Love Me Back (16 page)

“Thank you Gabe.”  I say smiling but when Mrs. Basso and her sister walk by giving us curious looks it falters.  I don’t know if Gabe sees the look on his moms face but I see the disapproval after she comprehends what she is looking at.

“Anytime Madgirl.”  Gabe winks with his sly smile.  It makes my heart go up a beat.  He only calls me that nickname with other people around but when it is just us two it is either Mad or Maddy.  I can tell we are getting closer and I can’t describe our relationship anymore, the lines are getting blurry.  I am not sure how I feel about it.

That Sunday I pack my bags and bring them downstairs to the kitchen.  Gabe wants to get back early to study for some test.  I place my bag down at the end of the stairwell walking towards the kitchen when I hear Mrs. Basso talking with Gabe.

“I don’t know what is going on with the two of you but you need to stop it Gabe.”  She says firmly.

“Mom, we are just friends.  Might I suggest you were the one who asked me to check up on her to make sure she was ok.”  Gabe is pouring a bowl of cereal.

“Friends are fine but nothing more.  She is Trent’s girlfriend.  He would never forgive you and I wouldn’t blame him.”  I hear her slurping her coffee.

“First of all she isn’t Trent’s girlfriend.  He gave that up when he decide to break her heart so he could get laid in college by god knows how many sluts.  Second, if I wanted her I wouldn’t give a shit what Trent said” Gabe’s voice has a finality to it and his mom senses it.

“Just remember what I said.”  She leaves it at that. 

I walk back over to my bag so I can put it down loudly and they won’t know I overheard them.  When I get into the kitchen they both smile acting like the conversation I heard never happened.

After that morning Gabe seemed to distance himself from me a little.  He would have study groups or exams.  We no longer texted or talked everyday but a couple times a week and it was usually texts as to why he couldn’t meet me.  I didn’t know how to take it.  Was he worried I was getting the wrong idea or did he not want to upset his mother by having a friendship with me?

My dad asked me to stay with him during Christmas break so I went to Michigan instead of Belcrest.  Jack was staying back home to be around Lindsey and my mom was going on a cruise with her new boyfriend.  I would miss Mackenna and Bryan but with Gabe and I not spending time together it increased my time as the third wheel with them and I was sure they wanted some alone time.  Trent was only coming home for a few days during Christmas and then going back to campus. His coach was putting on a soccer tournament and supposedly scouts would be there.  This is all information I gathered from Bryan since I hadn’t talked with Trent since before Thanksgiving.  All the Basso brothers seemed to be giving me the cold shoulder recently.

I spent quality time with my dad during Christmas break.  It was just us and he was adamant about doing everything together.  We even crossed the border over to Canada and drove up to the Upper Peninsula.  One weekend he booked us a room at a resort in Mackinac Island and I looked forward to a relaxing time at their spa.

“So, you ready to talk about Trent Basso?”  My dad asks while driving. 

“What’s to talk about?  We don’t really have any relationship lately.”  I respond coldly.  I don’t really want to have some father daughter bonding time especially talking about the youngest Basso.

“I know you went to separate colleges but you guys were friends first.  I thought your friendship would prevail.”

“You thought wrong.  Trent dumped me before college and I have barely spoken five minutes to him since August.”  My voice quivers out of frustration.  Now that I say it aloud it pisses me off.

“That’s a shame.  I always assumed you two would marry.  Childhood sweethearts.”  My dad continues.

“Guess not.”  I say curtly and short.

“Any boys at college?”  He asks.

“Not really.”  I can’t decide if I should tell Dad or not.

“That means there is someone.”  He smiles over to me.  My dad is easy to talk to and I know my happiness is his only concern.

“Well, there’s a guy I was hanging out with a lot but it has stopped too.”  I divulge the information having to talk to someone about it and I know Mackenna doesn’t understand and with Trent being my former best friend there is no one else.

“What happened?”  He questions.

“I don’t really know.  It’s complicated.”  I shrug.

“Did you like him?”

“I think so.  I wasn’t sure until after we stopped talking and I noticed how much I missed spending time with him.”

“Why don’t you say something to him?”

“We can’t be together even if he felt the same way.”

“Of course you can Maddy.”

