Love Me Back (35 page)

“Everything will work out Maddy, just wait and see.”

“Maddy, Maddy.”  Ian screeches stopping in his tracks when he sees my mom and I.  “Oh sorry.”  He turns around to back up out of the room.

“Its fine Ian, what?”  I sit up next to my mom.

“They have the fight on there now.”  He bites his bottom lip showing me there is more to the story.  “You are no longer the scorned lover.”  He walks back into the kitchen.

I walk into the kitchen grabbing the phone out of Ian’s hands and he huffs at me but I put my hand up at him.  Scrolling down the article I see a picture of me between Gabe and Trent hands on both their chests.  The title reads
Trent Basso’s ex-girlfriend tries to stop boyfriend from hitting him. 
The article says Trent ran into me and my new boyfriend, whose identity is unknown, at a bar and my new boyfriend tried to start a fight with him.  It goes on to say Trent is pressing charges against the unknown male and I am devastated, my picture leaning against the wall crying is embedded there.

“The truth will come out, Maddy.”  Trent uses my words back to me, smiling up to me with his head on my shoulder.

I shove his head with my palm off my shoulder.  “They’re making Gabe into the bad guy.”  I sulk. 

“He is.”  Trent whispers and I give him a dirty look.

“What are they going to come up with now?”  I ask giving Ian his phone taking my coffee to the table.

“It will be fine Maddy.  No one believes it anyway.”  Trent sarcastically uses my words against me again and I am starting to become irritated.  He doesn’t care at all how Gabe is being portrayed. 

“Trent…please just be quiet.”  I glare at him.

“Let’s just have some breakfast.  Mitch and I made you guys a feast.”  My mom brings over plates of food to the table.

“What a great idea Barb.”  Mitch chimes in.

“You should call him Trent.”  I instruct him.

“No way, why?” he looks at me in disgust.

“To give him a heads up.  He knew that doorman, I’m sure his name will be released soon.”  I bite into a piece of bacon.

“Too late.  Update.”  Ian announces.  “Brothers fight over same girl” Ian discloses the headline.  “Trent Basso and older brother Gabe are in love with the same woman, the soccer star’s ex-girlfriend Madeline Jennings.”  He starts to read the article.

I stand up going upstairs to get my phone.  If Trent isn’t going to tell Gabe I will.

“Let it go Maddy.”  Trent yells up towards me.

“Trent.”  Mitch’s voice firm like his father.

I sit on my bed grabbing my phone from my purse, I have five texts, two from Ian last night and three from Kenna this morning insisting I call her immediately.  I am grateful that my phone is under Ian’s name so the press won’t find me.  After my breakup with Trent last year I was bombarded with so many calls I cancelled my number.

Have you been online?   - Me

No, but already heard.  –Gabe

I’m sorry. – Me

It’s not your fault – Gabe

Still – Me

I can handle it – Gabe

Ok, well…let me know if you need anything – Me

Sure, thanks - Gabe

“A source close to Gabe Basso informs us the love triangle has been going on for years.  That Ms. Jennings has forced a wedge between the two brothers, making them hate each other. “Ian reads an article when I enter the kitchen,

“Just put it away Ian.”  I snap.  Trent is eating casually.  My mom is nervously chewing on her nails while Mitch seems to be comforting her.

“I’m just getting to the good part, you seductress.”  Ian smirks.

“Shouldn’t you be calling your agent or PR person to make a statement?”  I rudely ask Trent.

“Um…No.  They aren’t going to do anything.  It will die down.”  He puts another piece of toast in his mouth.

“Trent.  For once can you think of someone else?”  I push my plate away.

“Ohh…this site says you left Trent for Gabe last year.”  Ian continues to search the gossip sites.

“Seriously Ian, enough.”  I screech.

“I’m just trying to give you all the information.”  Ian grins.

Ignoring him I glare at Trent as he continues to sip his coffee and eat his breakfast without a care in the world.

“Maddy…Gabe’s a big boy, he can handle himself.”  He stares at his plate feeling my eyes boring into his head.

“You could at least make a statement.” 

“Fine.  Can I at least finish my breakfast?” he says annoyed.

“I guess so.”  I sigh rolling my eyes.

“Ohhh…Ouch.”  Ian quietly talking to himself scrolling through his phone.

