Chapter 9:
Chloe pulled out of the Wesley driveway and drove with Brady towards the penthouse. They'd spent an hour and a half there-entirely too much time. But Brady, Craig and Nancy couldn't seem to stop talking. Chloe had just sat in awe of this man.her husband. as he seemed to genuinely enjoy her parent's company and they seemed to just as equally enjoy his. 'But this is all an act,' she reasoned. 'This isn't real.'
Brady looked over at Chloe as she drove towards the penthouse. A lot seemed to be going on in that head of hers. She was probably wondering how in the hell he'd gotten along so well with her parents. Well, he couldn't help her because he hadn't a clue himself. But he had really liked them.a lot. Chloe was always so uptight, he'd thought her parents would be stiffs, but they were a riot. "Chloe?"
"Hmm?" She didn't take her eyes off the road.
"I really liked your parents. They were fun and hilarious, relaxed, just plain all around cool. So unlike you," he smiled.
"Oh shut up." She gripped the steering wheel. He never could quit being a jerk with her. He was sweet and funny with her parents but no, he was such a jerk with her. If he hated her companionship so damn much, why did he even bother with this whole thing?
"Chloe, I'm kidding," he laughed. He noticed her death grip on the steering wheel. "What's wrong? Why do you look so upset?"
"It's nothing," she pushed the accelerator a little harder. 'I hate him. I hate him. I hate him,' she could think of nothing else.
"Right," Brady decided not to push her further. ***************************
"Come on in," John greeted Brady and Chloe as they stood outside the penthouse door. Brady and Chloe together? Not together, together. Not yet. Couldn't be. Chloe had just broken it off with Philip. "Brady, Chloe, it's great to see you two."
"Thanks, Dad," Brady took Chloe's hand and led her to the couch.
"We missed you at dinner last night, Brady." He poured and handed each of them a glass of water. What the hell was going on?
"I had a.a previous engagement."
Chloe suddenly coughed, choking on her water. Brady began patting and rubbing her back. "Oh my G-d, honey. Are you okay?"
"I'm fine," she coughed again, trying to catch her breath.
"Honey? Did you just call her honey?" John still wasn't sure he heard right.
Brady smiled at his father, as he soothingly rubbed Chloe back and shoulders. "Can you get Marlena please? We have something we'd like to tell you."
"Uh. sure. Uh. Belle and Shawn are here, with Marlena, in the kitchen. Do you want them here too?"
"Even better," Brady grinned.
"Okay, I'll be right back, you two. Don't go anywhere."
"We wouldn't think of it," Brady pulled Chloe to him and kissed her temple.
As soon as John left the room, Chloe covered her face in her hands and sighed. "This is awful."
"What is?"
"This charade, Brady." She ran a hand through her hair. "This act."
"Are you nervous?" His brow furrowed in confusion.
"No." She lied.
"You're nervous." He smiled knowingly. "I can't believe it. You're nervous. You've got nothing to be nervous about Chloe; my parents love you. And I.I.[i]I[/i] think you're going to do just fine, okay?"
"Okay."
"Okay." He smiled and gave her hand a light squeeze.
Marlena, John, Belle and Shawn entered; and after a happy round of greetings and such, they all sat leisurely down on the couch and chairs. "So," Shawn gave his friends a smile. "What is it you guys have to tell us?"
"Well," Brady grinned and took Chloe's hand. "Chloe and I were married last night. We're husband and wife."
"Isn't that fantastic!?" Chloe said a little too excitedly.
Silence. *******************************
"What were you two thinking!?" John paced his kitchen, while Brady and Chloe sat at the kitchen table, guilty looks on their faces. John had asked Belle and Shawn to wait in the living room while this was "discussed" in the kitchen.
"John," Marlena put a hand on his shoulder. "They are adults, so before you blast them, remember that."
He sighed, calming down-a little. "I just want to know why you two would rush and go do something so rash like this. I mean, don't get me wrong. I love you both. Chloe, you're like a daughter to me, you know that. But you just had your heart broken by Philip Kiriakis not two weeks ago. And you, Brady, you don't even believe in marriage. I just don't want to see either of you hurt."
