All I have to say is sometimes ff.net can be a real p.i.a! LOL
I disclaim! Thanks for reading!!! :)
Chapter 9: Food, Glorious Food
Weeks passed. Brady and Jason having patched things up and Brady having moved in with him. It was like old times.
Brady and Chloe had grown even closer, though never crossing the line of friendship, despite teasing by their friends that more was going on than met the eye. In her spare time, Chloe helped rehab Brady back to health. He had finally gotten rid of the sling, his shoulder having healed dramatically; and he was now able to use crutches, the break in his left leg not having been as bad as the right.
Brady watched Jason and Mimi cuddle on the couch and rolled his eyes, as they began kissing. The three of them WERE watching a movie, only it seemed now Brady was the only one doing the watching. "Guys, cut it out or get a room," he muttered.
"Room," Jason and Mimi replied, simultaneously, rising from the couch and high tailing it to Jason's room, their hands never leaving the other's body.
"Thanks," Brady muttered sarcastically. Alone now, his mind drifted. . . to Chloe. He took a peek at his watch, figuring she should be home by now. He debated calling her but decided against it. Maybe he was smothering her. Maybe she liked to be smothered. Was it even possible to smother just a friend? 'Ahhh. . .' He flipped the television channel and tried to relax. He didn't have to see Chloe every night. After all, he didn't want her getting the wrong idea. Brady wiped his brow trying to concentrate on the episode of 'Fantasy Island.' Chloe did a good a really good impression of Tattoo. He could almost hear her now mimicking the little Latin's voice and accent: 'The plane, boss, the plane.' He couldn't help but chuckle. "Food," Brady sighed. "I should eat something." Anything to get his mind off of Chloe.
He grabbed his crutches and pulled himself off of the chair, hopping his way over to the kitchen. Pulling open the fridge, he gasped. "Leftover pizza and beer. How shocking!" A bummed Brady turned back around to look at the empty loft, hearing the rhythmic thumping coming from Jason's room. "Now that just isn't right."
He couldn't help but picture Chloe and himself in the midst of sex, her head thrown back in pure pleasure as he made violent love to her. He had to wipe his suddenly slack mouth and try and think logically. "Chloe's just a friend. Chloe's just a friend." But what guy didn't fantasize about sleeping with his female friends? "No guy," Brady answered. But with Chloe, he fantasized about her all the time. All the time. So much so that he often had to pull a pillow over his lap when engrossed in simple, innocent conversation with her.
Nothing about Chloe was innocent though. She was a flaming, sexy woman, with marvelous blue eyes that often sparked with great passion and mischief. 'She is a goddess. She is single. She's right there. Ready and willing and ripe for the taking,' he thought to himself.
"Stop it, Brady," he said loud. The ringing of his phone broke into his strange and tortured string of thoughts. "Black here."
"Hey Brady," Chloe sighed into the phone and sunk deeper into her puffy, black couch. Still in her scrubs, she couldn't wait to call him. In the weeks that had passed, Chloe discovered she was more than attracted to Brady. She loved him. She was in love with him as crazy as it sounded. She wanted to be with him. It was all just so sudden and so very crazy. But just being near him satisfied her. Though, his mere presence alone was enough to drive her insane with lust and want. "What are you up to?"
"Just about to eat," he leaned against the wall, loving the sound of her voice, feeling himself grow hard just thinking about her all alone in her apartment. Oh, the things he could do to her.
"Without moi," Chloe asked.
"Yeah well, I didn't want to-. I mean. . . I thought about you- it. . . the food. I was just really hungry," he stumbled out and lightly banged his head against the wall in frustration.
"Oh, I see," she frowned. She could take a hint. He was probably sick of her. He'd only just spent every night of the passed few weeks with her. "Well, uh, don't let me stop you then."
"Wait, Chloe! Uh, I was just going to eat some leftovers but if you need the company. . . I can be over there in five minutes and we can order some Chinese."
"Chinese again? That's two nights in a row, Brady. You aren't sick of it yet?"
"Yeah well, I am a man who knows what he wants and when I find something I like, I can't help but stick to it."
"Okay then." Chloe smiled slyly. "I'm just going to go freshen up but I'm going to leave the door unlocked for you. Just come on in and order me some vegetable fried rice."
"You got it."
"Okay." Chloe grinned.