“Ian!”  I yell.

“Sorry.”  He puts his phone down on the table with innocence across his face.

“Do I even want to know?’  I second-guess my decision to not find everything going on.

“Nothing big.  They don’t have a lot of information.  Just Trent being injured, you coming to his rescue Gabe being upset and so on and so on.”  He waves his hand down insinuating it’s nothing.

I sit in the chair biting my lip staring down at the table while the rest of the table finishes their meal.   I jerk up when a phone starts ringing breaking the awkward silence across the table.  Trent stands up digging in his pocket retrieving his phone.

“What?”  His annoyed voice can’t be mistaken.

“Yeah, I know.”  He nods his head in agreement.

“Is he there?” 

“No.”

“Mom…” he draws out.

“Fine, give me a half hour.”

He ends the phone shoving it back in his pocket.

“Ms. Jennings, Uncle Mitch.  Thank you for the breakfast.”  He places his plate in the sink walking to the door.  “Maddy, can I have a word?’  Nodding his head towards the front door.  “See you Ian.”  He clasps his hand on Ian’s shoulder while walking out of the room.

I stand up pushing my chair in following Trent out of the room.  By the time I get to him he has his shoes on twirling his keys around his finger. 

“What’s up?”  Walking towards him.

“I’m sorry about in there.”  He motions to the kitchen with his hand.

“Ok.”  I make a point not to overly tell him it’s ok like I usually do.

“It’s just, you are so worried about him.  What about me?  I am the person who will have to deal with this for weeks.  They will follow me around trying to get pictures.”

“He’s your brother Trent.  He didn’t sign up for this.  Imagine what it could do to his business.”  I try to plead Gabe’s case.

“He’s not my brother Maddy, no brother would do what he has done.”  Trent glares at me.

“I really want you guys to mend this.”  Placing my hand in his.

“Sorry Maddy, I can’t do it.  Not to mention he doesn’t want to anyway.”

“How do you know?”

“When you left me, I thought maybe we could push this fight to the side and be brothers again but he refused.  He told me it was unforgivable what I did to you.  So, sorry Maddy, it’s not me, it’s your boy.”  He pulls his hand away from mine.  “Anyway, I just wanted to apologize for being an ass but what else is new right?”  He opens my door looking at me one more time and shutting it behind him.

I place my hand on the doorknob ready to open it.  To run after Trent, make him feel better.  Let him know I could care less what happened in the kitchen that he is a good brother and Gabe should let go of me making it right between them.  Instead I turn away walking up the stairs because I do care what happened in the kitchen and he isn’t a good brother for sitting around instead of making a statement to the press and lastly, I don’t want Gabe to let me go.  Trent has resided number one in my life, over myself and that wasn’t going to happen anymore, regardless of his sulking. 

Taking a shower, I let the warm water flow through my body relaxing my muscles.  Everyone’s advice rings through my mind.  The one piece that is consistent is Trent and Gabe need to mend their relationship.  Trent just confessed he tried but Gabe refused him.    I am the one that came between them; I should be the one who brings them together.  If I can’t have him, they should at least have each other.

After I finish getting ready, I look through that purple floral box, at the MASH Mackenna made for me when I was eleven.  I fold it back up putting it at rest back in the box.    Sighing heavily realizing predictions aren’t always right about the future.  As much as I wish this MASH was my current life, it’s can’t be.  The worst thing of all is there is no thing as fated love.

I hide the box back on the shelf in my closet when my memory recollects another purple box.  A rush of excitement hits me.   That box contains the piece of evidence I need to show Gabe how he needs to patch up his brother relationship.  I rub my temples trying to remember where I had it last.  I shake my head knowing I never took it to New York.  Was it at the Bassos?  God, I hope not.  Then it finally dawns on me.  Grabbing my phone and purse I shuffle down the stairs almost slipping on the bottom two. 

“Mom, can I borrow your car?”  I frantically ask her.

“What’s up buttercup?”  Ian peeks around the corner with obvious wonder what has me so impatient.

“Mom?”  I ask again, putting my hand up to Ian.

She looks at Mitch and then back at me.  “Of course.  Where are you going?”  She questions.

“Jacks.  I have to end this mom.”  I place my hand out for her keys.  She moves over riffling through her purse.

“End what sweetheart?”  She quizzes.

