Текст книги "Love Me Back"

Автор книги: Michelle Lynn

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Текущая страница: 10 (всего у книги 21 страниц)

“Gabe, hold on a second.”  I stop him right before we are getting to the water fountain.

“What’s up Mad?”  He pins me against the brick wall of a building.

“I don’t think we should tell anyone…yet.”  I see the disappointment on his face so I look down.

“It doesn’t matter what they think.”  He kisses my neck.

“I can’t ruin my brother’s wedding.  We don’t know how your mom or Trent will take this.”  I shake my head back and forth.

“Promise me this has nothing to do with Trent?”  He pulls away a little.

“No, it’s not that.  After the wedding we can scream it on the ten o’clock news.  Please say you understand.”  I grab his shirt pulling him back to me.

“Alright, but after that reception I am announcing you are mine and I don’t care what anyone says.”  He kisses me so thoroughly my knees almost give out but he holds me up.

“Deal” I say.

When we get closer to the wedding group, I release Gabe’s hand and he releases a long breath of frustration.  I wish it didn’t have to be like this but I can already feel his mom’s eyes on us along with everyone else’s disapproving looks.  Jack has always been there for me and I won’t ruin his wedding.

After we rejoin everyone, it is a little after four.  All of a sudden I don’t see Gabe anywhere but notice my mom with that man from the restaurant.  From my moms conversation I assume he is a family member of the Bassos but in all my years at family holidays and gatherings I couldn’t place him. She smiles up at him and he reaches his arm around her pulling her closer.  Regardless of who he is you would be blind not to see the love between them.  Just as I am about to look away my mom catches me staring and starts walking over with the mystery man in tow.

Although I am happy it isn’t Gabe she is bringing over to meet me, I am still nervous.  In the years after my parents’ divorce my mom never dated anyone who would want to get to know me.  She usually entertained the men at night after I went to bed or wasn’t home.  By the time I got up in the morning she would sneak them out the backdoor like a teenager.  I knew this was a huge step for my mother and I didn’t want to make it awkward for her.

“Maddy, where did you and Gabe go?  You have been missing the whole afternoon.”  Looking at the smile on her face I am abruptly aware of what is going on.  She wants me with Gabe and is ecstatic that we went off by ourselves.

“She rode the Eagle Barb, you should have seen her.”  Gabe comes up from behind me laughing.  He doesn’t place his hand on my back or lace it with mine, just stands there next to me. The heat radiating between us is fierce and I wonder how long I can pretend I don’t want to jump into his arms kissing him all over.

“Someone kind of tricked me into it” I smirk over Gabe’s way but he just winks at me.

“Come on, you barely knew you were riding it” he licks his lips and I never wanted my mouth on someone else’s so bad.

“I think its great Maddy, good for you.”  My mom nods her head with confusion in her eyes.  “I want to introduce you to someone Maddy.”  My mom brings the mystery man forward with her hand entwined with his.

“Hey Uncle Mitch. How is it going?”  Gabe reaches out shaking his hand.

“Hi Gabe, got here a little late but luckily I made it in time to take this one on some roller coasters.  You know how the women cuddle close to you when they get scared.”  He laughs making my mom playfully slap his shoulder but leaning into him.  She resembles a teenage girl crushing on the captain of the football team.

“Yeah, I know a little something about that.”  Gabe murmurs staring down at me.  Luckily my mom doesn’t notice my face getting redder by the minute since she is too enthralled with Uncle Mitch.

“Maddy, this is Mitch.  Mitch this is my daughter Madeline.”  My mom points back and forth to us.

“Hi Madeline, Mitch Basso.”  He shakes my hand.  His handshake is firm and soft at the same time.  I can see the hesitation in his eyes.  He is worried I won’t like him.  Little does he know it never matters to my mom if I like the men in her life, he has nothing to worry about.

“Hi Mr. Basso.”  I shake his hand back.  I am surprised to feel no calluses on them, telling me he is not a worker with his hands like the rest of his family.

“Please call me Mitch.”

“Well then it’s Maddy.”

“It’s a pleasure to meet you.  I have heard about you nonstop by not only your mother but my family as well.”  He smiled showing no signs of the horrible things I could imagine Mrs. Basso saying about me.

“How is it that I have never meet you?  I mean I have known the Bassos my whole life and usually attend every holiday…until recently.”

“Uncle Mitch lived in Arizona.  Never came home much.”  Gabe chimed in.

“Until last year that that is” Mitch said smiling down at my mom.

