Текст книги "Love Me Back"

Автор книги: Michelle Lynn

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Текущая страница: 17 (всего у книги 21 страниц)

Chapter 22 – Present Day

“Answer it Maddy.”  Trent is demanding on the street corner.  I see the people glancing over at him.  I am sure they recognize him and it’s only a matter of time before they come over asking for autographs.

“Um…” my breathing is becoming erratic.

“You know what?”  Gabe throws his hands in the air.  “Fuck it, I’m done.  You can have her.”  He tells Trent turning around to walk away.

“Gabe!”  I shout and he stops.  I can’t tell if he stops because he thinks I choose him or if he just can’t bring himself to walk away from me.

“What?”  He turns around but doesn’t come forward.

“Please don’t go.”  I plead with him and Trent looks at me in disbelief.

“Maddy, I have made a fool out of myself for too long.  You and Trent have a happy life, you fucking deserve each other.”  He says.

“Watch it Gabe.”  Trent warns him.

“What are you going to do?”  He walks up to Gabe meeting him chest to chest.

“Let’s remember whose she was when you decide to step in.”  Trent yells.

“If you treated her like she deserved or hell thought of her once before yourself I wouldn’t of had to step in for you.”  Gabe spat back.

“Nice that every time I couldn’t be there, you were.”

“Couldn’t doesn’t fit Trent, Wouldn’t is more like it.”  Gabe says and Trent punches him in the mouth.

“You son of a bitch.”  Trent says shaking his hand and flexing his fingers.

“You’re calling your own mother a bitch, asshole”  Gabe punches him back in the stomach and then Trent tries to hit back but Gabe gets out of the way.

Gabe is sober and Trent is a little drunk so I know how this will end and since I am drunk I think I should get in the middle.

“Come on guys.  Let’s forget this and talk about it tomorrow.  We can go inside to dance some more.”  I place a hand on each of their chests.

“Stay out of it Maddy.”  Gabe warns.

“Don’t talk to her like that.”  Trent says back.  They are each pushing harder against my hands and I am slowly losing control.

“She isn’t yours Trent.”

“She has always and will always be mine.  So, stay the fuck away from my girl Gabe.”  I freeze after Trent’s confession.

The boys move over to the side away from me and Gabe hits Trent right against his cheek making him fall to the ground.

“Trent” I scream as he is holding his cheek unable to stand up.  I rush to his side and look back at Gabe.  He is staring down at us with sadness in his eyes.

I beg him with my eyes to stop this.  To come down and help his brother but he shakes his head.

“Keep picking up his pieces Maddy.  Pretty soon he will swallow you whole.”  He doesn’t turn around entering the bar.

What the hell is he talking about?

I help Trent up to his feet when I see some guys and girls taking pictures of us.  Oh here we go again.   We will be front page on all the gossip sites by midnight tonight.   I flag down a cab practically pushing Trent in.  Luckily the few cab services in the small town hang around just in case.  Once I am in the car I text Ian letting him know I will see him at home and I left with Trent.

Trent rests his head against the window closing his eyes as I stare out the window still trying to figure out what Gabe meant.  Have I lost a piece of myself because of Trent?  I shake my head no, Trent was there for me when I needed him.  Gabe didn’t know how he picked me up when I thought I was going to crumble.  Trent got me back when I was lost in a sea of grief.  Gabe didn’t know any of that because I never told him.

Sure, he know about Bill Monroe, the whole town found out about him.  He was arrested for sexual assault.  He pled guilty and was still serving his twenty year sentence.  What Gabe doesn’t know along with the rest of the town was that I miscarried our baby that night.

It is the sole fact Gabe doesn’t know about me.  I don’t want him to look at me differently so I beg everyone that knew to keep it to themselves.  I guess it doesn’t matter now since he doesn’t want anything to do with me.  He walked away from me tonight, sick of the games and I can’t blame him, he deserves better than me.

The cab drops us off at my mom’s house and we enter the dark house.  It still hits me when I walk into the redecorated house.  I sense of fear washes over me but then I relax a little.  My therapist has done wonders with me.

“Here you go” I give Trent a bag of frozen vegetables.  I am still baffled my mom has food in her freezer.

“Thanks.”  He mumbles.

“Why don’t you spend the night here?”

He smiles brightly “Alright” he moves to stand up.

“On the couch”

“Yeah…right.”  His smile falters and he sits back down.

“I’ll go get you a pillow and a blanket” I leave the room.