Brady sighed. "I know that dad and I love you for that, but what Chloe and I have is special." He reached for her hand and held it protectively. And as he turned to look at her, his breath caught in his throat. She was as beautiful as ever as she looked at his parents; but her brow was furrowed in sadness and worry. He'd put that worry there himself when he'd gotten her mixed up in this crazy scheme that he was slowly finding himself getting lost in. It seemed far too easy to fall in love with this woman. "What's not to love about Chloe?" Chloe turned to look at him suddenly, surprised. "She's kind, generous, funny. intelligent. beautiful. She puts up with me." He chuckled. "What's not to love?" He turned to look back at John and Marlena, unnerved by the words seemingly flying out of his mouth. "I know I've only known her a short time, but it doesn't take more than a second to see how incredible she is."
John and Marlena were speechless. And Chloe sat there just staring at Brady. She was in awe and that brought a giddy smile to John's face.
"Aw," Marlena enveloped the newlyweds in a warm hug. "You two are so darn gorgeous together."
John repeated the action, pulling both Brady and Chloe into a hug. "I'm proud of you, Brady. All I've ever wanted was for you was to find love and it looks like you finally have and it couldn't have been with a better person. I'm happy for you both." He wiped his face, on the verge of tears. "Welcome to the family, Chloe. Well, officially anyway."
They all broke into a quiet laughter and Belle and Shawn peeked their heads in the door. "All quiet on the western front?"
"Yes, Belle," Brady smiled. "Actually, Chloe and I were just leaving."
"Leaving? What!?" Belle pouted. While she and Shawn had been waiting in the living room for what seemed like hours, she'd been wracking her brain wondering how in the hell Brady and Chloe had gone from hating each other's guts one second to being happily in love and married the next.
"Yes, Belle," Shawn reasoned. "Do you remember what it was like when we first got married? We couldn't wait to be alone."
"Yeah, Belle," Chloe nodded, taking Brady's hand. "We'd like to go home." Chloe leaned up and pecked Brady on the cheek, causing him to look at her in shock.
"Call me first thing in the morning. Both of you," Belle warned, wagging a finger at them.
"Will do," Chloe gave her friend a hug.
"Congrats, man," Shawn gave Brady one of those manly 'pat-on-the-back' hugs.
"Thanks, man." He gave his sister a hug as well and led Chloe away. "Night everybody."
"Good night," they all repeated in unison, in that 'don't-do-anything-that- I-wouldn't-do' tone.
*************************
The drive back to Brady's place had been virtually silent, both kind of lost in their own world. Chloe drove, trying to concentrate on the road but simmering inside, angry that this was so easy for Brady to pull off. He was a wonderful actor. Brilliant. He almost had her believing he loved her. And that pissed her off. Not that she even wanted Brady to love her. I mean, they barely knew each other and she wasn't interested in anyone that way anyway, especially him. She had just broken it off with her fiancé of three years, for G-d's sakes. Developing a crush on some womanizer like Brady was not wise or acceptable.
Brady, on the other hand, could think only of the words he'd said about Chloe to John and he hated it. Where the hell had that come from? He'd sounded like such a sappy mush. But at least that had worked. At least his father was convinced they were suddenly in love. He turned to look at Chloe as she pulled up to the Salem Inn, his temporary home. G-d, she [i]was[/i] so incredible. She was so fun to be with and she was so sweet and so kind. So kooky. He felt a goofy grin bloom upon his face. Argh, he felt so guilty for pulling her into this charade. He was such a jerk. So he had to end this. He had to. "Chloe?"
"Hmm?"
"Nothing." He lost his nerve and looked out of the window.
She turned to look at him. "No, what are you thinking, Brady?"
He sighed, defeated. "That I don't want this night to end."
"W-what?" Could it be that he, too, was feeling something happening between them?
"Well, I mean it's been so fun.pretending, pretending to be in love," he covered. G-d, what was he? A young, punk kid on his first date? It felt awkward enough. "It was like practice for all the parties and dinners we'll be attending together."
"Oh," she sighed disappointedly.
"Plus, I was thinking, Philip doesn't know yet. It might be fun to run on over there tonight and give him the good news." He gave her a wicked grin.
"Good night, Brady."
