Love Me Back (9 page)

“Shawn, I suggest you take your hand off my leg before I stab it.”  I pick up my fork aiming towards his hand.

“Man, you got the Jennings temper huh?”  He quickly pulls his hand off.

“You think Jack’s bad, you should see my girl’s” I could place that voice anywhere.  The raspy tone has given me goose bumps my whole life.

I already know who it is before turning around but the smirk on his face makes me laugh.  He knows I’m not his girl but right now he can say whatever he wants because he is my savior.

“Hey guys, sorry I’m late.”  Trent asks the girl next to me to scoot over which she happily obliges after looking him up and down a few times.  Probably imagining him naked.  I have seen this scenario more times than I can count.  Trent smiles coyly at her giving her hopes she will never see. 

“Hey Trent,” most of the table announce in unison.

“So, Edwards.  Mind moving your arm off my girl now.”  He leans back picking up Shawn’s arm pushing it towards him.

“According to Little Jennings, she isn’t your girl anymore soccer stud.  Which means its open play.”  Shawn firms his arm around me tighter.

“Listen boys, I’m not a piece of meat you can fork your claim to.”  I look at them both but on my way to meet Shawn’s eyes, I meet Gabe’s instead.  He is attentively watching what is going on.  I can’t decipher his face, angry or amused.

“Just because you are some soccer superstar doesn’t mean you will always get the girl.”  Shawn says over to Trent.

“It’s not because of my ‘soccer’ skills that she’s my girl believe me.”  Trent returns making me look at him in disgust. 

“If you don’t both stop I will be leaving.”  I say.

“Well, we don’t want that.”  Shawn says removing his arm.  “If I can’t touch it’s still nice to look at.”

“What the fuck Edwards?”  Trent says half laughing half pissed off.

Finally the waitress comes around taking everyone’s orders.  Shawn’s attention starts steering towards the blonde bimbo instead of mine thank goodness.  Unfortunately, for me she is also interested in Trent and Trent is never one to turn attention away.

So, I sit there watching Caroline hang all over Gabe and the waitress hang all over Trent.  While Caroline keeps putting her hand on Gabe’s arm, the waitress is practically in Trent’s lap, which neither Basso seems to mind what these women are doing.  Shawn is looking better every minute.

I did my bridesmaids duty, I went to the dress fitting and out to lunch with everyone and now is my time to go home and lounge until my mom comes home.  I assume Ian is going crazy by himself.  I signal Gabe to give me the keys but he is pretending he doesn’t understand.  So I keep making a fool of myself motioning in the air like I am starting a car with the keys in my hands.  He just looks confused mouthing what?  He doesn’t fool me, I see the smirk on his face.  Due to his pathetic tactics I walk myself over to him and the red headed floozy.

“Can I have the keys?”  I whisper in his ear opposite Caroline.  She gives me a dirty look but I could care less at this point.  What does she want from me?  I told her we weren’t together and that’s the truth.

“I will drive you back home.”  Gabe scoots his chair back getting ready to stand up.

“No, I am sure Trent or Doug can drive you home.  Just let me know when you want the car and I can bring it over.”  I stop him by putting my hand on his shoulder keeping him down in his chair.  This whole sharing a car thing is really starting to get on my nerves.

“It’s no problem and I need the car later on anyway.  This way you don’t have to be bothered.”  He stands raising my arm while he stands.   “See you guys tomorrow.”  He waves off to everyone throwing some money on the table.

“Gabe, I am sure someone else can take Madeline home.”  Caroline whines next to him.

“Yeah, I’ll take her.”  Trent chimes in moving the waitress off the arm of his chair.

“I can take her since my hands aren’t all over someone’s ass.”  Shawn chimes in sneering at Trent.

“We don’t want any fights so I will take her, it’s no problem.”  Gabe says moving his hand on the small of my back having me lead the way out.

“I’m sure it isn’t a problem,
brother
.”  Trent murmurs.  

We both ignore Trent’s comment.  Why did he think he could express feelings on who takes me home after ignoring me the whole lunch for Tammy, our waitress?  Gabe leads me out of Taps down the road opening the door for me to the Blue Machine. 

Chapter 9 – 17 years – Senior year

It was the State Soccer Championship and thanks to Trent, Belcrest was in the finals.  We all traveled up to Madison together and since we were all looking at colleges to attend the next year our parents agreed to let us stay with Gabe at his house.