“Am I to assume you are Mr. Basso’s brother?”  I ask.

“You assume right, younger by two years.”  He confirms.

“Even though he looks older than me by ten.”  Mr. Basso comes to Mitch’s side slapping his back in amusement.  “Where have you two been all day?”  He stares at Gabe and me.  His face is calm and relaxed.

“Just riding some rides and stuff.”  Gabe’s response quick and short.

“I thought Maddy didn’t ride roller coasters.  At least that’s what I remember.”  Mrs. Basso snidely comments standing alongside her husband.

“Oh Wendy she rode the Eagle today with Gabe.”  My mom cheers not noticing the glare coming from Mrs. Basso.

“How nice that must have been for the two of you?  Too bad Trent couldn’t be here to join you” The coolness from her voice shakes everyone in our circle.  Even Mitch seems taken back by her comment looking from her to my mom questioning.

“As you know Mom, Trent has stuff to do with the team today.”  Gabe responds giving his mom a look of death.

“If you will all excuse me I need to use the restroom before we head back.”  I say.

I can feel Gabe’s eyes on me as I walk the ten steps to the women’s bathroom.  Right before I open the door, I peek over to him seeing the smile that encases his lips and I shake off his mom.  He obviously doesn’t care what she thinks so I shouldn’t either.

By the time I get out of the bathroom, taking my time willing his mom to leave I am happy to see Gabe sitting in front of the water fountain by himself.  His elbows rest on his knees while he leans forward typing something onto his phone.  He hasn’t spotted me yet so I take him all in.  He is absolutely gorgeous and I can’t believe he wants me.

“Where did everyone go?”  I walk up to him taping his foot with mine.

He encircles his arms around my waist bringing me down to his lap.  “Gone.  Thank god.  I need those lips on mine.”  He crushes his lips to mine and I welcome them.

“Are you sure everyone is gone?”  I pull back a little.  “Where is my mom?”

“She went with Uncle Mitch.”  He kisses me again.

“What about Ian?”  I stop us again.

“Went with your brother.”  He kisses my lips again.

“What about…”

“Maddy, everyone is gone.”  He irritatingly says placing his hands firmly around me.

“Ok, cause I just don’t want…”

Gabe quickly stands up practically shoving me onto the ground.  “I know, you don’t want it getting back to Trent.”  He starts walking to the front gate.  “Let’s go.”

“No…Yes, I thought we were in agreement over this.  After the wedding we would tell everyone.”  I stutter while trying to catch up with him.  In all my years of knowing Gabe I have never seen him possess so many moods in such a short time frame.

“I know Maddy.  What did you think?  That I would kiss you knowing someone was still here to catch us.  I hate it that I can’t just take your hand in front of them or kiss your cheek but I will do it for you.”  He never stops walking spitting the words towards me.

“I wish it was different Gabe, I do.”  I put my hand on his arm for him to stop but he doesn’t so I grab his hand pulling it down.

“What Maddy?”  He turns around staring at the ground.

“Gabe.”  I sigh putting my hand to the side.

“Sorry, I just want everyone to know you are mine and I feel like you are so worried what everyone will think and I don’t know.”  He shakes his head not being able to finish.

“I want that too.”  I stare at him.

Before I can open my mouth he has his lips on mine again but this time he is more forceful and demanding.  Thrusting his tongue in my mouth exploring until mine joins in.  He grabs my hips pulling them into him and I feel how badly he wants this.  His hands grab my ass pushing me up so my legs wrap around his waist. I wrap my arms around his neck bringing his mouth on me.  His mouth starts to explore my jaw, neck and ear as I clutch him closer to me.  Somehow Gabe gets us to the car never letting go of me and when he opens the back seat we both climb in.

Ours hands are frantic.  He pushes up my shirt cupping my breasts while I strip him of his.  He pulls down my laced bra freeing my breast sucking it making my nipple harden against his tongue.  I arch my back pushing myself against his mouth moaning in the pleasure.

“You are so beautiful Maddy.”  He whispers.

My hands reach for his shorts, unbuttoning them but before I can grab the zipper Gabe’s hand is on top of mine.

“As much as I want this Maddy.  I don’t want to take you in the back of some car like a bunch of teenagers.”  He grabs my hand bringing it up to his mouth kissing my palm.  “And if I let your hands roam where they are going I won’t be able to stop us.”

I put my head on his shoulder knowing he is right “I know”

“It will be worth the wait.”  He smirks up to me and I instantly melt.

“I know it will be” I smile back to him.