"What? What'd I say? What's wrong?" She was silent, causing him to scoff. "Wasn't that the plan, Chloe? To make Philip jealous?" He could feel himself growing angry in frustration.
"I'm sick of lying, that's all. I'm sick of lying to everyone we love. I'm sick of lying period. We've been at this what? Three hours? And I'm already tired of it!" She burst into tears.
"Chloe, we knew telling our families would be the hardest part." He reached out to touch her shoulder.
"No," she choked out. "Don't! I'm sorry, I'm just.emotional right now."
"It's understandable," he replied quietly.
She held up a hand to quiet him. "Stop being so G-d damned perfect! Stop understanding me and surprising me! You're supposed to be a jerk!"
About to say something to calm her, her tone quickly caused his mouth to shut, as he looked on at her intently, desperate to hear what she had to say.
"Philip broke my heart so very badly.so badly." She sniffled. "And then tonight. what you told John in the kitchen. about me..well, it was just all a little too much for me okay? Five years.I was with Philip for five long years and then you come along and tonight." she trailed off. "Never in my life has something said so simply, touched me so deeply. But I love Philip. I love Philip. I still love him," she said that more to herself than to Brady.
"Chloe."
"So good night. I'll see you bright and early tomorrow morning. We have to get you moved into my place." She wiped her face, staring unseeingly straight ahead.
"Right," he cleared his throat. "Good night, Chloe." He got out of the car and watched as she drove away, knowing he'd made yet another mistake. He was such a coward. All he'd wanted to say was he wasn't acting tonight. She [i]was[/i] incredible and beautiful and wonderful and adorable. But Chloe didn't need some loser like him fawning over her and falling for her. And he was pretty damn sure she didn't want him to anyway so it was just as well. 'She was just confused and vulnerable,' Brady reasoned. Philip had hurt her and so, naturally, him saying those kind things about her tonight had affected her, given her mixed feelings. He now knew it would have to be 'Hands Off' where Chloe was concerned or one or the both of them would be hurt. He walked toward the Inn's entrance and sighed knowing this was only the beginning. "Dammit." What the hell had he gotten them into?
Chloe pulled out of the Wesley driveway and drove with Brady towards the penthouse. They'd spent an hour and a half there-entirely too much time. But Brady, Craig and Nancy couldn't seem to stop talking. Chloe had just sat in awe of this man.her husband. as he seemed to genuinely enjoy her parent's company and they seemed to just as equally enjoy his. 'But this is all an act,' she reasoned. 'This isn't real.'
Brady looked over at Chloe as she drove towards the penthouse. A lot seemed to be going on in that head of hers. She was probably wondering how in the hell he'd gotten along so well with her parents. Well, he couldn't help her because he hadn't a clue himself. But he had really liked them.a lot. Chloe was always so uptight, he'd thought her parents would be stiffs, but they were a riot. "Chloe?"
"Hmm?" She didn't take her eyes off the road.
"I really liked your parents. They were fun and hilarious, relaxed, just plain all around cool. So unlike you," he smiled.
"Oh shut up." She gripped the steering wheel. He never could quit being a jerk with her. He was sweet and funny with her parents but no, he was such a jerk with her. If he hated her companionship so damn much, why did he even bother with this whole thing?
"Chloe, I'm kidding," he laughed. He noticed her death grip on the steering wheel. "What's wrong? Why do you look so upset?"
"It's nothing," she pushed the accelerator a little harder. 'I hate him. I hate him. I hate him,' she could think of nothing else.
"Right," Brady decided not to push her further. ***************************
"Come on in," John greeted Brady and Chloe as they stood outside the penthouse door. Brady and Chloe together? Not together, together. Not yet. Couldn't be. Chloe had just broken it off with Philip. "Brady, Chloe, it's great to see you two."
"Thanks, Dad," Brady took Chloe's hand and led her to the couch.
"We missed you at dinner last night, Brady." He poured and handed each of them a glass of water. What the hell was going on?
"I had a.a previous engagement."
Chloe suddenly coughed, choking on her water. Brady began patting and rubbing her back. "Oh my G-d, honey. Are you okay?"
"I'm fine," she coughed again, trying to catch her breath.
