Chapter Six

Chloe could smell the eggs and bacon all the way from upstairs. She opened her eyes and knew Marlena was cooking one of her famous breakfasts. Since Belle was already gone, she stood up, dressed in jeans and a tank top and headed downstairs.

Brady woke up with a big smile on his face. He had dreamt of Chloe the whole night. He rolled over and looked at the clock. 10:24. 'I bet she's still here.' He got up and ran to the door, trying to break back into his natural strut once he saw her on the stairs. He didn't want to seem too eager.

Chloe felt his presence behind her. She always could, it was like there were electric currents between them. She wanted to turn around, but knowing she would blush remembering the events of last night, and the picture in her head of him in his boxers, she resisted.

Brady slid his hand down the railing, causing their bare arms to touch. Chloe took a deep breath and started walking faster. Brady smirked when she didn't look back. 'I'm making her uncomfortable. At least that's a sign that she feels something between us. I think.'

"Hey, Belle! Mr. Black, Mrs. Black." Chloe sat down next to Belle at the table. "That smells good." She smiled at Marlena, who was frying bacon on the stove, and John, who was sitting at the head of the table, reading a newspaper. She started sipping her orange juice and almost choked when she saw Brady sit across from her. 'He's only wearing boxers! Again! Black ones…okay shut up Chloe,' she repeated her mantra over and over. 'Don't stare, don't stare, don't stare, don't stare, don't stare.' She couldn't help it. She stared.

John noticed Chloe's reaction. "Brady, we have company. Maybe you should put something on."

"Sure, Dad." Brady half stood up, looking at Chloe.

"No! I mean…I don't mind. Really, you look good…I mean fine." Chloe mentally kicked herself as she heard Belle's snort, and then saw her put her head on the table, shaking violently from held in laughter. 'Oh…my…God. I just embarrassed myself beyond belief.'

Brady just smiled at her and sat back down. "See Dad, she doesn't care."

"Well, she's turning awful red for someone that doesn't care, son." John raised one eyebrow at Brady.

"Fine. I'll go put on some pants then." Brady winked at Chloe and headed for the stairs.

Belle watched Chloe look at her fork longingly, then consider if it was sharp enough to put her out of her misery. Brady was still walking toward the stairs. "Really Dad, I don't think Chloe minds seeing him in his boxers, she HAS seen it before. Plus you KNOW he is just going to put on workout shorts or something and no shirt so there is going to be no difference."

"What exactly are you trying to say, Belle?" John looked amused.

"Just to stop embarrassing her! She would have been just fine if you didn't point it out."

"I'm sorry, Chloe. Did I embarrass you?" John looked even more amused, he could tell that Chloe was attracted to Brady.

"Um…well." Just then Brady sat back down. Sure enough, he had just thrown on a pair of shorts and he looked exactly the same as he had before. She couldn't see his underwear, but she could see his six pack abs just fine. Chloe unconsciously licked her lips while staring at him. 'Shit. I hope he didn't see that. Now he probably thinks I want to eat him! I'll never feel comfortable around him again!'

"Much better, son," John told him with a hint of sarcasm.

"Dad, Chloe and I are close. You know she wasn't offended so why don't you stop trying to embarrass us, okay?" Brady looked a little pissed, but he mostly thought it was funny.

"Exactly how close ARE you, son?" John almost giggled at his little joke.

"None of your business." Brady looked up and caught Chloe's gaze. He watched her turn red again and bite her lip. She tried to look away, but those blue eyes…. He wanted to grab her and kiss her again, but he doubted that was appropriate at the breakfast table. And she was still with Philip. "Damn little pussy." He muttered under his breath but everyone heard.

Marlena, who had been watching the whole exchange from the stove, suddenly reacted. "WHAT was that, Brady??"

"Oh, just thinking about my dear uncle Phil." Brady didn't bother to hide it. What else could he have said, anyway? The words 'damn little pussy' don't apply to very many things. Or people. "Your bacon is on fire, Marlena."

"Oh! No!!" Marlena ran to get the fire extinguisher while Chloe finally broke into laughter.

"What?" Brady asked, speaking to Chloe for the first time that morning.

"Nothing…ahahahahahahhaha," Chloe fell off of her chair, tears streaming down her face. Brady looked at Belle, confused when she started laughing too.

"What is so damn funny?!" That made Belle and Chloe laugh even more, and even John shared a chuckle.

After Marlena had put out the fire, and the girls had finally composed themselves, without telling Brady what was so funny, they started to eat. "Gross! I'm not eating any fire extinguished bacon!" Brady shouted, shocked and appalled. "I lost my appetite with these girls' shenanigans anyway." He sat there silent until everyone was done eating.

"I'll help mom and dad clear the table and do the dishes!" Belle offered cheerfully. She knew Brady wouldn't offer, and since she wasn't going to let Chloe help, they would have a chance to talk.

"I'll hel-" Belle put her hand over Chloe's mouth.

"Nope, you won't. I think you need to have a little talk with my brother," she whispered to her.

Chloe gave her a pleading look, then relented. "Yeah. I guess I do."

She followed Brady into the living room and sat next to him on the couch.

"So what was so funny before?"

Chloe giggled, remembering what Brady had said about Philip, and Marlena hearing him. "You."

"I figured that! What did I do?" Brady tried to stay calm when Chloe moved closer to him, so that their arms and legs were touching. Her skin was so soft against his. Too bad she was wearing jeans, he would love to touch her le… 'Stop thinking dirty thoughts, Brady!' he scolded himself.

"You called Philip a 'damn little pussy'. I thought it described him perfectly." Chloe laughed as Brady broke into a wide smile.

"Philip is your boyfriend right? Aren't you supposed to think nice things about him?" Not that I mind, he added silently.

"Well I love Philip, but sometimes…" Chloe watched as Brady's smile froze, then disappeared completely. "What's wrong, Brady?"

Brady decided to just go for it. 'What the hell. I have to tell her eventually, might as well be now.' "Okay, Chloe. I'll tell you. But don't say anything until I'm finished, okay?" Chloe nodded. "It hurts me when you say you love Philip because I have really strong feelings for you. We got so close over the summer, and I fell for you, hard. Every time you talk about him, it hurts so bad. You should be with ME. And that's why I called him a damn little pussy."

Chloe looked shocked. "Really, Brady? You have feelings for me? Why didn't you tell me sooner? Before I got back with Philip?!"

"Wait, you would've been my girlfriend if I would have asked you then?" Brady was even more shocked than Chloe was.

"Yeah, Brady! But I was single then. I'm not now." She looked at him sadly.

"Well dump pussy boy then!" Brady was pleading with her, he loved her so much. But he would wait until the right moment to tell her that.

"Brady, I…I can't." Chloe stood up and ran upstairs, grabbing her bag, and ran out the door. Brady stared after her.

"What happened??" Belle walked out of the kitchen, drying her hands on a towel.

"I told her."

"Seriously?! Wow, what did she say?"

"She said I should have asked her out before she got back with Philip. She would have said yes, Belle! I'm so fucking stupid!!" Brady put his head in his hands.

"Don't worry! It's not over yet. I'm her best friend, I have my ways. She'll be with you." Belle smiled reassuringly.

"Belle I want HER to make that decision. I don't want you to force her into it." Brady walked slowly up the stairs. Before long, Belle heard music.

When the day is long
And the night
The night is yours alone
And you're sure you've had enough
Of this life
Well hang on

Don't let yourself go
Cause everybody cries
And everybody hurts
Sometimes

"Oh no! Not THAT song again! This is really bad. I know Chloe wants Brady. I'll just have to…steer her in the right direction." Belle grinned evilly.