“Go to dinner with me.”  He asks playing with my fingers.

“I wish I could” staring at our hands together, they have always somehow fit like a puzzle.

“You can, just say yes,” his eyes are imploring with me.

“I already have plans.” I know it was going to tear him apart.  He wasn’t going understand that I have to go.  Trent seems desperate to tell me something and although our past is confusing at the moment he is still my friend.

“With your mom?  I hate to break it to you Mad but I think my Uncle coming into town today might have changed those.”  He smiles obviously thinking it is wonderful that my mom and his uncle are dating.

“Um…No.”  I put my head down peeking up through my eyelashes.

“Oh” his sudden sadness in his eyes affirms he knows who my plans are with.

“It’s not what you think Gabe, he asked me yesterday.  He said he has something to tell me.”  I sit up on my knees at his side making our faces meet.

“Something important I am sure.”  He rolls his eyes looking away from me.

“Gabe, its dinner.  Nothing more.”  I place my hand on his chin bringing him back to me.  “I will call you as soon as I get home.”  I kiss him on the lips.

“It better be early.”  He murmurs against mine before kissing me back.

“Let’s not waste more time talking.”  I put my lips on his.  He slowly moves his lips with mine until the eagerness gets the best of us.

A couple minutes later while Gabe’s hands are getting closer up my shirt and my lips are swollen from the kissing his leg starts vibrating.

“Um.”  I start laughing pulling away from him pointing to his leg.

“I should probably see who it is.”  He pushes me a little off his lap but rests his hand on my knee telling me not to go too far.  Reaching into his pocket he thumbs the screen and then puts the phone back in his pocket.

“You can get it”

“No, just a work thing.”  His good mood suddenly dissipates.  “We should get going anyway.”  He nudges me off his lap the rest of the way opening the door from the backseat.

I follow Gabe’s lead and get out moving into the front seat.  He is quiet on the way back to my house and I know it has something to do with the phone call.  I assume he would be returning that call once I am out of the car.   Gabe has always been so straight forward and honest with me, it feels weird that he is holding something back.  I don’t want to push too much but when he pulls in my mom’s driveway and fails to put the blue monster in park I have to ask.

“Is everything ok Gabe?”  I unbuckle my seatbelt turning towards him.

“Yeah, I just have some unsettled business back in Florida.” He vaguely answers.

“Ok, so I will text you tonight after I get back.”  I sheepishly look at him still trying to figure out his mood change.

“Please” he softly speaks not looking up from the steering wheel.

“Ok, well I guess I should go.” I put my hand on the handle of the car.

“Wait Maddy.”  He whispers making me stop my exit.  I turn to look at him.

“Sorry, I hate it that I am ruining this afternoon after everything.” His blue eyes look lost and cold.

“You can talk to me about anything Gabe.”

“I know Maddy, just not yet ok.  I promise I will tell you what is going on.  Trust me when I say now isn’t the time.”  He grabs my hands pulling me closer to him.

“Ok Gabe but don’t keep it all bottled up, you know that doesn’t help.”  I know Gabe would tell me if it was something to do with us.  One thing I can always count on Gabe for is truthfulness.

“Now come here.”  He leans forward over the middle armrest, which I am cursing right now for being between us.  Putting both his hands on my cheeks he thoroughly kisses me making me melt into him.

“I have a feeling that kiss wasn’t just for pleasure.”  I raise my eyebrow at him.

He starts laughing.  “Just want to remind you what is waiting for you back here.”  He gives me a chaste kiss and lets me go.

“Talk to you tonight.”  I say shutting the door.  I watch Gabe drive out and want to be with him in that truck.  He is still chuckling to himself as he waves goodbye driving away.

Chapter 15 – Spring Break Freshman Year

Cancun’s white beaches and clear blue water is just what I need from my hopeless life.   As I lay by the pool sipping my orange juice I can’t help but wonder where my life is going.  Don’t get me wrong, school is going fine, great even but my personal life is forever in shambles.  Since Christmas break I have spoken to Gabe twice which were coincidences running into each other on campus which he tried to avoid.  He never calls or stops by anymore.

It infuriates me that he is listening to his brother to stay away from me.   I miss Gabe’s laugh, his smile.  I miss the way he would grab my hand to lead me through a crowded bar or party.  I miss the way he would walk me to class even if he was going to be late for his own.   I missed the way he knew my favorite food at every restaurant we went to and the way I took my coffee.  I miss him calling me Madgirl since no one else calls me that.  I just miss Gabe.