"Honey? Did you just call her honey?" John still wasn't sure he heard right.
Brady smiled at his father, as he soothingly rubbed Chloe back and shoulders. "Can you get Marlena please? We have something we'd like to tell you."
"Uh. sure. Uh. Belle and Shawn are here, with Marlena, in the kitchen. Do you want them here too?"
"Even better," Brady grinned.
"Okay, I'll be right back, you two. Don't go anywhere."
"We wouldn't think of it," Brady pulled Chloe to him and kissed her temple.
As soon as John left the room, Chloe covered her face in her hands and sighed. "This is awful."
"What is?"
"This charade, Brady." She ran a hand through her hair. "This act."
"Are you nervous?" His brow furrowed in confusion.
"No." She lied.
"You're nervous." He smiled knowingly. "I can't believe it. You're nervous. You've got nothing to be nervous about Chloe; my parents love you. And I.I.[i]I[/i] think you're going to do just fine, okay?"
"Okay."
"Okay." He smiled and gave her hand a light squeeze.
Marlena, John, Belle and Shawn entered; and after a happy round of greetings and such, they all sat leisurely down on the couch and chairs. "So," Shawn gave his friends a smile. "What is it you guys have to tell us?"
"Well," Brady grinned and took Chloe's hand. "Chloe and I were married last night. We're husband and wife."
"Isn't that fantastic!?" Chloe said a little too excitedly.
Silence. *******************************
"What were you two thinking!?" John paced his kitchen, while Brady and Chloe sat at the kitchen table, guilty looks on their faces. John had asked Belle and Shawn to wait in the living room while this was "discussed" in the kitchen.
"John," Marlena put a hand on his shoulder. "They are adults, so before you blast them, remember that."
He sighed, calming down-a little. "I just want to know why you two would rush and go do something so rash like this. I mean, don't get me wrong. I love you both. Chloe, you're like a daughter to me, you know that. But you just had your heart broken by Philip Kiriakis not two weeks ago. And you, Brady, you don't even believe in marriage. I just don't want to see either of you hurt."
Brady sighed. "I know that dad and I love you for that, but what Chloe and I have is special." He reached for her hand and held it protectively. And as he turned to look at her, his breath caught in his throat. She was as beautiful as ever as she looked at his parents; but her brow was furrowed in sadness and worry. He'd put that worry there himself when he'd gotten her mixed up in this crazy scheme that he was slowly finding himself getting lost in. It seemed far too easy to fall in love with this woman. "What's not to love about Chloe?" Chloe turned to look at him suddenly, surprised. "She's kind, generous, funny. intelligent. beautiful. She puts up with me." He chuckled. "What's not to love?" He turned to look back at John and Marlena, unnerved by the words seemingly flying out of his mouth. "I know I've only known her a short time, but it doesn't take more than a second to see how incredible she is."
John and Marlena were speechless. And Chloe sat there just staring at Brady. She was in awe and that brought a giddy smile to John's face.
"Aw," Marlena enveloped the newlyweds in a warm hug. "You two are so darn gorgeous together."
John repeated the action, pulling both Brady and Chloe into a hug. "I'm proud of you, Brady. All I've ever wanted was for you was to find love and it looks like you finally have and it couldn't have been with a better person. I'm happy for you both." He wiped his face, on the verge of tears. "Welcome to the family, Chloe. Well, officially anyway."
They all broke into a quiet laughter and Belle and Shawn peeked their heads in the door. "All quiet on the western front?"
"Yes, Belle," Brady smiled. "Actually, Chloe and I were just leaving."
"Leaving? What!?" Belle pouted. While she and Shawn had been waiting in the living room for what seemed like hours, she'd been wracking her brain wondering how in the hell Brady and Chloe had gone from hating each other's guts one second to being happily in love and married the next.
"Yes, Belle," Shawn reasoned. "Do you remember what it was like when we first got married? We couldn't wait to be alone."
"Yeah, Belle," Chloe nodded, taking Brady's hand. "We'd like to go home." Chloe leaned up and pecked Brady on the cheek, causing him to look at her in shock.
"Call me first thing in the morning. Both of you," Belle warned, wagging a finger at them.
"Will do," Chloe gave her friend a hug.