By the time I get back Trent is already asleep and I hope that he doesn’t have a concussion.  I decide to curl up on the recliner next to him in case he needs me during the night.

I am jolted awake by a very drunk Ian.  “I can’t believe you left me there.  What the hell Maddy?”  He keeps poking me in the arm with his finger.

“They got into a fight, people started taking pictures, and I had to get him out of there.”  I say rubbing my eyes.

“I heard.  Some guys I was hanging out with were talking about Trent Basso getting his ass kicked by some guy outside.  I assumed who the other guy was.”

“Oh great, I don’t even want to go online now.”  I roll my eyes in disgust.

“Um…there is someone at the door who wants to talk to you.”  Ian sheepishly looks at me.

“No?”  I question my shoulders slumping.  I can’t see him now.

Ian nods his head up and down raising his shoulders in apology.  “I’ll stay here and look over Trent.”

“I’m sure you will.”  I joke getting up.

When I walk around the corner Gabe is standing by the door looking at the ground.  He hears me coming and when he picks up his head I see so much sorrow and regret I almost breakdown.  What have I done to these two brothers?

“Hey.”  He looks up at me with those blue eyes and I close my eyes in regret of what I have done.

“Hey.”  I say back.

“Can we go for a walk?”  He motions towards the door.

“Sure.”  I walk towards the door but he opens it for me before my hand can reach the handle.

“Trent here?”  He asks.

I shake my head.

“Is he ok?”  I hear the remorse in his voice.

“Yeah he’ll be fine.”  I reassure him.  At least his head will be I think to myself.

“May I?”  He places his hand out asking permission to hold mine.

“Of course.”  I let him take my hand entwining our fingers together.

“I’m sorry Maddy for what I said.  I was just so angry after seeing you on the dance floor with him.  I’m sorry what I did with Caroline in return.”  He walks us down my driveway.  We start walking towards the main road of town.

“It’s ok, you are probably right, I have always put Trent’s life in front of my own.”  I shrug.  I want to tell him not always but I don’t know if I can.

“Oh Maddy, I didn’t mean it like that.  I was just pissed, you picked him over me again.”  He admits.

“No I didn’t.”  I stop walking, looking at him with the moonlight streaming across his face.  God he’s gorgeous.  “If you would have stayed yesterday you would have known I didn’t pick him.  I was comforting him, he is going through hard times right now.”

“You mean his ankle and maybe not being able to play again.  Jesus Maddy, don’t you see it?”  He shakes his head.  “You are his crutch, his savior.  You are there for him when he feels down or unsure of himself but as soon as he’s better he drops you.”  But before I can respond.  “Sorry, I guess I am still angry.”  He turns us around walking but drops my hand.

“Not always Gabe, he saw me through a time I didn’t think I would survive.”  I disclose to him.  It is time he knows the truth that I have been keeping from him.  I am sure after he hears this he won’t want me anymore.

“What are you talking about Maddy?”  He questions knowing he has been the one there to lift me up when I am down.

“I never told you.”  I shake my head leading us towards town.  I have to take him and tell him the story.

“What Maddy?  What did you not tell me?”  His voice seems panicked reminding me how much he cares for me.

“Just listen, ok?  It’s going to be hard to get out, I don’t want to remember but I want to tell you, ok?”  I stop walking putting my hand on his arm.

He nods in agreement and I start revealing my story to him scared as hell he will walk away from me.

“Remember Bill Monroe and what happened?”  I ask him knowing he remembers.  You don’t forget when someone you love is almost raped.

“Of course.”  He responds.

I take a deep breath in and out finding Gabe looking at me in apprehension.  “I was pregnant when it happened.”  My eyes start to water.

“Don’t Maddy, its ok.  You don’t have to take yourself back there.”

“Yes I do.  Gabe, you deserve to know this.”  I wipe the tears taking another deep breath allowing myself to talk.  “It was Trent’s baby, well…you probably already figured that.”  I shrug.  “Since the fight between Bill Monroe and myself was so violent I miscarried that night.”

“I’m sorry.”  His voice a whisper.  I should have known he would feel sorry for me when this is about me keeping a secret from him.

“Anyway, Trent and I had plans to move to New York and have the baby together.  After I miscarried I shut him out.  I couldn’t handle it.  Your mom came in the room and took over until I cried enough to fill ten buckets.”

“My mom knew?”  Disbelief that the people he loves deceived him.