Trent is another story, since Christmas he has been calling and texting me consistently.  I have been ignoring his apology filled messages.  He wrote me off last semester and I am planning on writing him off for the rest of my life.  Mackenna told me that he had called Bryan apologizing to him and of course Bryan accepted it.    They had rekindled their friendship and one weekend Bryan took the train down to Thrayer University to visit him.  Mackenna refused to go with him on grounds of supporting her best friend and I loved her for it.  I am thankful every day to have her by my side.

Turning around from my back to front I pick up my trashy romance novel.  I swore I would not be doing any academic reading this trip.  Actually, no reading that would entail my brain to think at all.  So when I saw the shirtless man sucking a half dressed woman on the cover I grabbed it from the shelf at the airport store.  Mackenna laughed making fun of me but then picked up the one next to it where the man and woman were even more naked.

The sun heating my skin feels good and I am thankful again for my olive skin tone I inherited from my dad’s side.  Two days in the sun and my skin has turned from clammy yellow to golden brown.  Hearing whistling and hollering I don’t have to look up to see whose coming my way.

“What is it like 85 degrees already?  I feel bad for those suckers back home.  It’s probably snowing.”  Mackenna throws her towel and bag on the lounge chair next to me oblivious to the few boys up at this hour.

“I see you finally woke up.”  I put my orange juice back down on the table between us.

“I don’t know why you insist on waking up so early.  We are on vacation Maddy.”  She takes off her cover up situating her swimsuit.

“Holy hell Kenna, what are you wearing?”  My eyes are bulging out of my head and I notice the boys mouths around us open gasping at her too small and practically non-existent bikini.

“It’s my new bikini.  I know it’s a little much but hey who knows how long I will have this body for.”  She twirls in a circle and more guys hoot over to her but she ignores it sitting down next to me.

“A little more fabric wouldn’t have killed you.”  I roll my eyes in disbelief.  If I am being honest I am jealous of her.  Not her body although she has an amazing body but of her self-confidence.  She doesn’t care what anyone thinks of her in that bikini. I wish I had an ounce of assurance that Mackenna has.

“Oh Maddy.  That’s a cute suit.” She brings her sunglasses down a bit laying her brown eyes across my body.

“Thank you.  I know it isn’t the playboy edition but I like it.”  I sneer back to her and then we both start laughing.

The one thing about our friendship is we rarely fight.  I can probably count on one hand any fight that lasted longer than an hour.  The fights that do last longer are always about Trent in one way or the other.

By midafternoon more college aged kids are coming out of their rooms exploring the pool and beach.  Mackenna wants to take a walk so I grab my sunglasses and wrap my sheer cover-up around my waist and we make our way down the beach.  Of course Mackenna doesn’t cover up herself and I swear she put on baby oil her skin is so shiny.  She looks like she is filming a movie with her dark big sunglasses and her dark hair flowing in the breeze.  It is intimating to be walking next to her.

We go down closer to the water so the waves can come up and over our feet while we walk. The cool water instantly cools me brushing along the top of my toes.  The beach is filled with guys throwing Frisbees, parasailing and some are just hanging out checking out the girls.  With Mackenna by my side we aren’t alone for more than five minutes without guys coming up asking us to sit down and relax with them.   Mackenna ignores them and since I have enough boy problems with the Basso brothers I am not interested in them either.  I politely tell them maybe later.  Some are more persistent than others but all eventually fall back to other girls around that seem more interested.

It isn’t until I notice money blowing by me on the sand that I stop in my tracks.  I bend down to pick up the assortment of dollar bills in front of me wondering where they are coming from.  Looking around I see a guy in a pair of green board shorts a couple steps away frantically picking up the money and I contemplate if it is his or he is just reaping the rewards of someone else’s misfortune.

Standing there holding the money in my hand, Mackenna sighs impatiently at me as the guy approaches us with his hand out.

“Thank you for picking those up for me.”  He motions with his hand towards mine.

“How do I know these are yours?”  I hold it up away before he can take it out of my hand.

“Excuse me?”  He sets his head back in disbelief.

“The money could be someone else’s.”  I scrunch my shoulders up.

“Who the hell cares Maddy, just give him the money.”  Mackenna rolls her eyes.

The tall dark haired guy looks Mackenna up and down with pleasure on his face but quickly turns back to me since I am the keeper of his money.

“Prove it.”  I ignore Kenna focusing on the amber eyes in front of me.

“How exactly do you think I could prove it?”  He puts his hands through his brown hair getting his bangs out of his eyes.