"Alright."
"Bye Brady."
"See ya," he put down the phone and grinned.
Chloe pulled her hair from her scrunchy and made her way over to her bathroom to take a shower. She smelled of Lysol and latex, not that she didn't adore smelling of the hospital but she was pretty certain Brady would like a more sweet smell for a change. Time to bring out the big guns,' Chloe thought to herself, bringing out a bottle of Victoria's Secret 'Passionate Kisses' body wash.
Grabbing a tank top and pair of boxers off of the dresser, her magic 8 ball caught her eye. She didn't really believe in this thing but it was a gift from Mimi and worth a shot. She picked up the ball and shook it. God was she relieved Belle and Mimi weren;t around to see her stooping to this. "Are Brady and I meant to be? I mean really and truly meant to be?" She didn't care how foolish she sounded. She turned it over and smiled at the 8 ball's answer: "Without a doubt."
************************
"Oh, I am so fat," Chloe muttered, looking around at the empty cartons of Chinese food from her place on the floor leaning against the couch alongside Brady.
He reached out and patted her leg, exposed because of the boxers she wore. "You've got some meat on your bones. Nothing wrong with that."
"Thanks. . . I think."
"No problem," Brady replied, winking at her.
Both were quiet as they quote unquote let their food digest. Without haste, Brady pulled a cushion off of the couch, covered his lap and closed his eyes, trying to relax with the blushing beauty at his side. He couldn't help it but he got the definite feeling Chloe was in love with him and it scared the shit out of him. It wasn't an ego thing either. He could just tell, especially the way she kept touching him tonight and the flirting didn't seem as innocent.
Chloe frowned. All Brady ever did was eat and sleep. Sure, he was awfully cute filled up on food and tired. His eyes kind of got that glazed look and his cheeks flushed. But dammit, she was growing impatient. She wanted a little action. Too bad Brady thought she and he together was the most preposterous concept in the world. She thought back to something that had only occurred the week before. It seemed their friends couldn't re-tell the story enough. . .
*Flashback*
Belle, Shawn and Mimi rode the elevators up to Chloe and Jason's floor. Meeting Jason in the hallway, he informed them that Brady was probably at Chloe's, as Brady seemed to spend most of his time there. All four stopped before the door, jaws dropping as they listened to the voices inside.
"Give it to me, Brady! I want it now!" Chloe could be heard yelling.
"No way Chloe. You want it, you're going to have to come and get it!"
"Ugh, I just got off of work and I need to play with it and you're really pissing me off!"
Back outside the loft door.
"Oh my God," Belle gasped. "What the hell are they doing in there," she whispered.
"What do you think?" Shawn grinned.
"Shawn, How can you-"
"Shhhh. . ." Jason hushed her.
Inside the loft.
"What? You think you can just get it any time you want it, Chloe? It doesn't work that way. If you want it so bad, they have places you can go to and pay a small fee."
"Why would I do that when I have yours here?"
Back outside the loft door.
"Whoa ho ho," Mimi chuckled. "Go Chloe."
"Mimi," Belle gave her friend a disapproving look.
"What? It was only a matter of time. I'm just wondering how they're handling this, what with both legs of Brady's legs broken and everything."
"Obviously NOT everything," Shawn chuckled.
Inside the loft.
"Ouch! Dammit Chloe! When I agreed to stay in Salem, I did not agree to this!"
"Ugh!" Chloe grunted in reply.
"Jesus, Chloe! You're going to break it if you handle it like that."
Back outside the loft door.
Belle groaned. "This is ridiculous. I'm just going to walk in."
"Perv," Jason muttered.
Belle slid the loft door open and all four friends nearly fell over each other in hopes of catching Brady and Chloe wherever they were and whatever they were doing.
"What the hell?" Brady cocked an eyebrow at his friends as sat leaning back on the couch, holding a remote control over his head, Chloe draped over him, trying to rip it from his hands. "Hey, what are you guys doing here? Wanna play 'Space Invaders?'"
"Ugh," Chloe huffed and gave up, plopping next to Brady and forcibly pushing his crutches to the floor. "You'll let them play but you won't let me."
"Chloe, you've played with it enough. You're becoming addicted," he tried to reason with her and held the remote away from her again when she tried to snatch it.
"Video games," Belle cried. "You were and are discussing video games!?"
