When I turn the corner Shawn is still standing there holding his arm for me to take. “Way to go Little Jennings.” He smirks at me escorting me back into the dining hall.
Jack looks up at me with raised eyebrows and I smile nodding my head informing him I am fine. He smiles back at me. Shawn lets me lead the way to our chairs and I see Gabe isn’t there and I wonder where he is. “Don’t worry, he didn’t leave.” Shawn whispers in my ear scooting my chair out for me. I had totally underestimated Shawn Edwards. He is one of the good ones.
Chapter 28 – Present Day
Fifteen minutes later Jack and Lindsey have their first dance. Watching them brings tears to my eyes. It is evident how much they love and adore each other. The way they smile at each other captivates me. Lindsey laughs when Jack twirls her around and back to him. There’s that twinge of envy again.
Scanning the circle of people admiring the newly married couple I find the blue eyes that make me melt. Gabe’s eyes set on mine, he isn’t smiling but he isn’t frowning either. There seems to be a glint of life in those eyes again making me smile but he quickly diverts his eyes elsewhere. A frown forms across my face instantly.
The rest of the night dreads slowly through the bridal party dance, the mother son, the father daughter. There is the cutting of the cake and finally the bouquet and garter toss. Of course Caroline catches the bouquet after she wrestles two young girls but I think she rethought her motive when Shawn catches the garter and put it on her leg with his teeth. That is the best part of my evening until Trent asks me to dance.
“Please Maddy, one dance?” He begs.
“Fine. Hands are above waist at all times.” I demand.
“I promise.” He holds up his hands. Placing one at the small of my back holding the other one out. There is plenty of space between us.
“I’m sorry Maddy. I had no idea what a selfish ass I have been until just now.” He admits.
I say nothing. I don’t plan on talking anymore. I have enough apologizes from Trent to fill a landfill. They mean nothing.
“You should have gone off on me earlier.” He laughs.
I can’t believe he is actually finding humor in this. He is beyond a doubt the biggest asshole.
“Aren’t you going to say anything?” He asks my eyes never making contact with his. I shake my head no.
“I said I was sorry.”
“Maddy?” His voice is escalating now.
“Ok, I wanted to enjoy one last dance with you before…” he stops dancing but doesn’t let my hand go. “Let’s go.” He pulls me towards the patio again.
“I’m not going anywhere with you.” I stop firm outside the dance floor square.
“Don’t fight me on this.” His shoulders slump in exasperation. He’s sick of this, he is so self-centered.
“Why do you want to go out there?” I ask.
“Just come out” he begs.
“Tell me why?” I am standing with my arms crossed over my emerald gown in front of the windows when I spot him. Gabe is sitting down on a bench in front of the fountain throwing in coins.
Trent following my line of vision. “Now will you come out there?” He asks and I nod my head once swallowing hard. I don’t know what to say to him.
Trent opens the door but Gabe doesn’t turn around. He just holds a coin up and throws it in the fountain and then picks another one up repeating the action again and again. Trent leads us to the side of him.
Gabe’s white shirt is tucked in to his pants with his vest firmly buttoned up but his tie is loosened with his jacket long gone. His golden blonde hair has fallen down resting right above his eyes. He is the most gorgeous man I have ever seen. He looks up at us through his eyelashes and then down at our adjoined hands giving us an annoyed look.
I quickly pull my hand away from Trent making him look down at our hands and then back up to me. I expect him to be angry but he smiles over at me.
“Gabe, we all need to chat.” Trent takes the reigns.
“Trent, I’m not in the mood. You got her back, congratulations.” He sneers up at us.
“No” Trent and I say at the same time. His voice calm mine loud making Trent stare over at me amused by my sudden outburst of emotion.
“We aren’t together.” Trent confirms and I rapidly shake my head back and forth agreeing. This news does nothing to change Gabe’s mood.
“Maddy, sit down.” He leads me next to Gabe and Gabe exaggerates scooting over away from me.
Trent takes a seat in the adjoining bench facing us. “I want to apologize to you both.”
“Whatever.” Gabe leans forward shaking his head.
“No listen. Maddy, I never realized how bad I was to you until tonight when you yelled at me. At first I was pissed thinking you were trying to get me riled up but after sitting at the bar it dawned on me you were right. Well…not completely dawned on me someone might have pushed me to see it.” He waves his hand off. “Anyway, you have always been there when I needed you but I was blind to see what you wanted. I don’t know if I didn’t want to see it or if I was that egotistical to think you would only want me.” Trent honestly admits.
“I know I have said sorry a million times so I am hoping my actions tonight will show you how regretful I am for everything.”
“What are you doing tonight?” I ask.
“Just wait.” He pauses looking over at Gabe. “She’s always so impatient.” A smirk comes across Gabe’s lips.
“Glad you two can come to solid ground when it comes to that.” I say but Gabe never turns my way.
“Gabe, I blamed you for coming between me and Maddy when in hindsight I came between you two. I let Maddy go when we left high school, hell maybe even before that but I had no right to keep you two apart and make you promise me to stay away from her.” This confession has Gabe sitting up straighter.
“Don’t get me wrong, I don’t regret anytime I have had with Maddy.” He looks my way. “You have to understand that. I should have let you go a long time ago but that has nothing to do with how much our time together meant to me. Every minute of it.” I swear a tear rolls down his check but it’s dark and it might have been optimistic on my part, needing some physical confirmation that he did love me at one time. I shake my head agreeing to what he is saying.
“Until Maddy told me how much she loves you Gabe I honestly thought you two had some kind of physical attraction that would pass. Your words bore into me Maddy, I have pushed away your happiness in order to fulfill my own. I have to be the one to step aside and let two people I love have the happy ending they deserve. I’m sorry I interfered with you two.” He goes to stand up. “Thank you Gabe.” He sticks out his hand.
“For what?” Gabe chokes out since they are his first words this whole time.
“For taking care of her when I didn’t. For always making sure she was ok and safe. For giving her a shoulder to cry on when she needed it. For picking her up when she was down.” He releases a breath. “For being everything I wasn’t because she deserves the best.” They shake hands then embrace into a hug. I can hear them murmuring to each other but I can’t make it out.
Then Trent comes over to me wrapping his arms around my waist pulling me into a bear hug. “Take care of him” he kisses my cheek placing me down walking to the doors.
“Trent?” I ask.
“Uh huh?’ He turns around.
“Who did you talk to at the bar?” I ask.
“My mom.” He smiles over at me before walking through the door.
Chapter 27 – Present Day
Gabe is silent. I can’t read what he is thinking. Maybe he doesn’t love me, maybe he doesn’t want me. I nervously play with my fingers in my lap.