"You're leaving?" she asked Brad, glaring at him.
"Yeah, I thought it would be best."
"Why?"
"Probably for the same reason you're leaving."
"Were you even going to say goodbye? You know what, forget that I already know the answer." Selfish jerk. He was going to leave her again, and here he was sitting with her and laughing like everything was normal.
"Of course I was going to say goodbye.” He threw his hands up in distress, and smirked. “What about you?"
"Unbelievable. This isn't about me. I didn't leave you the first time. I get to leave now, not you."
"Guys. Please." Jennifer cut in. "Stop arguing. We want you both to stay. We understand what happened between you two, but how about moving forward. You can at least be friends right?"
Friends?
She didn't know about that. She'd never been friends with Brad. Trina had feelings for him from as far back as she could remember. He was her first everything. How could she be friends with him? And, with this delicate situation?
"We were thinking," Neil began.
Trina had known Neil a long time and knew that when he started a sentence like that he was going to come out with some outlandish idea. Like when he asked her to fill in for his mom at the dog parlor, and dog walk twenty dogs at the same time. Or, like when he asked her to help him and Jennifer bake a thousand cupcakes overnight because he forgot he was doing a work charity event.
"What Neil? You were thinking what?" Brad asked impatiently.
Neil tried to answer but stopped, looked at them both and continued. "We think that you guys should have some time together. Just you two, no one else and no distractions. We think that it would be good for you, and you shouldn't leave because of each other."
"What do you mean by time together?" Trina asked glowering at him.
"We booked you in a beach house on Maui for a week." Jennifer stepped in with a bright, upbeat expression as if she'd come up with the best idea in the world.
"What!" Trina and Brad both shrieked.
"Jennifer –" Trina huffed.
"No." Jennifer stopped her from continuing and stepped away from Neil's grasp. "You told me once that I was your very best friend and that you'd do anything for me."
"This is what you want?" Trina asked weakly, narrowing her gaze. It was hard to believe that she’d want this. Especially after their talk last night. Jennifer knew how Trina felt.
"Yes. This is what I want." Jennifer nodded firmly. “I want you to do this for me.”
"Brad, you said the same to me." Neil jumped in. "We've been through a lot man. And I've done a lot for you."
Trina noted Brad's reaction. He brought his hand up to his head and sighed.
"I won't make Trina do something she's not comfortable with." Brad shook his head.
"You aren't," Jennifer stated and fixed her gaze back on Trina. "Trina will say yes. I am her best friend, and I would never be wrong in telling anyone that she'd do anything for me. I know she will." Jennifer stared at Trina now. "Trina will do this for me."
It was the power of real friendship. That was what it was. Jennifer was right and knew that only she could make such a request.
Trina watched as Jennifer reached into her purse and pulled out an envelope. She handed it to her.
"Your keys for the house are in there," Neil stated.
Brad looked at Trina when she took the envelope.
"You guys should probably pack now, the ferry leaves in two hours," Jennifer added.
Trina sighed wondering how on earth she was going to get through this.
She didn't say a word to him during the journey to Maui.
Brad was used to the silent treatment when they were younger, but this felt worse than the run of the mill differences they used to have.
He knew she hated this whole idea, and to be honest, he did too.
He wasn't impressed with Neil or Jennifer and thought that this was one time they should have left the situation alone.
Now he had to endure the torture of watching Trina's sour face and abrasive mood. He already felt bad as it was. It was nice when they were talking and laughing this morning. He felt like he was getting somewhere, and maybe she could forgive him. But now he knew there was definitely no chance of that.
When their taxi pulled up at the beach house, Brad had to take a moment to appreciate the house and the surroundings.
Wow, Neil and Jennifer had certainly gone all out.
The place was amazing. Brad stood beside the taxi and took in the brilliance of the Victorian style house. With its soft cream and burgundy colors, it was truly stunning. Just like the woman who stood before it with her luscious brown hair blowing in the wind. It didn't escape him that Trina was more beautiful now than when he last saw her. She was only a girl then, a girl who'd captured his heart with her astounding beauty and angelic spirit.
The woman who stood ahead of him was every bit a fantasy come to life with her long silky legs that ran up to her tiny waist. Her bronze skin glistened in the bright sunlight and looked radiant against the turquoise summer dress that flirted with her legs as she walked around the taxi to get her suitcase from the trunk.
Brad paid the driver and made his way around to help her.
"Hey let me take that." He offered, but she didn't answer him.
Trina just propped the suitcase on its side and lifted it from the handles. She then turned on her heel as if he didn't exist and made her way up the stairs, and into the house. Brad sighed and looked at the driver who was already looking at him with sympathy.
"Rough day," Brad said.
"Try to fix the problem. This is a beautiful island. Everyone's happy here." The driver said with a smile that turned into a hearty laugh.
"Sure," Brad replied. He was certain those happy people were all couples or those who came here voluntarily to be happy. Not like them.