"Belle," Brady started cautiously and pulled his crutches up from the floor, standing and making his way over to his sister and smiling friends. "Belle, are you okay?"
"I'm fine, I'm just. . . ugh, you two really suck." She swept passed him and took a seat next to a giggling Chloe who was still dressed in her scrubs from work and happily killing virtual aliens from the planet Garpa.
"She just thought you two were uhh. . . knockin' da boots as they say," Jason chuckled and took a seat next to Mimi.
"Who? Me and Chloe?" Brady laughed and shook his head as if it were the most ridiculous thing in the world. "That's the most ridiculous thing I've ever heard."
*End of Flashback*
Brady watched Chloe, as she appeared to be deep in thought. He childishly wondered if maybe she was thinking of him. She was just so beautiful and kind and real. Though, she was so exquisite he sometimes wondered if he ever got the courage to touch her, really touch her, would she break into a million pieces. She was an angel. She was perfect, too good to be true. He had to have her. "What are you thinking about?"
Chloe's eyes snapped open, blue meeting blue. She was stunned into silence, watching Brady's sparkling eyes gaze at her so intently. She couldn't tell him the truth. The truth would be too humiliating and it'd be opening up a can of worms she wasn't sure she wanted exposed just yet. So she said the only thing she could think of: "Cheese."
"Cheese," he repeated her incredulously. "You were thinking about cheese?"
"Well. . . ugh uhh. . . I mean there are so many kinds of cheese."
"I guess so." He nodded slowly.
"Brie, Parmesan, Swiss, American. . ."
"Cheddar."
"Cheddar," Chloe repeated him, nodding her head. "Though I've always been partial to goat cheese."
"Have you?" Brady chuckled.
"Yes." She rolled her eyes. "Something wrong with goat cheese?"
"I guess I haven't really thought about it."
She turned away from him. "Figures."
"Whoa, whoa, whoa. What's wrong? What'd I say?" Brady held up his hands in question.
"You never have to say anything," she sneered.
"Huh?"
"So you don't like goat cheese. I get it. I mean who does anyway, right?" She felt herself tear up. "It's weird." She sniffled. "It's. . . smelly."
"Is it?" Brady asked.
"Oh right, like you haven't noticed."
"Chloe-"
"Goat cheese is really good you know? I mean it may not look so good at first glance or sound so good when you first hear it-"
"Hear cheese-?"
"-But if you would just give it a chance, maybe you'd like it."
"Chloe? We aren't really talking about cheese anymore are we?"
"Ugh," she beat her head with a spare couch cushion and stormed off to her room. "Be sure and lock the door when you leave!"
Brady shook his head in confusion as he left Chloe's. This is exactly why he didn't want to get involved with her. He knew it would just complicate things. Hell, he hadn't even kissed her yet and already they were fighting like some old married couple. "What does she want from me," he asked aloud as he entered his loft.
"I think you know the answer to that," Jason stood at the fridge, pulling out the box of pizza and a beer.
"Okay, but what do I do about it?"
"Well, you have two choices. You can either pretend you don't know what she wants and both of you can go on in agony. Or you can admit to her that you do know and that you want the same thing." He laid the food on the counter.
"But do I?" Brady asked aloud, though he knew the answer.
"Come on Brady. You telling me you don't want more than friendship with Chloe?"
"I do," he sighed sadly. "I do want to be with Chloe."
"Well, what's stopping you? Jesus, you two are frustrating."
Brady plopped onto the couch, leaning back after setting his crutches on the floor. "I know it sounds irrational and strange but I feel like if I get too close to her, I'm going to lose her and I can't take that."
"I hate to break it to you Brady but you and Chloe are already just about as close as two people can be, without crossing that line between intimacy and friendship of course."
"I know," Brady buried his face in his hands. "And you have no idea how badly I wanna cross that line."
"So cross it, Brady. Now I'd love to stay and chat but Mimi's waiting for her luva to return. Night man." He picked up the beer and pizza and made his way back to his room. "
"Night Jase," Brady chuckled. He let the back of his head fall against the couch. It would be so easy to go over to Chloe's right now and take her into his arms and. . . no. Brady needed to take care of this. The sooner he got over Chloe and she him, the better. Reluctantly, he picked up the phone and dialed the familiar number. "Hello Henderson?"