“Dad, its Gabe Basso.”  I admit biting my bottom lip.

“So” he shrugs his shoulders looking over at me.  Only my dad would not think it is a good idea.

I tell him about Gabe getting me out of my dorm room and how we spent a lot of time together.  How I stayed at the Bassos for Thanksgiving, which didn’t make him happy but he skirted that topic for the time being.  I even told him the conversation I overheard between Gabe and Mrs. Basso.

“I’m not going to say it doesn’t complicate things Maddy but if you and Gabe want to see what it is between you two you should be able to.  Trent has obviously let go of you.” 

“That’s the thing, I don’t know what it is.  Could be just friendship between us.” 

“I know you don’t want any advice from your ancient dad but can I give you a little.” 

“Sure god knows you are the only parent who cares.”

“Maddy, don’t talk about your mom like that.”

I ignore his comment so he continues with his fatherly advice.

“You have one life and if you are lucky it will be a long one.  Love is going to come in and out a couple times.   For some people they are lucky they meet their love first and never look back but for others it takes a couple more loves before the right one comes along.  Unfortunately, some never find theirs or they weren’t selfish enough to take their love when they should have.”

“Ok” I’m a little confused.

“What I am trying to say is Maddy, sometimes you have to be selfish.  If Trent or his mom aren’t happy with you and Gabe then sometimes you have to just say go to hell.”

I start laughing.

“In a nice way of course.”  He chuckles back.

“I don’t even know how Gabe feels about me.  Maybe I am like a little sister to him.”

“Honey, you are so beautiful he would be crazy not to love you.  Not to mention from what you are saying he feels the same but is listening to too many people stopping him.”

I thought about what my dad was saying and I couldn’t deny the feeling I had with Gabe.  It was different than Trent.  I was surprised how electrifying and new it was to be around Gabe.  Trent was secure and home to me where Gabe was protective and caring.  It was a line I couldn’t decide if I wanted to cross.  My dad made it sound so simple but the scenario was anything but that.

“Don’t think so hard Maddy, go with your instincts.”  He pats my knee.

I smile over to him. After my parents’ divorce we have become closer.  I would rarely see him due to business and distance but he tries to e-mail or call as often as he can.  He has even come to visit me at school in October.  He is taking the initiative to be with me taking two weeks vacation while I am here on break.

“Thanks dad.”  I say.

“Anytime daughter.”  He grins.

My break flew by with all the excursions my dad had planned.  I craved my old schedule at school but I didn’t want to leave my dad either.  This was the best visit we had together and I hated leaving him by himself.  I could tell his house was a typical bachelor pad and he rarely ate good food.  As much I hated to admit it he needed a woman.

Mackenna gives me a huge hug when I get back to school.

“I missed you so much.  You can’t leave me like that again.”  She slaps my shoulder.

“You and Bryan needed some time together.  I have been hanging around you guys way too much lately.”

“Shut up Maddy, you are our best friend.”  She is unpacking her freshly laundered clothes.

“I know but I also know you need time being a couple.”  I say.

“We do those things at night.”  She joke.              “So, what did you get for Christmas?”  I ask.  Mackenna always gets extravagant gifts from her parents. 

“A trip to Cancun for spring break.”  Her grin wide.

“That’s awesome Kenna.”  I am truly happy for her.

“For two.”  She adds.

“Don’t you and Bryan go and get married in Mexico ok.  I want to be at your wedding.” 

“I’m not taking Bryan, I am taking you.”  She comes down sitting on my bed.

“Are you serious Kenna?”

She shakes her head up and down.

“Oh my god.  Thank you, Thank you, Thank you.”  I hug her practically pushing her down with my force.

“You’re welcome.  We are going to have so much fun Maddy.”  She is clapping her hands vigorously. 

“Are you sure Bryan is ok with this?” 

“Yeah, he is going to some guy’s trip to Miami.”  She waves her hand in the air.  “And before you ask Trent isn’t going.”

“I wasn’t going to ask.” 

“Yes you were Maddy.  You don’t have to hide all this stuff from me you know?”  She comes back over sitting on my bed facing me Indian style.

“What are you talking about?”  I ask looking anywhere but at her.

“I know it killed you when Trent decided to go to Thrayer University.  He’s an ass for never calling or coming to visit.” 

