Chapter 16:
The Morning After.
Chloe rubbed her aching muscles as she lifted her tired body off of the floor. She must have fallen asleep after crying over what happened last night. Last night. She was so hurt, so angry, so mortified. And now? Now she was just exhausted.
"Chloe?"
She turned quickly at the sound of her name. "Susan!" A hand flew to her chest. "You scared the crap out of me."
"I'm sorry," Susan approached her boss cautiously, noticing the complete mess the kitchen was in, chocolate splattered about and crumbs spilled haphazardly all over the counters. "What are you doing here Chloe? Did you-Did you sleep on the floor?"
She ran her hands through her hair and walked to the front of the shop, Susan following closely behind. "It's a long.long story," she sighed.
"Yeah well, I'm not sure if I was seeing right but I could have sworn that Brady was sleeping on the ground, just outside of the shop."
"Brady?"
"Yes. Brady. Your husband? His head was kind of resting back on the wall, like he was sitting and kind of just nodded off."
"What was he doing there?"
A sudden tap at the door caught their attention. Susan smiled. "Why don't you ask him yourself?" She strode over to the entrance and let Brady in. "Hey Brady."
"Hey Suz." Wearing the same clothes from last night, though now rumpled, he gave Susan a warm smile and turned to face Chloe. "Chloe.Hi."
"Hi." Without thinking, she wiped her face with shaking hands, trying to not look as bad as she felt. But it was no use. Brady would be able to tell she'd been crying, that she'd slept here all night.
"Susan, could you please excuse us?" He raised his eyebrows in question.
"Sure Brady." Sensing the tension in the room, she left Brady and Chloe alone.
Squaring her shoulders defiantly, Chloe hoped to somehow get the strength to face him. "What do you want?" Her voice was, for the most part, firm but shook ever so slightly. She was so hurt. Brady's rejection had hurt her more than Philip sleeping with twenty women ever could. There was almost something shameful about that and that only fueled Chloe's anger more.
Brady took a few steps toward her but stopped himself until a few feet remained between them, almost as if the emotional distance between them was somehow palpable. Chloe looked too uncomfortable with his presence. And he was certain if he got any closer to her, he wouldn't be able to keep his hands off of her. He wanted to make it all better, make her hurt go away. "You know when I. I left here last night." He was silent for a long while. "I got halfway home and then I came back. I realized I hadn't locked the door when I stormed out of here so I came back. I heard you crying in the back. I didn't know what to say." He trailed off. "So I locked the door and I left again. I got about three feet down the street when I realized how much I wanted to see you, tell you.but the door was locked and couldn't even work up the nerve to knock."
"Why are you telling me this, Brady?"
"I don't know," he sighed and looked at her. Standing in front of him, looking like she'd been crying all night and looking so miserable, all he'd wanted to do was hold her and tell her he loved her. Now was the time. "Chloe, I---"
"Well let me tell you something that I know Brady. I know that I don't want to be married to you any longer. I know that I want this charade to be over. I know that I don't want to be your wife. I know that I don't want your friendship or your pity. And I know that I don't want to have to kiss you or touch you or see you ever again."
He swallowed audibly. He felt as if he'd been punched in the gut. Here he was about to spill his guts out to her, tell her how much in love with her he was, damn all the consequences. But she'd made it clear. She'd just made it abundantly clear that she wanted nothing to do with him. Just as he suspected, she wanted Philip. She loved Philip. 'She'll never love you, Brady,' he thought dejectedly to himself. "Well seeing as how I live in Salem and my sister is your best friend, I'm pretty sure you won't be able to avoid [i]seeing[/i] me," he said coolly. "But as far as touching goes.and kissing me.well, you won't have to worry about that."
"I'll have the divorce papers drawn up this afternoon."
"Don't bother," Brady spat out. "We're not married Chloe. We never were."
"What? What do you mean? What are you talking about?"
"That Judge? Judge Broe (hehe ;)) that married us?" She nodded and he continued. "Well, he was a quack, Chloe. He's nuts. If we were sober enough we'd probably have been able to figure that out but we weren't. So we paid him a colossal amount of money to marry us. He's a con man Chloe."
"But. but." she was at a loss for words.