TBC. Thanks for reading!!!
I disclaim! Thanks for reading!!! :)
Chapter 9: Food, Glorious Food
Weeks passed. Brady and Jason having patched things up and Brady having moved in with him. It was like old times.
Brady and Chloe had grown even closer, though never crossing the line of friendship, despite teasing by their friends that more was going on than met the eye. In her spare time, Chloe helped rehab Brady back to health. He had finally gotten rid of the sling, his shoulder having healed dramatically; and he was now able to use crutches, the break in his left leg not having been as bad as the right.
Brady watched Jason and Mimi cuddle on the couch and rolled his eyes, as they began kissing. The three of them WERE watching a movie, only it seemed now Brady was the only one doing the watching. "Guys, cut it out or get a room," he muttered.
"Room," Jason and Mimi replied, simultaneously, rising from the couch and high tailing it to Jason's room, their hands never leaving the other's body.
"Thanks," Brady muttered sarcastically. Alone now, his mind drifted. . . to Chloe. He took a peek at his watch, figuring she should be home by now. He debated calling her but decided against it. Maybe he was smothering her. Maybe she liked to be smothered. Was it even possible to smother just a friend? 'Ahhh. . .' He flipped the television channel and tried to relax. He didn't have to see Chloe every night. After all, he didn't want her getting the wrong idea. Brady wiped his brow trying to concentrate on the episode of 'Fantasy Island.' Chloe did a good a really good impression of Tattoo. He could almost hear her now mimicking the little Latin's voice and accent: 'The plane, boss, the plane.' He couldn't help but chuckle. "Food," Brady sighed. "I should eat something." Anything to get his mind off of Chloe.
He grabbed his crutches and pulled himself off of the chair, hopping his way over to the kitchen. Pulling open the fridge, he gasped. "Leftover pizza and beer. How shocking!" A bummed Brady turned back around to look at the empty loft, hearing the rhythmic thumping coming from Jason's room. "Now that just isn't right."
He couldn't help but picture Chloe and himself in the midst of sex, her head thrown back in pure pleasure as he made violent love to her. He had to wipe his suddenly slack mouth and try and think logically. "Chloe's just a friend. Chloe's just a friend." But what guy didn't fantasize about sleeping with his female friends? "No guy," Brady answered. But with Chloe, he fantasized about her all the time. All the time. So much so that he often had to pull a pillow over his lap when engrossed in simple, innocent conversation with her.
Nothing about Chloe was innocent though. She was a flaming, sexy woman, with marvelous blue eyes that often sparked with great passion and mischief. 'She is a goddess. She is single. She's right there. Ready and willing and ripe for the taking,' he thought to himself.
"Stop it, Brady," he said loud. The ringing of his phone broke into his strange and tortured string of thoughts. "Black here."
"Hey Brady," Chloe sighed into the phone and sunk deeper into her puffy, black couch. Still in her scrubs, she couldn't wait to call him. In the weeks that had passed, Chloe discovered she was more than attracted to Brady. She loved him. She was in love with him as crazy as it sounded. She wanted to be with him. It was all just so sudden and so very crazy. But just being near him satisfied her. Though, his mere presence alone was enough to drive her insane with lust and want. "What are you up to?"
"Just about to eat," he leaned against the wall, loving the sound of her voice, feeling himself grow hard just thinking about her all alone in her apartment. Oh, the things he could do to her.
"Without moi," Chloe asked.
"Yeah well, I didn't want to-. I mean. . . I thought about you- it. . . the food. I was just really hungry," he stumbled out and lightly banged his head against the wall in frustration.
"Oh, I see," she frowned. She could take a hint. He was probably sick of her. He'd only just spent every night of the passed few weeks with her. "Well, uh, don't let me stop you then."
"Wait, Chloe! Uh, I was just going to eat some leftovers but if you need the company. . . I can be over there in five minutes and we can order some Chinese."
"Chinese again? That's two nights in a row, Brady. You aren't sick of it yet?"
"Yeah well, I am a man who knows what he wants and when I find something I like, I can't help but stick to it."
"Okay then." Chloe smiled slyly. "I'm just going to go freshen up but I'm going to leave the door unlocked for you. Just come on in and order me some vegetable fried rice."
"You got it."
"Okay." Chloe grinned.
"Alright."
"Bye Brady."
