“Keep telling yourself that Maddy.  You better figure out what you want before you lose them both.”

“Who’s to say I want either of them?”

“Come on Maddy.  I know which one you want but I am more than happy to sit back and see how this plays out.  I just hope the brothers don’t kill each other before it’s over.”

“God Ian, drama much?”  I grab my clothes heading down the hall to the bathroom.

Forty-five minutes later I walk down the stairs to the newly remodeled kitchen and I am stunned to see my mom sitting down with Ian at the table.  She is dressed in a pair of jean capris with a pink button down blouse that for once isn’t two sizes too small.  Her hair is nicely brushed in a bob and her make-up is neutral with a small amount of lip gloss.  Her recent transformation brings out her natural beauty.

“Good morning Maddy.”  My mom says.

“Good morning mom, sorry about last night.”  I walk over to the coffee pot pouring a cup.

“It’s ok, Ian kept me busy and then Gabe came over and we played cards.”  She snickers over at Ian and they laugh at some inside joke I assume.

“Sorry I missed it, sounds like you three had a great time.”  I roll my eyes with my back still turned towards the cabinets.

“We understand you had other things or shall we say people to do.”  Ian sneers.

“Seriously Ian, you are driving me crazy and it’s only nine in the morning.”  I turn around leaning against the counter.

“Honey, I know I can’t speak but do you really want to go there again?”  My mom stands up putting her hand on my shoulder.

“Who said I was going there again?  It’s complicated.”  I whine.  My shoulder feels warmth with my mom’s hand there.  She never shows me love not to mention care who I go out with.

“It’s always complicated with HIM” Ian speaks.

“Do I dare ask who you are talking about?”  Gabe stands in the doorway.

“Please come in.”  I sarcastically say walking over to the table.  “Listen time keeper, I am sitting down for five minutes drinking my coffee before I leave so make yourself comfortable.”  I motion to the chair across from me.

“Maddy, he’s a guest be nice.”  My mom comes back with a cup for Gabe.  He takes it walking to the seat I pointed to him.

“He just walked into our house without knocking, I don’t think we can consider him a guest.”  I speak back.

“Maddy…” my mom starts.  I don’t know where her mothering skills trying to make be polite came from because I have never seen them before today.

“It’s ok Barb.  I am used to Maddy’s charm.”  Gabe sits next to me laughing.

“Charm?  Maybe you two are… Ouch.”  Ian grabs his shin staring me down.

I narrow my eyes towards him silently telling him to shut up.

“Mom, why aren’t you at work?”  I try to divert the subject.

“I’m am off until next Monday.  I wanted to spend some time with you and help Lindsey and Jack with the wedding.  I hope that’s ok?”  She asks.

“Sure.”  I shrug my shoulders and Gabe gives me a look insinuating to play nice with my mom.  I pull my head back scrunching my eyebrows letting him know it isn’t his business.

I walk over to the sink dumping the remaining drops of my coffee in the sink placing my cup in the new stainless steel dishwasher.  Already dreading the day ahead of me, Ian is being nosy, Gabe is confusing and now I have to add my new mom into the mix.

Everyone else follows suit but my mom takes Gabe’s cup for him.  It makes me curious what exactly is going on between the two of them.

I shove my feet into my flip flops and the four of us file out of the house.  The heat and humidity is already there when we open the door making me thankful I wore the tank top and shorts today.

Gabe and my mom are walking side by side to the blue monster.  He must have said something funny because my mom touches his bicep laughing.  A twinge of jealousy hits me but I quickly shake it off.  Which is hard when my eyes keep glancing down at Gabe’s backside.  His shorts hang off his perfect roundness making me wonder what it would be like to grab onto it while he was thrusting into me.

“You might want to wipe the saliva off your chin.”  Ian whispers in my ear.

I push him and he stumbles into the bushes.  “Whoops, sorry!”  I put my hand in front of my mouth like a southern belle.  Gabe and my mom turn around dumbfounded to what is going on.  “Ian tripped over his own feet.”  I say straight-faced.

“Yeah, you know clumsy me.”  He gives me a small push after Gabe and my mom turn around and I bust out laughing.

“Please Barb, I am sure Maddy is fine sitting in the back.”  Gabe looks over at me.

“Go ahead Mom sit up front.”  I watch while Gabe opens the door for my mom shutting it behind her as I wait there Gabe walks in front of the truck getting into the drivers side.  I stand there in disbelief for a few minutes and then open my own door succumbing to my seat next to Ian in the back.

My mom and Gabe chat nonstop on the way to Great Adventures while Ian keeps face booking on his phone.  Kenna keeps texting me things like “I don’t trust him”, “Trent’s an ass”, “Stay away from him”.  I don’t know how she found out I was with him last night but I am almost positive it had to do with Mr. Nosy next to me.  I’m still not sure why Mackenna has such a problem with Trent, he is her friend too.

Finally we arrive at the park and there is a line of cars to pay for their parking and then following the men with orange flags to our parking spot.  Gabe pays for some special pass to get us closer and my mom tries to pay him money but he shoos her hand away.

Once we get into the park after Gabe insists on paying for all of us we sit around the water fountain waiting for everyone else.  Those annoying picture people come up to us to take a picture so we all pose.  Gabe stands next to my mom and Ian next to me.  I know Ian put bunny ears over my head but I don’t care at this point.  I just want this day over with.

Everyone else gradually comes and we all head out.  Jack and Lindsey have an itinerary for us.  Where to meet for lunch and all the other controlling things they want the rest of us to do.  I take the itinerary out of Lindsey’s hands perusing it.  We have specific times and places to meet during the day.  I swear this couple thinks everyone else’s life should revolve around their wedding.

Caroline is cozying up to Gabe already and the look of disapproval crosses my mom’s face.  Shawn Edwards is walking towards me and I decide that is my time to get out.

“Come on Ian.”  I grab his hand.  “See you all at first break.”  I wave my hand while walking away.

“What is wrong with you?”  Ian says hooking his arm with mine.

“Nothing.”  I respond curtly.

“Great this is going to be a fun day.”  Ian mumbles to himself.

“Don’t worry Ian, she needs a cotton candy and then she will cheer up.”  My mom says along side of me.  “It has always cheered her up.”  She smiles over to me.

“Cotton Candy.  I will have to remember that.  Blue or Pink?”  Gabe chimes in next to Ian and my mom’s face beams up to him.

“Blue, even though she is all girly girl she always loved Blue.”  My mom answers his question.  I wonder how she remembers that.

“Shouldn’t you be back there, with the rest of Belcrest’s prom court?”  I ask Gabe looking behind us.  I see the scoff on Caroline’s face watching us walk away.

“I am right where I want to be.”  Gabe winks at my mom and she smiles.  Seriously, what the hell is going on between them?

“Let’s go, I am dying to get on Superman.  I have never been here.”  Ian exclaims like a nine year old.

“Never?”  Gabe asks.

“My parents preferred educational vacations.  If you ever want to go to Wilmington, VA I could be your tour guide.”  Ian remarks and we all crack up.

“Well, I’m going to be your tour guide today.  After we are done you will wish you were in Wilmington.”  Gabe jokes.