“Yeah, sorry.  I swore her to secrecy.  Anyway, after I got out of the hospital I couldn’t even get out of bed and Trent had to get to New York to start practice with the team.  I told him I wasn’t going to go, that he probably didn’t want me anyway since I killed his baby.   I shut everyone out.  He stayed back with me telling the team a personal matter came up and he couldn’t make it.  The general manager threatened to take away his signing bonus if he didn’t get there the next day but Trent stayed with me for two more weeks.  He would come into my room at night and hold me when I cried but would give me the space I needed during the day.”  I heave a sigh my mind remembering the darkest time in my life.

Gabe grabs my hand again squeezing it in encouragement.  I smile over at him in appreciation and he smiles back.   Oh how I love this man.

“One night Trent came in my room and I assumed he was going to climb into bed with me but he was fully dressed with his backpack slung over his shoulder.  He told me to get my ass out of bed and get dressed.  I fought him but he dragged me out of the bed throwing my clothes to me.  I was so mad at him but I followed quietly behind him.”  Following the streets I ran earlier I see we are almost there.  Gabe doesn’t know where I am taking him but it is important that hears this part of my life.

“He told me to get in his truck.  I followed his directions mumbling obscenities to myself.  He didn’t talk to me the whole ride and I stared out the window brewing silently.  Then he turned in here.”  I motion at the cemetery in front of me and Gabe now.

“Oh Maddy.”  Gabe might have already known where we were going but he appears surprised when I stop in front starting to walk up the long sidewalk.  He seems reluctant to follow me but he does.

“Grabbing his backpack he held my hand tight as we walked up to my father’s headstone.  I had been back many times since his funeral but I knew Trent never came.  Him taking me there made me more furious, it brought back the time he disappointed me the most.   Now he thought I would find some kind of strength in coming here.  I started screaming at him, telling him everything I felt, how he had thrown me aside all those years.  I told him I hated him and never wanted to see him again.  That he should go to New York without me and live the happy bachelor life he always wanted.  He wrapped his arms around me tight so I would stop beating his chest.  Tears were streaming down my face and all I wanted to do was run but he wouldn’t let me leave.  He must have held me for fifteen minutes before I finally relaxed from exhaustion.  I sulked into his arms not wanting to face my dad.  To tell him what happened to me.  I felt ashamed of myself.  That I had disappointed him.”  Gabe and I walk through the black rod ironed gate and I wipe the tears from my face.  Gabe is silent, giving me the time to continue.

“I knelt down in front of his headstone apologizing for what happened and I was surprised at how much better it made me feel. Trent sat next to me the whole time with his hand on my back.  Then he opened his backpack and pulled out that angel.”  I point to the small angel statue on the right of my dad’s headstone.

“He said we were going to grieve for our child and this statue would represent the baby we lost.  Sobs escaped from me and I couldn’t breathe.  I didn’t think I could do it but he pushed me to hold it and say good-bye.  He said we couldn’t move on until we mourned.  He said this angel would sit by my dad’s side since he was watching over our baby looking down on us.  That night Trent and I said good-bye to our baby and I finally started to slowly heal a little.”  I didn’t want to go into too much detail with Gabe about how we stayed there until sunrise and how hard it was for me to walk away but Trent gave me the strength to make it down that hill.   That was mine and Trent’s moment together and no matter what, it was between us, not to be shared with others.

My fingers brush along the angel and slow tears run down my cheeks.  It was the worst time of my life but I have healed.  I don’t blame myself as much anymore.  I have learned to live and survive.  Now I must look at Gabe and see the disappointment on his face.  I don’t want to turn around and see how he sees me different now.

“Turn around Maddy.”  Gabe requests.  He had been giving me my space sitting on the cement bench a few steps away.

I shake my head no so he steps forward coming down to his knees beside me.

“I know it’s not enough but I’m so sorry.  I wish you would have told me so I could have helped you but I understand.”  He put his arm around my shoulders pulling me to him.  “That was you and Trent’s time.  He needed to see you through that and I am glad he stepped up to the plate.”

“I’m sorry I never told you.”  I start to pick up my head to look in his eyes but he keeps me where I am.  Oh god, he can’t look at me.

“Don’t be.”  He is holding me but he isn’t letting his fingers flow through my hair or rubbing my arm with his hand.

“Let’s go.”  I get up brushing the dirt off myself.

“Um…ok” he says rising up as well.

I start walking down the hill with my arms across my chest.

“Mad, wait up.”  He lightly jogs up behind me.  “Did I say something wrong?”  He pulls my arm turning me around to him.