"Congrats, man," Shawn gave Brady one of those manly 'pat-on-the-back' hugs.
"Thanks, man." He gave his sister a hug as well and led Chloe away. "Night everybody."
"Good night," they all repeated in unison, in that 'don't-do-anything-that- I-wouldn't-do' tone.
*************************
The drive back to Brady's place had been virtually silent, both kind of lost in their own world. Chloe drove, trying to concentrate on the road but simmering inside, angry that this was so easy for Brady to pull off. He was a wonderful actor. Brilliant. He almost had her believing he loved her. And that pissed her off. Not that she even wanted Brady to love her. I mean, they barely knew each other and she wasn't interested in anyone that way anyway, especially him. She had just broken it off with her fiancé of three years, for G-d's sakes. Developing a crush on some womanizer like Brady was not wise or acceptable.
Brady, on the other hand, could think only of the words he'd said about Chloe to John and he hated it. Where the hell had that come from? He'd sounded like such a sappy mush. But at least that had worked. At least his father was convinced they were suddenly in love. He turned to look at Chloe as she pulled up to the Salem Inn, his temporary home. G-d, she [i]was[/i] so incredible. She was so fun to be with and she was so sweet and so kind. So kooky. He felt a goofy grin bloom upon his face. Argh, he felt so guilty for pulling her into this charade. He was such a jerk. So he had to end this. He had to. "Chloe?"
"Hmm?"
"Nothing." He lost his nerve and looked out of the window.
She turned to look at him. "No, what are you thinking, Brady?"
He sighed, defeated. "That I don't want this night to end."
"W-what?" Could it be that he, too, was feeling something happening between them?
"Well, I mean it's been so fun.pretending, pretending to be in love," he covered. G-d, what was he? A young, punk kid on his first date? It felt awkward enough. "It was like practice for all the parties and dinners we'll be attending together."
"Oh," she sighed disappointedly.
"Plus, I was thinking, Philip doesn't know yet. It might be fun to run on over there tonight and give him the good news." He gave her a wicked grin.
"Good night, Brady."
"What? What'd I say? What's wrong?" She was silent, causing him to scoff. "Wasn't that the plan, Chloe? To make Philip jealous?" He could feel himself growing angry in frustration.
"I'm sick of lying, that's all. I'm sick of lying to everyone we love. I'm sick of lying period. We've been at this what? Three hours? And I'm already tired of it!" She burst into tears.
"Chloe, we knew telling our families would be the hardest part." He reached out to touch her shoulder.
"No," she choked out. "Don't! I'm sorry, I'm just.emotional right now."
"It's understandable," he replied quietly.
She held up a hand to quiet him. "Stop being so G-d damned perfect! Stop understanding me and surprising me! You're supposed to be a jerk!"
About to say something to calm her, her tone quickly caused his mouth to shut, as he looked on at her intently, desperate to hear what she had to say.
"Philip broke my heart so very badly.so badly." She sniffled. "And then tonight. what you told John in the kitchen. about me..well, it was just all a little too much for me okay? Five years.I was with Philip for five long years and then you come along and tonight." she trailed off. "Never in my life has something said so simply, touched me so deeply. But I love Philip. I love Philip. I still love him," she said that more to herself than to Brady.
"Chloe."
"So good night. I'll see you bright and early tomorrow morning. We have to get you moved into my place." She wiped her face, staring unseeingly straight ahead.
"Right," he cleared his throat. "Good night, Chloe." He got out of the car and watched as she drove away, knowing he'd made yet another mistake. He was such a coward. All he'd wanted to say was he wasn't acting tonight. She [i]was[/i] incredible and beautiful and wonderful and adorable. But Chloe didn't need some loser like him fawning over her and falling for her. And he was pretty damn sure she didn't want him to anyway so it was just as well. 'She was just confused and vulnerable,' Brady reasoned. Philip had hurt her and so, naturally, him saying those kind things about her tonight had affected her, given her mixed feelings. He now knew it would have to be 'Hands Off' where Chloe was concerned or one or the both of them would be hurt. He walked toward the Inn's entrance and sighed knowing this was only the beginning. "Dammit." What the hell had he gotten them into?