Older and Wiser

~Chapter Three~(Disaster)

The strain of the conversation was overpowering. All of the customers in Tuscany could sense the anxiety between the four, even though the double-daters sat in the back corner. Shawn had wanted more privacy, so Maggie allowed them the best table in the restaurant. Brady had been quiet all evening, as had Belle. Even the waiters kept far away from the table as much as possible.

“So, Shawn, you go to Salem University, too?” Chloe asked timidly.

All during dinner, Shawn had only spoken to Chloe; leaving a very angry Belle slumped in the seat next to him. Chloe had tried to include Belle in every conversation, but Shawn always interrupted with an anecdote or opinion of his own. Brady could sense the tension building in the room, but didn’t know quite how to ease it. He was actually still reeling from the evening’s earlier events.

“Yeah, for the last three years. In fact, I’m graduating in December,” Shawn said slyly, leaning in to add emphasis.

Chloe glanced helplessly at Brady. Why isn’t he helping me here? She swallowed the last of her cordon bleu and gave a tight smile. Before she could answer him, Brady cleared his throat and announced that the movie would be starting in half an hour. Thank, God! He finally gets it!

Shawn sat back in his chair, a little torked by Brady’s announcement. He wouldn’t be able to talk to the beautiful Chloe Lane any longer. He took another bite of green beans, swallowed, and turned to Belle. “Well, it seems our night is getting shorter by the minute, my Isabella,” hoed.oed.

Brady’s face turned three shades of mad before standing. His fist pounded on the tabletop, turning the heads of other customers. “No one,” he said calmly, but dangerously, “No one calls her Isabella except for me.”

Chloe looked up at the tall, blonde haired man who was fuming above Shawn. She dabbed at her face with her napkin and placed it on her plate. Belle stood, hand on Shawn’s shoulder. “It’s okay, Brady. I don’t mind,” she interjected.

Brady stared at his sister for a long moment before sitting back in his seat. He ripped the napkin from his lap and flung it on the table. The other customers were whispering, pointing at his red, flustered face. But he didn’t care. “It’s not okay to me, Belle,” he murmured, pushing away his plate.

Belle took her seat next to Shawn once again, her hand still on his shoulder. Shawn’s eyes followed Brady’s every move. Then he turned to Belle. “I’m sorry. I dt knt know your name was used by family only.”

Chloe gasped at his smart remark. Brady’s eyes glazed over and he pushed back his chair. “It’s time to go to the movies now,” he replied. He pulled Chloe’s chair out for her and took her by the arm. Chloe was afraid he would do something drastic, so she let him take her outside.

Leading her out to the car, his breathing slowed and his grip loosened. The calm, cool air seemed to take its effects on Brady. “I’m sorry I lost it in there,” he muttered.

“It’s okay. I understand.”

“No, I don’t think you do. I was already pissed because he was looking at you like you were some sort of…”

“What?”

“I dunno. Just forget it. He just pushed me too far.”

Chloe sighed. The night was not over and already she wanted to be home in bed. “This was such a disaster,” she said aloud.

“I know,” he replied, opening the car door for her and helping her inside.

They saw Belle and Shawn come out of Tuscany, in a lover’s embrace. Brady grunted before sitting next to Chloe in the rented limo. “She doesn’t even see it does she?” he asked, but Chloe didn’t answer.

She simply turned away and concentrated on her perfectly manicured nails.

By the time they had reached the theater, the four had regained the tense air they had acquired at Tuscany. Brady stared out the window while Shawn served a cocktail to both Belle and Chloe. Chloe tried to decline, but Belle’s pleading eyes told her to take the drink. Reluctantly, she sipped the dry martini and stared out the opposite window.

Once inside the theater, the tension cleared. Brady still sat fuming, choosing seats far away from Shawn, but overall, the two men seemed calmer. Chloe found the movie romantic and surprised herself by letting her hand find its way into Brady’s. He glanced at her sideways, but didn’t let go. He squeezed her tiny hand inside his large one, smiling to himself. Maybe she does love me, he thought.

Throughout the movie, the two moved closer and closer together. Finally, their shoulders touched. Chloe sighed. This is more like it.

They stayed that way until the credits rolled, when Shawn and Belle began walking towards them. Chloe tugged her hand away and straightened up in her seat, noticing that Brady did the same. Belle gazed dreamily up at Shawn, who held her hand, but stared at Chloe as he walked by. Brady’s face grew redder, but he simply followed the pair, fists and jaw clenched in rage.

Shawn was dropped off first. He stood outside his door with Belle, snuggling close for a kiss. But his eyes were still fixed on Chloe. He winked at her as he pulled away from Belle’s lips and waved at Brady. Brady gave him a one finger wave, but shoved his hand in his pocket before Belle could see the gesture. The rest of the way to the penthouse, Belle chattered incessantly about Shawn and their next date. No one really paid her any attention, but that didn’t matter to her.

When they arrived at the penthouse, Brady flung the door open and stepped out quickly. He was tired of listening to Belle and longed to be in bed. He offered his hand to Chloe, and led her to her car.

“I hope you can forgive me for the way I acted tonight,” he stated.

Chloe blushed, remembering his anger-stricken face at dinner. “It’s forgivable,” she smiled.

He shifted to his other foot, leaning against the car door. He took her hands in his and leaned in for a kiss. She reached up to meet his lips, smile still spread on her face. It was a sweet kiss, one that went deeper than the friendly appearance it gave off.

“What was that for?” she asked, after the kiss had ended.

“For forgiving me…and because I can’t believe we didn’t do that at the movie.”

His arms were around her waist, making her feel warm and safe. Tingles of pleasure raced through her blood. She could still taste his cinnamon breath, fresh and warm, on her lips. He smiled warmly at her and she leaned in for another taste.

He groaned a little against the pressure of her lips and the velvety softness of her tongue. If he thought he couldn’t stop before, he was in more trouble now. He pulled away from her reluctantly, taking his lips away from hers. She sred red at the cool, damp air that bit her now bare shoulders. He was so close, yet so far away.

“I’d better go,” she told him, reaching past him for the handle of the door.

“Yeah, I guess.”

“See you tomorrow?”

“Probably,” he chuckled, rolling his eyes.

“Okay, then. See you tomorrow.”

She climbed inside the warmth of her Lexus, watching him walk away with a grin on his face. Somehow she knew that their relationship had changed. Part of her wanted it, and part of her thought it would be a disaster-just like the evening.