“No” I shake my head turning around but he grabs me again not letting me go.

“Talk to me.”  He brings his head down so he can see me.

“Its fine Gabe, I get it.”  I finally look up and those caring concerned eyes meet mine.

“Get what?”  He sounds confused.

“That you look at me differently.  I know what I must seem like now.”  I start to turn again but he holds me in place.

“You want to know what I see.”  He asks but I don’t answer him.

“How can you be so blind Maddy?”  He shakes his head back and forth.  “You are the most beautiful girl I have ever met.  It’s not your looks it’s you.  You are strong and independent and that story that you just told me proves it to me all over again.  What you had to go through shows just how much you can persevere when the odds are against you.  I love you so much and I want to be with you in every way possible.  I want to be there for you when you need me, reassure you of your strength when bad things happen.  I want to be the reason for your smiles and laughter.  I want to make you happy and feel loved.  So, that story doesn’t mean shit to me except that I love you even more for what you had to go through.”  He starts pacing back and forth.

“But I can’t do it anymore Maddy.  I can’t keep putting myself out there for you to continue to pick him.  I am starting to look like a pathetic jackass and I want someone who wants me just as much as I want them.  I want someone by my side that loves me just as much.  As hard as it is for me I have to walk away from you.”  He stops walking stopping in front of me grabbing my hands.  “I wish you and Trent happiness, I want nothing more than for you to be happy Maddy.”  He squeezes my hands.

“No Gabe.  I’m sorry.  Please don’t do this.”  I plead.

“Shh…” he puts his fingers to my lips.  “Can I have one last taste?”  He leans his head toward me and our lips are barely touching.  “Maddy?”  He wants permission so I nod my head up and down.

Once his lips hit mine I open automatically, if this is my last time kissing Gabe Basso I don’t want to waste any time.  His tongue explores my lips and mouth until it finally meets mine.  He is slow and gentle as both his hands rest on either side of my head keeping in place for him.  He moans in my mouth and I moan in his.  He licks my bottom lip right before he sucks it into his mouth but comes back to my mouth deeper and harder.  I wrap my arms around his neck and it is taking everything in me not to wrap my legs around his waist.  Then he pulls away from me.

“It’s late, let’s get you home.”  He starts walking back towards my house.  Putting my head down I follow trying to think of something to say to change his mind.  I love him so much but there is another girl better for him.  He needs someone a lot better than me.  I am reminded by the phrase If you love them let them go.  I love Gabe enough to let him out of my messed up life and find the love he deserves unfortunately with someone else.

Chapter 23 – New York

Trent and I left two days after our intimate funeral for New York.  Luckily the general manager understood after Mrs. Basso called him and discussed the situation.  Unfortunately, Trent was not as understanding that his mom called his new boss but she got him his signing bonus back.  She was a persuasive woman.

We moved into the one bedroom apartment he had rented.  It was minimally furnished with a sofa you could spring a quarter off of, end tables that were nicked and scratched.  A bed that sagged a little in the middle but it was ours and it was in a nicer part of town than some kids out of college should have been able to afford.   Trent was a great soccer player and they paid him well for not proving himself in the league yet.

He is supposed to practice for a month and then start up with the team.  They aren’t having him travel with the team, which is great for us.  We explore the city finding small restaurants and local areas to hang out.  Trent goes to practice during the day and then the night is ours.  We enjoy each other’s company in more ways than one.

A week after we arrived, I am laying on the couch flipping through channels when Trent walks into the room holding out his hand.

“Where are we going?”  I take his hand.

“Surprise.”  He says leading me into the bathroom.

“Oh Trent.”  I sigh.  The bathtub is filled with rose petals.  There are red, yellow, pink and white petals floating on top of the water.  He lit candles along the ground and sink that illuminates the small space.  “It’s beautiful”

“It’s for you.”  He kisses the back of my neck slowly taking the hem of my shirt and bringing it over my head.

I start shaking, Trent and I haven’t been intimate since the incident and I don’t know if I can do it.

“We will do this slow and if you want to stop just say so.  I don’t want to rush you.  Right now, let’s just take a bath.”  He reaches around my waist unbuttoning my shorts and they fall to the floor.  I am surprisingly not embarrassed being in only my bra and underwear in front of Trent.