He shared a house with four other football players and none of them minded having us crash in their family room for the weekend.  We drove up in Trent’s truck on Friday and since Gabe’s football team had an off week he was there to meet us.

The bright yellow two story house appeared more suited for a family home than a group of college guys.  There were two worn out plaid couches on each side of the cement front porch.  The screen door squeaked when we entered announcing our arrival but no one came out.  It was surprisingly clean except for some soda cans and magazines sprawled across the coffee table.  Mismatched couches, chairs and tables filled the living room with dark shag carpet.  The house had a smell of sweat and beer, which started making me nauseous after only five minutes.

Bryan and Trent flopped on opposite couches making themselves at home while Kenna and I looked around. Peering into the kitchen I notice paint peeling off the white cabinets.  Next to the window is a table with more nicks in it than not and six different chairs settled around it. 

“Hey if it isn’t Ricky, Lucy, Ethel and Fred.”  Gabe jogs down the stairs.  He is shirtless with a pair of faded jeans that hung at his hips. 

We had started to be referred to as the I Love Lucy gang after Trent and I started dating last year.  With Kenna and Bryan already a couple it made us even more inseparable.  This past summer Trent and I decided to end things.  I couldn’t explain it if I tried, we were just better at being friends.  Trent started dating Chloe again but that only lasted a month.  Since Trent and I are still close friends a lot of girls have a hard time dealing with it causing a lot of fights between them and Trent making breaking up inevitable.  I wasn’t naïve though, I have heard of more than one occasion how Trent would hook up with girls from the neighboring towns when he went out with the guys from his indoor soccer team.  At first I was jealous, as though he was mine but when I needed him he was always there for me and that’s all that mattered.

“Put on a fucking shirt man.  I don’t want her thinking things about you.”  Bryan nods his head towards Kenna.

“You afraid your girl will be thinking of me while she’s under you.  Can’t change genetics Edwards.”  Gabe points his hands down his body while putting the shirt in his hand on.  Suddenly, I am upset his body is covered.  I don’t remember his body so muscular and lean.

“Anyway, didn’t you hear Lucy and Ricky are taking a break,
AGAIN?
”  Kenna speaks up instantly making me turn to her as though she is a traitor.

“Surprise, Surprise.  You guys are off more than you are on.”  Gabe rolls his eyes walking into the kitchen.  “You guys want something to drink?”

“Beer” Trent asks.  He knows it’s a long shot but figures Gabe might give.

“I’ll tell you what, you win state tomorrow and you guys can have a beer.”  He gives them an ultimatum.

Trent and Bryan look over at each other grinning wide.  Kenna and I roll our eyes.  The four of us aren’t huge drinkers.  Yes we have attended some parties over the years in high school but none of us got out of control and we always make sure someone is the designated driver.

“So, where’s the place to be tonight?”  Bryan asks Gabe.

“Nowhere.  You both have a huge game tomorrow.  You guys will be staying in,” he points to the two of them.  “Now the girls can come with me if they want.”  He smirks over at me.

“No thank you.”  Mackenna sneers.

“What about you Madgirl?  You want to have a night out with a real man.”  He never looks toward Trent once.

My eyes drift to Trent who seems unfazed.  He raises his shoulders indifferent to the whole thing which makes anger bellow inside of me.

“Sure,” I agree my eyes never leaving Trent’s.

Trent shakes his head back and forth.

The five of us go to dinner at some pizza place and come right back to the house.  Gabe takes the keys to his truck from Trent mostly I think because he doesn’t want them to go anywhere.  I am sure Mrs. Basso put Gabe on strict instructions not to let Trent and Bryan party before tomorrow. Starting to feel guilty about going out tonight I contemplate not going.

“You should go.”  Kenna urges me.  “He goes out with other people, you deserve the same.”

“I know but he has the game tomorrow and I shouldn’t make him upset.” 

“Mad, he doesn’t seem upset.  Just go, have fun.  You know Gabe will take good care of you.”  She pushes me to go.

“I know, Trent doesn’t seem to really care.”  I put my head down fiddling with my phone.

“Is that what is bothering you?  The fact that Trent doesn’t care if you go out with his older hotter brother?”  She says, concern in her eyes.