"He was a judge in the past but he had that title taken away from him six years ago because he dabbled in extortion and grand theft. I [i]knew[/i] something was a little off. I'd suspected it weeks ago so I had a private investigator check it out for me and sure enough."
"You suspected this? For weeks?"
Brady nodded, slightly ashamed. "Yes."
"Well, why didn't you tell me? Why didn't you say anything before now?"
"Because I-"
"Oh, lemme guess. Because it was business to you. Because you only care about and only look out for yourself, right? You never cared about me: Friend. or otherwise. Basic Black was just doing so good and that all that's ever mattered to you."
"Is that what you really think?" His eyes were cold and icy. But somewhere inside, lurking about was hurt and sadness and desperation.
Chloe couldn't keep his stare. He looked so aloof. But did she detect a slight aching in his eyes, in his voice? "It doesn't matter what I think. Just get out. Get out and get your stuff and get out of my apartment and leave me the hell alone. I never want to see your face again. By the time that I get home from work today, I want you out of my apartment and out of my life." She turned her back to him, on the verge of very real, very exhausting tears.
Brady sighed, feeling the lowest of the low he could ever remember feeling. He'd ruined the best thing that had ever happened to him. He should have told Chloe what he'd suspected weeks ago because at least then he would have still have her friendship. "I'm sorry," he said quietly and walked out of the shop and out of Chloe's life.
"Dammit." Chloe burst out sobbing and sinking to the floor once again.
********************
Brady spent the day doing as Chloe asked: packing up his things and moving out. It had been so hard. And he wasn't a crier. He had never been a crier. But this thing with Chloe, this.well whatever it was.was over and for the first time in his life, he wanted to cry. He didn't want to get drunk and forget like he usually did. He didn't want to punch anything or anyone. He just wanted to cry. He was just so lost and he didn't know where to turn. So nearly twelve hours later of just driving around and always ready to cry but never being able to, he found himself on John and Marlena's doorstep. They had returned from their vacation only two days ago but John was still taking some time off.
"Son?" John opened the door, to a haggard looking Brady complete with a five o' clock shadow and the still rumpled clothes. Brady had called in sick this morning and sounded okay at the time. Now John was concerned.
"Dad." he hugged his father, feeling the first tears course down his cheeks. "I'm so tired. I'm so tired, dad." He sobbed into his father's chest, hanging on for dear life. "I'm so tired."
"Come here son," he pulled Brady inside and sat him on the couch. "Come here. You drunk?" he arched an eyebrow at his son.
Brady gave his father a miserable chuckle. "I wish."
"Is this about Chloe?"
"I love her," Brady said simply. "I love her and she doesn't feel the same way and it hurts. It hurts so badly," he bit out quickly. The tears continued to make their way down his now flushed cheeks.
"But.but she married you, Brady. You two care about each other. You love each other.don't you?" John was beyond confused. "Maybe I should call Chloe?" He reached for the phone.
"No!.No don't do that. Please, dad." Brady sniffled and roughly wiped his face. "I am such a f&cking wuss!"
"Son." John started cautiously.
"No Dad. It's okay. I'm fine. Just give me a minute. Give me a f&cking minute to pull myself together." He blew out a calming breath and, nearly in one breath, explained the whole, sordid past two months to his father: everything from him and Chloe sleeping together and ending up married to the deal made between them to last night's kiss and then fight and falling out this morning.
"Jesus son, I don't know what to say."
"Just tell me I'll get over this."
"Well, sorry son but I can't tell you that. Love does strange things to people."
"Dad, what the hell does that have to do with anything?"
"Well you love Chloe and she loves you-"
"No Dad, no. You're not getting this. She doesn't love me. She doesn't even [i]like[/i] me anymore."
"I have a hard time believing that Brady. I mean, you're my son and I love you but you're not the easiest person to live with. It takes a special person to deal with you."
"Gee, thanks dad. I feel [i]so[/i] much better," he replied sarcastically, his face contorting in annoyance.
"Now, don't you go off and take it the wrong way son. I'm just telling you what I know."
"And what is that, oh wise one?"
"Knock it off kid."
"I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm just."
"Deep in the clutches of the hungry abyss that is love?" He raised his trademark eyebrow at Brady.
"What?" Brady chuckled at his father.