He comes around my front and I notice his shirt is already off and he is working on his pants.  Kissing my collarbone and neck, I feel his hands move to my back and my bra falls to the floor along with my shorts and shirt.  “You’re so beautiful.”  He whispers in my ear as his fingers hook the sides of my panties pulling them down.  His body follows his hands trailing soft kisses across my stomach.  “I love you Maddy” he comes back up to my lips once I step out of my panties.

I am standing there with my hands at my side unsure of what to do but giving Trent full access to my body.

“Come on, while it’s still hot.”  He holds my hand as I step into the hot water.

My eyes close when the water surrounds me in a warm cocoon.  I sit with my knees propped up holding my legs close to my body.  Before I realize it Trent is across from me his chest wet with rose petals stuck on it.

“Relax.”  He says slowly bringing my leg to him massaging my foot.  “Lean back baby.”  I follow his instructions leaning against the warm tub stretching my legs on top of his.  He moves his legs on the outside of my hips and my hands automatically rest on his strong calves.

Trent brings out a jar of salt scrub taking one of my feet out of the water rubbing it into my foot deeply massaging the bottom with his thumb.  I moan in delight.  He follows suit with my other foot and then he moves down my legs and I pull away.

“It’s ok baby, just me.”  I settle down again to the sound of his voice.  “Every inch of you is gorgeous.  How did I get so lucky?”  He is giving my leg small kisses as he comes closer to me.

I swallow a hard gulp, its Trent I remind myself.

His hands move across my body like silk and a rush of arousal hits me.  His fingers brush between my legs and I close them instinctively but he uses his other hand to gently open me up again.  “You ok baby?”  He asks and I nod still unsure.  “You feel so good.”  He inserts a finger in.  “So wet.”  He kisses my shoulder.

“Trent.”  I moan.

“Yeah Baby?”  He asks.

“Don’t stop, it feels so good.”  I admit.

“Never.”

We stay in the bath touching and feeling each other until the water goes cold. Trent wraps me in a towel carrying me into our bedroom.  More rose petals are sprawled across our bed and candles lit.  He lays me on the bed bringing out a bottle of lotion. He spreads it across my legs, my stomach, my arms and lastly my breasts after he sucks on each of my nipples.

He crawls on top of me and I can feel the tip of his erection at my entrance and I tense.  “Look in my eyes baby.”  Trent’s eyes stare down at me.  When I see myself in those eyes I only imagine him.  He enters me slow and steady until he consumes me saying sweet things.  Moving in slow circles the pressure starts to build inside of me.  I place my hands on his shoulder blades pulling him closer to me.

We both groan when our release happens.  Trent cleans me up and comes back to bed cradling me in his arms.  We talk until we fall asleep.  He never lets me go.

Needless to say after that, sex consumed our lives daily.  We christened every inch of every room in our small apartment.  Thank goodness when I was in the hospital Mrs. Basso talked me into starting the pill so we didn’t have to worry about condoms.

After that month Trent had to start playing which took him away from New York a lot.  Ian frequently slept on our couch keeping me company.  I got a job as an assistant to an interior designer but I pretty much answered phones and checked on orders.  It was something to get my foot in the door though so I didn’t mind. Not to mention I wanted to be available when Trent was home so it was perfect.

The first two months was great.  Trent would rush home after he was gone or at practice, we would spend every moment together but then Trent was finally put into a game against the D.C team as a starter it changed.  He scored three goals making headlines and suddenly he had a following.  He continued to be a top scorer only bringing more media attention to him.  Then he led his team to the Soccer National League cup where they won.  He signed his new contract and with his agents help he was the top earner in Soccer National League history.

Trent started changing before my eyes.  He moved us from the one bedroom to a

two bedroom condo in some high rise with a doorman saying he wanted to keep me safe.  After a practice he would stay late and work-out stating he had to increase his muscle mass in order to be a top performer.  I had to admit his body was amazing before but it was downright incredible now, I just hoped I was the only one touching it.

Our quiet evenings at home were filled with shows, clubs and appearances around the city.  In exchange of our diner dinners with milkshakes and cheeseburgers we were eating high priced meals with wine lists.  In the beginning it was exciting but I drew tired of it and started staying at home while he went out.  I slowly stopped hearing from him when he was out of town and he no longer rushed back to me.  He would return long after I went to bed and I would sneak off to work trying not to wake him.

We didn’t make love anymore, just fast sex that left me unfulfilled.  Trent’s arms no longer wrapped around me securely at night instead our backs faced each other in the king size bed.

I turn the doorknob and Trent is in a tuxedo smiling with a hand full of roses.              “What are you doing?”  I ask.

