Page 20 of I Love You Again
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 thetrunk.
Brad paid the driver and made his way around to helpher.
"Hey let me take that." He offered, but she didn't answerhim.
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 withsympathy.
"Rough day," Bradsaid.
"Try to fix the problem. This is a beautiful island. Everyone's happy here." The driver said with a smile that turned into a heartylaugh.
"Sure," Brad replied. He was certain those happy people were all couples or those who came here voluntarily to be happy. Not likethem.
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 ofeverything.
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 costthem.
He looked at Trina as she whirled around by the glossy wooden top kitchen counter and sighed. She still had that peeved expression on herface.
"Is this how it's going to be? With you not talking to me?" He decided toask.
She gave him a pointed stare and took on a defensive stance with her head tiltedhigh.
"Yes, because it's your fault we'rehere."
"How is this my fault? Our friends made us come here." Hedefended.
"Brad, I get that you aren't the sharpest knife in the draw, but even you should be able to see how this is yourfault."
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 histongue.
Since it was her though he held back on account of the whole situation betweenthem.
"This isn't my fault. I didn't do anything." That was the tamer version of what he actually had inmind.
"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 thoroughlyannoyed.
He was angry too, and didn't like the way she was talking tohim.
"I don't want to sort anything out either. I wanted to go in peace too, and nowIhave to stay here withyou."
"Then why don't you go? That's what you're best at. Running away like a coward and disappointingpeople."
Of course, this was about the past. What else would it beabout?
Brad looked at her, noting how mad shewas.
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 openwounds.
"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 myproblem."
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 withit.
"So that's it?" she yelled as he moved toleave.
"We're done talking." He snapped and left before she could say anotherword.