“No, why would you even think that?”  I come back fast and sharp. 

“I will never understand you two.  You won’t be together but you want the other one to act like it’s the end of the world if you are with someone else.”  She shakes her head in disgust.

“I just don’t want to ruin his chances at State tomorrow.”  I lie.

“Trent will be fine Maddy, Bryan and I are here.”  She rests her hand on my arm.  “He isn’t your responsibility.”

“I know…I know.”  I feel the tears pricking in my eyes but I quickly shake them off.

An hour later I come downstairs after showering and getting ready.  I had no idea where we were going.  Since I couldn’t get in a bar I assume a house party.  So luckily I had a pair of dark jeans that hugged my hips with a long sleeve black shirt that is tighter around my chest but loosens up around my waist.  I have always been more conservative, never showing cleavage and when I would sit down you will never see a thong like other girls. To be truthful, I didn’t even own a thong. 

Sometimes I wondered if that was the problem with Trent and me.  He always went after girls who wore the tight satin shirts that you could see their nipples poking through.  The girls that wore their jeans so low and tight when they sat down you could see their butt crack or like Kenna and I referred to as a coin slot.  They always had bleach blond hair compared to my dark chestnut.

Coming down the stairs the four of them are waiting for me watching some prank show on television.  Trent and Bryan are sporting their running pants with t-shirts, Mackenna is already in her pajamas.  Safe to say they aren’t going to sneak out tonight. 

“Wow, you look awesome Maddy.”  Kenna says most likely complimenting herself since she did my makeup. 

“Let’s go.”  Gabe motions with his hand towards the door.

I look over at Trent one more time but he never takes his eyes off the television or says anything to me.

“Go Maddy, have fun.”  Kenna pushes me towards the door.  “Don’t even think about him.”  She whispers in my ear while hugging me goodbye.

“Take care of him.  Make sure he goes to bed at a good time, ok?”  I whisper back.

“You are hopeless,” she pushes herself back from me.  “Now, take care of our girl Gabe Basso, otherwise you have me to answer to.”  She points at him.

“You scare me a little Ross.”  He laughs showing a small amount of space between his thumb and pointer finger.

Gabe holds the door open for me and we leave the three of them on the couch.

I am surprised to see Gabe wants to take the truck.  The reason Trent has his truck is because students don’t need a car at the University.  Everything is in such close proximity it’s more of a hinder than a pleasure to have a car here.  Parking alone costs a small fortune that most college students can’t afford.

Gabe doesn’t open my door for me, not like I expect him too.  We aren’t on a date or anything.  He fits naturally in the truck like he should, it belongs to him. 

“I hope you don’t mind, I told a couple friends I would pick them up on the way.”  He divulges while pulling away from the curb.

“Of course not, where are we going?”  I sheepishly ask.  I don’t remember ever being alone with Gabe.  Usually someone was always around.  It feels awkward and uncomfortable.

“A buddy of mines house.  Just a small get together, nothing major.”  He pushes his shoulders up showing unimportance.

“Ok.”  I respond.   All of sudden I am having second thoughts about this.  I won’t know anyone but Gabe.  I don’t want him to feel like my babysitter. 

Five silent minutes go by and we pull up to a huge fifteen story building and it reads Terrace Hall on the outside.  I assume this is one of many dormitories here.  Before I can ask him two huge guys come running up to the truck hopping into the quad cab in the back.

“About fucking time Basso, what took so long?”  The bigger of the two shouts over the music.

“How about some manners Smith?”  Gabe motions towards me with his head.

“Oops, sorry.  Grady Smith.”  He puts his hand over the seat for me to shake.

“Maddy” I shake his hand back.  It is softer and weaker than I expected.

“Pleasure Maddy.  This is Rich Taylor.”  He points to the quieter, smaller guy next to him.

I turn around so I can face him.  “Nice to meet you Rich.”  I smile and he smiles back but nods his head up and down. 

“So Maddy, what year are you?”  Grady asks me. 

“She’s not.  She’s my brother’s girl from high school.”  Gabe starts pulling the truck away from the curb.

“You brought jail bait?”  Grady looks me up and down.  “Hot jail bait at that.”

“I’m not jail bait.”  I remark looking back at him.  “I turned eighteen last month.”