“Um…” I contemplate that before Mackenna grabs the money out of my hand giving it to jock boy in front of me.

“Here you go.”  She hooks her arm in mine leading me forward.  “Problem solved.”

“Kenna!”  I exclaim trying to stop her from leading me away.

“No Maddy, I am sure it is his money and if its not that’s between him and the person.  Let’s go.”  She pulls my arm a little closer to her and down the beach.

I glance at jock boy over my shoulder and see him staring at us walking away.  Most likely he is checking out Mackenna in her playboy centerfold bikini.  He winks when he catches me staring at him and I quickly turn around towards the beach ahead.

That night after an exhausting afternoon of shopping with Mackenna we are getting ready to go out to a club Kenna has heard people talking about.  I am a little wary after hearing the rumors about Cancun’s city and how dangerous it can be and since we don’t have Bryan or any other guys with us I think this is a terrible idea but Mackenna won’t take no for an answer.  She even buys me a new dress to wear which I think is a worse idea.  The purple dress is entirely too short and shows off way too much of my skin.

“You look smokin’ Maddy.”  Kenna says when I come out of the bathroom wearing her purchase.

“Mackenna.”  I breathe.  If I think my dress is too revealing Mackenna’s is lingerie.  It is a stunning red that stops well above her knees and comes off one shoulder leaving it bare.  She straightens her long dark hair so it rest right at the middle of her back.  I pull my dress down a little feeling self-conscious about my outfit.  It is hard to walk around with such an exotic stunning best friend.

“Stop it Mad.”  She hisses my way grabbing her clutch.

“Stop what?”

“Stop trying to cover yourself up or pull your dress down.  You look hot.  The guys will be drooling.”  She hooks her arm through mine.

“I have had my fill of boys this year.  I am good until next year.”  I confess.

“Oh some innocent flirting won’t hurt you.”  Before I notice we were on the other side of the door in the hallway.

We get a cab right away once the bellhop imagines Mackenna naked under her dress not that he has to take off much fabric in his mind.  Once we get to the club one kiss on the cheek to the bouncer and a swing of her hips from Mackenna and we are in leaving the line of guys and girls behind us.

The club called The City is massive.  It has three floors and bars are in every corner.  Girls dressed in more clothes than Mackenna pass by selling shots in different colors.  Guys are grinding on the girls to the disco music. Even though we are in Mexico almost everyone here is in their early twenties and American.  The girls on the dance floor make Mackenna’s dress looks like a ball gown, making me feel a little more comfortable.

“Let’s go get a drink.”  Mackenna pulls me over to the bar that is at least four rows deep.

“This is going to take forever, let’s grab a shot from one of those girls and dance.”  I point to one of the neon shot trays.

“Awesome idea” she tucks at my arm and I follow her.

We buy two shots a piece clicking the alcohol filled test tubes together cheering to our friendship.  Under normal circumstances I am not into dancing in public but the music is so loud and there are so many people on the dance floor it is the people who aren’t dancing that look out of place.  For some reason I push all my inhibitions to the side tonight.  I don’t want to think about school, my mom or the Basso brothers.  I don’t want to care what I look like or what people are thinking to consume my thoughts.  I just want to feel the music and dance.  Be carefree and fun with my best friend.

I am doing a great job of doing just that until some guys come up grinding behind us.  I never understood why guys thought they could do that to girls.  Like because we are shaking our bodies to the music it is an invitation for them to rub their junk across our asses. Isn’t that some sort of sexual harassment?

Mackenna quickly shakes her finger back and forth telling the guy behind her no surprisingly me how polite she is being.  My cling on grabs my hips pulling me closer making me gasp.  Anger starts running through my veins and my hands ball into fists besides me.  I turn around putting my hands on his chest shoving him away from me.

“Get off me.”  I scream but he probably hears a whisper over the loud music.

“What the fuck bitch?”  He comes towards me again.

“Did I ask you to grind your dick against my ass?”  I ask him not backing down.

“If you don’t want it you shouldn’t shake it like that.”  His words are slurring and I just want him gone.

“Whatever, just go away.”  I put my hand in his face.

“Bitch” he murmurs before finally walking away from me.

“Way to go Maddy!”  Mackenna comes over putting her arm around my neck.  She is clearly surprised and happy I stuck up for myself.  It is an unusual occurrence. “Let’s celebrate with a couple more shots.”