"I thought that might cheer you up." He gave Brady's back a good-natured slap. "Let me tell you something Brady: Chloe loves you. She is in love with you." Brady shook his head 'no' but John continued. "Yes, son, she loves you. From what you've told me this evening, this may have started out for all the wrong reasons. But it wouldn't have lasted so long if you didn't grow to care for one another. But you seem to think she's still hung up on Philip."
"Oh I know she is."
"How? Did you ever think that maybe, just maybe, her suddenly wanting Philip was simply a ploy to make you jealous?"
Brady scoffed. "Chloe's not the type to play games. She always says what's on her mind. She's the most honest person I know. She wouldn't do that. That's one of the things I love about her."
"Like I said before son: 'Love makes you do strange things.' I mean look at you." He gestured to Brady's unkempt appearance.
"Shut up," Brady chuckled.
"I want you to stay here until you find a place. Okay?"
"Dad, it's not necessary---" he shook his head.
"Yes it is Brady. Don't argue. Now get upstairs and take a shower. You reek."
"What am I ten years old again?" Brady laughed as he rose from the couch and began climbing the penthouse stairs.
"You'll be fine, Brady. Everything will work out."
Brady only grunted in reply. He had a lot to think about. As he neared the top of the stairs, he turned to look back down at his father who was pouring himself a glass of water. "Thanks, Dad." His father had just given him something he hadn't had in long while: hope.
"Anytime." **********************
Chloe opened the door of her home and sighed. She laid her keys on the kitchen table and headed straight for the bathroom. All she wanted was a nice hot shower and to just curl in bed with a good book. She'd gone through the day, looking and feeling like a zombie, neither living nor dead. Chloe laughed at the thought. Maybe she'd watch a good scary movie tonight instead. Ehh. after the day she'd had, a comedy was probably a better choice. So two hours, a hot shower and twelve chocolate chip cookies later, Chloe sat in her bed crying her eyes out as she watched 'Tootsie.' It was supposed to be funny, one of the great comedies of the twentieth century. But Chloe couldn't help herself. It was one of Brady's favorite movies. And somewhere deep down, she wasn't ready to let him go just yet.
The Morning After.
Chloe rubbed her aching muscles as she lifted her tired body off of the floor. She must have fallen asleep after crying over what happened last night. Last night. She was so hurt, so angry, so mortified. And now? Now she was just exhausted.
"Chloe?"
She turned quickly at the sound of her name. "Susan!" A hand flew to her chest. "You scared the crap out of me."
"I'm sorry," Susan approached her boss cautiously, noticing the complete mess the kitchen was in, chocolate splattered about and crumbs spilled haphazardly all over the counters. "What are you doing here Chloe? Did you-Did you sleep on the floor?"
She ran her hands through her hair and walked to the front of the shop, Susan following closely behind. "It's a long.long story," she sighed.
"Yeah well, I'm not sure if I was seeing right but I could have sworn that Brady was sleeping on the ground, just outside of the shop."
"Brady?"
"Yes. Brady. Your husband? His head was kind of resting back on the wall, like he was sitting and kind of just nodded off."
"What was he doing there?"
A sudden tap at the door caught their attention. Susan smiled. "Why don't you ask him yourself?" She strode over to the entrance and let Brady in. "Hey Brady."
"Hey Suz." Wearing the same clothes from last night, though now rumpled, he gave Susan a warm smile and turned to face Chloe. "Chloe.Hi."
"Hi." Without thinking, she wiped her face with shaking hands, trying to not look as bad as she felt. But it was no use. Brady would be able to tell she'd been crying, that she'd slept here all night.
"Susan, could you please excuse us?" He raised his eyebrows in question.
"Sure Brady." Sensing the tension in the room, she left Brady and Chloe alone.
Squaring her shoulders defiantly, Chloe hoped to somehow get the strength to face him. "What do you want?" Her voice was, for the most part, firm but shook ever so slightly. She was so hurt. Brady's rejection had hurt her more than Philip sleeping with twenty women ever could. There was almost something shameful about that and that only fueled Chloe's anger more.
