adam in the gut as he realized the unintended consequences of using one woman to get close to another.
"Look, Melanie, I think you're great, but I'm really not looking for romance…"
"No. It's fine. I get it," she interrupted, clearly embarrassed at being rebuffed. "I wasn't looking for anything romantic either..just dinner."
"Oh, well now I feel stupid. Rain check?" Adam replied coolly. He knew she was attempting to save face.
"Sure. Whatever."
Adam feigned a smile, wished her a good evening, and darted out in search of Dylan. It was time to have a come to Jesus meeting with the knuckle-dragger.
….
"I can't believe we're here!" Dylan exclaimed excitedly. "Hey, maybe we can get an Elvis impersonator to marry us!"
Chelsea cringed at the very idea. "You can't be serious. Please tell me you're joking."
"Of course I'm kidding," he covered. He wasn't.
They found the room Dylan had booked at the Roadrunner Inn, and decided to freshen up before finding a wedding chapel. The décor left a lot to be desired. It consisted of a queen-sized bed with an old flowery coverlet, and matching curtains, a desk and chair, and a TV hidden inside a console.
"Well, at least it's nicer than the warehouse," he grinned sheepishly.
"I'm not marrying you for material items, so stop worrying," she smiled, exhaustion beginning to settle in. Dealing with Adam was draining, never mind the incredible sex they had. She desperately needed a nap, but didn't want to rest until she was Mrs. Dylan McAvoy.
"You get comfortable, and I'll go talk to the front desk about wedding chapels. We will probably have to wait until the morning because we'll need a marriage license."
"Sounds like a plan," Chelsea responded, feigning happiness.
She collapsed across the bed after Dylan gave her a perfunctory kiss on the cheek and dashed out the door to hunt for a wedding chapel.
"Why did I have to fall so hard for such a fucked up man?" she wondered aloud. "LEAVE ME ALONE ADAM!"