"See ya," he put down the phone and grinned.
Chloe pulled her hair from her scrunchy and made her way over to her bathroom to take a shower. She smelled of Lysol and latex, not that she didn't adore smelling of the hospital but she was pretty certain Brady would like a more sweet smell for a change. Time to bring out the big guns,' Chloe thought to herself, bringing out a bottle of Victoria's Secret 'Passionate Kisses' body wash.
Grabbing a tank top and pair of boxers off of the dresser, her magic 8 ball caught her eye. She didn't really believe in this thing but it was a gift from Mimi and worth a shot. She picked up the ball and shook it. God was she relieved Belle and Mimi weren;t around to see her stooping to this. "Are Brady and I meant to be? I mean really and truly meant to be?" She didn't care how foolish she sounded. She turned it over and smiled at the 8 ball's answer: "Without a doubt."
************************
"Oh, I am so fat," Chloe muttered, looking around at the empty cartons of Chinese food from her place on the floor leaning against the couch alongside Brady.
He reached out and patted her leg, exposed because of the boxers she wore. "You've got some meat on your bones. Nothing wrong with that."
"Thanks. . . I think."
"No problem," Brady replied, winking at her.
Both were quiet as they quote unquote let their food digest. Without haste, Brady pulled a cushion off of the couch, covered his lap and closed his eyes, trying to relax with the blushing beauty at his side. He couldn't help it but he got the definite feeling Chloe was in love with him and it scared the shit out of him. It wasn't an ego thing either. He could just tell, especially the way she kept touching him tonight and the flirting didn't seem as innocent.
Chloe frowned. All Brady ever did was eat and sleep. Sure, he was awfully cute filled up on food and tired. His eyes kind of got that glazed look and his cheeks flushed. But dammit, she was growing impatient. She wanted a little action. Too bad Brady thought she and he together was the most preposterous concept in the world. She thought back to something that had only occurred the week before. It seemed their friends couldn't re-tell the story enough. . .
*Flashback*
Belle, Shawn and Mimi rode the elevators up to Chloe and Jason's floor. Meeting Jason in the hallway, he informed them that Brady was probably at Chloe's, as Brady seemed to spend most of his time there. All four stopped before the door, jaws dropping as they listened to the voices inside.
"Give it to me, Brady! I want it now!" Chloe could be heard yelling.
"No way Chloe. You want it, you're going to have to come and get it!"
"Ugh, I just got off of work and I need to play with it and you're really pissing me off!"
Back outside the loft door.
"Oh my God," Belle gasped. "What the hell are they doing in there," she whispered.
"What do you think?" Shawn grinned.
"Shawn, How can you-"
"Shhhh. . ." Jason hushed her.
Inside the loft.
"What? You think you can just get it any time you want it, Chloe? It doesn't work that way. If you want it so bad, they have places you can go to and pay a small fee."
"Why would I do that when I have yours here?"
Back outside the loft door.
"Whoa ho ho," Mimi chuckled. "Go Chloe."
"Mimi," Belle gave her friend a disapproving look.
"What? It was only a matter of time. I'm just wondering how they're handling this, what with both legs of Brady's legs broken and everything."
"Obviously NOT everything," Shawn chuckled.
Inside the loft.
"Ouch! Dammit Chloe! When I agreed to stay in Salem, I did not agree to this!"
"Ugh!" Chloe grunted in reply.
"Jesus, Chloe! You're going to break it if you handle it like that."
Back outside the loft door.
Belle groaned. "This is ridiculous. I'm just going to walk in."
"Perv," Jason muttered.
Belle slid the loft door open and all four friends nearly fell over each other in hopes of catching Brady and Chloe wherever they were and whatever they were doing.
"What the hell?" Brady cocked an eyebrow at his friends as sat leaning back on the couch, holding a remote control over his head, Chloe draped over him, trying to rip it from his hands. "Hey, what are you guys doing here? Wanna play 'Space Invaders?'"
"Ugh," Chloe huffed and gave up, plopping next to Brady and forcibly pushing his crutches to the floor. "You'll let them play but you won't let me."
"Chloe, you've played with it enough. You're becoming addicted," he tried to reason with her and held the remote away from her again when she tried to snatch it.
"Video games," Belle cried. "You were and are discussing video games!?"