Brady took a few steps toward her but stopped himself until a few feet remained between them, almost as if the emotional distance between them was somehow palpable. Chloe looked too uncomfortable with his presence. And he was certain if he got any closer to her, he wouldn't be able to keep his hands off of her. He wanted to make it all better, make her hurt go away. "You know when I. I left here last night." He was silent for a long while. "I got halfway home and then I came back. I realized I hadn't locked the door when I stormed out of here so I came back. I heard you crying in the back. I didn't know what to say." He trailed off. "So I locked the door and I left again. I got about three feet down the street when I realized how much I wanted to see you, tell you.but the door was locked and couldn't even work up the nerve to knock."
"Why are you telling me this, Brady?"
"I don't know," he sighed and looked at her. Standing in front of him, looking like she'd been crying all night and looking so miserable, all he'd wanted to do was hold her and tell her he loved her. Now was the time. "Chloe, I---"
"Well let me tell you something that I know Brady. I know that I don't want to be married to you any longer. I know that I want this charade to be over. I know that I don't want to be your wife. I know that I don't want your friendship or your pity. And I know that I don't want to have to kiss you or touch you or see you ever again."
He swallowed audibly. He felt as if he'd been punched in the gut. Here he was about to spill his guts out to her, tell her how much in love with her he was, damn all the consequences. But she'd made it clear. She'd just made it abundantly clear that she wanted nothing to do with him. Just as he suspected, she wanted Philip. She loved Philip. 'She'll never love you, Brady,' he thought dejectedly to himself. "Well seeing as how I live in Salem and my sister is your best friend, I'm pretty sure you won't be able to avoid [i]seeing[/i] me," he said coolly. "But as far as touching goes.and kissing me.well, you won't have to worry about that."
"I'll have the divorce papers drawn up this afternoon."
"Don't bother," Brady spat out. "We're not married Chloe. We never were."
"What? What do you mean? What are you talking about?"
"That Judge? Judge Broe (hehe ;)) that married us?" She nodded and he continued. "Well, he was a quack, Chloe. He's nuts. If we were sober enough we'd probably have been able to figure that out but we weren't. So we paid him a colossal amount of money to marry us. He's a con man Chloe."
"But. but." she was at a loss for words.
"He was a judge in the past but he had that title taken away from him six years ago because he dabbled in extortion and grand theft. I [i]knew[/i] something was a little off. I'd suspected it weeks ago so I had a private investigator check it out for me and sure enough."
"You suspected this? For weeks?"
Brady nodded, slightly ashamed. "Yes."
"Well, why didn't you tell me? Why didn't you say anything before now?"
"Because I-"
"Oh, lemme guess. Because it was business to you. Because you only care about and only look out for yourself, right? You never cared about me: Friend. or otherwise. Basic Black was just doing so good and that all that's ever mattered to you."
"Is that what you really think?" His eyes were cold and icy. But somewhere inside, lurking about was hurt and sadness and desperation.
Chloe couldn't keep his stare. He looked so aloof. But did she detect a slight aching in his eyes, in his voice? "It doesn't matter what I think. Just get out. Get out and get your stuff and get out of my apartment and leave me the hell alone. I never want to see your face again. By the time that I get home from work today, I want you out of my apartment and out of my life." She turned her back to him, on the verge of very real, very exhausting tears.
Brady sighed, feeling the lowest of the low he could ever remember feeling. He'd ruined the best thing that had ever happened to him. He should have told Chloe what he'd suspected weeks ago because at least then he would have still have her friendship. "I'm sorry," he said quietly and walked out of the shop and out of Chloe's life.
"Dammit." Chloe burst out sobbing and sinking to the floor once again.
********************
Brady spent the day doing as Chloe asked: packing up his things and moving out. It had been so hard. And he wasn't a crier. He had never been a crier. But this thing with Chloe, this.well whatever it was.was over and for the first time in his life, he wanted to cry. He didn't want to get drunk and forget like he usually did. He didn't want to punch anything or anyone. He just wanted to cry. He was just so lost and he didn't know where to turn. So nearly twelve hours later of just driving around and always ready to cry but never being able to, he found himself on John and Marlena's doorstep. They had returned from their vacation only two days ago but John was still taking some time off.
"Son?" John opened the door, to a haggard looking Brady complete with a five o' clock shadow and the still rumpled clothes. Brady had called in sick this morning and sounded okay at the time. Now John was concerned.
