“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.