"Belle," Brady started cautiously and pulled his crutches up from the floor, standing and making his way over to his sister and smiling friends. "Belle, are you okay?"
"I'm fine, I'm just. . . ugh, you two really suck." She swept passed him and took a seat next to a giggling Chloe who was still dressed in her scrubs from work and happily killing virtual aliens from the planet Garpa.
"She just thought you two were uhh. . . knockin' da boots as they say," Jason chuckled and took a seat next to Mimi.
"Who? Me and Chloe?" Brady laughed and shook his head as if it were the most ridiculous thing in the world. "That's the most ridiculous thing I've ever heard."
*End of Flashback*
Brady watched Chloe, as she appeared to be deep in thought. He childishly wondered if maybe she was thinking of him. She was just so beautiful and kind and real. Though, she was so exquisite he sometimes wondered if he ever got the courage to touch her, really touch her, would she break into a million pieces. She was an angel. She was perfect, too good to be true. He had to have her. "What are you thinking about?"
Chloe's eyes snapped open, blue meeting blue. She was stunned into silence, watching Brady's sparkling eyes gaze at her so intently. She couldn't tell him the truth. The truth would be too humiliating and it'd be opening up a can of worms she wasn't sure she wanted exposed just yet. So she said the only thing she could think of: "Cheese."
"Cheese," he repeated her incredulously. "You were thinking about cheese?"
"Well. . . ugh uhh. . . I mean there are so many kinds of cheese."
"I guess so." He nodded slowly.
"Brie, Parmesan, Swiss, American. . ."
"Cheddar."
"Cheddar," Chloe repeated him, nodding her head. "Though I've always been partial to goat cheese."
"Have you?" Brady chuckled.
"Yes." She rolled her eyes. "Something wrong with goat cheese?"
"I guess I haven't really thought about it."
She turned away from him. "Figures."
"Whoa, whoa, whoa. What's wrong? What'd I say?" Brady held up his hands in question.
"You never have to say anything," she sneered.
"Huh?"
"So you don't like goat cheese. I get it. I mean who does anyway, right?" She felt herself tear up. "It's weird." She sniffled. "It's. . . smelly."
"Is it?" Brady asked.
"Oh right, like you haven't noticed."
"Chloe-"
"Goat cheese is really good you know? I mean it may not look so good at first glance or sound so good when you first hear it-"
"Hear cheese-?"
"-But if you would just give it a chance, maybe you'd like it."
"Chloe? We aren't really talking about cheese anymore are we?"
"Ugh," she beat her head with a spare couch cushion and stormed off to her room. "Be sure and lock the door when you leave!"
Brady shook his head in confusion as he left Chloe's. This is exactly why he didn't want to get involved with her. He knew it would just complicate things. Hell, he hadn't even kissed her yet and already they were fighting like some old married couple. "What does she want from me," he asked aloud as he entered his loft.
"I think you know the answer to that," Jason stood at the fridge, pulling out the box of pizza and a beer.
"Okay, but what do I do about it?"
"Well, you have two choices. You can either pretend you don't know what she wants and both of you can go on in agony. Or you can admit to her that you do know and that you want the same thing." He laid the food on the counter.
"But do I?" Brady asked aloud, though he knew the answer.
"Come on Brady. You telling me you don't want more than friendship with Chloe?"
"I do," he sighed sadly. "I do want to be with Chloe."
"Well, what's stopping you? Jesus, you two are frustrating."
Brady plopped onto the couch, leaning back after setting his crutches on the floor. "I know it sounds irrational and strange but I feel like if I get too close to her, I'm going to lose her and I can't take that."
"I hate to break it to you Brady but you and Chloe are already just about as close as two people can be, without crossing that line between intimacy and friendship of course."
"I know," Brady buried his face in his hands. "And you have no idea how badly I wanna cross that line."
"So cross it, Brady. Now I'd love to stay and chat but Mimi's waiting for her luva to return. Night man." He picked up the beer and pizza and made his way back to his room. "
"Night Jase," Brady chuckled. He let the back of his head fall against the couch. It would be so easy to go over to Chloe's right now and take her into his arms and. . . no. Brady needed to take care of this. The sooner he got over Chloe and she him, the better. Reluctantly, he picked up the phone and dialed the familiar number. "Hello Henderson?"
TBC. Thanks for reading!!!