"Dad." he hugged his father, feeling the first tears course down his cheeks. "I'm so tired. I'm so tired, dad." He sobbed into his father's chest, hanging on for dear life. "I'm so tired."
"Come here son," he pulled Brady inside and sat him on the couch. "Come here. You drunk?" he arched an eyebrow at his son.
Brady gave his father a miserable chuckle. "I wish."
"Is this about Chloe?"
"I love her," Brady said simply. "I love her and she doesn't feel the same way and it hurts. It hurts so badly," he bit out quickly. The tears continued to make their way down his now flushed cheeks.
"But.but she married you, Brady. You two care about each other. You love each other.don't you?" John was beyond confused. "Maybe I should call Chloe?" He reached for the phone.
"No!.No don't do that. Please, dad." Brady sniffled and roughly wiped his face. "I am such a f&cking wuss!"
"Son." John started cautiously.
"No Dad. It's okay. I'm fine. Just give me a minute. Give me a f&cking minute to pull myself together." He blew out a calming breath and, nearly in one breath, explained the whole, sordid past two months to his father: everything from him and Chloe sleeping together and ending up married to the deal made between them to last night's kiss and then fight and falling out this morning.
"Jesus son, I don't know what to say."
"Just tell me I'll get over this."
"Well, sorry son but I can't tell you that. Love does strange things to people."
"Dad, what the hell does that have to do with anything?"
"Well you love Chloe and she loves you-"
"No Dad, no. You're not getting this. She doesn't love me. She doesn't even [i]like[/i] me anymore."
"I have a hard time believing that Brady. I mean, you're my son and I love you but you're not the easiest person to live with. It takes a special person to deal with you."
"Gee, thanks dad. I feel [i]so[/i] much better," he replied sarcastically, his face contorting in annoyance.
"Now, don't you go off and take it the wrong way son. I'm just telling you what I know."
"And what is that, oh wise one?"
"Knock it off kid."
"I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm just."
"Deep in the clutches of the hungry abyss that is love?" He raised his trademark eyebrow at Brady.
"What?" Brady chuckled at his father.
"I thought that might cheer you up." He gave Brady's back a good-natured slap. "Let me tell you something Brady: Chloe loves you. She is in love with you." Brady shook his head 'no' but John continued. "Yes, son, she loves you. From what you've told me this evening, this may have started out for all the wrong reasons. But it wouldn't have lasted so long if you didn't grow to care for one another. But you seem to think she's still hung up on Philip."
"Oh I know she is."
"How? Did you ever think that maybe, just maybe, her suddenly wanting Philip was simply a ploy to make you jealous?"
Brady scoffed. "Chloe's not the type to play games. She always says what's on her mind. She's the most honest person I know. She wouldn't do that. That's one of the things I love about her."
"Like I said before son: 'Love makes you do strange things.' I mean look at you." He gestured to Brady's unkempt appearance.
"Shut up," Brady chuckled.
"I want you to stay here until you find a place. Okay?"
"Dad, it's not necessary---" he shook his head.
"Yes it is Brady. Don't argue. Now get upstairs and take a shower. You reek."
"What am I ten years old again?" Brady laughed as he rose from the couch and began climbing the penthouse stairs.
"You'll be fine, Brady. Everything will work out."
Brady only grunted in reply. He had a lot to think about. As he neared the top of the stairs, he turned to look back down at his father who was pouring himself a glass of water. "Thanks, Dad." His father had just given him something he hadn't had in long while: hope.
"Anytime." **********************
Chloe opened the door of her home and sighed. She laid her keys on the kitchen table and headed straight for the bathroom. All she wanted was a nice hot shower and to just curl in bed with a good book. She'd gone through the day, looking and feeling like a zombie, neither living nor dead. Chloe laughed at the thought. Maybe she'd watch a good scary movie tonight instead. Ehh. after the day she'd had, a comedy was probably a better choice. So two hours, a hot shower and twelve chocolate chip cookies later, Chloe sat in her bed crying her eyes out as she watched 'Tootsie.' It was supposed to be funny, one of the great comedies of the twentieth century. But Chloe couldn't help herself. It was one of Brady's favorite movies. And somewhere deep down, she wasn't ready to let him go just yet.