We arrive at the Basso’s ten minutes later.  They live on the outskirts of town.  They have acres of land that include horses.  Their house has a wraparound porch with hanging flower baskets from every opening.  It is something out of Better Homes and Gardens magazine.  As the Mustang comes to a stop at the top of their gravel driveway Dixon, their yellow lab, runs up greeting us.

I bend down and let Dixon climb on me while I pet him with both my hands.   I stand up and Dixon follows me to the front porch and into the house.  I know this house as well as my own, I have probably eaten dinner here more than mine.  As soon as we walk in Trent goes up the stairs to his room, Jack and Doug go into the basement to play pool and I venture into the kitchen.

“I was wondering when you guys were going to get here.”  Mrs. Basso says to me over her shoulder while she prepares the dinner.

I sit on the stool at the breakfast bar taking out my homework.  “Hi Mrs. Basso.  Thank you for having us for dinner.”  I am thankful I didn’t have to make it for Jack and me.

“Oh Maddy, you are always welcome.  You know that.”  Mrs. Basso turns around smiling at me.  She is the epitome of the perfect mom.  She works at the local library, always has dinner on the table for her husband and boys.  She volunteers for all the school functions and fundraisers.

“I know.”  I turn my head down focusing on my homework.

I am able to finish all of my homework while Mrs. Basso finishes dinner humming to herself.  She is always happy.  I wonder what she knows that my mom doesn’t.

“Dinner Boys.”  Mrs. Basso takes her ponytail out shaking her golden blond hair back and forth letting it fall.  She is a beautiful woman and doesn’t look her age at all.

All the boys come running in while I set the plates and silverware down.

“Hey Madgirl.  Long time no see.”  Gabe, Trent’s older brother shakes my hair with his hand.

“Hi Gabe.”  I softly say.  Gabe is fourteen, a freshman at the high school.  He doesn’t have to wait for Doug at practices because he is old enough to come home by himself.

“Where’s dad?”  Doug asks while stealing a roll out of the basket and devouring it.  I can’t imagine how much food this house must go through with three boys.

“He had to work late, I have a plate for him prepared in the fridge.”  Mrs. Basso answers.

I wonder why Mrs. Basso could stay at home when her husband wasn’t home.  Not like my mom who would leave as soon as my dad left town for a couple days.  They couldn’t be more different moms.

We eat the chicken and rice with broccoli while the three older boys fight over the food.  Trent is quiet, never looking up from his plate.  I don’t know what I did to repulse him so much.  After dinner Jack says he wants to play one more game so I go into the family room to watch television.  Trent and Gabe are already in there and I feel like a fool if I just turn around and walk out of the room so I sit down on the opposite side of the couch as Trent.  A couple minutes later Gabe leaves mumbling something about homework.

I take this as my chance to find out what has happened to Trent and why he is so set on ignoring me lately.

“So, you like Kenna?”  I ask not turning my head from the television.

“I don’t know.”  He shrugs.

“You don’t know?  Why did you ask Evan to ask me to ask her then?”  I shift my eyes through the corners to see his expression.

His body rises and falls sighing.  “I wanted to see what you would say.”

“What do you mean?  If you like her go ahead and ask her out.”  I decide to take the encouraging to break my heart route.

“I don’t like Kenna.”  He moves closer to me on the couch.  I am totally confused by this boy.

“Then why did you have Evan ask me?”  I face him on the couch.  We have been friends since we were in diapers why is everything so awkward now.

“I wanted to see if you would be jealous.”  He takes my hand and entwines our fingers.

“Did you get the reaction you wanted?”  I ask not removing my hand with his.

“No, I thought you liked me, am I wrong?”  He is staring at me.  His crystal blue eyes are boring into me and I can’t turn away.

“You are right, I like you.”  I bite my lower lip not sure what happens now.  His mom or brothers could walk in at any time.

“I like you too.”   Trent whispers and turns around to watch television never letting go of my hand.

Chapter 2 – Present Day 25 years old

The plane dips down and both my hands clutch the armrests.  I have never liked flying but I am extra on edge this trip.  I don’t want to go back home but I have no choice.  My brother has decided to finally marry his college sweetheart Lindsey Jacobson.  Don’t get me wrong; I love Lindsey, I couldn’t ask for a better sister-in-law.  The problem is they planned a weeklong wedding extravaganza and like every other wedding of the Bigs and Little’s during the past years everyone is involved.  I would not only be spending a week with Jack and Lindsey and their wedding party, it would include Bryan, Mackenna and from what I heard last night, Trent.

A hand goes over my mine squeezing.  “It’s alright sweetie, just some turbulence.”  Ian Fisher, my best friend says quietly.

“I know.  I hate flying.”  I say.  Ian and I became best friends back in college when we worked together at the rec center senior year.  We both lusted over the same male.  Unfortunately, for me the hot male swung Ian’s way, not mine.

I made Ian take a week off of work to come with me and since he knows most of the people it would make it easier.  I need him there with me to face everyone again.

“It’s going to be fine Maddy, just relax.”  Ian looks at me squeezes my hand and goes back to reading his magazine.   We both know he isn’t talking about the flight and we both know things won’t be fine.

The plane lands five minutes early and I am thankful to get off.  Ian and I make our way to baggage claim and Ian stops to get one of the carts.

“Why do we need that?”  I ask sharply.

“For our bags, I can’t carry them all.”  He snaps back to me.

How many bags to do you have?”  I met him at the gate this morning so both of us had already checked our luggage.

“I don’t know.”  He tilts his head down looking at me through the top of his eyelids.

“Oh God, you probably have more than me.”  I shriek.

“Probably.  Now help me pull this through.”  Ian is yanking at the cart corral.

“Here, let me help.”  A deep voice says from behind us.

I see the tanned firm forearm easily guide the cart out of the corral.  My eyes roam from his arm up to the firm bicep to his strong shoulders and when my eyes reach his face I gasp.

“Hey Madgirl, long time no see.”  Gabe Basso says smirking at me.

“Hey Gabe, what are you doing here?”  I ask surprised.

“Came in for the wedding.  Groomsman.”  His eyes leave mine focusing on Ian “Hi, I’m Gabe.”  Placing his hand out for Ian.

Ian looks as dumbfounded as me but puts his hand out to shake Gabe’s.

“Sorry, Ian this is Gabe Basso.  Gabe this is Ian Fisher.”  I motion my finger back and forth between the two of them.

“Nice to meet you.”  Ian says.

Gabe nods his head to him.  “What baggage claim are you guys at?” he asks.

“Five, you?”  Ian takes charge of the conversation since I am already mute stricken.  If I am this way in front of Gabe how will I make it through everyone else?

Gabe’s eye shift to me and I see the concern in his eyes.  “Six” he answers.  “Is anyone picking you guys up?”  He asks looking at me, I can’t believe how much he looks like Trent or how much Trent looks like him.

“I rented a car.  I didn’t want to rely on anyone for rides the whole week.”  I divulge more information than I have to.  That is what happens when I get nervous.  I can’t stop talking once I get going.