Текст книги "Love Me Back"

Автор книги: Michelle Lynn

сообщить о нарушении

Текущая страница: 9 (всего у книги 21 страниц)

I grab a soda sitting at the table with them.  “It must be nice to sit around watching football and eating all day.”  I start rubbing my feet.

“It’s awesome, you should try it one year.”  Reed grins over to me taking a bite of his sandwich.  He is a freshman in high school.  He just started growing becoming taller than the girls but his face still had acne on it and braces fill his mouth.  Since he is the son of Mrs. Basso’s brother he doesn’t share the blonde hair Gabe and Trent have but has almost black hair.

“How about we trade spots next year?”  I raise my eyebrows in curiosity while massaging my toes and rotating my ankles.

“Not on your life Maddy” Reed replies.  We all start laughing.  I abruptly stop when someone grabs my feet.

Following my legs with my eyes I see my feet in Gabe’s hands kneading my foot with his fist.  I can’t do anything but tip my head back closing my eyes.  It feels so good.  All of a sudden I realize our surroundings.  It wasn’t unusual for things like this to happen between Gabe and me but never in front of other people.  I wonder if he forgot where we were when he grabbed them.  When I try to pull them back to me, he holds them tighter on his lap.

“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

I am trapped in hell.  There is no way to get home unless I call a cab and that would cost entirely too much money.  My mom is sitting on the bench a few feet away from me. I can see the agony on her face.  She has her phone out texting someone, I assume Gabe.  This is all too much information for me to process and come to terms with in a matter of five minutes.  Seeing my newly changed mom ready to cry desperately texting the man she loves.  Thinking she made the wrong decision makes me go to her.

“Sorry mom.  I didn’t mean to overreact back there.  It was just hard information for me to process.”  I sit next to her and the relief in her eyes is evident immediately.

“I understand honey.  It’s a lot of information to take in.”  She pats my knee.

“Is that him you are texting?”  I nod my head towards the phone in her hand.

“Yes, we are supposed to be meeting for the lunch now.”  She looks at the new text that came in.

“I can’t say this news isn’t hard to take but I will be ok, I just need a little time.  If you want my approval or blessing you have it.  I would never want to deny you happiness.”  I grab her hand squeezing it.

“Thank you Maddy.  You have no idea how happy that makes me.”  She hugs me hard.

“Let’s go see your man, shall we?”  I joke.

She looks at me raising one eyebrow questioning my sincerity.

“Really mom, it’s fine.”  I wrap my arm around her shoulders laughing.

I had to tell my mom I was ok with it what other choice did I have.  To see them together is going to be a challenge.  It kills me that he knows what happened to me.  I wonder if Gabe thinks of me differently because of it.  How could he not?

My mom and I walk into the pizza place that is roped off for the Jennings wedding.  I swear Jack is taking this to the extreme.  More people have shown up.  I see the Bassos and Edwards there along with some other people I don’t know.  Gabe and Ian are sitting at a table in the back corner so I go over to join them.

“I’ll be right there honey, I want to say hello to a few people.”  She squeezes my forearm releasing me.

She walks right up to Mrs. Basso and they embrace each other warmly.  How the hell is Mrs. Basso ok with my mom dating her son when she hates me for some reason?  My mom continues making her way through the older generation until she rests next to a nicely dressed middle aged man.  He is wearing a Hawaiian shirt with khaki shorts.  He has a blonde gray hair with a mustache.  He face beams when he sees her and she gives him a kiss on the cheek.

“Hey scaredy cat.  How was the carousel?  The horse didn’t go too high did it?”  Ian teases me.

“That’s not what gave me my scare.”  I look at Gabe and see anguish in his eyes.

“Excuse me” Gabe gets up from the table.

“Oh she told you huh?”  Ian asks.

“She told you before me?”  I say dumbfounded.

“Well, when he came by last night she didn’t really have a choice.”  He sheepishly looks at me.

“I honestly can’t believe it Ian.  That was the last person I would have thought it was.”  I put my head in my arms on the table.

“It’s not that bad.  Don’t you think you are being a little dramatic?”  He places his hand on my back.

“No.  I honestly don’t.  What is he going to be my father now?’  I turn my head towards him.

“Would that really be that bad Maddy?”

“You are kidding right?”  I sit up hearing footsteps coming back.

“I thought you could use some beer.”  Gabe brings over a pitcher of beer.

“Try a couple shots.”  I sigh throwing my head back down on the table.

“Oh come on Maddy, we’ll be related now.  You were already practically a Basso, now you really will be one.”  Gabe smirks over at me.

“There is something seriously demented with you.”  I glare at him.

“I like to see the positive in situations.”  He pours me a beer putting it in front of me.

I take a sip of my beer looking over to my mom, who seems to be overly chummy with that Hawaiian shirt man.   She keeps patting his arm while talking and he can’t seem to keep his eyes off of her.  The whole table seems to be admiring the two of them.  I thought my mom had changed her ways but obviously not.  I look back at Gabe who seems to be staring as well.  The problem is I am scowling at them and he is smiling.

