“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.