“What I have caused.  I have to make it right.”  I grab her keys from her hand.  “Thanks.”  I start out the door but Ian grabs my arm.

“Oh no you don’t, I smell drama and where drama is I am.” Ian hooks arms with me accompanying me to my mom’s car.

Chapter 24 – Present Day

Jack has been storing my boxes in his attic so Ian happily agrees to go up the ladder after some heavy persuading on my part.  A half hour later Ian is coming down the stairs showing me my purple plaid box. 

“You have a bunch of other shit up there.”  Ian motions with his thumb up the ladder he just came down.

“Thank you Ian.”  I ignore his comment concentrating on the box.  When I lift the lid the smell of the beach and water practically float to my senses.  I can feel the sun on me playing volleyball with Gabe and the midnight walks along the beach letting the waves crash across our ankles.  My eyes close remember his hands on me, holding me close and those wet lips kissing me goodnight.

“Jack, could you call Doug. I have a plan.”  I yell towards him walking down the stairs.

“Why?  Maddy, Linds and I are extremely busy, can’t this wait?”  Jack walks into the room holding some kind of tulle and a ribbon trying to make a bow.

“Just give me this.  Go call Doug.  It’s time his brothers grow up.”  I lead the way into the kitchen sitting down with Lindsey helping her tie her boxes of candy into little tulle packages clasped with a ribbon.  Of course Ian sits down joining and we soon have an assembly line going.

Two hundred tulle presents later a scheming plan has been put into place recruiting not only Jack and Doug but Mr. and Mrs. Basso as well.  They convinced Trent that the bachelor party should be at the Bassos here with all the press that is probably waiting around for him to show up at the clubs in Chicago.  Since Jack isn’t concerned where his bachelor party is held but more who was at his bachelor party, it made my plan that much more possible.

Trent is still at his parents so I text him to meet me at the barn in a half hour.  After jotting a down a quick note I hand Gabe’s letter to Ian.    “Make sure he reads it.”  I instruct Ian holding it firm in his hand. 

“I will Maddy.”  He practically has to rip it from my hands.  I am reluctant to let it go.  That is my love letter from Gabe, a goodbye love letter, but a love letter nonetheless.  That time in Cancun was ours and I will always cherish it.

“Ian, let’s go.”  Jack puts his hand on his shoulder motioning him in to the hallway. 

Ian reaches over giving me a huge hug.  “Good luck honey.  I will be waiting for you after.”  Then he retreats down the hall.

“Are you sure?”  Jack asks me not following Ian.  “When we talked last I thought this was going to end…differently” he falters through his words. 

“It’s for the best.”  I say.

“For who?”  Jack questions but I don’t answer.  I just wrap my arms around him trying to assure him this is the right decision.

I pull out of my brothers driveway following the three boys most of the way but when they turn into the driveway of the Bassos I continue on.   Turning left at the next stop sign I park along the side of the road about a block down.  Déjà vu hits me reminding of all the times I parked my red Jeep in this spot sneaking out to the barn to meet Trent.  All the nights we made love or had wild sex.  The nights he held me until I feel asleep or comforted me when I cried over my mom. 

The tall grass scratches my legs following the path up to the barn.  I push the wooden door open and Mr. and Mrs. Basso have already been hard at work preparing it for the bachelor party.  There are poker tables and chairs strewed around with long tables along the walls for food and beverages.  The barrel in the corner indicating there is a keg coming soon.  Jack is going to love his bachelor party.  

I climb the ladder up to my hide away spot with Trent.  I am surprised seeing him already resting against the hay pale.   He is wearing jeans and a t-shirt.  One of his legs is sprawled straight while the other is bend with his elbow resting on it.  When his eyes meet mine it makes me want to run back down that ladder, out of the barn and back into my mom’s car.  I reluctantly walk over to him hearing the floorboards creak with every step reminding me I will never be here again.  I take a seat next to him and he grabs my hand smiling over to me. 

“Trent” I sigh heavily releasing the breath I’ve been holding for last two minutes.

“Maddy, I am truly sorry for this morning.  I have already called Eric and made a statement.  I told them that the fight outside the bar was just brothers messing around and you were just trying to get us to stop before someone got hurt.  I didn’t explain the pictures of you crying though, I didn’t know how.”  Then he releases my hand.