“Doesn’t that bother you?”  I ask him pointing towards my mom.

“Why would it bother me?”  He questions curiously.  Ian looks over at me confused as well.   “Hey if they are happy that’s all that matters.”

“Huh, you are one of those open relationship kind of person then.”  I say.

“What?  What they do is there business.  It has nothing to do with me.”

“Yes it does.  You shouldn’t let her get away with that.”  I say curtly.

“With what?  Madgirl, you have to explain yourself, I am completely lost here.”  He shakes his head glancing from Ian to myself.

“Listen, if you are going to date my mom at least make sure she isn’t flirting with other people.  I wouldn’t want her using you.”  I take another gulp of beer.  I can’t stand this whole conversation.

“What?”  Gabe and Ian start cracking up laughing.  Ian is unable to control himself bending over slapping me on the back.

“Oh my god Maddy, I can’t believe you thought that.”  Ian mocks me.

The whole restaurant is now looking at our table wondering what is so funny. I feel my face getting redder by the minute.  I get up from the table walking outside.  As embarrassed as I am a sense of relief washes over me.

I barely get out the door before Gabe grabs my elbow stopping me.  “Whoa Maddy.”

“Gabe, just let me go. I am so embarrassed.”  I pull my elbow back from him.

“Why did you think I was dating your mom?”  He leads me over to the park bench out front.

“I don’t know.  She told me she was dating someone.  She made a joke about how she liked the Basso men too.  My mind started going back to you opening doors for her, having her sit up front.  She said the guy was over last night.  You kept joking and talking with her today.  I guess my mind went right to you when she said it.”  I start rambling trying to think how I got to that conclusion myself.

“Jesus Maddy, you drive me crazy.”  He put his head in his hands running them through his hair.

“I’m sorry Gabe.”  I play with my hands in my lap wishing this would all go away.

“I could give a shit about you thinking I was seeing your mom.  I just don’t understand why you refuse to acknowledge this.”  He motions his hand back and forth between us.

“What?”  I whisper.

“Please don’t play dumb.  I don’t know how much more I can take.”  His anger is starting to spill.

“Why are you so mad at me?”  I automatically become defensive.

“That’s it Maddy.  I’m done.”  He yells standing up from the bench.

“What? Why?  Gabe!”  I yell after him.

He doesn’t acknowledge my screams continuing to walk away for me.  I start jogging over to him but his strides are two of mine.  I see him duck into the Eagle ride thinking that is his way away from me but I don’t intend on stopping now.  He walks up to the line and I excuse myself between him and the people that came right after.

“Hey lady no cuts.”  A boy says to me.

“I’m not riding, I just need to talk to that man right there.”  I point to Gabe who is still ignoring me.

“Like I haven’t heard that before.”  He gives me a dirty look.

I ignore him. My mind set on talking to one person and when I finally reach him his arms are crossed over his chest and he looks like he is going to beat the shit of out of someone.

“Gabe, please tell me what is going on?  Why are you mad at me?”  I plead touching his arm.

“If you don’t know Maddy, it’s not worth it.  I can’t do it anymore.”  He pulls his arm away from me.

“Do what anymore?  Worth what?  Gabe, you are acting like a fifth grader.”  I cross my arms glaring at him.

“Original Madgirl.”  He uses my nickname that he does in front of other people.

“Gabe, I thought we were friends.”  I can hear my own desperation in my voice.

“That’s exactly the problem.”

“That we are friends?  If you don’t want to be my friend just say so.”  I am whispering not wanting to make a scene in public.

“My god Maddy, what do I have to do to make you see it?”  He throws his arms in the air obviously not worried about the people trying to hear us in line.

“Again Gabe, see what?”  I scream my face turning red out of anger and embarrassment.  With all the yelling I realize we are at the front of the line so I try to step to the side.

“Ma’am you need to get behind him if you are riding.”  The sixteen year old attendant says to me.

“Ma’am?”  A look of disbelief in my eyes. Gabe starts chuckling quietly.

“Yeah Ma’am are you going to ride with me or not?”  Gabe asks me smirking.

“You know I don’t ride roller coasters.”

“I’ve seen you ride them before.”  He mentions making me wonder if this is about me riding a roller coaster.

The next coaster comes in and the people get off with their hair all windblown but smiles plastered on their faces.  Gabe gets in sitting down in his assigned seat.  I look at him and then the attendant who keeps yelling over to me to either get in or move out of the way.  The blonde behind me looks like she wants to run me over for her chance to sit next to Gabe.  The sun is making Gabe’s blue eyes sparkle more when he looks at me.  For some reason his face brings over a calming safe feeling so I hop in the seat fastening my belt.  The metal bar comes down and my throat free falls into my stomach.

Gabe is staring over at me instead of looking at the hill ahead.

