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.