When the driver left, Brad made his way into the house and found her in the kitchen. She'd opened the cupboards to reveal that they were filled with an assortment of food, and so was the fridge. There was everything from snacks and cereals, different types of cheeses, meats, and cans of everything.
The more he looked around, the more he saw the effort Neil and Jennifer had put in. They must have gone through a lot to organize this and have it ready for when he and Trina got here. Definitely not what he wanted them to be doing in the run up to their wedding. People should be treating them, and making sure they were the ones who had a getaway with all that they needed, not the other way around. He didn't even want to think about how much this all cost them.
He looked at Trina as she whirled around by the glossy wooden top kitchen counter and sighed. She still had that peeved expression on her face.
"Is this how it's going to be? With you not talking to me?" He decided to ask.
She gave him a pointed stare and took on a defensive stance with her head tilted high.
"Yes, because it's your fault we're here."
"How is this my fault? Our friends made us come here." He defended.
"Brad, I get that you aren't the sharpest knife in the draw, but even you should be able to see how this is your fault."
Shock and surprise rendered him speechless. Trina had always been stubborn, always had a strong personality. But, he couldn't remember her being mean. If she'd been someone else, he wouldn't have held back on the mouthful of curses he had ready to roll off the tip of his tongue.
Since it was her though he held back on account of the whole situation between them.
"This isn't my fault. I didn't do anything." That was the tamer version of what he actually had in mind.
"If you didn't tell Neil you were leaving then Jennifer would have allowed me to leave in peace like I wanted to. Now I have to stay here with you and sort out stuff I don't want." She was shouting now and looked thoroughly annoyed.
He was angry too, and didn't like the way she was talking to him.
"I don't wan
t to sort anything out either. I wanted to go in peace too, and now I have to stay here with you."
"Then why don't you go? That's what you're best at. Running away like a coward and disappointing people."
Of course, this was about the past. What else would it be about?
Brad looked at her, noting how mad she was.
She thought he was a coward. Maybe if he told her about the ring and the full circumstances around him leaving she'd understand more. But he couldn't do that. It hurt enough that she hated him for leaving her, looked down on him, and practically called him stupid. Clarifying that her father didn't want her to marry him would just throw salt on his open wounds.
"Listen Trina," he squared off with her too. Looking down at her petite frame. "You think you know me, but you don't. We aren't a couple, and I don't have to explain myself to you. I already explained what I needed to and if you can't accept that. It really isn't my problem."
She didn't like that answer one bit. She looked shocked at his words and shocked that he could speak to her like that, but he didn’t care. She deserved it. He picked up his rucksack and swung it over his shoulders. He didn't need this tension and didn't see why he should have to put up with it.
"So that's it?" she yelled as he moved to leave.
"We're done talking." He snapped and left before she could say another word.
Chapter 7
Trina could have kicked herself for the way she spoke to Brad. As soon as he left she regretted it and saw the error in her ways.
She'd been completely out of line, and vile, for basically calling him dumb. He'd never spoken to her like that before either. Probably because she'd never given him any cause to until today. Trina knew she’d been truly disrespectful.
She waited on the back porch, watching the smooth waves of the ocean breathe in and out, caressing the surface of the shore and the crystal sand. She waited out there for hours, but it felt more like days. When it turned dark, and there was still no sign of him, she felt even worse and realized once again that he wasn't coming back. That was when she broke down again for the umpteenth time or however many times she'd cried since being on this vacation.
Since waiting out here was only making her crazy she went up to the room she'd chosen and lay in the bed, staring at the myriad of stars in the inky sky through the skylight window. Sleep took her moments later.
The radiance of daylight woke her up with the sun beaming down on her in full volume. She could barely open her eyes against the rays and got up to semi close the curtain, turning the brightness down a notch.
Looking over at the silver clock on the wall she saw it was ten.
No wonder it was so bright. Back home she rarely slept past seven, and that was because of work. Even on weekends, she tended to wake up early, or not sleep at all sometimes because she was always on call.
She sat on the edge of the bed, staring at the deep grooves in the thick white bedside rug she sunk her feet in. That bad feeling hit her again as she remembered yesterday and how she spoke to Brad. It was pretty clear that he really had left, and it was because of her. She glanced at her phone and saw that there were no messages from anyone.
She expected it to be flooded. She'd seen Mandy and Lizzie before she met up with Brad to come here, so she didn't expect to hear from them today. But she was sure she'd get messages from Jennifer asking what happened when she learned that Brad had left.
Maybe Jennifer was too upset to talk to her. It's not like she'd be wrong to feel disappointed. She and Neil had gone all out to make them comfortable. The location was beautiful, the house was bordering on dreamlike, and the scenic landscape enhanced the vision.
She was grateful for the attempt. She decided she'd have to call and apologize later. She also definitely needed to call Neil and ask for Brad's number. Brad needed an apology from her too.
She slid off the bed and made her way down the wooden stairs. When she got into the living room, she noticed that the door leading out to the back porch was wide open. She didn't remember leaving it that way and panicked when she realized she'd slept for hours unsecured in the house.