“He has soccer, I know it’s a priority.”  I make excuses for him.

“Mad, how many girls on our floor had relationships with their high school boyfriend and are now single?  Long distance is hard but Trent is acting like you never existed.  Hell, he hardly talks to Bryan either.”  She puts her hand on my leg.

“I just don’t get it Kenna.  He was my everything and I thought I was his.  I didn’t really understand why he didn’t want to try the long distance thing but I just thought we would still talk every day.”

“That’s why he is an asshole.  It’s his loss.  Now let’s talk about Gabe.”  She smiles at me.

“What about him?”  I play dumb.

“You know as well as I do there is something there between you two.” 

“Oh Kenna, even if there was something, Gabe distanced himself after Thanksgiving and I can’t say I blame him.  It’s way too complex to ever work.” I look in my lap shaking my head back and forth.

“Maddy, you deserve to be happy and if that is Gabe you guys should see where it takes you.  I see the way he looks at you.  Believe me he wants you.  Even Bryan said something on Christmas break.” 

“What do you mean?”

“Nothing” she turns around and I can tell she is trying to hide something.

“Kenna?”  I plead.

“Mad, I don’t want to get into more Trent drama with you.  It is time you put him aside and move on.”  She looks back at me.

“Kenna, you are my best friend.  Please tell me what you know.  It’s not fair for me to be kept in the dark.”

“Alright” she releases a sigh.  “We saw the Bassos at the tree lighting downtown.  Bryan went over to say hello to Trent since the dickhead never called him to say he was in town yet.  Just as he got close he noticed Gabe and him arguing about something and he heard your name a few times.”  She widens her eyes looking at me as though I should know what they were talking about.

“What did he hear?”  I lean closer to her.

“He just heard Gabe call Trent an asshole and that the way he treated you was wrong and he didn’t deserve you.”

“What did Trent say?”

“Um… I don’t want to tell you this part.  I wish I could keep my mouth shut.” She turns around not looking at me.

“Kenna?”

“Trent told Gabe that no matter how many girls he had or has in his life, you are his and Gabe needs to stay the hell away from you.”  She stares at me her eyes showing sorrow for me.  “You aren’t his Maddy.  He is out there sleeping with how many girls at school while you are here pining over him.”

“We aren’t a couple anymore Kenna.  He can do what he wants.”  I don’t even feel the first tear fall down my cheek before the rest came flowing out.

“See, this is what I am talking about.  You guys weren’t just boyfriend and girlfriend.  You were best friends.  Now he is trying to stop Gabe from having anything to do with you, it’s bullshit Maddy.”  Anger pours from her body while she embraces me into a hug.

I cry in Mackenna’s arms for half an hour before Bryan knocks on the door.  I quickly wipe my face with my fingers hoping he won’t notice my blood shot eyes. 

“Come on in.”  I release Mackenna.

“How was Michigan Mad?  Did you go to that pawn store?  I should have given you something crazy to pawn and you could have ended up on television.”  His dark hair is pulled back in his hat with his high school soccer shirt and jeans.  He throws himself on my bed with us making Kenna and I bounce in the air.

“Sorry daddy wouldn’t let me go.  Next time you come with me.”  I say laughing.

“That’s a date.”  He winks over to me. 

“Stop flirting with my roommate.”  Mackenna playfully punches his shoulder.

“Can’t help it, she’s hot as hell.  Hey, why don’t we have a threesome?”  He jokes pulling both of us in his arms.

“You want a threesome with me and Jennings?”  Mackenna cocks her eyebrow up to him.

“Of course.  You two would be anyone’s dream come true.”  Bryan smiles up to her thinking maybe it could happen.

“Alright, you, me and Jennings.  Done.”  Mackenna says straight faced.

I stare over at her like she has three heads but she disregards me.

“Really?”  Bryan’s eyes look like they are on a bobble head.  So wide and big they might fall out.

“Sure.  Let me see when JACK Jennings is available.”  She laughs at him.

“I’m game.  We’ll do your way first but my way second.”  Bryan winks at her and Mackenna and I start laughing. 

Bryan has a knack for making situations lighter and happier.  I need his demented sense of humor right now.

Chapter 14 – Present Day