I am downing my fourth shot picking green this time completing all the colors.  I am buzzed but the dancing has kept me sober enough that we won’t get in trouble.  Scanning the crowd I see all the young adults dancing with each other some closer than others.  It is nice to see some guys have the decency to not grind up to a girl unless asked. I am amazed at how many students venture down here for spring break.  We didn’t know anyone else coming down here from our school and I guess when you factor in how many colleges in the United States and then how many students it isn’t as many people as you think.

“Maddy?  Right?”  I deep voice comes up next to me and I step back hesitant.  Mackenna is carrying on a conversation with the shot girl not paying attention and I don’t know who would know me here.  A familiar face besides me smiling.

“Hey are you trying to pick pocket people here.  I can imagine you would clean up pretty good.”  I smile at jock boy from this afternoon at the beach.

“Yeah, I have my whole team here tonight.”  He laughs showing a dimple in his left cheek.  It’s adorable.

“I better keep my money close to my chest then.”  I pat where my money is hidden between my boobs in my bra.  I don’t know if it is the shots making me flirt so blatantly or just being in a different country.  I haven’t been myself tonight but I am loving who I am.

“Careful.  That’s the first place a thief might look.”  He stares down at my chest raising his eyebrows in humor.

“Well, I keep it well guarded.”  I smirk back to him.

“Let me buy you a drink.  I was fortunate to find some money on the beach.”  He motions over to a small bar a couple feet away that only sells beer and pre-mixed bottle drinks.

“You have to buy my friend one too.”  I point over to Mackenna still chatting the shot girl up about what I have no idea.

“Of course.”  He says.

“Mackenna!”  I scream over the music waving her over to me.  She says goodbye to the waitress who I am sure is happy to start making money again.

“Hey, if it isn’t the crook.”  She laughs.

“He is going to buy us some drinks with his new found money.”  I tell her and she nods her head in agreement.

“Miles Clybourn.”  He holds his hand out to me.

“Madeline Jennings and this is Mackenna Ross.”  He shakes both our hands.

“What do you prefer?  Beer or wicked lemonade?”  He asks having to whisper it in my ear for me to hear him.

“Beer for me and wicked lemonade for her.”  I get close to his ear and when he turns his head showing me he heard me our lips are so close it would take the slightest movement before they would touch.  Do I want them to touch?

Miles pays for our drinks and we both say thank you.  He asks us if we want to go to his friends table in the back where it is a little quieter and we follow him.  Mackenna raises her eyebrows from me to him while he walks in front of us.  I shake my head back and forth.  Yes he is attractive and as tempting as it is to have some fling while on vacation in another country, it just isn’t me.  Why can’t I be like the other girls out there shaking their booties to the music not caring how they look or where the night is going to take them?  They are living in the moment and I am extremely jealous of them.  They don’t have those sparkling blue eyes embedded into their head.

It ends up being a small VIP area that Miles takes us to.  There are a couple areas around the bar where it is roped off and small tables consume the area.  I assume him or his friends paid extra for this and Mackenna and I are happy to indulge.  There are three other guys sitting around the table with some girls behind them and one sitting on another ones lap.  They glance over to Kenna and myself giving us dirty looks.   The girls who are all blonde or at least have made themselves blonde have glazed over eyes and can barely stand.  The guys aren’t much better and I start to think Kenna and I should leave.  Miles leads us over to a table by itself away from them and the girls stare angrily watching our every step.

“So are you staying at the Hotel Americano?”  Miles asks me.  Mackenna is staring towards the dance floor and I know she wants to be out there.  I figure I can humor Miles a little longer and then we can leave.

“Yes.  You?”  I ask back.  It is a little quieter over here but we still have to talk close together to hear each other.

“Yeah.  Got in two nights ago.  Where do you go to school?”  He asks.

“Wisconsin.  You?”  The questions are the standard questions when two college student’s talk and it is starting to bore me.

“You have to be shittin me?  Me too.”  Miles lips get wide not believing we go to the same college.

“What year are you?”  I am surprisingly shocked as well.

“Grad student, second year.”  He remarks.

I knew he looked older but not that much older.  I am embarrassed to tell him I am a freshman so I don’t volunteer and am surprised he never asks me.

“It’s a small world huh?”  He says.

“Yeah” when I look over at his friend’s table one of the guys picks up his head looking like he is going to be sick and I can’t believe my eyes.  He catches me at the same time I see him.  I can tell he can’t place me yet but the recognition is there.  When the click happens I see it in the smirk on his lips.

“Little Jennings” he screams across the tables and Miles looks from him to me wondering what he missed.