See. She had gone crazy. Sure, this wasn't her apartment right in the city in Chicago where she had to practice more mindfulness, but it never hurt to be safe wherever you went. She'd obviously been lucky nothing had happened to her.
She made her way to close the door, and that was when she saw him.
Brad.
He was back. He was here. He was sitting on the steps leading down from the porch, resting against the wooden beams of the staircase, gazing out to the sea. His chiseled profile held an inherent strength, but with a certain sensuality she'd always admired.
Today he wore a fitted, gray jersey tank top that displayed the solid muscles in his thick arms and the well-built wall of his chest. Khaki combat trousers did the usual display of his legs.
Her heart fluttered at the sight of him, and she was so happy he didn't leave the island. It was happiness and relief to the degree that she had a hard time resisting the urge to run over to him and throw herself into his arms. She had to admit that she missed doing that and it was weird to be here with him and not act the way they used to.
That was how they greeted each other, even when mere hours had passed since their last meeting. It was like minutes were too long to be apart.
He wasn't that guy anymore though. The bad, troubled side to him was all gone, and the good side didn't have those deep feelings for her.
When she walked out to the porch, he turned and looked at her with those piercing blue eyes, holding her gaze.
She stopped paces away and looked at him.
"Wow, Milady's awake." He smirked with sarcasm.
She almost laughed. He used to call her Milady when she was in one of her moods with him, and they'd had an argument.
"Yeah," she breathed and took a moment to look at him. She couldn't believe he was here. It wasn't just that he came back from yesterday's drama, but it was all of it and the fact that she never thought she'd see him again. She used to dream about him all the time, and how they used to be.
She made a move to get closer, but he held up his hand to stop her.
"Halt." He continued to gaze at her. "State your mood. If you've come to wail on my ass like yesterday, I need time to prepare."
This was another game from the past, so he could prep himself if the argument was likely to continue.
Today he had nothing to apologize for. It was all on her.
"This is a time of peace," she replied just like she used to.
"Okay, Milady you may proceed." He was still annoyed at her and would only stop calling her that when he was sure that there would be no further arguments.
She sat next to him on the step and adjusted herself so that she was facing him.
"I'm sorry." She told him. "I'm sorry about yesterday and everything I said."
He inclined his head to the side and regarded her with a contemplative stare. "That's amazingly the first time you've ever apologized so quickly."
"Because I was completely at fault and rude," she confessed
"So, what Milady is saying is that she no longer blames me for not being able to go home."
"Yes. Can you stop with the Milady now?" It was annoying years ago, and it was annoying now. Especially since she was certain it would be something Captain Chicken Feet would say.
He shook his head. "No. I don't think so."
She sighed and rested her hands in her lap.
"Come." He stood up. "Let's grab breakfast. We can eat, then talk."
She looked up at him and nodded. Grateful for the chance, and the idea.
They found a diner where they ordered the most delicious breakfast she’d had in a very long time. Most often she ended up skipping breakfast because she was so busy. She tried to carry snacks with her, but that would never make up for a good old-fashioned sit-down meal. While Brad ordered a full platter heaped with toast, eggs, sausages, bacon and pancakes
, she had a stack of pancakes layered with syrup and hazelnut chocolate spread. It was divine and offered some much-needed comfort.
"Okay, now that we're watered and fed we can talk," Brad announced.
She rested back against the padded leather of her seat and settled her hands before her on the table.
She didn't know where to begin and since he'd done a lot of talking the other night the ball was in her court. However, she honestly didn't know where to begin. There was so much to say.
"I don't know what to say."
"You had a lot to say yesterday," he pointed out.
"I know, but I was angry."
"Trina, you're not angry at me because you didn't get to go home, or because we had to come here. You're angry at the past, and you think I'm a coward."
Yes. That was exactly it. But she shouldn't feel that way. Especially now since he kindly pointed out that they weren't a couple anymore. He had indeed explained all that he needed to explain and didn't owe her anything more. Them being here should realistically be about trying to get on so they could do their part for the wedding, and be the friends they should be to Jennifer and Neil. Nothing else.
"It doesn't matter Brad. It shouldn't. Just forget it. We can move forward and do what we need to for the wedding."
"It does matter.” He held her gaze. “We can't move forward until we fix the problem. I want to fix this with us." He rested back against his seat too and ran his finger along the edge of his plate.
She appreciated him saying that. "You don't need to. It's in the past, and I understand."
"You understand, but you don't accept it. You don't accept the explanation."
This was the trouble in dealing with people who knew you and Brad was the kind of guy who had the tendency to know her better than she knew herself.
"It is what it is."
"That's true, but I need you to accept the reasons why I had to leave." His eyes searched hers.
"Brad..." She thought a moment before continuing and pulled in a breath. "It feels like you and my dad took my life into your hands and did what you thought was best for me. No one asked me what I wanted." That was what was seriously getting to her.
I Love You Again Page 5
