Chapter 56: Try Sleeping with A Broken Heart
EJ was looking at pictures on his phone, of the kids last Christmas, and of him, Chad and Kristen, and him and Lexie. EJ missed his older sister dearly, and still sometimes talked to her at her grave. EJ flipped to the next photo, and saw a picture of him and Nicole just moments after a major press conference when he was running for mayor. In the picture, Nicole had his arm wrapped around Nicole, and they were grinning. He sighed.
"Those were the days," EJ muttered quietly to himself. He got up and went across the room, taking a small picture out of a drawer. It was an old picture from 2009, he and Nicole were sharing a kiss and smiling. EJ smiled to himself, before putting the photo back in its place.
"I will get us back to that place, sweetheart," he said. "I will win you back, Nikki. This time for good."
Chad was sitting at a table with Abigail at the coffee house. They sipped some cappuccino as told her everything that had happened with Stefano earlier that day.
"I just don't get it. Why does Stefano want you to avoid this? Is he worried that maybe something is off with Cameron, and he doesn't want you to get hurt?"
"I wouldn't get hurt anyways," Chad gloated. "I'm a good fighter. You know what I did to Nick." Chad's smile fell as he realized the words that came out of his mouth, and Abby's hurt face as he talked of beating up her cousin. "I'm sorry, I shouldn't have said that. It's not something I'm proud of. It must just be the coffee."
"It's fine," Abby said. "Your dad is probably having men watch you and protect you anyways. Let's hope they're not watching us now. But speaking of Nick, he's been acting so weird lately."
"How so? The dude always acts odd," Chad pointed out. Abigail narrowed her eyes and turned her head sideways. "What? I'm trying! And being honest," Chad said.
"I know. But I'm serious! Gabi moved in for a few nights. She's scared. I really want to talk to Nick."
"See? My interrupting the wedding was a good thing. Some kind of message that Gabi and Nick aren't right for each other." Abby gave Chad her serious look again.
"Maybe you did have too much caffeine," Abby joked, laughing. She tried to take Chad's coffee cup.
"Hey! Give it back!" The twosome were laughing and playing tug of war until it spilled all over Chad's shirt.
"Oh my gosh, Chad, I'm so sorry!"
"No problem," Chad said. "I never liked this shirt, anyways. I've outgrown it," he joked. "I'll get cleaned up."
"Let me help, at least," Abby offered. She took a rag from behind the counter and wet it a little. She tried taking the stain out of the shirt. "You're lucky it was only lukewarm," Abby said.
"Yeah, but the coffee already went under my shirt," Chad pointed out.
"Let me wipe it off," Abigail offered. She pulled Chad's shirt up, and started to clean some of the coffee off of his stomach. Now she could see why they were called washboard abs. Chad was very attractive shirtless. Abby didn't notice that she stopped wiping and was just staring at his muscles. Chad cleared his throat, looking down at her. Abby looked up, blushing, embarrassed. "Sorry," she said quietly.
"It's fine," he whispered, moving his lips closer to hers. Abby couldn't resist, and tried to kiss Chad, but he pulled away in the last instant.
"Wha-what're you doing?" Abby shouted, as Chad pulled his shirt back up, smiling and giggling.
"Proving to you that you belong with me, Abigail. Not with Cameron. The guy can't even hold your trust." Chad grabbed the dishrag and put it in the hamper as Abigail stood there frowning. Chad returned, getting close to her face. "I was your first love, Abigail Deveraux," he said seriously, and quietly. "And I will be your last, that I'm certain of." Chad smirked in a way that warmed Abigail. It wasn't that pompous DiMera smirk that EJ used, but the cute, confident one that Chad always had when he had dated Abby previously. Chad walked towards the exit, his back turned to Abigail, but he raised his hand, one finger up in the air.
"I'll keep you updated on my father," he said, then he opened the door and walked out, winking at Abigail. She stood there, thinking of what just happened, and clearly knowing she still had Chad in her heart.
COMING UP:
-Gabi and Nick get into a heated fight
-Rafe and Nicole's plans take an unexpected turn