“You got me on this ride so you better answer the question.”  My words are staggering as we reach the middle of the first hill and I am trying to only concentrate on him.  His defined jawbone that comes to the smallest point when it reaches his chin.  How his eyes are set back but his long dark eyelashes making it so you don’t notice right away.  The sun has developed a few small wrinkles around his eyes.  Lastly I land on his lips that are turned up for me now.  His bottom lip a little pouty compared to his top lip.  They are the perfect shade of dark pink and when they open you see his white teeth.  All perfectly straight except for one at the bottom that slightly covers another indicating he never had braces.  He was a gorgeous man.

The top of the hill is fast approaching making my anxiety higher.   My heart is beating out of my chest.  Gabe grabs my hand telling me it would be ok. Just as our car is about to go over the hill I squeeze his hand so hard closing my eyes.  My butt starts coming up from the seat at the same time Gabe’s lips meet mine.  His hand rests on my cheek while his mouth covers mine.  His tongue licks my bottom lip asking to enter which I happily open my mouth.  Our tongues mingle together while butterflies fill my stomach.  When Gabe pulls away my mouth goes cold, I stare into his eyes noticing we aren’t moving anymore.  Then I hear the hollers and clapping around us.  I don’t remember the ride only Gabe’s mouth and hands.  Looking around at the crowd my face turns a nice shade of pink.

“Come on let’s get out of here.”  Gabe grabs my hand leading me out from the coaster.

We walk hand in hand down the exit ramp.  He pulls me over to the train station that is already boarding.  We grab an empty row in the back.

He instantly kisses my lips but this time it is short.  “We need to talk.”  He says.

“It’s fine Gabe.  Thank you for keeping my mind off the ride.”  This is where he tells me we can’t be together for one of the twenty reasons listed in his head.

“Maddy, I mean this in the nicest possible way.  I need you to shut up for about five minutes.”

“I will try.”  I agree.

“That kiss wasn’t just to help you keep your mind of the ride.  I mean it was but I wouldn’t have done it if I didn’t want to.”  He grabs both my hands with his putting them in his lap.  “This is so much harder than I thought it would be…Let me ask you something?”

“I thought you wanted me to shut up?” I raise my eyebrows in question.

“I did until now.”  He doesn’t laugh or smile.

“Ok ask away.”  I become concerned inching closer to him.

“Do you feel this?”  He motions between the two of us.

I look at him questioning.  “Gabe, I felt that kiss everywhere if that is what you are asking.”

“Yes…no.”  He pulls his hands away brushing them through his hair.  “What I am trying to say is…I love you.  I know it’s complicated as hell for us and all the people that won’t understand it but I have loved you for so many years.  I thought I could get over you when I moved to Florida but every girl I tried to date never kept my interest, they never compared to you.  There were so many times I wanted to tell you but one thing after the next held me back.  I am sick of waiting for the time to be right or people to come to grips.  I want you to be mine.”  He divulges not looking up at me.

“Oh Gabe!”  I don’t know what to say.  I know I love him too but I can’t stop thinking about Trent or his family not liking me.  The trouble it would cause if we got together.

“Shit!”  He yells and the family a couple rows up turn their heads towards us.

“Sorry” I apologize to them.

“I thought for sure you felt the same way.”  He whispers staring at his feet.

“Gabe, look at me.”  I place my hand on his knee.

He slowly turns his face up to mine his eyes filled with regret and despair.

“Who said I didn’t?”  I smile over at him.

“God, you scared the shit out of me.”  He confesses.

“Gabe just because I feel the same doesn’t mean I think it’s a good idea to be together.”  His smile falters and he shakes his head.

“Maddy, it doesn’t matter what anyone thinks.  If we love each other we should be together.”

“Your mom hates me, Trent is your brother, and we live in different parts of the country.  Nothing about this is right”

“All that matters is this” he kisses me again but this time more urgent and persistent.  Our lips and tongue can’t seem to get enough.   His arms are warm around me, fingers gingerly running through my hair.  My hands rest on his firm chest.  That feeling is there again.  The electricity I only feel with him.  As though everything is right in the world when I am with him.

When he pushes back from me resting his forehead on mine.  “I guess I can’t argue with that.”  I relinquish.

“I promise you Maddy, I will protect us. We are worth fighting all this crap for.”

“Okay, but can I ask one thing?”   I bring my pointer finger up.

“Anything.”  His hand rests on my hips rubbing up and down.

“You have to kiss me every hour.”  I laugh.

“I think I can do better than that.”  His lips crash down on mine again.

I can’t tell you how long Gabe and I rode the train.  He held me in his arms kissing my neck and ears when his lips weren’t on mine.  We didn’t talk about all the important topics that would soon be in our face once we told everyone.  We only relish being together as a couple.  Touching each other, stealing kisses and talking about our feelings toward one another.

It feels so good to be with Gabe but it scares me at the same time.  How were we going to be together?  Which one of us would tell Trent?  Would I lose him as my friend?  What about his mom?  The questions just keep running through my mind, I can’t escape them.  Gabe is so sure it is going to work out telling me our love would prevail.  When we get off that train everything comes crashing down.  I don’t think I can make everyone else upset just to make myself happy.   There is no way I can do it this weekend, my brother’s wedding has to come first.