“Come with me.”  He pulls me by my hand to the bedroom.

On the bed is a black gown laid out across the bed with a pair of strap heels on the floor.  “It’s stunning.”  I say.

“No, you will be stunning in it.”  He whispers in my ear standing behind me.

“Where are we going?”  I ask.

“Surprise.” He says.  “You have half hour to get ready.”

I hurriedly take a shower curl my hair, put make-up on.  I can’t keep the smile off my face.  I am thrilled my Trent is back.  Questions fill my mind, is he going to propose?  Oh, I am not ready for that.

He helps me into my dress kissing my neck and shoulders like he used to. Telling me how beautiful I am and how much he loves me.

“Tell me where we are going?”  I beg him.

“No way” he says slipping something around my neck.  “Pull that gorgeous hair up.”  He clasp it shut and I feel it with my hands.

“Trent, you shouldn’t have.”  I can feel the cold element on my chest.

“You deserve it baby.”  He kisses my shoulder leading me over to the mirror.

He stands behind me as I admire the ruby necklace around my neck.  “I love it.”  I say staring at him through the mirror.

“I love you.”  He says back at me through the mirror.  “Now let’s go and celebrate.”

“What are we celebrating?”  I ask walking down the hall throwing my cell phone in the new clutch that was left by the dress.

“I’m not saying anything until we get to the restaurant.”  He says grabbing his wallet and keys.

“Can you at least tell me the restaurant?”

“Sure, Sparrow’s, your favorite.”  He smiles back at me.  I don’t bother telling him that is his favorite restaurant, not mine.

“Sounds great.”  I smile in return.

We make our way downstairs and I notice there is a limo waiting for us.  Trent has gone all out on this night.  I look at him and he motions for me to step in first.  The limo driver opens the door for us and we climb in.  When the limo pulls away from the curb Trent opens the champagne.

“I can’t hold it in any longer.”  He is giddy with excitement. “Maddy, we’re going to Chicago.  I’ve been traded.”  He hugs me in a tight embrace.

“What?”  I say quietly.

“Did you not hear me?  New York traded me, I’m going to Chicago.  You think we had it good here you should see how much they are paying me.”  The gleam in his blue eyes is shining so bright.  Trent is happier than I have ever seen him and I don’t want to disappoint him that I don’t want to leave New York.

“That’s great Trent.  I’m so proud of you.”  I hug him back.

We pull up to Sparrow’s and there are cameramen outside.  Ever since Trent led the team to the Soccer National League cup there have been a few articles in the gossip column online about him but lately it has been crazy.  They follow us to numerous shows and restaurants snapping our picture.  The gossip columnists are calling him the soccer dream guy.

Trent gets out of the limo first holding his hand out for me to join him.  Clicks are heard around us and I hope I look good enough to be on his arm.  The last thing I want is to be public humiliated.

We enter the restaurant and are led to a table with about fifteen other people.

“I thought it was just us celebrating.”  I pull on his arm before we get to the table.

“It will be.  Later baby.”  He brings us to the table and everyone starts clapping for him.  “Thank you everyone.”  He pulls my chair out for me and I smile widely at everyone.

He takes the seat between some red head and me.  I don’t recognize everyone; this must be the people he hangs out with when I don’t come.  “Everyone, this is Maddy.”  He puts his arm around me kissing my temple and three women give me dirty looks.

I wave my hand saying hello to everyone.

That is about the last of attention I get from Trent for the rest of the night.  He is Mr. Comedian entertaining the table like he is being paid.  The girls are fawning over him and the guys are high fiving him.  No wonder he loves this crowd they kiss his ass.  They laugh at every joke he tells even when it’s about them.  None of them make fun of him.  They compliment him every chance they get.  Telling him how awesome he is and what a great game he played and how Chicago is so lucky to have him and how New York is stupid for trading him.

The scary part is Trent enjoys every part of it.  His laugh isn’t even genuine, it’s some transformed mixture of sounds I have never heard from him.  This is the new Trent and I can’t stand this obnoxious self-centered man.

During dessert is when I finally lose it.  The red head next to Trent, I think her name is Cammi.  She keeps touching his arm every time she laughs at one of his stupid jokes saying “Oh Tre”.  I swear I have seen her hand touch his leg more than once under the table and he never removes it.

I am thankful when the check comes but of course it is handed to Trent.  No one at the table offers up any money.  Wasn’t this a congratulatory dinner for him?  These people are mooches, they don’t care about him.